If you are an entrepreneur, Canada offers several pathways for you to become a Canadian permanent resident. Should you be interested in any of the following programs, please contact us and we will guide you through the entire application process. 

Start-up Visa

Federal Start-up Visa Immigration program is a pilot project launched in 2013 and has officially became a federal permanent immigration program in 2018. Starting in 2020, in order to encourage innovative talents to settle in Canada, the federal government has enhanced its support for immigration applications for this type, and the number of approved applications has increased significantly over the years. This project is also one of the few federal programs that enables the applicants to obtain Canadian permanent resident cards in one step.

To be eligible for the program, you must satisfy the following four criteria:

• have a qualifying business;

• get a letter of support from a designated organization;

• meet the language requirements; 

• bring enough money to settle in Canada.

In addition, you must also meet the basic admissibility requirements to enter Canada, which applies to all applicants and not just applicants of the Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa Program.

Even if the business fails in the end, participants of this program will be able to keep their Canadian permanent resident status.

Quebec Investor

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is a program that allows an investor to become a Canadian permanent resident through a passive $1.2 million, no interest, investment to the Quebec government. After 5 years, the Quebec government will return the investment while keeping the interest accrued. 

To qualify for the QIIP, candidates must have a legally-acquired personal net worth of $2 million, at least two years of suitable management or business experience within the five years preceding the application for selection, declare their intention to settle in Quebec, and obtain an attestation of learning about democratic values and the Quebec values. 

The Quebec Investment Immigration Program will reopen in April 2021.

PNP Entrepreneur

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a provincial economic immigration program and a pathway to permanent residence in Canada for skilled workers who want to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory in and live in that province or territory. 

The PNP of each province has its own entrepreneur stream and its own set of requirements. 

For example, in Ontario, the entrepreneur stream is for entrepreneurs looking to start a new or buy an existing business in the province. On the other hand, in Saskatchewan, the entrepreneur stream is for those who plan to start a business or buy and operate a farm in Saskatchewan.