Canada is among the best countries for entrepreneurs and business people who want to pursue business growth. The government is rich in natural resources, thus earning the nickname energy superpower, and its economy is stable with continuous growth. Therefore, it is evident that the great business environment that the country offers encourages thousands of immigrants who seek permanent residency in the country.
Having a business idea is one step closer to qualifying to become a foreign investor in Canada. The advantages of immigrating to Canada as a foreign investor include having a Canadian start-up visa and obtaining a direct offer to become a permanent resident. Canada’s Startup Visa allows new entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas to immigrate to Canada either as independent or group entities to enhance their businesses. The Startup Visa Program is a permanent resident direct stream established in 2013 by the Canadian federal government and continues to be active to date.
However, suppose you are an entrepreneur, investor, or business owner seeking to pursue your dream in Canada. In that case, there are multiple pathways related to Canada’s Startup Visa business or investment immigration, and these are accessible at the federal or provincial level.
Business Immigration in Canada?
The business immigration pathway option has several programs through which a potential immigrant can apply to get a work visa or permanent residence. The Canadian government and the various provinces have launched these programs to facilitate foreign investment, thus providing significant opportunities for foreigners while also boosting the country’s economic growth and employment capacity. One of the most prominent programs that support an application for permanent residence is the Start-up Visa program.
Canada Work Permits for Business Owners and Investors
Investors and business owners seeking to bring investments to the country, start a business, acquire an existing enterprise or open a branch in Canada can also seek Canadian Work Visas/Permits. The programs offer various benefits to motivate business-minded people to move to Canada, and these opportunities are accessible through several federal options and the Provincial Nominee Streams.
The list includes:
- • Provincial Entrepreneurial work permits: the option comprises point-based systems that demand a minimum investment and considers the size of the investment, potential employment vacancies for Canadians, your background, and the preferred region of settlement, among others. A province can nominate you to obtain a permanent residency through this alternative.
- • Owner – Operator LMIA work permit: eligibility requires that an investor purchase a Canadian business or start a new one and submit a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) backed by a business plan. Upon issuing a positive LMIA, the investor can seek a renewable work permit.
- • Treaty Investor programs: only the citizens or the permanent residents of certain nationalities can access these permits. Contact us for more information.
What is a Startup Visa?
The Canadian Start-up visa program recommends highly skilled foreign investors with business ideas that are capable of creating sources of employment and can compete in the international sphere to immigrate to Canada. Canada’s Startup Visa allows new entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas to immigrate to Canada either as independent or group entities to enhance their businesses.
The requirements for getting Canada Startup Visa
First, an applicant must have a qualifying business venture with at least 10% voting rights attached to all the company’s shares. Secondly, the applicant must prove eligibility for mastery of either English or French in writing, listening, and speaking. An accredited Canadian Language Benchmark agency must administer the language test.
The third condition entails a confirmation letter from an organization that demonstrates that you have a backing of a venture capital fund. Also, the applicant must provide proof of funds that guarantees a comfortable stay for themselves or any dependents such as family once they settle in Canada. Finally, the applicants must provide medical and security clearance certificates that show that either the organization members or family members pose a threat to the national security or suffer from a severe condition that would burden the healthcare system.
The main advantages of Canada strutup visa
- o There are no restrictions based on nationalities as long as an individual has attained the legal age
- o The net worth of the applicant will not be verified
- o The applicant will not require an investment capital
- o A temporary work permit will be permissible as other documents are being processed.
- o The applicant will also be eligible for permanent residency once they are on Canadian ground
One would wonder about the success rate of this program; however, the success rate stands at 76.3% as of the year 2021. This came by as a result of the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada granting permanent resident status to those who applied through the start-up visa Canada program.
How to apply for a Start-up Visa Canada:
Step 1: Apply using the online portal for a Start-up Visa
The applicant will be required to access the application form, fill them in and submit them. They can manage this by accessing the application package that has generic forms such as IMM0008).In the application package, they will also obtain information about the requirements of the start-up Visa in Canada, a checklist document, and a guide on the application processes, and they can be obtained in PDF format.
Step 2: Meet the requirements for the checklists within the document
The supporting documents and the specified information should be gathered as will be recommended. The applicant will be required to confirm if they have each item on the checklist to avoid missing information or documents.
The cover page of the application forms will be the document containing the checklist items, and it should be signed and printed out
The applicant will be required to compile all required forms as the final step of the application process. This will guarantee to process of these documents.
Step 3: Get necessary clearance certificates from the police
The applicants, together with their family members, need to submit clearance certificates from the police to the visa office. The applicants are also required to obtain these certificates from territories or jurisdictions where they stayed for six months or more and were 18 years and above. Applicants need to be aware that in case they have any criminal record, their application will be rejected because of security issues.
