Canada entrepreneurship visa

Entrepreneurship basically means starting a business, implementing a new business initiative or buying one of the existing businesses in the Canadian provinces, which allows you to obtain a Canadian Entrepreneur Visa as well as Canadian permanent residence. .

Canadian provinces attract many immigrants every year with various entrepreneurship programs. Provincial entrepreneurship programs are among the provincial immigration programs or PNP and are considered one of the investment methods in Canada.

In this article, we discuss the types of provincial entrepreneurship programs, the requirements for obtaining a Canadian entrepreneurship visa, the procedures for obtaining permanent residence through entrepreneurship, and other related materials.

Table of Contents

Benefits of the Canadian Entrepreneur Visa
Disadvantages of Canadian Entrepreneurship Visa
Entrepreneurship programs in Canada
Investment amount for Canadian entrepreneurship
Canadian Entrepreneur Visa application review fee
Minimum language score for Canadian Entrepreneur Visa
Conditions for obtaining a Canadian entrepreneurship visa
What is the financial capacity for a Canadian entrepreneur visa?
Procedures for obtaining permanent residence in Canada through entrepreneurship
Reasons for rejecting a Canadian business visa
Frequently Asked Questions

Benefits of the Canadian Entrepreneur Visa
Business development in an active economic environment: Canada is one of the countries that has a strong and growing economy, so entrepreneurship in this country will develop your business and grow it.
Simplicity of provincial and federal laws for setting up businesses: Canada has simpler rules for registering and setting up businesses than other countries, including the United States. Entrepreneurs from almost any country can expand their business or start new businesses in this country by meeting the conditions.
Canadian government support for innovative projects: Canada attaches great importance to innovative business projects or projects that will grow and help its economy, and supports entrepreneurs in various ways, such as providing free loans.
Obtaining Canadian permanent residence for family members: Another advantage of being an entrepreneur in Canada is that you can obtain Canadian permanent residence for yourself and your spouse and children.
No need for high language skills: Most entrepreneurship programs in Canadian provinces require an IELTS General score of 4 or 5, and some of them do not require a language score to obtain an entrepreneur visa.

Disadvantages of Canadian Entrepreneurship Visa
Lack of manpower: Canada is one of the countries where there is a small working population in some of its provinces, and therefore, it seeks to compensate for its lack of skilled workers by attracting labor from other countries. For this reason, if you do entrepreneurship in this country, you may not find enough expert staff to start and develop your business.
Canada’s dependence on the American economy: Canada and the United States have a close economic and trade relationship. Apart from the benefits of this, any economic recession in the US will directly affect the Canadian economy and labor market.
Cold weather and its impact on business: Winter is associated with cold and snowy weather in many Canadian provinces. This issue can have a negative impact on some businesses such as construction, and actually working in this field will be slow for several months.

Investment amount for Canadian entrepreneurship

To do entrepreneurship in Canadian provinces, you need to provide two or three types of fees. These costs include: net asset amount, investment amount and deposit.

Net worth amount: This includes the monetary value of all your properties and assets in your home country. This asset does not need to be spent or its capital imported into Canada.
Investment Amount: This is the amount of money you need to start or develop your business in Canada and must bring it into Canada.
Deposit: A deposit is the amount of money that in some provincial entrepreneurship programs you have to pay to the provincial government in the form of a trust and as a good performance, which will be refunded to you if you fulfill your obligations regarding the requirements of the entrepreneurship program of that province. .

The table below shows the costs related to business and entrepreneurship programs in different Canadian provinces.

