5 Ways to Immigrate to Canada as an Investor

“Is it possible to immigrate to Canada as an investor?”

Yes, of course. Canada’s growing economy makes it attractive for foreign investors who wish to set up and operate businesses in the country. Thousands of people move to Canada for this express purpose each year. The Canadian Government and Provincial Governments have set up multiple immigration routes for such investors.

You, too, may be able to immigrate to Canada as an investor if you fulfill the criteria for these programs. In this guide, we will offer an overview of five of the categories of investor programs Canada currently offers.

The Intra-Company Transfer program primarily caters to employees that work for foreign companies with branches in Canada or Canadian companies with branches in foreign countries. However, this program also offers an immigration route for business owners who wish to expand their company to Canada.

How does ICT Visa work?

Business owners who wish to immigrate through this program must first register the company in Canada. They can register it as either a parent, affiliate or subsidiary of the company in their home country.

Next, they must create a comprehensive business plan that describes their intended business activity and includes market research. Business owners must then gather the required documents and submit their applications.

If successful, the business owner can come to Canada under a work permit and set up their business. They will then receive permanent residence if they meet the appropriate requirements.

The Start-Up Visa program is a special business investor visa Canada issues to candidates who intend to set up a Start-Up company in the country. Entrepreneurs who intend to set up such ventures in Canada must ensure their start-up:

• Is considered innovative
• Can create new employment opportunities for Canadians
• Can compete with other businesses on a global scale

Many people apply for Investor Visa Canada from India because the country has many entrepreneurs with lucrative start-up ideas. The Start-Up Visa offers a viable immigration route for such entrepreneurs.

How does Canada’s Start-up Visa Work?

Entrepreneurs who intend to apply through the Start-Up visa program must first obtain a letter of support from a “designated organization”. This refers to business groups the Canadian government allows to invest in start-ups.

Applicants must then demonstrate they possess enough funds to immigrate. They will also need to show they have scored a minimum language score of CLB 5 in the reading, writing, speaking, and listening categories.

They can submit their application for a Canada Investor Visa that allows them to come to Canada and set up their Start-Up. They can then apply for permanent residence once they have operated the business for a certain length of time.

The provincial nominee programs (PNP) are a set of immigration programs that allow people with the right skills and background to immigrate to specific provinces in Canada. Canadian provinces and territories run these programs based on agreements they have made with the Canadian Federal Government.

Most of these PNPs target skilled workers, people in in-demand occupations, and international students. However, a specific subset of programs caters to foreign investors and entrepreneurs. Let’s briefly look at these Business PNP Programs one by one.

British Columbia currently offers three BC PNP entrepreneur immigration programs. These are:

• Base Category Stream: This stream is for foreign entrepreneurs who can set up or purchase and improve an existing British Columbia business. Such candidates must be able to invest CAD $200,000 in their business and create one or more new jobs for Canadians.
• Regional Pilot Stream: This stream is for foreign entrepreneurs who can set up a business in British Columbia’s smaller communities. Such candidates must be able to invest CAD $100,000 in their business and create one or more new jobs for Canadians. However, they must receive a referral from a British Columbia community before applying for
• Strategic Projects Stream: This stream is for foreign entrepreneurs who intend to set up or expand a foreign business to British Columbia. The company must invest CAD $500,000 towards the venture and create a minimum of three jobs for Canadians. Through this program, the company can help five of its senior management employees apply for permanent residence.

Alberta currently offers the following three immigration programs under Alberta Entrepreneur Immigration that can enter the province and create jobs for Canadians:

• Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for people who graduated from Alberta Colleges or Universities and intend to set up a business in the province.
• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for people who graduated from Colleges or Universities outside Canada and who intend to set up their new business in the province.
• Rural Entrepreneur Stream: This stream is for entrepreneurs who want to launch or purchase a business in specific rural communities in Alberta.