Step 4: Ensure your application processes are complete and accurate
Before submitting your application to the visa office, ensure the information provided is true and complete. The application will be denied if it is established that the applicant has withheld certain information or the details provided are false. In worse cases, the applicant will be prohibited from applying for such a program for 5 years.
Step 5: Ensure the documents are sealed in an envelope
The applicants are required to mail the application forms to the processing center. The address will be obtained from the instruction guide. The envelope should be a size 9*12 and sealed, and the term “start-up visa” is indicated on its front side.
Step 6: The applicants should take the medical exams
Together with their family members, applicants are advised to take a medical exam to avoid straining the public health system and services and avoid risks associated with public health.
After your application has been received, you will receive a letter from the visa office giving further guidance on how to obtain the medical exams.
Startup Visa Canada Eligibility
The following precautions are to be taken when applying for a visa:
1. Operating a qualifying organization or business
When a designated organization commits to the stated company, then the applicant’s shares should be 10% of the shares within the company. Subsequently, the shareholding of the designated organization together with the applicant should be 50% of the total shares within the company.
Essential processes of the business should be performed and managed in Canada when an applicant is issued with a permanent residence, and the business should be started up in Canada in the case it is not set up in Canada.
2. The designated organization should offer a letter of support
The following business groups qualify to be termed as designated organizations, equity capital funds, private investors, and incubator organizations. These organizations have to be valid in terms of being authorized to support start-up businesses.
The selected organization will be required to present a certificate of commitment to the office dealing with visas, whereby this certificate, together with the letter of support, will be used in the evaluation processes of the applications.
3. Meeting the language criteria
It is a prerequisite to use French or English in the business dealings
It will be required that a language test be done by the applicant. The test should be from an authorized agency the results will be benchmarked against the minimum requirements of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)5. Reading, writing, speaking and listening in the French or English language will be evaluated.
4. The applicants’ bank account can sustain their stay in Canada
A background check on the cost of living in Canada is recommended. The applicant should ensure they have enough funds to sustain their stay together with family members in Canada, and proof of this will be required.
The applicants should also be aware of the business incubator fee, which stands at CAD 2100 paid monthly.
Cost of Start-up Visa Canada
The applicant will be required to know there exist fees to be paid during the application process. Examples of visa application fees include biometric, third-party, and processing fees. These amounts are to be paid by the applicant and those listed in their application forms. In addition, applicants are also likely to be charged the rights of a permanent resident fee (RPRF).
The stipulated costs for a start-up visa in Canada are subject to be reviewed yearly and are dependent on the size of an applicant’s family.
The mode of payment is via online platforms.
Start-up Visa Canada Processing Time
The average processing time for the Canadian start-up visa is 31 months, and these factors in any cause for delay, including the period one is required to submit their biometrics.
Startup Visa Canada Success Story
The process of obtaining a start-up visa might be very tedious; however, several success stories exist for applicants who enrolled in the start-up visa Canada program, like Kumar, an immigrant from South India.
Kumar, a family man, is married to Anushka, and they have a 16-year-old child named Kareena. Anushka was a former supervisor for Home Health and had 5 years of experience. On the other hand, her 53-year-old husband holds a degree in Economics and has 14 years of experience in corporate and enterprise.
It was established that Kumar had CAD 50000 in liquid form, he was the owner of 2 real estate properties, and he had other funds that could be used for settling in Canada. In addition, he scored 5.5 on the language test, which was above the minimum requirement.
Kumar had an interest in creating sustainability in business, and this was enhanced by his knowledge of climatic change and its implications for businesses and people.
Kumar then created a business plan centering on creating an eco-friendly farming organization that targeted the elderly population. The target mark for its healthy organic foods was the public and residents of the resort. Construction would incorporate the concept of sustainability and renewable energy that is free from pollution.
After three months, he received an approval letter from a business incubator in Canada’s Start-up visa program.
Afterward, he and his family were issued a permanent visa and entry visa. Currently, he holds the position of director of marketing and sales on the farm.
Conclusion
Business investment pathways offer a variety of ways to acquire permanent residence in Canada. Synonymous terms for the residency are Investment Immigration and Business Immigration. The program is ideal for entrepreneurs or business owners who want to open a business in the country.
An applicant can choose one of the streams at the provincial or federal level, including PNP Entrepreneurial work permits, Start-Up Visa, or Investor/Business Work Permits.
Basic eligibility requirements for application approval are a letter of support from established investors, qualifying business, language proficiency in French or English, and sufficient funds to support settlement in Canada.
If you possess business experience and need growth opportunities in Canada, you should promptly apply for the Business Immigration Program!
Through this link, you can complete our free evaluation questionnaire so that our colleagues in the Simorgh Group can let you know whether you are eligible for these programs or not.
You can also book a consultation meeting with us through this link.
No comment