INVESTORS ENTREPRENEUR AND SELF- EMPLOYED VISA
Canadian Government and immigration encourages people across the globe to invest and contribute to Canadian economy thereby increasing international exposure and great earning potential to the business people. If you want to set up your business in Canada, our experienced staff will help you to find out and apply the visa suitable to your needs. Under business visa we can apply for different categories:-
- Investors – The Federal Immigrant Investor Program is permanently closed and does not operate anymore. On 19th June 2014, this immigration program ended and all applications left in the backlog were terminated. This closure does not apply to the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.
- Entrepreneurs –CIC has stopped accepting applications for the federal entrepreneur program.
- Start Up Visa Program- The Start-up Visa Program is a generic Investor Visa option. It allows a candidate to immigrate to Canada by starting a business anywhere in the country. A candidate and his business have to meet certain requirements in order to be successful with his/her application. In general, a business must be innovative, should create job opportunities for Canadians and should be able to compete internationally. One can also apply for a temporary work permit while he/she waits for their application’s approval, to keep themselves busy in Canada.
- Self Employed Person Program- This program has been designed for those individuals who want to become self employed after immigrating to Canada. Such applicants are expected to have experience in cultural or athletics activities (to contribute in the same) or in farm management (to purchase and manage farm) in Canada.
- Support by designated organization: To apply for the Start up visa, a candidate needs to have a support from a designated entity or organization. Such designated organizations need to provide a letter of support to the individual, which they in turn need to submit with their application for the visa.
- Language Proficiency- : To qualify for this visa, a candidate must have the required level of language proficiency that is required, i.e., (CLB 5) in either English or French. In order to prove that the candidate satisfies the language proficiency requirements, he/she must provide the test result of a recognized agency (i.e. IELTS) to the Canadian Government, with appropriate score in all four language abilities, i.e. Speaking, listening, reading, writing.
- Sufficient funds: Foe applying for the Start-up visa, a main criterion is that a candidate must show that he/she has enough funds to financially support themselves and their accompanying family members (if any) when they land in Canada. The candidate must be able to provide the proof of funds while submitting application for the visa.
- Relevant Experience: A candidate’s experience as a self employed person can be counted only if:
- He/she has participated in any cultural activity or athletics or an event at the international level.
- He/she has been previously self employed in any cultural activity or athletics.
- The candidate has experience in farm management.
- Selection criteria: A candidate’s eligibility applying for the Canadian Start-up visa will be assessed based on the parameters mentioned below:
- Age
- Language proficiency
- Education
- Experience
- Adaptability
PROVINCIAL NOMINEE BUSINESS PROGRAMS FOR ENTREPRENEUR VISA
- Quebec:
- British Columbia:
- Manitoba:
- Ontario:
- Prince Edward Island:
- Saskatchewan:
Eligibility-
- Have at least two years of business management experience in the last five years in a profitable business with at least 25% capital equity and undertaking tasks and duties.
- Have a business proposal project in Quebec.
- Have a net worth of at least C$300,000 in legitimately acquired assets.
- Acquisition of a business in Québec component: you must have purchased at least 25% of the capital equity in a firm worth at least C$100,000 in Québec and be actively managing it.
For the Proposed Business Project Stream, a qualifying score of 50 points is required.
A 60-point qualifying score for the Business Purchase Stream is required.
Eligibility-
- Possess a net worth of $600,000
- Business experience of at least 3-5 years.
- Ability to purchase a new business or improve the existing one.
- Must be able to make a personal investment of at least $200,000 in the business in Quebec.
- Create at least one full time job for Canadian citizen.
Eligibility-
- Possess a net worth of CDN$350,000
- have a minimum of 60 points on the Adaptability Assessment Matrix.
- Business experience of at least 3-5 years.
- make an Eligible Business Investment in Manitoba
- live in Manitoba with his or her dependent family members.
- Attend an MPNP-B officer interview.
There are two streams for this programs-
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Entrepreneur Stream
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Corporate Stream
Eligibility:
- Depending on the location and sector of your proposed firm, you must invest a minimum of $500,000.
- At least two full-time permanent jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents must be created.
- To be nominated after your business has been established in Ontario, you must fulfil a minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or equivalent.
There are two streams for this programs-
- 100% Ownership Stream-
- Partial Ownership Stream-
Eligibility:
- personal net worth of $600,000
- 21-59 years of age at the time of application.
- minimum band score of 4.0 on the IELTS within the last 2 years.
- Provide a detailed business plan for 100% business ownership
- Provide active and on-going management of the business from within Prince Edward Island.
- Sign an escrow agreement containing stipulations on a deposit of $200,000
- Make a minimum of $150,000 investment into a new or existing Prince Edward Island owned and operated business.
Eligibility-
- Personal net worth of $500,000
- Business experience of at least 3-5 years.
- Ability to invest a minimum of $300,000 (CAD) in Regina and Saskatoon or a minimum of $200,000 (CAD) in all other Saskatchewan communities.
- If you are invited to apply, you must submit a Business Establishment Plan (BEP) that corresponds to the information in your EOI.
Your selection is dependent on a total of 160 selection points.
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Immigrate To Canada Under The Self Employment Program
What is a Self-Employed Visa?
The Self-Employed Visa falls under the Business immigration visa category. This visa aims to attract individuals with talents in cultural, artistic, or athletic fields. Applicants must demonstrate that they possess the necessary experience in their artistic or athletic field while residing in their home country.
