Business Visa: Immigration
to Canada
Services
Start-up
Visa
Provincial Investor or
Entrepreneurial Program
Self Employed
Program
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Start Up Visa
Eligibility Requirement
Process
Provincial Business Visa
Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
North West Territories
New Brunswick
Prince Edward
Ontario
Quebec
Saskatchewan
Yukon
Self Employed Program
Eligibility Requirement
Qualifying Experience
Start Up Visa (SUV) Canada
The Canadian government launched the Start-up visa program to attract potential entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas, required experience, and willingness to move to Canada. The objective was also to provide a platform for entrepreneurs worldwide who demonstrate that their business is innovative, scalable, and will create job opportunities in Canada. The key features of this program of this business visa are:
No Investmentrequired from youNo Net Worthcriteria to be metNo work experiencerequirementPermanent ResidentStatus givenNo Impact on PRof business situation
What are the requirements for Start-Up Visa?
- You must have a qualifying business (10% of voting rights attached to all shares of the company and 50% voting rights including the share of the
designated organization). - You must have a letter of support from an IRCC-designated organization.
- You must meet the language skills (English/French) requirement, CLB 5, in all abilities.
- You must have enough money to settle and live in Canada, which is for your living and not for business.
- You must not be more than 5 foreign nationals applying together.
Get FREE Assessment of your eligibility for Start-up Visa
What is the process for getting a Start-Up Visa?
The Start-Up Visa is a 4 step process:
- Find a designated investor for your idea. There are 3 types of designated investors:
Angel Investor Groups
- Canadian International Angel Investors
- Ekagrata Inc.
- Golden Triangle Angel Network
- Keiretsu Forum Canada
- Oak Mason Investments Inc.
- Southeastern Ontario Angel Network
- TenX Angel Investors Inc.
- VANTEC Angel Network Inc.
- York Angel Investors Inc.
Venture Capital Funds
- 7 Gate Ventures
- BCF Ventures
- BDC Venture Capital
- Celtic House Venture Partners
- Extreme Venture Partners LLP
- Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
- Impression Ventures
- Innovation Platform Capital International LP
- iNovia Capital Inc.
- Lumira Ventures
- Nova Scotia Innovation Corporation (o/a Innovacorp)
- Pangaea Ventures Ltd.
- PRIVEQ Capital Funds
- Real Ventures
- Relay Ventures
- ScaleUp Venture Partners, Inc.
- Top Renergy Inc.
- Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
- Version One Ventures
- Westcap Management Ltd.
- Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) VC Fund
Business Incubators
- Alacrity Foundation
- Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
- Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
- Creative Destruction Lab
- Empowered Startups Ltd.
- Extreme Innovations
- Genesis Centre
- Highline BETA Inc.
- Innovacorp
- Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara
- Invest Ottawa
- Knowledge Park o/a Planet Hatch
- LatAm Startups
- Launch Academy – Vancouver
- LaunchPad PEI Inc.
- Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship
- NEXT Canada
- North Forge Technology Exchange
- Platform Calgary
- Real Investment Fund III L.P. o/a FounderFuel
- Ryerson Futures Inc.
- Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
- Spring Activator
- The DMZ at Ryerson University
- Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)
- TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
- VIATEC
- Waterloo Accelerator Centre
- York Entrepreneurship Development Institute
Each has its requirements, criteria, and evaluation parameters. The amount of funding that they can provide is also pre-defined. In most cases, you can club support from two different investors. In that case, you would require each letter of support. It is essential to connect with only approved and designated investors.
2. Create your perfect business plan and pitch your idea. Understanding the Canadian market and investors plays a pivotal role in presenting your idea to your potential investor. Each investor may have a different requirement, so it is crucial to research well before going ahead with your proposal.
3. Get the necessary letter of support: Once the investor approves your idea, a letter of support will be shared with you to be attached to your permanent residence application.
4. Apply for PR initially and then directly apply for Canadian Citizenship upon completing the residency obligation. The state of your business does not have any impact on your Permanent residency status and your Citizenship subsequently.
