Business Immigration in Canada Simplified —
14 Programs across 11 Provinces and Territories
The Canadian Business Immigration Program aims to create new opportunities in local markets, by welcoming those who have the skill and experience to help grow it.
These immigration programs and visas are designed to help promote and develop Canada’s economy by attracting entrepreneurs, the self-employed and businesspersons who are not yet Canadian citizens. Currently, there are three Business Immigration Programs streams available.
Many provinces have business immigration options that are part of their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). In addition, Quebec and the Government of Canada operate popular business immigration programs.
Read ahead for an overview of all PNP programs and streams for business persons. The second post of this series will cover PNP streams setup specifically for international graduates and for specific occupations.
Federal Option—Startup Visa
The Startup Visa is designed for entrepreneurs with an innovative business idea that can compete at the global level and which will create jobs in Canada.
The program does not have any specific minimum investment requirements. However, the applicant must get funding ranging from $75,000 to $200,000 from Designated Organizations and, further, must own at least 50 percent voting rights in the startup entity.
This means you must invest an amount equal to or higher than the funding obtained from the Designated Organizations.
Language proficiency must be CLB 5 or higher and you must meet the Low Income Cut Off requirements for the year to prove you can provide for yourself and your family in Canada.
Self-Employed Program
This program is for people who are capable of creating their own employment, by contributing athletically, culturally or artistically to Canada’s employment market. People with sufficient funds and relevant work experience can apply for the Self-employed Program.
Business Visitor Visa
This visa is for business individuals who intend to stay temporarily in Canada in order to engage in international business markets by growing, investing or creating business connections. The Business Visitor Visa is for potential candidates who, among other requirements, do not intend to impact directly on the Canadian job market.
PNP Entrepreneur Visa
Entrepreneur programs like the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream give immigrants the opportunity to take advantage of Canada’s growing economic power, and possibly gain permanent residence in Canada, along with their family.
Here is an overview of PNP streams available for conventional business persons and entrepreneurs.
Alberta Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream
This program that borrows features from international graduate streams as well as conventional business immigration programs.
You must have a post-secondary degree to qualify but even a foreign degree will suffice. Like any startup visa, you must have a detailed business plan showcasing the viability of the business idea and a ten-minute presentation that highlights how the idea will generate growth in one of the eight key sectors identified by the province.
Just six months of business experience, including participating in entrepreneur courses can help you qualify. But, there is a minimum investment requirement of $100,000 for businesses in Calgary and Edmonton CMAs or $50,000 for businesses in a regional area outside these two CMAs.
Further, you must own at least 34% of the business (the two CMAs) or 51% (other regional areas) and have language proficiency of CLB 7 or higher.
more information.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration—Base Category
Base Category is for those with minimum net worth of $600,000 making an investment of $200,000 and own one-third or higher stake in an existing or new business in the province.
During the past ten years, you must have
Either three years experience as active business owner-manager with at least 10 percent or higher stake or
Four years experience as senior manager of a business in a NOC 0 or A position where you supervised at least three full-time employees.
You must either have a post-secondary qualification. Those with lower qualifications are eligible only if with business owner-manager experience for three out of five years with 100% ownership of the business.
Other requirements include active participation in management of the business, creation of at least one job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, CLB 4 or higher language proficiency, and residence within 100 km of the business.
more information.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration—Strategic Projects
Entrepreneur Immigration—Strategic Projects is for foreign companies seeking strategic investment opportunities in the province. The company must invest at least $500,000 in a new or existing business in the province.
Up to five key staff members of such a company will be eligible for nomination for permanent residence. The company must create three jobs per key staff member, which means a total of 15 jobs must be created in the province if nomination is sought for all five key staff members.
more information.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration—Regional Pilot
Entrepreneur Immigration—Regional Pilot is restricted only to foreign entrepreneur setting up a new business in BC. This pilot has been extended till 2024.
