Business immigrants are people who can invest in, or start businesses in Canada and are expected to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. The Business Immigration Programs seek to attract people experienced in business to Canada.

Business immigrants are selected based on their ability to become economically established in Canada.

There are three classes of business immigrants:

Immigrating To Canada As An Investor

As an investor, you must make a prescribed investment of CDN $400,000. This investment is placed with the Receiver General of Canada.

Participating provinces then use your investment to create jobs and help their economies grow. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will return your investment to you, without interest, in approximately five years after you become a permanent resident.

How to Apply

You can become a permanent resident of Canada by making a five-year investment of CDN $400,000 into Canada's economy through the Immigrant Investor Program. To apply to this program, simply follow these 5 steps:

1. Use the Application for Business Immigrants. If you cannot print the application from here, you may obtain copies from one of the Business Immigration Centres.
    

2. Submit your completed application and fees to the visa office nearest you, or to one of the Business Immigration Centres (BICs). You may wish to consider mailing your application directly to a BIC, since they are specially staffed to assess potential business immigrants. See Application for Business Immigrants.
    

3. Once your application has been examined, you may be required to attend an interview.
    

4. Once all immigration matters have been addressed at the Business Immigration Centre, you must sign a Subscription Agreement and pay the CDN $400,000 investment to Citizenship and Immigration Canada Headquarters in Ottawa before a visa will be issued.
    

5. After the first four steps are completed, you will need to submit your passport to the Canadian visa office where you applied in order to receive your visa.

Click here to download Application for Business Immigrants
 

Top

Immigrating To Canada As An Entrepreneur

To qualify as an entrepreneur, you must have business experience. This means that you must have managed and controlled a percent of equity of a qualifying business. Entrepreneurs must have a legally obtained net worth of at least CDN $300,000.

When you immigrate to Canada as an entrepreneur, you must have the intention and the ability to control a percentage of equity of a qualifying Canadian business. You must provide active and ongoing management of the qualifying Canadian business. Your business must create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must meet these requirements within three years of becoming a permanent resident.

Before your immigrant visa is issued, you are required to sign a statement that you intend and will be able to meet the conditions of permanent residence.

How to Apply

You can become a permanent resident of Canada by applying in the entrepreneur class. To apply, simply follow these five steps:

1. Download the Application for Business Immigrants or obtain copies from one of the Business Immigration Centres.
    

2. Submit your completed application, the supporting documents and the processing fee receipt to one of the nine Business Immigration Centres. The Centre will advise you of any further documentation that may be needed.
    

3. Once your application has been examined, you may be required to attend an interview.
    

4. Once all immigration matters have been addressed at the Business Immigration Centre, you must sign a statement that you intend and will be able to meet your conditions of permanent residence in Canada.
    

5. If your application is successful, you will need to submit your passport to the Canadian visa office where you applied in order to receive your visa.

Immigrating To Canada As A Self-Employed Person

As a self-employed person, you must have relevant experience in cultural activities, athletics or farm management. You must also have the intention and ability to establish a business that will, at a minimum, create employment for yourself. You must make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

No immigration conditions are imposed on this class. You must have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada.

You can become a permanent resident of Canada by applying in the self-employed persons class. To apply, simply follow these four steps:

1. Download the Application for Business Immigrants or obtain copies from one of the Business Immigration Centres.
    

2. Submit your completed application, the supporting documents and the processing fee receipt to one of the nine Business Immigration Centres. The Centre will advise you of any further documentation that may be needed.
    

3. Once your application has been examined, you may be required to attend an interview.
    

4. If your application is successful, you will need to submit your passport to the Canadian visa office where you applied in order to receive your visa.

Click here to download Application for Business Immigrants

Top