Province, provincial entrepreneurship programs, minimum amount of net assets in Canadian dollars, minimum investment amount in Canadian dollars, deposit
in Canadian dollars
British Columbia BC Core Entrepreneurship Program $600,000 $200,000 —
British Columbia BC Entrepreneurship Program – Regional Pilot $300,000 $100,000 —
British Columbia BC Entrepreneurship Program – Strategic Projects Annual Company Revenue: $20,000,000 $500,000 —
Ontario Entrepreneurship Program Ontario depending on the location of the business in Ontario: $400,000 or $800,000 depending on the location of the business in Ontario: $200,000, $400,000 or $600,000 and ownership of at least 33.3% of Business shares —
Ontario Provincial Immigration Program – Group of Companies – $5,000,000 or $10,000,000 for land development or leased company development –
Quebec Quebec Entrepreneurship Program $900,000 depending on the location of the business: $200,000 or $300,000 and owning at least 25% of the shares of the launched business or at least 51% of the shares of the purchased business —
Quebec Quebec Investment Program $2,000,000 $1,200,000 —
Quebec Quebec self-employment program $100,000 — depending on business location: $25,000 or $50,000
Alberta Alberta Graduate Entrepreneurship Program — Ownership of at least 34% of the target business —
Alberta Entrepreneurship Program

Foreign graduate straw — depending on business location: $50,000 or $100,000 —
Alberta Agriculture Program $500,000 $500,000 —
Alberta Rural Entrepreneurship Program $300,000 $200,000 —
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Entrepreneurship Program $500,000 depending on the location of the business: $200,000 or $300,000 and ownership of at least 33.3% of the shares of the business or an amount of at least $1,000,000 —
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program — Own at least one-third of the equity in the business in question —
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Farmers Program $500,000 — $75,000
Manitoba Manitoba Entrepreneurship Program $500,000 depending on business location: $150,000 or $250,000 —
Manitoba Farm Investment Program $500,000 $300,000 $75,000
New Brunswick New Brunswick Entrepreneurship Program $500,000 $150,000 $100,000
New Brunswick New Brunswick Post-Graduation Entrepreneurship Program — 100 percent ownership of the desired business —
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Entrepreneurship Program – 100% Ownership $600,000 $150,000 $200,000
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Entrepreneurship Program – Fractional ownership $600,000 $150,000 and ownership of at least one-third of the equity in the business or $1,000,000 $200,000
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Work Permit Program $600,000 $150,000 —
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Entrepreneurship Program $600,000 $150,000 —
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program – 100% ownership of the target business –
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Foreign Entrepreneur Program $600,000 $200,000 —
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program — 100% ownership of the target business —
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Entrepreneurship Program depending on the location of the business: $250,000 or $500,000 depending on the location of the business: $150,000 or $300,000 and ownership of at least 33.3% of the business shares Or the amount of $1,000,000 is $75,000
Yukon Yukon Business Plan $500,000 $300,000 and owning at least one-third of the business in question —

Canadian Entrepreneur Visa application review fee

To apply for each province’s entrepreneurship program, you must submit your request or application to the provincial government. The province charges a fee for reviewing your application, the amount of which varies in the entrepreneurship programs of different provinces.

Province fee in Canadian dollars
British Columbia registration fee is $300
The application review fee is $3,500
The appeal fee is $500
Case review fee for each key employee in the entrepreneurship program is $1,000
Ontario application review fee $3,500
Quebec provincial selection application review fee (CSQ) in the investment program is $16,383
The cost of examining the provincial selection application (CSQ) in the self-employment and entrepreneurship program is $1,142
Alberta Alberta Graduate Entrepreneurship Program Application Review Fee $3,500
The application review fee for foreign graduate entrepreneurship program is $3,500
The cost of reviewing the agricultural and farming program application is 500 dollars
The cost of reviewing the application of the entrepreneurship program in rural areas is $3,500
Saskatchewan application review fee $2,500
Manitoba Entrepreneurship Program application review fee $2,500
New Brunswick Entrepreneurship Program application review fee $2,000
The application review fee for the post-graduation entrepreneurship program is $250
Prince Edward Island application review fee $10,000
Nova Scotia Application Review Fee Free
Newfoundland and Labrador application review fee $1,000
Northwest Territories Application review fee $2,800
Yukon cost free application review

