Pax Law Corporation is a Canadian immigration law firm. We help foreigners migrate to Canada through investor, entrepreneur and business immigration programs.

If you are planning on starting a business or investing in Canada, you may be eligible for one of these programs. Entrepreneurial and business immigration programs allow foreign nationals to come to Canada and start a business or invest in an existing one.

Start-up Visa Program:

Canada allows foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada and start a business through the Start-up Visa Program. This program is designed for foreign entrepreneurs who have innovative business ideas and the ability to settle in Canada.

Start-up Visa Program Eligibility Requirements:

You must:

  • have a qualifying business;
  • have a letter of support from a designated organization;
  • meet the language requirements; and
  • have enough money to settle and live in Canada before you make money from your business; and
  • meet admissibility requirements to enter Canada.

Your letter of support must meet the following requirements:

  • a designated angel investor group confirming that is investing at least $75,000 or many angel investor groups investing a total of $75,000.
  • a designated venture capital fund confirming an investment of at least $200,000 or many venture capital funds investing a combined total of at least $200,000.
  • a designated business incubator confirming the acceptance of a qualifying business into its program.

Pax Law generally recommends against applying through the start-up visa program. A total of 1000 permanent resident visas are issued under the Federal Business Investors program each year from 2021 – 2023. The federal business investors program includes both the start-up visa stream and the self-employed persons stream. As start-up visas have lax requirements for language ability, education, previous experience, and available funds, the competition for this stream is fierce. 

Self-employed Persons Program:

The Self-employed Persons Program is a Canadian immigration program that allows the permanent migration of a self-employed person.

Self-employed immigration requirements:

You must meet the following eligibility requirements:

Relevant experience means having at least two years of experience taking part in athletic activities or cultural activities at a world level or being a self-employed person in either of those areas. This experience must be in the last five years. More experience will increase an applicant’s chances of success. 

This program has further selection criteria including age, language abilities, adaptability, and education.

Immigrant Investor Program:

The federal Immigrant Investor Program has been CLOSED and is no longer accepting applications.

If you applied for the program, your application has been terminated.

Learn more about the Immigrant Investor Program closure here.

Provincial Nomination Programs:

Provincial Nomination Programs (“PNPs”) are immigration streams unique to each province that allow individuals to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Certain PNPs qualify as investment immigration streams. For example, the BC Enterpreneur Immigration (‘EI’) stream allows individuals with a net worth of $600,000 to invest a minimum of $200,000 in British Columbia. If that individual operates their British Columbia business for a few years and meets certain performance standards set by the province, they will then be allowed to obtain Canadian permanent residence. 

Canadian Business & Entrepreneur Immigration Lawyers

Pax Law Corporation is a Canadian immigration law firm specializing in helping foreigners migrate to Canada through entrepreneur and business immigration programs. Our team of experienced lawyers can help you assess your eligibility and prepare your application.

For more information on our services, please contact us.

Office Contact Info

Pax Law Reception:

Tel: +1 (604) 767-9529

Find us at the office:

233 – 1433 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7M 2H9

Immigration Information and Intake Lines:

WhatsApp: +1 (604) 789-6869 (Farsi)

WhatsApp: +1 (604) 837-2290 (Farsi)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy Canadian citizenship?

No, you cannot buy Canadian citizenship. However, if you have significant personal wealth, previous experience in business or senior management positions, and are willing to invest your wealth in Canada, you can apply for a work permit to start your business in Canada and may eventually obtain permanent residence in Canada. Canadian permanent residents are eligible to apply for citizenship after residing in Canada for a few years.

How much should I invest in getting a PR in Canada?

There is no specific answer to this question. Depending on the immigration stream you are applying under, your education, your previous experience, your age, and your proposed business plan, you may need to invest differing amounts in Canada. We recommend you discuss your proposed investment in Canada with a lawyer to receive personalized advice.

How long does it take to get an “investor visa” in Canada?

There is no definite answer to this question. We cannot predict how long it will take Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada to review your visa application and there is no guarantee that your first application will be accepted. However, as a general estimate, we recommend you assume it will take at least 6 months to receive your work permit.

What is Startup Visa Canada?

The startup visa program is an immigration stream for founders of innovative companies with high potential to move their companies to Canada and receive Canadian permanent residence.
 
We recommend against applying for a visa under this immigration stream unless you have no other viable application paths available to you. 

Can I get an investor visa easily?

There are no easy solutions in Canadian immigration law. However, professional assistance from Canadian lawyers can assist you with choosing the right program and putting together a strong visa application to increase your chances of success.

What type of business should I buy for immigration to Canada?

The answer to this question depends on your educational background, previous work and business experience, English and French language abilities, personal wealth, and other factors. We recommend receiving personalized advice from immigration professionals.