Business Class

Canada is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, a member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and Group of Eight (G8). Apart, from that, Canada’s proximity to United States, which is the largest trading partner of Canada and whose population are huge consumers of goods and services produced in Canada. All these factors make Canada one of the most attractive place to establish or expand your business.

The Business Class Immigrant program was designed to attract immigrants who have abilities and resources to invest or establish business in Canada and are expected to support and strengthen the development of the Canadian economy. The Business Immigration Programs seek to attract business-experienced individuals to Canada.

Business immigrants are expected to make a $800,000 investment or to own and manage a business in Canada.

Canada has three classes of business immigrants, each having different eligibility criteria: investors,  entrepreneurs and self-employed persons. Each application can be made for only one class. The detailed requirements of each program are as follows:

Investors:

Note: The Federal Immigrant Investor Program is now closed as 700 complete applications have been received at the Centralized Intake Office. This new annual cap was introduced through ministerial instructions, which came into force on July 1, 2011. The cap will reset on July 1, 2012, unless otherwise indicated in a future ministerial instruction. The cap does not apply to the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.

The Immigrant Investor Program seeks experienced business people to invest C$800,000 into Canada’s economy and become permanent residents. Investors must:

  • show that they have business experience
  • have a minimum net worth of C$1,600,000 that was obtained legally and
  • make a C$800,000 investment.

Your investment is managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and is guaranteed by the Canadian provinces that use it to create jobs and help their economies grow.

CIC will return your C$800,000 investment, without interest, about five years and two months after payment.

Entrepreneurs:

Note: CIC has temporarily stopped accepting applications for the federal entrepreneur program. Only applications received before July 1, 2011, will be processed. This suspension will continue until further notice.

The Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract experienced persons that will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that will contribute to the Canadian economy and create jobs for the Canadian citizens.

To qualify under this category, applicants are expected to have business experience and a legally obtained minimum net worth of $300,000. “Net worth”, in respect of an entrepreneur, means the fair market value of all of the assets of the entrepreneur and their spouse or common-law partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities.

Apart from that they have to commit to CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada) of managing at-least one-third of a business of a defined size for at least one year within three years of landing in Canada.

All applicants must indicate in writing that they intend and will be able to meet these conditions, which are also applicable to all family members.

Self Employed:

The Self-Employed Persons Program seeks to attract applicants who have the intention and ability to become self-employed in Canada. Self-employed persons are required to have either:

  • relevant experience that will make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada or
  • experience in farm management and the intention and ability to purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

Only immigrants who have been self-employed in cultural activities or in athletics or have farm management experience are eligible for this class.