Coming to Canada as a business immigrant

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) administers the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act. Our mission is to build a stronger Canada by:

• maximizing the benefits from the global movement of people;
• protecting refugees at home and abroad;
• defining membership in Canadian society; and
• managing access to Canada.

Snapshot

To support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy, Canada welcomes three classes of business immigrants: investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons.

Investors must make a $400,000 investment that is used by the provinces for economic development and job creation.

Entrepreneurs must own and manage a business in Canada that creates employment for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Self-employed persons must have the ability to employ themselves and make significant contributions to cultural activities, athletics or farming.

Note: The following information does not apply to business immigrants who intend to live in the province of Quebec. Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, Quebec selects its own business immigrants.

Requirements for investors

To be eligible for immigration as an investor, an applicant must:

1. make a prescribed investment of $400,000, payable to the Receiver General of Canada. This investment is subsequently allocated to participating provinces and territories in Canada, which use the funds for job creation and economic development. The full amount of the investment (without interest) is repaid to the investor after approximately five years. The return of the investment is fully guaranteed;
2. have a legally obtained net worth of at least $800,000; and
3. for at least two one-year periods in the period beginning five years before the date of application, have either:
   1. managed and controlled a percentage of the equity of a qualifying business, or
   2. managed at least five employees or full-time job equivalents per year in a business, or
   3. a combination of a. and b. above

To establish whether a business is a “qualifying business” during a year for the purposes of selecting investors and entrepreneurs, the business must not have been operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income (such as interest, dividends or capital gains), and the applicant must provide documentary evidence that the business meets at least two of the following criteria:

• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents, is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the total annual sales, is equal to or greater than $500,000;
• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the net income for the year, is equal to or greater than $50,000; or
• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year, is equal to or greater than $125,000.

Requirements for entrepreneurs

To be eligible for immigration as an entrepreneur, an applicant must:

1. have managed and controlled a percentage of the equity of a qualifying business for at least two one-year periods in the period beginning five years before the date of application;
2. have a legally obtained net worth of at least $300,000; and
3. intend and be able to manage and control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian business equal to or greater than 33 1/3 percent, and create at least one full-time job equivalent for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneur and his or her family members, for a period of at least one year within three years of arriving in Canada.

To establish whether a business is a “qualifying Canadian business” during a year for the purposes of 3) above, the business must not have been operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income (such as interest, dividends or capital gains), and an applicant must provide documentary evidence that the business meets at least two of the following criteria:

• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents, is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the total annual sales, is equal to or greater than $250,000;
• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the net income for the year, is equal to or greater than $25,000; or
• the percentage of equity, multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year, is equal to or greater than $125,000.

Requirements for self-employed persons

To be eligible for immigration as a self-employed person, an applicant must have at least two one-year periods of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of application:

• self-employment or participation at a world-class level in cultural activities;
• self-employment or participation at a world-class level in athletics; or
• farm management experience.

Self-employed persons must have the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada and to make significant contributions to cultural activities or athletics, or to purchase and manage a farm.

Selection criteria

To be eligible for selection as business immigrants, applicants must first meet the definition of the class under which they are applying (investor, entrepreneur or self-employed person). Applicants are then assessed against five selection criteria and must obtain a minimum of 35 points.

The selection criteria and maximum points allocated are as follows.

Important notes

1. Selection is based on the documents provided and the qualities of the applicant, as assessed against the selection criteria. An interview may be required. A visa officer will ask the applicant to explain any ambiguities, inconsistencies, shortcomings or gaps in these documents during the interview.
2. The pass mark, as of June 28, 2002, is 35 points for all business immigrants; however, the pass mark can change at the direction of the minister.
3. All dollar amounts cited in this document are in Canadian dollars.

For additional information about CIC’s business programs and access to all our on-line application forms and guides, please visit our Web site at www.cic.gc.ca/business.

For more information

For more information on Citizenship and Immigration Canada, contact us as follows.

Internet

www.cic.gc.ca

Telephone

If you are in Canada, contact the CIC Call Centre at 1 888 242-2100. Automated telephone service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and Call Centre agents are available Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., your local time.

If you are hearing impaired and use a text telephone, you can access the TTY service Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling 1 888 576-8502.

If you are outside Canada, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your region.

Mail or Fax

Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1

Fax: (613) 952-5533

Contact

Email: Nat-Business-Immigration@cic.gc.ca

This is not a legal document. For precise legal information, consult the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and regulations.

© Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada, 2004
Cat. No.: Ci51-89/2004
ISBN 0-662-68133-9
C&I-617-03-04