Minimum language score for Canadian Entrepreneur Visa

Provincial business and entrepreneurship programs. Minimum language score required
British Columbia BC Core Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade of CLB 4 in English or French
British Columbia Entrepreneurship Program – Regional Pilot
British Columbia Entrepreneurship Program – Strategic Projects A language score is not required, but selected key employees must demonstrate that they have sufficient language ability to start or develop a business.
Ontario Ontario Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade of CLB 4 in English or French
Ontario Provincial Immigration Program – Group of Companies Minimum grade of CLB 5 in English or French
Quebec, the Quebec Entrepreneurship Program does not require a language score, but this program is based on a scoring system, and having a score in French or English will add up to 22 points to your total score.
Quebec investment program
Quebec self-employment program
Alberta Alberta Graduate Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade of CLB 7 in English or French
Foreign graduate entrepreneurship program Minimum CLB 5 score in English or French
The agriculture program does not require a language score, but you must demonstrate that you have sufficient language ability to run a farm.
Entrepreneurship Program in Rural Areas Minimum grade of CLB 4 in English or French
Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Entrepreneurship Program It is not necessary to provide a language score, but this program is based on a scoring system, and having a score in French or English will add up to 15 points to your total score.
Saskatchewan Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade of CLB 7 in English or French
The Saskatchewan Farmers Program does not require a language score, but you must demonstrate that you have sufficient language ability to operate a farm.
Manitoba Entrepreneur Program

Canadian Entrepreneur Visa application review fee

Minimum language score for Canadian Entrepreneur Visa

Manitoba minimum grade of CLB 4 in English or French
The farm investment program does not require a language score, but you may be asked to participate in an interview, so your language skills must be good.
New Brunswick New Brunswick Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade CLB 5 in English or French
New Brunswick Postgraduate Entrepreneurship Program Minimum CLB 7 in English or French
Prince Edward Island Prince Edward Entrepreneurship Program – 100% ownership of a minimum grade of CLB 4 in English or French
Prince Edward Entrepreneurship Program – Fractional Ownership
Prince Edward Work Permit Program
Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Entrepreneurship Program A minimum grade of CLB 5 in English or French
Nova Scotia Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program A minimum grade of CLB 7 in English or French
Newfoundland and Labrador Newfoundland and Labrador Foreign Entrepreneur Program Minimum CLB 5 in English or French
Newfoundland and Labrador Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade CLB 7 in English or French
Northwest Territories Northwest Territories Entrepreneurship Program Minimum grade of CLB 4 in English or French
Yukon Yukon Business Program Minimum grade CLB 4 in English or French

Equivalent to a CLB score of 4 in accepted tests

Listening Reading Writing Speaking test
IELTS General 4.5 3.5 4 4
Cellpipe General 4 4 4 4
TEF Canada 145 121 181 181
TCF Canada 331 332 4 4

Equivalent to a CLB score of 5 in accepted tests

Listening Reading Writing Speaking test
IELTS General 5 4 5 5
Cellpipe General 5 5 5 5
TEF Canada 181 151 226 226
TCF Canada 369 375 6 6

Equivalent to a CLB score of 7 in accepted tests

Listening Reading Writing Speaking test
IELTS General 6 6 6 6
Cellpipe General 7 7 7 7
TEF Canada 249 207 310 310
TCF Canada 458 453 10 10

Conditions for obtaining a Canadian entrepreneurship visa

The conditions of entrepreneurship programs in each Canadian province are different from each other, but in general, to obtain an entrepreneurship visa, you must meet the following conditions:

Having a history of business ownership or senior business management (the amount varies in different entrepreneurship programs)
Providing adequate amount of assets or investment amount or both
Having a score of IELTS General or French TCF, TEF (not required for all entrepreneurial programs)
Conducting an interview if requested by the desired province
Exploratory trip (not necessary for all entrepreneurial programs, but doing it can lead to more points)
Presenting a business plan
Deposit payment (does not include all provinces)
Having physical health
Not having a bad background

What is the financial capacity for a Canadian entrepreneur visa?

