How to qualify for the Start-up Visa

There are four major requirements which must be met by entrepreneurial applicants to apply for a start-up visa.

1. Have a qualifying business

In order to be deemed a qualified enterprise, immigrant applicants must have established an enterprise in which each immigration claimant owns at least 10 per cent of the voting rights added to all the company's shares. Up to five newcomers can apply as proprietors together. In fact, the candidates and the appointed agency must possess more than 50 per cent of the overall voting rights together.

To secure permanent residency through the Start-up Visa System, applicants must ensure that the company is integrated into Canada by the successful operation of international businessmen with important operations taking place in Canada.

2. Secure commitment from a Designated Entity

Before applying for the Start-up Visa Scheme, international businessmen need to obtain a specified organization's contribution that will help the growth of the business in Canada.

There are three categories of designated organizations:

Interested applicants can check the lists above to find possible matches for their business venture. The dedication of a given agency is expressed by a Letter of Encouragement that must be submitted as part of the application. Help Letters are valid for six months from the date they are given.

3. Prove ability in English or French

Both applicants for the Start-up Visa Program must show expertise in either English or French, in either of the official languages of Canada. Candidates must submit results from an accepted language test showing skill at Level 5 or higher in the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) to qualify for the program. At the time of submission the examination findings have to be less than two years old.

Canadian immigration authorities accept test results in English from the following test providers:

Test findings can also be requested on one of these two French tests:

4. Meet IRCC’s proof of funds requirement

Interested applicants must demonstrate to themselves and their family members that they have enough money to support settlement in Canada. To do so, applicants must show that they meet IRCC 's proof of the financial assistance criteria.

Do you want to get your start-up visa for Quebec?

Québec is currently not included in the federal Start-up Visa Scheme. Entrepreneurs interested in immigrating to Quebec may consult the programs of Quebec Entrepreneur and Quebec Investor.

Start-up Visa for Canadian investors

The Start-up Visa Program is open to new applicants from Canadian organisations involved in helping foreign entrepreneurs launch their business operations in Canada. Three types of organisations are accepted by the Start-up Visa Program: angel investment groups, company incubators and venture capital funds.

First an organization has to be designated by IRCC to participate in the program. An company must be a member of and endorsed by one of IRCC's affiliate sector organisations, in order to be designated.

Provincial Nominee Program Entrepreneur and Investor Visa

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) grants every province and territory in Canada the ability to invite candidates if they have the right qualifications and job experience to come and live within their territories. Most PNPs have at least one visa category for entrepreneurs or investors dedicated to individuals who want to expand or start their business in Canada.

Know more about each province’s

Alberta

Alberta is a perfect location for starting a company. While it is home to the 3rd most liveable city in the country, Calgary, the farmlands of Alberta are where your investment opportunities truly lie. The province is the second largest producer of agriculture in Canada and its varied ecosystems make the land suitable for crop production, livestock production and much more. There is currently only one Investment Visa alternative in Alberta-the Self Employed Farmer Stream, available.

British Columbia

British Columbia has one of the most flexible, diverse and competitive economies in Canada, making it a prime destination for your new business or expanded. Vancouver, the provincial capital, is conveniently located to assist with global trade routes including the United States, Asia and Mexico. Our fiscally conservative government also actively encourages entrepreneurs, which makes it simpler and cheaper to start a company in our province. Finally, British Columbia is abundant in economic capital with more than 2.4 million well-educated employees.

Manitoba

Manitoba is not too large and not too small to sum up very accurately. If you are looking for smaller, more welcoming communities to start your business, this is the province for you. Manitoba is a land of natural wonders, full of healthy, clean, prosperous communities. The capital city of Winnipeg is becoming known all over the world for its strong economy, low living costs and quality career opportunities.

The cost of living in Manitoba is so low that within the first five years of living in the province 76 per cent of immigrants become homeowners. This is surely one of many reasons why 95 per cent of them settle in Manitoba permanently after immigrating to Canada.

New Brunswick

New Brunswick provides your new business with a backdrop of lush forests, clear lakes, majestic mountain ranges and gorgeous beaches. The world may know the Bay of Fundy province which has the highest tides in the world, but what many of us do not know is that New Brunswick has some of Canada's best business opportunities.

A skilled labour-power awaits your New Brunswick business. The province has the highest graduation rate and the country's fastest internet which makes it a prime productivity spot. New companies flourish in the region as they have the lowest labor costs in Canada and the United States. With this cause, the capital city of New Brunswick, Fredericton, won the entrepreneurship group of the year in 2016, among several others.

Nova Scotia

When you plan your new company in Canada, it's important to keep an eye on the important things in life including family. Look no further than Nova Scotia, for the perfect harmony between life , family and relaxing. Nova Scotia, as one of the Maritime provinces of Canada, desperately wants ambitious entrepreneurs to start business in the region.

Nova Scotia has an abundance of natural resources that has produced profitable markets for the exploitation of agriculture , fisheries, mining , forestry, and natural gas. With so many opportunities at your fingertips and low living costs, your Province company will certainly prosper. There are currently two options for an Entrepreneur Visa in Nova Scotia.

Northwest Territories

Needed to know the Northwest Territories is the third-largest diamond producer in the world? You will find this secret-filled territory, famous for its aurora borealis sightings, going up north in Canada. This territory is not only a wonder of nature but it is also a perfect location for industry. We've seen growth and prosperity in the Farming, Fishery, and Manufacturing industries over the last few years, and with one of Canada's lowest corporate tax levels and fastest-growing GDPs, we 're likely to see more progress.

There is an enthusiastic and well-trained population in the Northwest Territories, in addition the region has the lowest unemployment rate in all of Canada. There, the government acknowledges the value of private activity, and has since developed many enterprise and activity reward schemes.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Small businesses run the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador, in fact, these businesses employ 40 per cent of the entire population. Given the numerous entrepreneurs in the province, the region's market opportunity is still largely untapped.

Newfoundland and Labrador have developed tech businesses and the countryside lends itself to possibilities for exploration and ecotourism. Given that the province is in desperate need of a greater supply of food, there is plenty of room for investment in the agriculture sector.

For anyone looking to start a company in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Foreign Entrepreneur and the Foreign Immigrant Entrepreneur sources, there are currently two new Investor and Entrepreneur visa options open.

Ontario

Want access to the most professional labour-power in the world? Don't go much further than Quebec. 68 per cent of Ontario's adults have a post-secondary education, making it the world's most educated population. Starting a company here will mean the workers have some important skills back.

Your company will also experience lower operating rates in Ontario relative to other U.S. business centers. You'll pay less income tax, and the spending on health services and infrastructure will be substantially lower. Of this cause, among many others, Toronto among Ottawa, two of Ontario's largest cities, rate among the best places to stay and work in the country.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island (PEI) may be the smallest province in Canada but it knows no bounds regarding its market and economic development potential. Being one of the Maritime Provinces, PEI is heavily impacted by the nation's declining population. Because of this, the province has turned to immigration, especially foreign businessmen and investors, to help develop the already rising economy.

Recognizing the value of new business growth, the PEI government provides many supporting programs, such as the Ignition Fund, to businessmen seeking to launch a new company in the province. With plenty of services at your fingertips and the coastal towns' friendly climate, your company at PEI is sure to prosper. The Prince Edward Island Work Permit is currently the province's only business visa option.

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan is strategically situated in central Canada, a two-day drive from the US. The province is well suited to the manufacturing and distribution industries, thanks to its solid road , rail and air transport infrastructure. Your company will experience reduced operating costs in Saskatchewan with the lowest provincial tax in Canada and wide reserves of capital in the forestry, coal, agricultural and energy sectors.

As it has the third largest percentage of young workers in Canada, you should also consider starting a business in this prairie province. In Saskatchewan, unlike other provinces that suffer significantly from an ageing population, you'll have your pick of professional employees to help your company prosper.

Yukon

Yukon is a genuinely special North American area. Because of its untouched natural scenery many people refer to the region as the last frontier. Yukon 's people are profoundly linked to nature and you'll most likely consider them to be a community of fun, healthy individuals who love to take part in outdoor activities.

Starting a business in Yukon allows you access to a variety of opportunities and a landscape that is still relatively untapped for creativity in industry. The Yukon Government has identified the province's primary business sectors as film, forestry, technology, mining, oil , gas, and tourism. A company targeting one of these sectors would have a great chance of success on the workforce , particularly with Yukoners (the demographic with the most degree holders per capita in Canada).