Manitoba offers two immigration pathways for investors under its Business Investor Stream (BIS):

• Entrepreneur Pathway: This stream is for foreign investors who intend to set up a new business or purchase or partner in an existing business in Manitoba. Candidates will need to invest a minimum of CAD 250,000 if their business is located in the Winnipeg region and $150,000 if it is outside the Winnipeg region.
• Farm Investor Pathway: This stream is for foreign entrepreneurs with farm ownership experience and enough funds to start and operate a farm in Manitoba. Candidates will need to possess a minimum of three years of farm ownership experience and be willing to invest CAD $300,000 in their farm in Manitoba.

New Brunswick’s Business Immigration Stream is for foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up and operate a new business in the province. The province approves only select types of business under this program. They may also offer approvals for entrepreneurs who wish to purchase New Brunswick businesses.

Candidates who intend to apply through this program must ensure they can invest a minimum of CAD $250,000 and that their business will create a minimum of two jobs for Canadians.

Nova Scotia offers two NSNP Entrepreneur Immigration routes for entrepreneurs:

Entrepreneur: This stream is for foreign business owners and senior business managers who intend to start or purchase a business in Nova Scotia. Such candidates must be willing to invest CAD $150,000 in the business and participate in its daily operations.

International Graduate Entrepreneur: This stream is for international students that graduated from the University or Community College in Nova Scotia. Candidates can apply for this stream if they have started or purchased a business in the province and have operated it for a year or longer.

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program includes a special stream for entrepreneurs called the Entrepreneur Stream. This stream is open to foreign entrepreneurs who want to set up or purchase an existing business in the province. Candidates must be willing to invest CAD $600,000 if their business will be in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or CAD $200,000 if it is in other parts of the province.

Prince Edward Island offers an immigration route for entrepreneurs under their Work Permit Stream. This stream allows foreign entrepreneurs with a minimum net worth of CAD $600,000 to invest in and operate a business in the maritime province.

The Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) includes three streams for foreign entrepreneurs. These are:

• Entrepreneur Category: This category is for foreign entrepreneurs who intend to purchase or partner in an existing Saskatchewan business and participate in managing it. Candidates must be willing to invest CAD $300,000 if the business is in the major cities of Saskatoon or Regina. This requirement is only CAD $200,000 if the business is in other parts of Saskatchewan.
• International Graduate Entrepreneur Category: This category is for international students who are graduating from a Saskatchewan College or University. Candidates must be willing to set up, purchase, or partner in a business in the province and participate in its daily operation. There is no set minimum investment required for this entrepreneur category. However, applicants must hold a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit that is valid for another 24 months or more.
• Farm Owner and Operator Category: This category is for foreign entrepreneurs with the farm ownership experience. Candidates must be willing to purchase and operate a farm in the province after investing CAD $150,000.

Related Topic: 3 Ways to Immigrate to Canada as a Farmer

The C11 Work Permit is a special kind of work permit issued under the International Mobility Program (IMP). This program allows self-employed individuals who intend to start or purchase a business in Canada to come to the country on a work permit.

They can then become eligible to apply for permanent residency once they have operated the business under specific conditions for twelve months.

Quebec offers two immigration programs for investors.

• Quebec Investors: This category is for investors who intend to invest CAD $1,200,000 in IQ Immigrants Investisseurs inc.
• Quebec Entrepreneurs: This category is for entrepreneurs with a minimum net worth of CAD $900,000 who intend to start or acquire a business in the province. These candidates must then operate the business under specific conditions for a certain length of time to qualify for permanent residence.

As you can see, there are many immigration routes for foreign entrepreneurs who wish to settle in Canada. If you are interested in getting an Investor Visa Canada or obtaining permanent residency through one of the programs described above, please contact our experts Elaar Immigration.

Our experienced Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants are always ready to guide entrepreneurs on Canadian immigration. Contact Elaar Immigration today to start the immigration process under the guidance of professionals.