There are a number of federal business immigration programs.
Start-up Visa
The following conditions must be met to be eligible for the Start-up Visa program:
- Your start-up business should be supported by a designated organization and get a Letter of Support
- Secure a minimum of $200,000 if investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, or $75,000 if investment comes from a designated Canadian angel investor group
- Accepted into a Canadian business incubator program
- Your business should meet the ownership requirements
- Meet the language requirements
- Have enough money to support yourself and your dependents in Canada
Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program
You must meet all of the requirements listed below to be eligible to apply under the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program. You must also plan to live outside the province of Quebec.
- Personal Net Worth: You must have a personal net worth of CDN $10 million or more. Your net worth must have been acquired through lawful and private sector business or investment activities
- Proof of personal net worth: Obtain a due diligence report from one of the designated service providers
- Non-guaranteed investment in a venture capital fund: You must be willing and able to make an at-risk investment (non-guaranteed) of CDN $2 million in the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Fund
- Language skills: Prove your proficiency in English or French in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, listening and writing)
- Educational qualification: Canadian post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate of at least one year in length or a foreign equivalent.
- If you have a personal net worth of CDN $50 million or more acquired through lawful private sector business or investment activities, you can request an exemption from the education requirement
Self-employed immigration program
A self-employed person means a foreign national who has relevant experience, intends and is able to be self-employed in Canada, and can contribute to the economy in one of the required areas. To be eligible as a self-employed person, you must:
- Have at least two years relevant experience (within the last five years) in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level, or have been self-employed in cultural activities or athletics, or experience in managing a farm;
- Meet the selection criteria for self-employed people (assessed on the basis of experience, education, age, language abilities and adaptability);
- Meet medical, security and other requirements (such as police certificates, enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada)