Immigration - Work Permits

Business Class

Canada has one of the world's most comprehensive business immigration programs. Both, its fedral and provisional governments encourage prospective business immigrants to invest in Canada. Over the years, thousand of foriegn business people have found Canada to be an excellent place to invest capital and to apply their particular business know-how to Canadian ventures. Canadian immigration officials give priority to process prospective business immigrants. This proirity is in recognition of the valuable contribution business immigrants make to the development of Canadian Economy and the creation of job opportunities.

The stated goal of Canada's Business Immigration Program is to promote economic development and employment by attracting people with venture capital, business acumen and entrepreneurial skills. The Program also seeks to develop new commercial opportunities and to improve access to growing foreign markets by “importing” people who are familiar with those markets and their special requirements and customs.

Foreign individuals with business/managerial experience and relatively high net-worth may apply for Canadian permanent resident status under one of the following three sub-categories:

Business immigrants are people who can invest in, or start businesses in Canada and are expected to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. The Business Immigration Program seeks to attract people experienced in business to Canada. Business immigrants are selected based on their ability to become economically established in Canada. There are three classes of business immigrants:

Investor

Investors must have successfully operated, controlled, or directed a business, and have accumulated through their own efforts a net worth of at least $800,000(Cdn). They must also have either controlled a portion of the equity of a qualifying business, or been responsible for the management of the equivalent of at least five full-time jobs per year in a businessThe Immigration regulation which governs the selection of Investor Immigrants requires that investors make a minimum investment of $400,000 through the Receiver General for Canada before a visa is issued. The investment is subsequently allocated to participating provinces and territories in Canada, which use the funds for job creation and economic development.

The investment of $400,000 is locked in for approximately five years, after which it is repaid without interest. Investments are guaranteed by participating provinces and territories. Immigrants visas will be issued to qualified investors and their dependents once they have demonstrated, to the satisfaction of the visa office, that the investment has, in fact been made and once they and their dependents have met all other Canadian Medical and Security requirements. Investor Immigrants may decide to invest in a business venture, a privately-administered venture capital fund or a government-administered venture capital fund which has received prior government approval and is under Canadian control. This program is limited to those who intend to live permanently in a province or territory other than Quebec. Investors who intend to live in Quebec must apply under the Quebec immigrant investor program. 

Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs immigrants are those Experienced Business people who are managing small to medium-sized enterprises.  Entrepreneur applicants must have legally obtained a net worth of at least $300,000. They must also have controlled a portion of the equity of a qualifying business that was not operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income (such as interest, dividends or capital gains). 

The Entrepreneur should have the intentions and ability to establish, purchase or make a substantial investment in a business in Canada that will contribute significantly to the economy and create jobs. The business must employ at least one Canadian citizen or permanent resident other than the entrepreneur and his/her dependents. The entrepreneur must be actively involved in managing the business. No minimum net worth is required, but applicants in this category must prove that they have enough capital to establish a business, cover its short-term operating costs, and support their dependents.

Entrepreneurs and their family members are granted permanent residence under conditions that are monitored by CIC. They must report at specified intervals to an immigration officer in Canada on their progress in establishing a business which meets specified requirements and show that they have met these requirements for at least one year within three years of admission to Canada.

Self-Employed

Self-employed applicants must demonstrate that they have the relevant experience and the intention and ability to become economically established in Canada by creating their own employment and contributing significantly to Canada in one of the following areas:

• Canada's cultural life, either through performance at a world-class level or self-employment in the discipline, as in the case of dancers or experienced choreographers.
• Canada's ability to compete in athletics, either through performance at the world-class level or self-employment in the discipline, as in the case of figure skaters and coaches.
• Canada's economy, through the purchase and management of a farm in Canada.
• Owner of small business outlets which certain communities need.

Applicants are expected to establish a business and become self-supporting, but are not required to make a minimum investment, employ others or report on progress towards the establishment of the business.

Selection criteria

To be eligible for selection as a business immigrant, applicants must first meet the applicable business immigration definition of the class in which they are applying (investor, entrepreneur or self-employed). Applicants are then assessed against a selection system.

Entrepreneurs, investors and self-employed applicants are assessed against five selection criteria. Applicants must obtain a minimum of 35 points. However, the pass mark can change at the direction of the Minister.

The selection factors and maximum points allocated are as follows: