Canada is a G7 country with one of the world’s best performing economies over the past decade. As the world’s second largest country, it is also rich in natural resources, including the world’s second largest oil reserves and fourth largest supply of fresh water.
Canada provides a family-friendly lifestyle, with several world-class cities that provide well diversified business environments, vibrant social scenes and cultural events. It has an excellent education system with numerous private schools and elite universities. Five of the world’s top 100 business schools are also in Canada.
- World-class healthcare & education
- Low crime rates & Low level of corruption
- Attractive business environment
- Canadian citizenship after four years
- Full family residency
- High standard of living
If you are a businessperson or manager looking to immigrate to Canada, the Business/Investor/Entrepreneur Immigration Programs may be an important fast-track Canadian immigration option for you. Business immigration seeks to attract individuals with business and/or managerial experience who will contribute to the development of the Canadian economy.
Many provinces like British Colombia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia have business immigration options that are part of their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). In addition, Quebec and the Government of Canada operate popular business immigration programs like Quebec Investor Immigrant and Federal Start-Up Visa programs.
Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $2,000,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $1,200,000 risk-free through an approved financial intermediary or by financing that investment. |
| Experience |
2 years of business management experience in the past 5 years prior to the submission of an application in a specific enterprise (agricultural, commercial, or industrial, OR management experience in a governmental or international organization) and in a position defined as full-time. |
| EOI System |
No |
| Managerial Role |
Not Required |
| Business Plan |
Not Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Recommended |
| Interview |
May be required as part of the application review. |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) |
| Additional Requirements |
Background check and medical examination |
Federal Start-Up Visa Program
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
Not Applicable |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $200,000 if the investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund or designated incubators OR CAD $75,000 if it comes from a designated Canadian angel investor group. |
| Experience |
Not Required |
| EOI System |
No |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Not Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Not Required |
| Interview |
Upon request by IRCC |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
PR immediately |
| Additional Requirements |
Have the support of a designated organization that will provide the applicant with a Letter of Support. Start-up visa applicants must give proof that they sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependants after they arrive in Canada. The amount required depends on the size of the family. |
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) - Entrepreneur Immigration Stream
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $600,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $200,000 OR CAD $400,000 if proposing a Key Staff Member |
| Experience |
3+ years of business ownership or management experience OR 4 + years of senior management experience OR 1+ year of business ownership & management experience and 2+ years of senior management experience within the last 10 years. |
| EOI System |
Yes (province publishes info on previous draws) |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Recommended |
| Interview |
Upon request by BC PNP |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
2-year work period before Letter of Acceptance to apply for Permanent Residence (PR); PR contingent on implementation of the business proposal. |
| Additional Requirements |
Create at least one permanent, full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with the proposed business. |
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) - Entrepreneur Immigration - Regional Pilot
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $300,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $100,000 |
| Experience |
3+ years of business ownership or management experience OR 4 + years of senior management experience OR 1+ year of business ownership & management experience and 2+ years of senior management experience within the last 10 years. |
| EOI System |
Yes (province publishes info on previous draws) |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Strongly Recommended |
| Interview |
Upon request by BC PNP |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
Minimum 12-month work permit period before nomination; PR contingent on implementation of business proposal. |
| Additional Requirements |
Community referral required to register; Must create at least one permanent, full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. |
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program - Business Investor Stream (Entrepreneur Pathway)
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $500,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $250,000 for businesses in the Manitoba Capital Region. OR CAD $150,000 if a business is outside of the Manitoba Capital Region AND must be made in an eligible business AND must create or maintain at least one job for a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident in Manitoba (excluding owners of the business and/or their close relatives). |
| Experience |
Business ownership and management experience or executive-level experience in 3 of the past 5 years. AND Business owners are given higher points in comparison to senior managers. AND Business owners must have at least 33 1/3% ownership to qualify for points. |
| EOI System |
Yes |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Business research visit must be conducted no more than one year prior to the submission of an EOI. |
| Interview |
Required |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
Temporary work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements. |
| Additional Requirements |
