Business class immigrants are selected on the bases of their ability to create jobs for themselves and other Canadians. Some business programs are managed through Provincial Nominee streams, but others are managed directly through the Ministry of Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada.

Federal business programs are Start-Up Visa Program and Self-employment Program.

Start-Up Visa Program:

Applicants in the Start-Up Visa Program have to build a new business in Canada and obtain support from:

• one or more designated Canadian Venture Capital Fund; or
• two or more designated Angel Investor Groups; or
• accepted into one program of a designated business incubator.

The new business needs to obtain a minimum investment of $200K from one or more Canadian Venture Capital Funds or a minimum investment of $75,000.00CAD from two or more angel investors. The applicant does not need to invest his/her own money.

The Government of Canada issues work permits to the applicants while they are waiting for their main applications to be processed.

A minimum language requirement is IELST 5.

On your behalf Arcadia can help you prepare a market research and business plan, as well as, reach out to venture capital funds, angel investors or designated business incubators. Contact Arcadia today to guide you through this process and make your dream come to reality.

Self-employment Program:

A self-employed person who has 2 years of relevant experience in the last 5 years may become permanent residents on the basis of their ability to become economically established in Canada, within the meaning of sec. 88(1) of the IRPR.

The person needs to have the self-employed experience in:

• Arts, culture or music;
• Sports or athletics.

The Self-employment Program is based on a ranking system, where the applicant is required to a certain score to qualify. Language fluency is an important part of that system. A minimum language requirement is IELST Listening – 4.5; IELST Reading – 3.5; IELST Writing and Speaking – 4.

A viable business plan needs to be submitted with the Self-employment application. Contact Arcadia today to help you write the business plan and calculate your ranking, as well as, guide you through the process of submitting the application.

All provincial business programs operate on an Expression of Interest (EOI) basis, where all EOIs are ranked and placed from the highest to the lowest score. The EOI is not an application, but merely a preliminary screening process to identify the candidates that meet the requirements of a provincial program. The identified candidate usually needs to provide a business plan and agree to a performance agreement. Upon completion of the performance agreement, the candidate’s application is filed and approved. After completing this step, the candidate applies to the federal government for final approval.

Ontario Entrepreneur Stream:

• Experience: full-time business experience as a business owner or as a senior manager for at least 24 months in the last 60 months.
• Net worth: $400 000 – $800 000CAD (some conditions apply);
• Investment: $200 000 – $600 000CAD (some conditions apply);
• Language: IELST Listening – 4.5; IELTS Reading – 3.5; IELST Writing and Speaking – 4;
• Job Creation: create 1 to 2 permanent new jobs (some conditions apply);
• Exploratory visit: one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months from the date of registering an Expression of Interest Website;
• Business plan: yes.

Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway:

• Experience: full-time business experience as a business owner or as a senior manager for at least 36 months in the last 60 months;
• Net worth: $500 000CAD;
• Investment: $150 000 – $250 000CAD (some conditions apply);
• Language: IELST – 5;
• Job Creation: maintain or create new 1 job (some conditions apply);
• Exploratory visit: one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months from the date of registering an Expression of Interest Website;
• Business plan: yes.

Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway:

• Experience: minimum of 36 months farm ownership and operation experience supported by verifiable documents;
• Net worth: $500 000CAD;
• Investment: $300 000CAD+ and establish a farming business in rural Manitoba;
• Language: IELST – 4 (some conditions apply);
• Job Creation: – – –
• Exploratory visit: must conduct a Farm Business Research Visit to Manitoba;
• Business plan: yes.

Saskatchewan International Graduate Entrepreneur Category – SINP:

• Experience: actively own and operate a business in Saskatchewan for at least one year prior to applying;
• Net worth: – – –
• Investment: own at least one-third (33%) of the business and take part in the day-to-day management. Ownership must be the result of a verifiable investment made directly by the applicant, either from their own equity or from an eligible source;
• Language: IELST – 6;
• Job Creation: not mandatory, bur recommended;
• Exploratory visit: not applicable;
• Business plan: yes.

Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Application – SINP:

• Experience: three years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience gained in the past ten years;
• Net worth: $500 000CAD;
• Investment: $200 000 – $300 000CAD;
• Language: IELST – 4, but not mandatory;
• Job Creation: 2 jobs;
• Exploratory visit: not applicable;
• Business plan: yes.

