1) OWNER OPERATOR PROGRAM

This program is designed for business persons who will own and manage a business in Canada, contributing to the economy and creating new jobs. They must demonstrate business experience and a minimum legally obtained net worth of CDN $300,000.

2) VENTURE CAPITAL PILOT PROGRAM

The Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Pilot Program has reopened. CIC will accept applications from May 25 to December 30, 2015, and will process the first 60 complete applications. CIC will also accept up to 60 additional applications that will be placed on a waiting list. The program may close earlier if 60 immigrant investors are approved for permanent residence, or once 60 applications are in processing and 60 applications are on the waiting list.

REQUIREMENTS FOR IIVC

Personal Net Worth:

  • Must have a personal net worth of CDN $10 million or more.
  • Net worth must have been acquired through lawful, private sector business or investment activities.
  • Personal net worth acquired by inheritance or in the value of your primary residence will not count towards the personal net worth requirement.

Language Skills:

  • Must prove your proficiency CLB 5 in English or French in all four language abilities (speaking, reading, listening and writing)
  • Language test results must be less than two years old on the day CIC receives application.

Education:

  • Must have a completed Canadian post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate of at least one year; or
  • Must have a foreign equivalent, as validated by an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a CIC-designated organization. The ECA report must indicate that your completed foreign education credential is equal to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.
  • If investors can demonstrate that they have a personal net worth of $50 million or more acquired through lawful, private sector business or investment activities, they can request an exemption from the education requirement when they apply.

3) INVESTOR

The Immigrant Investor Program is designed for business persons who can demonstrate that they have legally obtained a minimum net worth of CDN $800,000, and are willing to make a 5-year interest-free investment of CDN $400,000 with the government of Canada.

4) SELF EMPLOYED CLASS

The Self Employed Class is designed towards applicants who have relevant self-employment experience as well as the intention and the ability to create their own employment and make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic or athletic life of Canada, or to create their own employment by purchasing and managing a farm in Canada.

Requirements for Self Employed Class:

  • A successful applicant is one who has at least two years of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of the application and ending on the day a determination is made on the application, in self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics; participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics; or farm management experience.
  • Applicant must meet the required level in basic language proficiency from a designated language testing organization either French or English.
  • Applicant must demonstrate a sufficient financial net worth which, should enable the applicant to be self-employed in Canada and make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada and to meet the initial settlement requirements for the applicant and accompanying dependants.

Selection Factors:

Selection Factors Maximum Points Your Points As Below:

  • First Official Language- 16 (English Or French)
  • Second Official Language- 8 (English Or French)
  • Education- 25
  • Age- 10
  • Experience- 35
  • Business t Trip Within 5 Years- 6
  • Total Points- 100
  • A minimum of 35 points are required.

5) START UP VISA PROGRAM

The Start-Up Visa Program was introduced by ministerial instruction in April 2013 as a pilot project. The Start-Up Visa program grants Canadian permanent residence to qualified immigrant entrepreneurs. The program aims to recruit innovative entrepreneurs to Canada and link them with the Canadian private sector businesses, (angel investor groups, venture capital funds or business incubators) and facilitate the establishment of their start-up business in Canada.

Applicants to Canada’s Start-Up Visa program must meet four basic eligibility requirements:

  1. Obtain a commitment from a designated entity in the form of a Commitment Certificate or Letter of Support;
  2. Have sufficient unencumbered, available and transferable settlement funds;
  3. Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education;
  4. Demonstrate sufficient proficiency in English or French through standardized testing (Canadian Language Benchmark level 5) ;

The required commitment from a designated entity must meet the following criteria:

  • A designated angel investor group must confirm that it is investing at least $75,000 CAD into the qualifying business, or two or more commitments from designated angel investor groups totaling $75,000 CAD; OR
  • A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 CAD into the qualifying business or two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totaling $200,000 CAD; OR
  • A designated business incubator must confirm that it is accepting the applicant into its business incubator Program.

In order to qualify, the intended business must be incorporated and carrying on business in Canada at the time the commitment is made and:

  • The applicant owns a least 10% of the voting rights in the corporation; AND

No other person holds 50% or more of the total amount of voting rights in the corporation.