The requirements are same as Base Category with these changes
Investment must be in new business only and in participating communities only
Net worth of $300,000 and not $500,000.
Minimum investment of $100,000 and not $200,000
Business ownership of at least 51% or higher and not one-third or higher
Business experience must be within past five years and not within past ten years.
more information.
Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway
Anybody with ownership of at least one-third or higher stake in a business or senior management role in a business for three out of past five years can apply for Manitoba’s PNP stream for entrepreneurs.
Net worth of $500,000 or higher, a minimum investment of $150,000 for businesses located outside the Manitoba Capital Region (MCR) and $250,000 for businesses in the MCR and CLB 5 or higher language proficiency are other requirements.
You will work on your business for two years on a work permit and this will converted into permanent residence if you fulfill the terms of the Business Performance Agreement.
Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream
This stream is open for those with net worth of $600,000, liquid funds free for investment of $150,000 or higher.
To qualify, you must have owned a third or more of a business for at least three years or must have had a senior management role for at least five years. Your language proficiency must be CLB 5 or higher.
You must setup a new business or buy an existing business and operate it for at least a year to become eligible for permanent residence.
Newfoundland International Entrepreneur Stream
The Newfoundland PNP for International entrepreneurs allows you to qualify based on business management experience even if you did not have any ownership stake. You must have five years of senior management experience in the past ten years to qualify.
As business owner, you must have owned at least 25 percent stake and must have at least two years of active management experience within five years of the application.
Minimum net worth of $600,000 is required along with investment of at least $200,000 in a business where you own at least one-third stake or more. If your ownership stake is lower, then minimum investment requirement increases to $1 million.
You must be aged between 21 and 59 years, have CLB 5 or higher language proficiency, be at least a high school graduate, and your business must create at least one job in the province.
New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream
New Brunswick requires business owners with active management experience to prove they supervised two employees to be eligible for the business immigration stream.
You must have owned at least 51% stake in your business and active managed it for three out of the past five years. Even a senior manager with the same business management and employee supervision experience will qualify.
You must own at least a third of the business in New Brunswick, have net worth of $500,000 or higher and invest $150,000 or higher. Your business must create at least one full-time job in the province.
Other conditions include CLB 5 language proficiency, at least a high school diploma and residence within 100 kms of the business location.
Northwest Territories Business Nominee Program
Not accepting applications as of June 2021, Northwest Territories has not specifically defined the timeframe for proving business management skills and acumen. Instead, you must prove that your past experience and education qualifies you to implement the business plan successfully.
A business in Yellowknife requires net worth and minimum investment of $500,000 and $300,000 respectively. For business outside Yellowknife, the requirement is halved to $250,000 and $150,000.
Applicants must have CLB 4 or higher language proficiency and are encouraged to deploy investments into existing or new businesses only after their Nominee Program application is accepted.
Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
Under OINP’s Entrepreneur stream, you can qualify based on your business ownership and/or business management experience as a senior manager. In both cases, you must have at least two years experience in the past five years.
Net worth, minimum investment, and job creation requirements vary based on where you are setting up the business and also whether you are setting up an ICT/Digital Communications business.
GTA | Outside GTA | ICT/Digital Comm. Business | |
| Net Worth | $800,000 | $400,000 | $400,000 |
| Minimum Investment | $600,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 |
| Job Creation | 2 full-time jobs | 1 full-time job | 1 full-time job |
You must own at least one-third stake in the business, can partner with one foreign national and/or one or multiple Canada citizens and permanent residents, and must have language proficiency of CLB 4 or above.
PEI Business Impact Category Work Permit Stream
This is a two-step program where you fulfill the net worth requirements, qualify for a work permit in Prince Edward Island, and then deploy your investment within 12 months of landing in the province.
You can apply as business owner if you had 20% or higher stake in a business with active management experience for three of the past five years. Anybody with a lower stake or no business ownership have the option of applying on basis of three years of senior management experience over the past five years.
