Business Immigration

START-UP VISA

To be eligible for the Start-up Visa program, applicants must have:

Support from designated organizations:

The applicant must provide a letter of support stating that the business venture or idea is supported by a designated organization (venture capital funds, angel investor groups, business incubators). The designated organization must also send a commitment certificate directly to IRCC.

Ownership requirements:

As owners of a single business, up to five people can apply for the start-up visa program. However, each applicant must hold at least 10 percent of the voting rights in the business, and the designated organization and the applicants must jointly hold more than 50 percent of the voting rights in the business.

Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least level 5 in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing

Language test results must not be more than two years old at the time of application

Language proficiency tests can be taken in one of Canada’s two official languages: English and French, and must be from a designated institution approved by IRCC.

Settlement Funds

Applicants under this program do not have to invest their own money in the business venture but they must show sufficient funds to support themselves and their families for at least one year after arriving in Canada.

IMMIGRANT INVESTOR VENTURE CAPITAL PILOT PROGRAM

While this program’s application period has varying opening dates, we can help you be ready for the next application intake period. The program is meant for international investors with the skills and abilities to contribute to the Canadian economy and integrate into society.

Requirements include:

Net-worth:
Applicant must have a minimum personal net worth of CDN $10 million which must have been acquired through lawful, private sector business or investment activities.
Personal net worth acquired by inheritance or in the value of primary residence will not count towards the personal net worth requirement.
Applicant is required to obtain a due diligence report from one of the designated service providers.

Investment in a venture capital fund:

Applicant must be willing to make a non-guaranteed/at-risk investment of $2 million in the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) fund for approximately 15 years.

Language Requirements:
Applicants must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least level 5 in Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing.
Language test results must not be more than two years old at the time of application.
Language proficiency tests can be taken in one of Canada’s two official languages: English and French, and must be from a designated institution approved by IRCC.

Education Requirements:
A Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree of at least one year.
OR
A foreign post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree with an educational credential assessment (ECA) report from an IRCC approved agency which shows that the foreign education credential is equal to Canadian educational standards.
The ECA must be less than five years old on the date of application.

SELF EMPLOYED

To be eligible for this program, applicants must have relevant experience and the intention and ability to be self-employed and to make a significant contribution to specific economic activities in Canada.

Relevant Experience:

Applicants must have at least two years’ experience within five years in one of the following areas:

Cultural Activities
Athletics
Purchase and management of a farm

Experience is applicable only if the applicants have participated in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics or have experience managing a farm.

Intention and Ability
Applicants must show the intention and ability to establish a business that will create self-employment for them as well as make a significant contribution to the Canadian economy.

Selection Criteria
Applicants are assessed through a point system and must obtain at least 35 points out of 100 on:

Age: Up to 10 points.

Education: Up to 25 points for formal education.

Language Skills: Up to 24 points (16-first official language, 8-second official language).

Business Experience: Up to 35 points for 5 years of relevant experience.

Adaptability: Up 6 points for a number of factors to show that the candidate is adaptable to successfully settle in Canada.

Settlement Funds: Applicants must show that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their families for at least one year after arriving in Canada.