Provincial Business Visa Immigration
Alberta
| Pathway | Alberta Farm Stream |
|---|---|
| Province Connection | Loan from Canadian Institution |
| Work Experience | Farm Management |
| Net Worth | $500,000 CAD |
| Investment | $500,000 CAD in primary production farming business |
| Status In Canada | Apply for PR post receivig Nomination Certificate |
| Pathway | Alberta Farm Stream |
|---|---|
| Education | Post secondary degree |
| Language | CLB 5 |
| Province Connection | Letter of recommendtion from AIPP Approbved Agency |
| Work Experience | 6 months full time |
| Investment | $50,000 CAD for regional area, $100,000 CAD for urban area, 34% ownership in rural and 5% in urbav |
| Status In Canada | Nomination Certificcate |
| Pathway | Alberta Rural Entrepreneur Stream |
|---|---|
| Education | High School equivalent |
| Language | CLB 4 |
| Province Connection | Community Support Letter from a participating rural Alberta community. |
| Work Experience | 3 years as an active business owner/manager or 4 years as a senior manager within the past 10 years. |
| Net Worth | $300,000 CAD |
| Investment | $200,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Create 1 job for PR or Canadian Citizen |
British Columbia
| Pathway | British Columbi EI-Regional Pilot |
|---|---|
| Education | Post-Secondary; or 3 years experience as 100% business owner |
| Language | CLB 4 |
| Province Connection | To be referred by the participating communities’ |
| Work Experience | Within last 5 years, 3+ years as business owner-manager; or 4+ years as a senior manager; or 1+ year as business owner manager and 2+ years as senior manager |
| Net Worth | $300,000 CAD |
| Investment | $100,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Sign Business Performance Agreement Create 1 job for PR or Canadian Citizen |
| Status In Canada | Work permit for 1 year. PR ubject to meeting requirements |
Manitoba
| Pathway | Manitoba Farm Ivestor Pathway |
|---|---|
| Work Experience | Minimum of 3 years of farm business management,ownership/ operation |
| Net Worth | $500,000 CAD, |
| Investment | $300,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Refundable deposit $75,000 |
| Status In Canada | Work permit, PR post subject to meeting requirements |
| Pathway | Manitoba Entreprenuer Pathway |
|---|---|
| Education | High School certificate |
| Language | CLB 5 |
| Work Experience | Minimum of 3 years in last 5 years as active business owner (minimum 33% ownership) or in a senior management role |
| Net Worth | $500,000 CAD, |
| Investment | CAD $250,000 within Manitoba Capital Region. Rest places CAD $150,000 |
| Additional Requirement | Sign Business Performance Agreement Create 1 job for PR or Canadian Citizen |
| Status In Canada | Work permit, PR post subject to meeting requirements |
Nova Scotia
| Pathway | NovaScotia Entrepreneur Program |
|---|---|
| Language | CLB 5 |
| Work Experience | 3 years’ in actively managing/owning a business (1/3 ownership ) OR > 5 years’ in a senior business management role; |
| Net Worth | $300,000 CAD |
| Investment | $600,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Submit Expression of Interest |
| Status In Canada | Work permit for 1 year PR ubject to meeting requirements |
North West Territories
| Pathway | Northwest Territories Business Stream |
|---|---|
| Language | CLB 4 |
| Work Experience | Relevant Experience |
| Net Worth | $500,000 CAD within Yellowknife, $250,000 CDN elsewhere. |
| Investment | $300,000 CDN within Yellowknife, or At least $150,000 CDN elsewhere. Own 33.3% or Investemet $1,000,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Sign Business Performance Agreement |
| Status In Canada | Work permit for 2 years PR post 2 years ubject to meeting requirements |
New Brunswick
| Pathway | New Brunswich Business Immigration |
|---|---|
| Language | CLB 5 |
| Net Worth | $600,000 CAD, |
| Investment | $250,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Refundable deposit $100,000 Age 22-55 years old |
| Status In Canada | Apply for PR post receivig Nomination Certificate |
Prince Edward
| Pathway | Prince Edward Work Permit Stream |
|---|---|
| Education | Secondary School |
| Language | CLB 4 |
| Province Connection | No |
| Work Experience | Manangement experince |
| Net Worth | $600,000 |
| Investment | NA |
| Additional Requirement | 21-59 years age |
| Status In Canada | Letter of support for Work permit. Nomiation crerificatio post |
Ontario
| Pathway | Ontario Entrepreneur Stream |
|---|---|
| Education | No |
| Language | CLB 4 |
| Province Connection | No |
