Business Category
There are 4 classes of Business Immigration. Business immigrants are people who can invest in, or start businesses in Canada. and are expected to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. The business immigration programs seek to attract people experienced in business to Canada. Business immigrants are selected based on their ability to become economically established in Canada.
Business Classes:
There are defined Business Immigration Centers from where the application can be made by the applicants. BLISS can help you file your application under one of the categories.
Fill out the FREE ASSESSMENT to check your eligibility
Investor Class
The Immigrant Investor Program seeks to attract experienced persons and capital to Canada. Investors must demonstrate business experience, a minimum net worth of CDN $800,000 and make an investment of CDN $400,000 for a period of 5 years. This is a passive investment and the investors are not required to establish a business.
Entrepreneurial Class
The Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract experienced persons that will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that will contribute to the economy and create jobs. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate business experience, a minimum net worth of CDN $300,000 and are subject to conditions upon arrival in Canada. However, under some provincial nominee programs, the net worth and eligibility criteria is much relaxed.
When you immigrate to Canada as an entrepreneur, you must have the intention and the ability to control a percentage of equity of a qualifying Canadian business. You must provide active and ongoing management of the qualifying Canadian business. Your business must create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You must meet these requirements within three years of becoming a permanent resident.
"Entrepreneur" means a foreign national who:
- Has business experience;
- Has a legally obtained minimum net worth; and
- Provides a written statement to an officer that he / she will be
Before your immigrant visa is issued, your are required signing a statement that you intend and will be able to meet the conditions of permanent residence.
Investors and entrepreneurs must first meet their respective definitions and then obtain a minimum number of points as per the following assessment:
| Qualifiers | Points |
| Business experience | 35 |
| Age | 10 |
| Education | 25 |
| English/French fluency | 24 |
| Business exploration trip to Canada within five years of application | 6 |
| Participation in joint federal-provincial business immigration initiative | 6 |
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Self-employed class (farmers, artists and athletes)
Self-employed persons must have the intention and ability to create their own employment. They are expected to contribute to the cultural or athletic life of Canada. They may create their own employment by purchasing and managing a farm in Canada. Under this class farmers, artists and athletes who have played at international level can be considered. There is no amount of investment, which is envisaged, but the applicant must have sufficient funds to be self-employed and settle in Canada on the basis of their skills and business experience.
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 employment for yourself. You must make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.
No immigration conditions are imposed on this class. You must have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada.
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These are individuals who have a specific skill or business which is in high demand for a particular Province and are nominated because of their specific skill under a Provincial Nomination agreement between the Province and the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.
Canada and its Provinces have entered into agreements that allow a person to be nominated by the Provincial Government and to be issued an Immigrant Visa without having to meet the pass mark that is required for skilled worker immigrants.
As a result, individual Provinces are responsible for issuing nomination certificates. If you are successful in convincing a Province that you have a skill or business which is in high demand for that particular Province, the Province will issue you a certificate, provided that you meet all other statutory and admissibility requirements of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and that you can become economically established. You will then be issued an Immigrant Visa for entry into Canada.
The requirements and procedures for the Provincial Nominee Programs differ from Province to Province depending upon the needs and experience.
BLISS will automatically assess you for the Provincial Nominee Program whether you apply under the skilled worker category or the business category.
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