This requirement is to ensure that the applicant can significantly contribute to their field in Canada through their skills and experience. However, candidates who prefer to live in Quebec should apply through the Quebec Self-Employed Program.
To qualify for this program, applicants must have relevant experience and show the intention and ability to either:
- Make a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural, artistic, or athletic sectors at an international level; or
- Purchase or manage a farm in Canada.
What are the qualifying activities for the Self-Employed Program?
The National Occupation Classification of Canada has provided a list of all possible career options that fall under these two categories.
1.Professional Occupations in Art and Culture
5111 | Librarians |
5112 | Conservators and Curators |
5113 | Archivists |
5121 | Authors and Writers |
5122 | Editors |
5123 | Journalists |
5124 | Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications |
5125 | Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters |
5131 | Producers, Directors, Choreographers, and Related Occupations |
5132 | Conductors, Composers, and Arrangers |
5133 | Musicians and Singers |
5134 | Dancers |
5135 | Actors and Comedians |
5136 | Painters, Sculptors, and Other Visual Artists |
2.Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
5211 | Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants |
5212 | Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries |
5221 | Photographers |
5222 | Film and Video Camera Operators |
5223 | Graphic Arts Technicians |
5224 | Broadcast Technicians |
5225 | Audio and Video Recording Technicians |
5226 | Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
5227 | Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
5231 | Announcers and Other Broadcasters |
5232 | Other Performers |
5241 | Graphic Designers and Illustrators |
5242 | Interior Designers |
5243 | Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers |
5244 | Artisans and Craftsperson |
5245 | Patternmakers – Textile, Leather, and Fur Products |
5251 | Athletes |
5252 | Coaches |
5253 | Sports Officials and Referees |
5254 | Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness |
The National Occupation Classification of Canada has provided a list of all possible career options that fall under these two categories.
1.Professional Occupations in Art and Culture
5111 | Librarians |
5112 | Conservators and Curators |
5113 | Archivists |
5121 | Authors and Writers |
5122 | Editors |
5123 | Journalists |
5124 | Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications |
5125 | Translators, Terminologists, and Interpreters |
5131 | Producers, Directors, Choreographers, and Related Occupations |
5132 | Conductors, Composers, and Arrangers |
5133 | Musicians and Singers |
5134 | Dancers |
5135 | Actors and Comedians |
5136 | Painters, Sculptors, and Other Visual Artists |
2.Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
5211 | Library and Archive Technicians and Assistants |
5212 | Technical Occupations Related to Museums and Art Galleries |
5221 | Photographers |
5222 | Film and Video Camera Operators |
5223 | Graphic Arts Technicians |
5224 | Broadcast Technicians |
5225 | Audio and Video Recording Technicians |
5226 | Other Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
5227 | Support Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts |
5231 | Announcers and Other Broadcasters |
5232 | Other Performers |
5241 | Graphic Designers and Illustrators |
5242 | Interior Designers |
5243 | Theatre, Fashion, Exhibit and Other Creative Designers |
5244 | Artisans and Craftsperson |
5245 | Patternmakers – Textile, Leather, and Fur Products |
5251 | Athletes |
5252 | Coaches |
5253 | Sports Officials and Referees |
5254 | Program Leaders and Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness |
What are the benefits of applying through a Self-Employed Program?
Unlike the Entrepreneur Visa program, the Self-Employed Visa does not have a net-worth requirement. However, applicants must have sufficient funds to cover their overall settlement and finance the immigration process.
Without the obligation to maintain a net worth, candidates have the freedom to establish their employment in Canada without the pressure of sustaining a profit margin. The Self-Employed Program offers numerous options to choose from.
Only 2 years of experience in your chosen art or athletic field is required. You can live and work anywhere in Canada. Additionally, the self-employed visa typically has a shorter processing time compared to other entrepreneur programs.
Do I qualify for the Self-employed program?
To qualify for the Self-Employed program, applicants must accumulate points in the following categories. This point-based system will provide a profile score, enhancing the chances of being selected from the pool of candidates.
Work Experience | Minimum 2 years of experience in your choice of field (this can point up to 5 years) |
Education | Relevant skills related qualifications in your field |
Age | Should be ideally between 18-35 |
Language Skills | Proficiency in Canada’s official languages, i.e., English or French |
Adaptability | How easily the candidate can assimilate into the Canadian society |
How to apply for the Self-Employed visa Program?
Step 1 – Documents accumulation
After verifying the eligibility requirements, the applicant must gather the necessary documents. The documents should align with the Document Checklist (IMM5784). Complete all required medical exams to demonstrate the medical fitness of the applicant and any dependent family members. Obtain Police Certificates from your home country to provide a background check.
Step 2 – Apply for the application
The required application forms include IMM 0008, IMM 0008DEP, IMM 5669, IMM 008 – Schedule 6A, IMM 5406, and IMM 5476. Ensure that all forms are completed with accurate details. Additionally, be sure to fill out the undertaking questionnaire with the appropriate information.
Step 3 – Payment of application fees
The applicant must pay the processing fee, residency fee, and other applicable fees through the official payment portal. Ensure to print out the payment receipt beforehand.
Step 4 – Submit the application
Step 5 – Application Review & Approval
What are the processing time and fees required for a Self-Employed Visa?
The average processing time for a Self-employed Visa application is 24 months. However, the total processing time depends on the speed of IRCC’s handling. It is important to note that some applicants may need to submit biometrics as part of this process.