You must have net worth of $600,000 or higher and must invest at least $150,000 within 12 months of landing. PEI has easy language requirement of CLB 4 or higher. You must live in the province for at least 274 days or more during establishment of the business and business operating expenses must exceed $75,000 in a year.
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Category
You must have net worth of $500,000 or more and at least three years of experience as an entrepreneur or in business management in the past ten years.
You must invest at least $300,000 if your business is in Regina or Saskatoon or at least $200,000 in other communities in the province.
You must own at least one-third stake in the business and must participate in day to day management of the business. Further, your business must create at least two jobs for citizens or permanent residents who are not related to you.
Yukon Business Nominee Program
Yukon has slightly tougher requirements compared to other provinces. You must have net worth of $500,000 or more, liquid assets in cash, bonds etc. worth $300,000 or more, and must prove that you can invest $300,000 or more as capital investments into your business over a period of two years.
To qualify, you must have at least three years of active management experience either as business owner and as senior manager with a NOC 0 or A position. Further, you must have at least five years of work experience relevant to the business.
- All investments must be made only after your Business Nominee application is accepted. You can buy a business or setup a new business and it must be related to one of the ten strategic sectors listed by Yukon.
Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
| Program | Quebec Immigrant Investor Program – The Investor Program has been suspended until April 1, 2023 in order be reviewed. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Net Worth | CAD $2,000,000 |
| Minimum Investment | CAD $1,200,000 risk-free through an approved financial intermediary or by financing that investment. |
| Experience | 2 years of business management experience in the past 5 years prior to the submission of an application in a specific enterprise (agricultural, commercial, or industrial, OR management experience in a governmental or international organization) and in a position defined as full-time. |
| EOI System | No |
| Managerial Role | No active managerial role required to apply |
| Business Plan | None |
| Exploratory Visit | Recommended |
| Interview | May be required as part of the application review. |
| Refundable Deposit | Not required |
| PR/Work permit | PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) |
| Additional Requirements | Background check and medical examination |
Quebec Entrepreneur Program
| Program | Quebec Entrepreneur Program — A new application intake period began on November 1, 2020, and is scheduled to run until September 30, 2021 for Stream 1. The intake of permanent selection applications for Stream 2 of the program has been suspended |
|---|---|
| Minimum Net Worth* | CAD $900,000 of financial resources. |
| Business ownership/operation* | Holds and controls, alone or with the accompanying spouse or common-law partner at minimum 25% of the equity of the enterprise he or she creates or at least 51% of the equity of the enterprise he or she acquires. |
| EOI System | No |
| Managerial Role | Required |
| Business Project | Required |
| Exploratory Visit | Recommended |
| Interview | Required as a final step in the application process |
| Start-up deposit* | CAD $300,000 for a business in the metropolitan area of Montreal or CAD $200,000 for a business outside the metropolitan area of Montreal. |
| PR/Work permit | PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) |
| Additional Requirements | Submit a contract to prove financial self-sufficiency and demonstrate a secondary school general diploma level of education. Provide a performance guarantee deposit of $200,000 that is refundable if certain conditions are met.* |
Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program
| Program | Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program — Application intake period from November 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. |
|---|---|
| Minimum Net Worth | CAD $100,000 |
| Minimum Investment | Not required |
| Experience | 2 years of self-employed experience in the profession or trade the applicant intends to practice in Quebec |
| EOI System | No |
| Managerial Role | Required |
| Business Plan | None |
| Exploratory Visit | Recommended |
| Interview | May be required as part of the application review |
| Start-up deposit | Register a start-up deposit of at least CAD $50,000 at a local financial institution if based in the metropolitan area of Montreal or at least CAD $25,000 if based outside of Montreal. |
| PR/Work permit | PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) |
| Additional Requirements | Submit a contract to prove financial self-sufficiency and demonstrate a secondary school general diploma level of education. |