Saskatchewan Farm Owner and Operator Application – SINP:

• Experience: three-year experience in farm ownership, farm management or practical farming experience;
• Net worth: $500 000. $300 000 for young farmers under 40 years old;
• Investment: $150 000. $0 for young farmers;
• Language: varies,
• Job Creation: not mandatory, recommended;
• Exploratory visit: for at least 10 days to conduct research through meetings with service professionals
• Business plan: yes.

Alberta Self-employed Farmer Stream:

• Experience: prove that the applicant has necessary skills, not experience;
• Net worth: $500 000CAD
• Investment: $500 000CAD. Canadian financing is acceptable.
• Language: N/A, but realistically one needs at least IELST – 4
• Job Creation: – – –
• Exploratory visit: – – –
• Business plan: yes

Alberta Foreign Graduate Start-Up Visa Stream:

• Experience: 6 months of full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or working for business incubator or business accelerator;
• Net worth: – – –
• Investment: $50 000 – 100 00CAD from own equity or from a recognized Canadian financial institution, venture capital, or angel investment firm;
• Language: N/A, but realistically one needs at least IELST – 4;
• Job Creation: Create 1 – 3 jobs, not mandatory;
• Exploratory visit: not mandatory, but presentation/pitch is necessary
• Business plan: yes.

On your behalf Arcadia can help you prepare a market research and business plan, as well as, reach out to designated agencies and venture capital funds, angel investors or designated business incubators. Contact Arcadia today to guide you through this process and make your dream come to reality.

Alberta International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream:

The International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream allows Alberta to nominate international graduates from Alberta colleges and universities, who want to establish or operate a business in Alberta, to apply for permanent residence. The stream is based on a ranking system, where the applicant is required to a certain score to qualify.

• Experience: 6 months of full-time work experience that can be a combination of actively managing or owning the business or working for business incubator or business accelerator;
• Net worth: – – –
• Investment: $25 00CAD, but not mandatory;
• Language: IELST – 6;
• Job Creation: Create 1 – 3 jobs, not mandatory;
• Exploratory visit: not applicable;
• Business plan: provide economic benefit plan instead.

British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration:

• Experience: within 10 years have 3+ years of experience as a business owner-manager, OR, 4+ years of experience as a senior manager, OR, a combination of 1+ year of experience as a business owner-manager and 2+ years of experience as a senior manager;
• Net worth: $600 000;
• Investment: $200 000;
• Language: IELST Listening – 4.5; IELTS Reading – 3.5; IELST Writing and Speaking – 4;
• Job Creation: 1 job;
• Exploratory visit: no;
• Business plan: yes.

British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot:

• Experience: within 5 years have 3+ years of experience as a business owner-manager, OR, 4+ years of experience as a senior manager, OR, a combination of 1+ year of experience as a business owner-manager and 2+ years of experience as a senior manager;
• Net worth: $300 000;
• Investment: $100 000;
• Language: IELST Listening – 4.5; IELTS Reading – 3.5; IELST Writing and Speaking – 4;
• Job Creation: 1 job;
• Exploratory visit: Yes, must engage and visit an enrolled community for support before registering;
• Business plan: yes.

Nova Scotia Entrepreneur:

• Experience: 3 years’ experience actively managing and owning a business (1/3 ownership minimum) OR more than 5 years’ experience in a senior business management role;
• Net worth: $600 000;
• Investment: $150 000;
• Language: IELST 5;
• Job Creation: 1 job, if creating a new business;
• Exploratory visit: if purchasing an existing business;
• Business plan: yes.

New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream:

• Experience: business owner or senior manager for 3 years in the last 5 years;
• Net worth: $500 000;
• Investment: $150 000;
• Language: IELST 5;
• Job Creation: 1 job, if creating a new business.
• Exploratory visit: minimum visit of 5 days;
• Business plan: submit with Expression of Interest.

Newfoundland and Labrador:

• Experience: 2 years’ experience actively managing and owning a business (25% minimum ownership) in the last 5 years OR 5 or more years’ experience in a senior business management role in the last ten years;
• Net worth: $600 000;
• Investment: $200,000 CAD of their own money to establish a business with a minimum ownership of 33.3 per cent, or $1 million in equity investment;
• Language: IELST 5;
• Job Creation: 1 job.
• Exploratory visit: yes;
• Business plan: yes.