The Business Immigration Program seeks to attract experienced business people to Canada who will support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. Business immigrants are expected to make a $400,000 investment or to own and manage businesses in Canada.

Each application can be made for only one class and cannot be changed once the application is submitted. The criteria you must meet to qualify are different for each class.

Canada has three classes of business immigrants:

1. Investors

2. Entrepreneurs

3. Self Employed

Investor

Another effective program available when obtaining Permanent Residency status in Canada is the Immigrant Investor Program.

Unlike with entrepreneurs, the Immigrant Investor Program is ideal for those who want to immigrate to Canada but do not want to have conditions attached to the Permanent Residence Visa once issued.

In order to be eligible for the Immigrant Investor Program an individual must:

1. Have a jointly owned Net - Worth of CDN $400,000 anywhere in the World.
2. Have at least 3 years of managerial experience.
3. Invest non-refundable $ 110,000.

Entrepreneur

"Entrepreneur" means a foreign national who:

1. Has business experience
2. Has a legally obtained minimum net worth
3. Provides a written statement to an officer that they intend to and will be able to meet the conditions referred to in subsections 98.(1) to (5):

98. (1) An entrepreneur who becomes a permanent resident must meet the following conditions:

a) The entrepreneur must control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian business equal to or greater than 33 1/3 per cent;

b) The entrepreneur must provide active and ongoing management of the qualifying Canadian business; and

c) The entrepreneur must create at least one incremental full-time job equivalent for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneur and their family members

(3) The entrepreneur must meet the conditions for a period of at least one year within the period of three years after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident.
(4) An entrepreneur who becomes a permanent resident must provide to an officer evidence of compliance with the conditions within the period of three years after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident.
(5) An entrepreneur must provide to an officer, not later than six months after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident, their residential address and telephone number; and during the period beginning 18 months after and ending 24 months after the day on which the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident, evidence of their efforts to comply with the conditions.

"Business experience" means

in respect of an entrepreneur, the management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application

"Net worth" means

In respect of an entrepreneur, means the fair market value of all of the assets of the entrepreneur and their spouse or common-law partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities

"Minimum net worth" means

1. In respect of an entrepreneur, CDN $300,000.
2. In respect of an entrepreneur selected by a province, the minimum net worth required by the laws of the province.

"Qualifying Canadian business" means

A business operated in Canada by an entrepreneur -- other than a business primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income, such as interest, dividends or capital gains -- for which there is in any year within the period of three years after the day the entrepreneur becomes a permanent resident documentary evidence of any two of the following:

a) 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;

b) The percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CDN $250,000;

c) The percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CDN $25,000; and

d) The percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000

"Full-time job equivalent" means

1,950 hours of paid employment.

"Net assets" means

In respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian business, means the assets of the business, minus the liabilities of the business, plus shareholder loans made to the business by a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner

"Net income" means

In respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian business, the after tax profit or loss of the business plus remuneration by the business to a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner

"Percentage of equity" means

1. in respect of a sole proprietorship, 100 per cent of the equity of the sole proprietorship controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner

2. in respect of a corporation, the percentage of the issued and outstanding voting shares of the capital stock of the corporation controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner

3. in respect of a partnership or joint venture, the percentage of the profit or loss of the partnership or joint venture to which a foreign national or their spouse or common-law partner is entitled.

SELF EMPLOYED

As a Self Employed person, you must have relevant experience in cultural activities, athletics or farm management. You must also have the intention and ability to establish a business that will, at a minimum, create an employment opportunity for yourself. You must make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

Conditions of permanent residence are not imposed on Self Employed persons. You must have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada.

Regulatory Requirements

"Self Employed person" means

A foreign national who has relevant experience and has the intention and ability to be Self Employed in Canada and to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada

"Relevant experience" means

In respect of a Self Employed person, at least two years of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, namely:

a) Self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics

b) Participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics

c) Farm management experience

"Specified economic activities" means

in respect of a Self Employed person means cultural activities, athletics or the purchase and management of a farm.