| Work Experience | 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months |
| Net Worth | Within GTA $800,000 CAD Outside GTA $400,000 CAD |
| Investment | Within GTA $600,000 CAD Outside GTA $200,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Create: within GTA 2 permanent jobs Outside GTA 1 permanent job Outside GTA $200,000 CAD |
| Status In Canada | Work permit, PR post subject to meeting requirements |
Quebec
| Pathway | Quebec |
|---|---|
| Entrepreneur & Investor program temporarily suspended |
Sakatchewan
| Pathway | Sakatchewan Entrepreneir Program |
|---|---|
| Education | No minimum |
| Province Connection | No |
| Work Experience | 3 years experience as entrepreneur or managing a business in the past 10 years |
| Net Worth | $500,000 CAD, |
| Investment | 300,000 (CAD) in Regina and Saskatoon, or$200,000 (CAD) in rest of Saskatchewan, 33.3% ownership or > $1,000,000 investment |
| Additional Requirement | Create 2 jobs if investing in Regina or Saskatoon |
| Status In Canada | Work permit for 2 years PR post 2 years ubject to meeting requirements |
| Pathway | SaskatcheanFarm Owner and Operator |
|---|---|
| Education | No minimum |
| Province Connection | No |
| Work Experience | 3 years experience in Farm ownership or ,management. |
| Net Worth | $500,000 CAD, |
| Investment | $150,000 CAD, Good Faith Deposit of $75,000 CAD |
| Additional Requirement | Sign a performance Agreement 10 days exploratory visit to Saskatchewan |
| Status In Canada | Apply for PR post receivig Nomination Certificate |
Yukon
| Pathway | Yukon Business Nominee Program |
|---|---|
| Education | High School |
| Province Connection | No |
| Work Experience | 3 yrs of business management 5 years of relevant business experince |
| Net Worth | $300,000 CAD |
| Investment | $300,000 CAD ($300,000 Liquid Asset) |
| Additional Requirement | Strategic sector should be In focus |
| Status In Canada | Work permit for 2 years PR post 2 years ubject to meeting requirements |
Each province has its entrepreneur or investor/business visa program. The criteria of business visa might differ, but the primary parameter is dependent on the amount of investment, net worth, and relevant business experience. Therefore, it is It is essential to understand each province’s requirement and their regional communities to find the right business visa before you apply.
The Self Employed Program
The Self-employed program is for individuals who have the potential to be Self-employed in Canada and have gained relevant experience as professional athletes or in cultural activities. There is no funding or investment required in this business immigration program. However, the applicant must meet the selection criteria and fulfill the program’s requirements.
What is the requirement for Self Employed Program:
To be eligible for self-employed program:
- You must have relevant experience
- You must have the willingness and potential to be self employed in Canada
- You must score the required points basis the self employed program’s selection criteria and
- You must also meet background checks, medical, security and other admissibility conditions.
To qualify for this, you must have 2 years of relevant experience in the last 5 years. This experience must be in cultural activities or athletics. The more the number of years of experience, the higher points you can score.
Qualifying experience:
- Two one-year periods of being self-employed in cultural activities/athletics.
- Two one-year periods of participating at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics.
- A combination of one year each in both the points above in the respective field only.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much investment is required for a start-up visa in Canada?
Under the start-up visa program, there is no investment required from your end. Your business idea must get support from a designated Venture Capitalist, Angel Investor or be accepted into a business incubator program. The minimum amount of investment from a Venture Capitalist is CAD 200,000, from an angel investor is CAD 75,000, and zero in the case of an incubator program.
Can I work in Canada while my Start-up visa’s PR application is under process?
With your letter of support from the designated institutions, you can apply for a temporary work permit. The work permit allows you to come to Canada and start building your business while your permanent residence (PR) application is underway.
How long does it take to process a Start-up Visa application?
The processing time for a Start-up Visa application is generally 12- 16 months.