CANADA
CANADA
Looking for a steadily top-rated country ranked among the best in the world in terms of quality of life, education, civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom? You have chosen right – Canada is not only stable contestant in all those categories, it is also diverse and rich in society, history, and nature. And, for many, it is the country that for years shaped the immigrant investor map.
GDP
POPULATION: 34,834,841
Population Growth: 0.76%
43,100
GDP (per capita)
GDP (purchasing power parity)
$1.518 trillion (2013)
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VISA FREE COUNTRIES: 153
LOCATION
Northern North America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean on the east, North Pacific Ocean on the west, and the Arctic Ocean on the north, north of the conterminous US
CAPITAL
Ottawa
TIME DIFFERENCE
UTC-5
TOTAL AREA
9,984,670 sq. km
AGE DEMOGRAPHICS
0-14: 15.5%, 15-24: 12.7%,
25-54: 41.0%, 55-64: 13.5%,
65+: 17.3%
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
English (official) 58.7%,
French (official) 22%,
other 19.3%
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RELIGIONS WORSHIPPED
Catholic 40.6%, Protestant 20.3%,
other Christian 6.3%, Muslim 3.2%,
Hindu 1.5%, Sikh 1.4%, Buddhist
1.1%, Jewish 1%, other 0.6%,
none 23.9%
GOVERNMENT TYPE
Parliamentary democracy, a federation,
and a constitutional monarchy
CURRENCY
Canadian dollar (CAD)
EXCHANGE RATE
1 USD = 0.97 CAD (2014)
Canada
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The Canadian government has provided several options for newcomers who would like to immigrate to Canada as entrepreneurs or investors. These options available range from federal investment programs to provincial-specific entrepreneur programs, designed to support the economic development in Canada.​​
Why Canada?
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“Looking for a steadily top-rated country ranked among the best in the world in terms of quality of life, education, civil liberties, government transparency, and economic freedom?”
Being recognized as the number one country in the world for quality of life in the World Report 2020, Canada is renowned for its stable political system, secure banking system and a clean environment. It is one of the most popular destinations for investor immigrants wishing to relocate.​​
Benefits
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G8 and NAFTA member;
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Unspoiled environment with strict environmental controls
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World-class Canadian healthcare system;
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Excellent Canadian education system;
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High quality of life;
Eligibility
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Meet the Citizenship Language Requirement (if between 18 and 54);
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Not under a removal order;
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Not having a criminal prohibition
Start-up Visa Program
The Start-up Visa Program is a general investor visa option that allows applicants to immigrate to Canada by starting a business anywhere in the country. A set of requirements shall be met in order to be successful with the application. Innovative business that can create jobs for Canadians and compete internationally will be considered favorably.
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To qualify for the Start-up Visa Program, all four eligibility requirements set out below have to be met, in addition to the admissibility requirements to enter Canada:
Obtain a letter of commitment from a designated organization. A letter of commitment must be obtained from one of the designated organizations below evincing support of the applicant’s start-up:
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A minimum investment of CAD200,000 from a designated Canadian venture capital fund;
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A minimum investment of CAD75,000 from a designated Canadian angel investor group; or
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Acceptance into a Canadian business incubator program by a designated business incubator
Investors are not required to invest any of their own money to apply through the Start-up Visa Program, but it takes about 4-6 months for an entrepreneur to secure a commitment letter from the above designated entity.
Have a Qualifying Business
Upon commitment of a designated organization:
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All applicants (up to 5 owners) must each hold at least 10% of voting rights
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Hold more than 50% of voting rights together with the designated organization
Upon receipt of permanent residence, the applicant shall:
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Have his business incorporated in Canada;
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Actively involved in the business management within Canada; and
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Have part of its essential business operations taking place in Canada.
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Meet the language requirements
A minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark level 5 in speaking, reading, listening and writing in either English or French must be scored.
Possess Sufficient Money to Settle
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No financial support will be provided to the start-up visa, thus, proof of survival ability is required. The amount of money needed will vary according to the size of the family.
The Start-up Visa Program is attractive for many as it does not entail a minimum investment by the immigrant, nor is there a net worth requirement. However, it is not applicable to applicants who intend to reside in the province of Quebec.
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Processing a permanent resident immigration application takes around 18 months. After being a permanent resident for 3 during the preceding 5 years, the applicant will become eligible to apply for a Canadian citizenship. To keep one’s permanent resident status, applicants have to stay in Canada for at least 730 days (either continuously or non-continuously).
Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Program
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The Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Program replaced the federal Immigrant Investor Program, providing a route for high-net worth individuals to Canadian permanent residence.
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Applicants taking this option must have a personal net worth of at least CAD10 million acquired through lawful private sector business or investment, excluding money acquired under inheritance and the value of primary residence. A due diligence report should then be obtained from the designated organizations.
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Further, a non-guaranteed investment of CAD2 million should be made to the IIVC Fund, with an approximate holding period of 15 years.
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Relevant language proficiency tests and education requirements shall also be satisfied along with the application for the IIVC Program.
​Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Program (PNP)
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The Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Program (PNP) gives every province and territory of Canada the power to invite applicants to come and live in their borders if they have the right skills and work experience.
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Applicants have to submit an expression of interest and wait for an invitation to submit an application. Selected candidates can then submit a complete application to be assessed by the province’s immigration authorities.
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Upon approval, applicants are required to sign a Performance Agreement and apply for a work permit and enter Canada as a worker at first. If the requirements in the agreement are met, applicants will receive the provincial nomination. Based on that nomination, applicants may apply for a permanent residence.
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The detailed requirements for these provincial business immigration programs will vary for each province.