If you want to come to Canada to extend your business or to meet clients, then you need to apply for a Business visa. You would be able to conduct business activities here, but you should not enter the Canadian labor market. You can come to Canada as a business visitor if:

•       You are looking for ways to grow your business in Canada.
•       You are looking to make investments in Canada.
•       You are looking to build new business relationships in Canada.

How many categories of business visas are there?

The business visas can be mainly categorized into four. They can be used by individuals who have experience in managing a business and who have a high net worth, in order to establish a business in Canada, and eventually gain permanent residence. The four categories are:

• Start-Up Visa Investor Program
• Entrepreneur Program
• Self-Employed Person Program
• PNP Business Programs

Start-Up Visa Investor Program

The Start-Up Visa Investor Program aims to attract people to Canada who can build a business in Canada that is innovative, has the potential to create jobs for Canadians and can compete on a global scale. 

In order to get a start-up visa:

• The person needs to have a qualifying business.
• The person needs to demonstrate the ability to communicate in English or French, minimum CLB 5.
• The person needs to get a letter of support from a designated organization which means getting a funding commitment from a Venture Capital Fund of at least $200,000, a funding commitment from an Angel Investor Group of at least $75,000 or from a Business Incubator.
• The person needs to bring enough money to settle in Canada.

Entrepreneur Program (Provinces/Territories)

The Entrepreneur Program helps people invest in Canada and start a business here. People can eventually gain permanent residence here once their business grows in Canada.

To qualify for this program:

• The person will have to establish, grow and invest substantially in a business in Canada. The person may have one to two years from the date of landing to grow their business and make a significant contribution to the economy of Canada.
• The person should take part actively and have a continuing role in the management of the business.
• The business should employ at least one to two Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the owner and his/her dependents.
• The person needs to report regularly about the progress of the business to immigration officials within the two year or the prescribed period.

Self-Employed Person Program

This program is for individuals who have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics. They are willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada. 

A relevant experience means they have taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world class level or they have been a self employed person in cultural activities or athletics. 

• They should have gained at least two years of experience in the last five years.
• They should be willing and be able to be self employed in Canada.
• They need to get at least 35 points in the program’s selection criteria.
• They need to meet the medical, security and other conditions for immigration.

The program’s selection criteria is based on the person’s work experience, education level, age, language abilities and adaptability factors. 

PNP Business Programs

There are several PNP programs that help business investors.

British Columbia PNP

Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $600,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $200,000 and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. 

Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $300,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $100,000 and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. They need to open the business in a community with a population less than 75,000. 

Manitoba PNP

Entrepreneur Pathway

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $250,000 in Manitoba Capital Region ($150,000 outside Manitoba Capital Region) and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Farmer Investor Pathway

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000, have at least three years of experience as a farm owner or in farm operations, and invest at least $300,000 in rural Manitoba.

New Brunswick PNP

Entrepreneur Stream

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $600,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $250,000 and create at least two full time job opportunities for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

NorthWest Territories PNP

Business Stream

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000 if investing in Yellowknife ($250,000 if investing outside Yellowknife), have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $300,000 in Yellowknife ($150,000 outside Yellowknife) and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Nova Scotia PNP

Entrepreneur

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $600,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $150,000 and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. 

Ontario PNP

Entrepreneurial Stream

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $800,000 ($400,000 if investing outside GTA), have at least two years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $600,000 ($200,000 if investing outside GTA) and create at least two full time job opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents (one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident if investing outside GTA). 

If the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications then the person needs to have a net worth of at least $400,000 and invest at least $200,000, regardless of location in Ontario. 

Corporate Stream

The international corporation should have been established for at least 36 months, there should be a link between the international corporation and the business in Ontario, the main source of income should be earned from the active business.

The corporation should invest at least $5 million to expand in Ontario. The business must create at least five full time job opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for every “key staff member” they would be nominating for permanent residence. 

Prince Edward Island PNP

Business Work Permit Stream

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $600,000 and have experience as a business owner or senior manager. The person needs to get endorsed by the community where they plan to invest. 

Saskatchewan PNP

Entrepreneur Farm Program

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000 ($300,000 if less than 40 years of age), have at least three years of experience as a farm owner or in farm operations, and make a security deposit of $75,000.

Entrepreneur Program

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or entrepreneur, invest at least $300,000 in Regina/Saskatoon ($200,000 if investing in any other community) and create at least two full time job opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Newfoundland and Labrador PNP

Entrepreneur

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $600,000, have at least two years of experience as a business owner or senior manager, invest at least $200,000 to establish a business ($1 million in equity investment) and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Yukon PNP

Business Nominee Program

The person needs to have a net worth of at least $500,000, have at least three years of experience as a business owner or entrepreneur, invest at least $300,000 in liquid assets to establish a business and create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

 

How can I prove that I am a genuine business visitor?

You can prove it by showing that:

•       You are planning to stay for less than 6 months in Canada.
•       You will not be entering the Canadian labor market.
•       Your main location of business is outside Canada and your main source of income is outside Canada.
•       You should have a valid travel document like a passport.
•       You should be in good health.
•       You should not have any criminal charges or criminal history.
•       You should have enough money to support your stay in Canada.
•       You should be able to convince the visa officer that you would leave Canada after your stay.

What activities can I do as a business visitor?

•       You can buy goods or services for a foreign company or government.
•       You can take orders for goods or services.
•       You can attend meetings, trade fairs, conferences, etc.
•       You can provide after sales service as part of a warranty or sales agreement.
•       You can receive training from a Canadian parent company that has a branch outside Canada.
•       You can provide training to employees of a Canadian company whose parent company is outside Canada.
•       You can get training from a Canadian company from whom you have purchased goods or services.

Canada has great opportunities to establish a business and be successful. Mr. Malik has years of experience in business immigration as he also specialized as a Business lawyer from UCLA, USA. We can help you navigate through the path of establishing a business in Canada and immigrating here.