The applicant must prove to the Canadian government with his financial ability documents that he has sufficient financial ability to stay and start a business in Canada and that he will not face any problem to meet the minimum requirements of living in this country. Therefore, financial resources can be divided into two parts:

Financial ability to cover the cost of living

Canadian immigration officers use the Lyco chart as a tool to assess an applicant’s financial means. LICO stands for Low-income cut-off and means the lowest amount of income and is used to show the poverty line in Canadian urban areas with a population of at least half a million people. In other words, if your income is less than the LICO, in Canada’s eyes you are below the poverty line.

In short-term visas, the officers expect you to show 12 months of credit in your bank account.

Number of family members Minimum amount required in Canadian dollars
1 person 27,514
2 people 34,254
3 people 42,110
4 people 51,128
5 people 57,988
6 people 65,400
7 people 72,814
More than 7 people: these amounts are added to 7,412 per person

The point that you should pay attention to is that the budget and financial resources mentioned in the table must be owned by the individual or shared with his wife, and the applicant cannot borrow the amount from another person.

Financial ability to finance investment (starting a business in Canada)

The minimum amount required for investment is determined according to the type of business in Canada.

Ways to prove financial ability:

Proof of financial ability through bank letter and quarterly circulation of short-term accounts
Proof of financial ability through a bank letter and one to two months’ circulation of short-term accounts along with sources such as affidavit
Proof of financial ability through a bank letter from long-term accounts (and financial source if needed)
Proof of financial ability through a foreign currency account along with providing a financial source
Proof of financial ability through bank letter and official real estate appraisal
Official property appraisal

Note that the last two are less recommended.

Procedures for obtaining permanent residence in Canada through entrepreneurship

The result of entrepreneurship programs of Canadian provinces is in two ways:

Obtaining a Canadian work visa and then obtaining permanent residence: such as the entrepreneurial programs of the provinces of Ontario, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, British Columbia, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
Obtaining Canadian permanent residence directly: such as the Quebec Entrepreneurship Program, the New Brunswick Entrepreneurship Program and the Nova Scotia Foreign Graduate Entrepreneurship Program

The procedures for obtaining a Canadian entrepreneurship visa are not the same in all provinces. For many programs, you must first register in the Express of Interest-EOI system. Such as the entrepreneurship program of the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba.

But the entrepreneurship program of other provinces, such as Quebec or the Northwest Territories, do not need to send an EOI application.

The details of the procedures for obtaining a Canadian entrepreneurial residence are different in the provinces and their programs, but in general, they follow common procedures.

In the following, we explain the general steps of obtaining residency through Canadian entrepreneurship.

Procedures for Canadian entrepreneurship programs that require a work visa

Receive an invitation
Apply for the provincial program
interview
Apply for a work permit
Entering Canada and starting a business
Apply for provincial selection
Apply for permanent residence in Canada
Steps for Canadian entrepreneurship programs that lead directly to permanent residency
Register

Receive an invitation
Apply for the provincial program
interview
Receive provincial selection certificate
Apply for permanent residence in Canada

The procedures for obtaining Canadian permanent residence in entrepreneurial programs that directly lead to permanent residence are somewhat different from entrepreneurial programs that require a work permit. In these types of programs, you must first register for the program. Enrollment may be through the EOI system or you must enroll in the provincial program.

In these types of entrepreneurial programs, you may need to pay a deposit to the province and also sign a performance agreement. If you meet all the requirements of the agreement, you will be selected by the province and will be allowed to apply for permanent residence for you and your family.

Reasons for rejecting a Canadian business visa

A Canadian investment visa may be rejected for several reasons, including:

Insufficient investment amount
Insufficient net worth in the country of origin
Failure to acquire property through legal means
Business plan
Mistakes or inconsistencies in documents
Incompleteness of necessary documents
The officer is not satisfied with the ability to implement the business plan

There are two stages to obtaining a Canadian entrepreneurship visa:

provincial stage
Federal stage

If you are rejected at the provincial stage, such as when you apply for the British Columbia or Alberta entrepreneurship program, you can apply for a review or appeal through the immigration office of that province.

But if you are rejected at the federal stage, such as applying for a temporary work visa through the federal government, you can appeal to the Canadian federal immigration office.

(mrvisacanadaa)

Mrvisa-admin

January 29, 2024