Score 60+ points on assessment grid and CAD $100,000 refundable deposit is not a requirement anymore. |
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program - Business Investor Stream (Farm Investor Pathway)
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $500,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $300,000 tangible assets to establish a farming business in rural Manitoba AND investments in a farm business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income or speculative purposes are not eligible. |
| Experience |
Minimum of three years of farm business management or farm ownership and operation experience supported by verifiable documents. |
| EOI System |
Yes |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Farm Business Research Visit Required |
| Interview |
Required |
| Refundable Deposit |
CAD $75,000 |
| PR/Work Permit |
Temporary work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements. |
| Additional Requirements |
CAD $100,000 refundable deposit is no longer required. |
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) - Entrepreneurial Stream
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $600,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $250,000 |
| Experience |
3 out of 5 years or more in owning a business OR 5 out of 5 years or more in a senior business management role. |
| EOI System |
Yes |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required, must be of economic benefit to the province |
| Exploratory Visit |
Required |
| Interview |
Required |
| Refundable Deposit |
CAD $100,000 |
| PR/Work Permit |
PR after obtaining provincial nomination certificate |
| Additional Requirements |
22-55 years old; and, CLB 5 in English or French in reading, writing, listening and speaking. |
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) - Entrepreneur Stream
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $600,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $150,000 |
| Experience |
At least 3 years of business ownership experience including 33.3% ownership in the last 10 years OR +5 years as senior manager in the last 10 years. |
| EOI System |
Yes (province publishes info on previous draws) |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Required for business succession only |
| Interview |
Required |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
Must operate business for at least 1 year on work permit following nomination; PR contingent on meeting program requirements. |
| Additional Requirements |
Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI); The business must meet additional criteria; and, English/French minimum CLB 5 |
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) - Corporate Stream
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
Not Applicable |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $5,000,000 OR CAD $10,000,000 if the proposed business is a land development or a leasehold company |
| Experience |
The international corporation must have been established for at least 36 months at the time of application. |
| EOI System |
No |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Recommended |
| Interview |
Required |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
Applicant & key staff first obtain work permits; PR contingent on meeting program requirements. |
| Additional Requirements |
Create 5 new jobs for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident per key staff member seeking nomination. |
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) - Entrepreneur Stream
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
For businesses in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): CAD $1,500,000 OR for businesses outside the GTA: CAD $800,000 OR for businesses in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of location): CAD $800,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
In the GTA: CAD $1,000,000 and ownership of 33.3% of the business OR Outside the GTA: $500,000 and ownership of 33.3% of the business OR In the ICT/Digital Communications sector: $500,000 and ownership of 33.3% of the business. |
| Experience |
At least 36 months of full-time business experience in the last five years as business owner or senior manager. |
| EOI System |
Yes (province publishes info on previous draws) |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Required for business succession only |
| Interview |
Required upon request by OINP |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
Temporary work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements. |
| Additional Requirements |
Sign a Performance Agreement with Ontario; English/French minimum CLB 4; and, Create at least 2 permanent, full-time jobs for a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident |
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) - Entrepreneur Category
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $500,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
CAD $300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon and at least 33.3% ownership OR $200,000 in any other Saskatchewan community and at least 33.3% ownership OR CAD $1,000,000 investment or more |
| Experience |
At least 3 years' experience as an entrepreneur or managing a business in the past 10 years |
| EOI System |
Yes |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Required for business succession, joint ventures, and regional business opportunities |
| Interview |
Required upon request by SINP |
| Refundable Deposit |
Not Required |
| PR/Work Permit |
2-year work permit; PR contingent upon meeting program requirements. |
| Additional Requirements |
Sign a Performance Agreement; and, Create 2+ employment opportunities if establishing a business in Regina or Saskatoon. |
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) - Farm Owner/Operator Category
| Criteria |
Description |
| Minimum Net Worth |
CAD $500,000 |
| Minimum Investment |
Not Required |
| Experience |
Farming operation ownership experience using agricultural practices similar to those used in Saskatchewan-based farming. |
| EOI System |
No |
| Managerial Role |
Required |
| Business Plan |
Farm Establishment Plan (FEP) Required |
| Exploratory Visit |
Required |
| Interview |
Required upon request by SINP |
| Refundable Deposit |
CAD $75,000 |
| PR/Work Permit |
PR after obtaining nomination certificate |
| Additional Requirements |
Submit a Farm Establishment Plan; and, Sign a Performance Agreement |
