The Start-up Visa Program

The start-up business class category is designed to facilitate entrepreneurs immigrating to Canada who are able to invest and apply their skill set, innovation and experience to grow their own business, and compete on a global scale while creating jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents through the Start-up Visa Program.

Canada is a strong country to base and grow a large variety of businesses. There is a huge variety of fields from which to choose along with talent, natural resources, and a choice between urban or rural life.

Some of the many incentives and advantages of establishing a business in Canada include a good economy, low taxes, low business costs, competition on a global basis, resources for research and innovation, good quality of life, physical size and natural resources.

To be eligible for the Start-up Visa Program, and immigrate permanently to Canada, you need to meet certain criteria including obtaining support for your venture from one of the many designated organizations, including venture capital funds, angel investor groups and business incubators pre-approved to support or invest in a start-up. You must:

• submit a letter of support for your business from a designated organization (Applications without a letter of support are refused.)
• prove that you own at least 10 per cent of voting rights in the business, and, ensure that the designated organization and the applicants jointly hold over 50 per cent of voting rights in the business. (Up to 5 people can be owners of the same business and still apply to immigrate through the Start-up Program.)
• prove that you have sufficient funds to invest and settle you and your family according to the requirements of the specific program and/or province to which you are applying
• show test results from an approved agency that indicate your language skills meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark 5 as far as reading, writing, speaking and listening, in either English or French

Here is another area in which we shine! Sit down with our experts in business matters to discuss your business plan and find out all you need to include in your proposal.

Visit the Citizen Immigration and Canada website for more on the Start-up Visa Program

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