The program grants successful Applicants and eligible dependents permanent residence in Canada and provides assistance with becoming established. Applicants receive leadership support, guidance and access to funding to assist with opening and operating their business in Canada through the designated Canadian organization that elects to support them.

To be eligible to apply, Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Have a qualifying business (see what constitutes a Qualifying Business);
• Obtain a letter of support from a designated organization;
• Obtain the minimum required investment (if going through a venture capital fund or angel investor group);
• Meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 5 in all abilities (English or French);
• Pass the medical and security clearances;
• Have enough funds to settle in Canada; and
• Intend to reside in a province other than Quebec.

A Qualifying Business must meet the following conditions:

• At the time of obtaining a commitment from a designated organization:
  • Each Applicant holds at least 10% of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time; AND
  • Applicants and the designated organization jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time.
• At the time of obtaining permanent residence:
  • Applicants are providing active and ongoing management of the business from within Canada;
  • An essential part of the operations of the business happens in Canada; and
  • The business is incorporated in Canada.

There is a designated number of organizations that may provide commitment to Applicants. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has authorized certain venture capital funds, angel investor groups and business incubator organizations to partake in the Start-Up Visa Program.

Successful applicants must:

• Secure an investment of at least $200,000 from a venture capital fund; OR
• Secure an investment of at least $75,000 from an angel investor group; OR
• Be accepted into a business incubator program.

Support from multiple organizations is acceptable. The designated organizations must be identified and jointly provide IRCC with a single Commitment Certificate and provide the Applicant(s) one Letter of Support.

In a situation where multiple designated organizations are providing support, the minimum total investment amount is determined by the requirements of the contributing organization that invests first (i.e. if the business receives an investment from an angel investor group, but not a venture capital fund, the minimum total investment must be $75,000).

In order to help preserve the integrity of the Start-Up Visa Program and ensure that the activities of the designated organization and the Applicant are in line with industry standards, immigration officers may request an independent assessment of a commitment. These assessments are to be conducted by a peer review panel of experts assembled by the Applicant’s industry association.

The panel of experts are responsible for the following:

• Assessing the level of due diligence performed by the designated organization;
• Assessing the terms of the commitment, and if applicable, the investment, to ensure the terms are consistent with industry standards;
• Ensuring that the business has been or will be incorporated in Canada;
• Ensuring that the business ownership has been verified and meets the requirements of the Program;
• Ensuring that the designated organization:
  • Considered the viability of the proposed business model;
  • Assessed the business venture’s management team; and
  • Verified the ownership of the intellectual property.
• Ensuring that the focus of the business is on a high-growth potential product/service; and
• Validate whether the business was accepted into a business incubator program, if applicable.

The Start-Up Visa Program provides Applicants with  the option to apply for a short-term Canadian Work Permit under the international mobility program while they  await a decision on the permanent residence application.

Obtain a Canadian or U.S. work permit for key personnel if your foreign business has, or if you are committed to opening a parent company, subsidiary, branch or affiliate in Canada or the U.S.

This type of work permit exempts applicants from obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or waiver. Workers and employers who choose to use this program must comply with all of the conditions of the work permit, which may include obtaining a Temporary Resident Visa. Contact us to learn more about the Intra-Company Transfer Program and complete the free assessment to see if you qualify

Certain Applicants may be exempt from applying for a work permit to conduct business in Canada. Entering Canada as a business visitor allows Applicants to engage in certain business activities for up to 6 months without the need to apply for an LMIA and work permit.

Are You a Business Visitor?

You are a business visitor if you:

• Would like to enter Canada to participate in international business activities without entering the Canadian labour market
• Would like to visit Canada temporarily to
  • Explore ways to grow your business
  • Invest
  • Advance your business relationships

Evidence to Provide as a Business Visitor

In order to qualify as a business visitor to Canada, Applicants must prove that they:

• Plan to stay for less than 6 months;
• Don’t plan to enter the Canadian labour market;
• Have a main place of business and source of income/profits outside Canada;
• Have documents that support their application; and
• Meet Canada’s basic entry requirements, because they
  • Are in possession a valid travel document, such as a passport
  • Have sufficient funds for the stay and return home
  • Plan to leave Canada at the end of the visit
  • Are not a criminal, security or health risk to Canadians.

Eligible Activities

Activities that are eligible to be conducted as a business visitor include:

• Purchasing Canadian goods or services for a foreign business or government;
• Taking orders for goods or services;
• Attending meetings, conferences, conventions or trade fairs;
• Providing after-sales services (managing, not doing hands-on labour);
• Training employees of a Canadian branch of a foreign company; and
• Being trained by a Canadian company that has sold the Applicant equipment or services.

Note: Under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), U.S. and Mexican nationals may also take part in business activities such as research, marketing and general services as business visitors.

Requirements for Entering Canada

In order to enter Canada as a business visitor, applicants may need a visitor visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Our associates at Pace Immigration would be pleased to help you figure out what type of authorization you need. Contact us today for more information.

What to Bring With You to Canada

Applicants arriving at the border as business visitors must have the following documents on them (not packed away in their suitcase):

• A passport or travel document that is valid for the entire stay;
• A valid visitor visa, if required;
• If an eTA is required, Applicant must travel using the same passport as specified in the eTA application;
• Letters of support from the parent company and a letter of invitation from the Canadian host business or a Letter of Recognition from the Canada Border Services Agency;
• Other documentation such as warranty or service agreement or contracts;
• 24-hour contact details of the business host in Canada; and
• Evidence of sufficient funds for the stay in Canada and for the return home.