Federal Investor Program
Note: As of July 1, 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has temporarily stopped accepting applications for the federal Investor program to focus on processing the applications that are already in process. It does not apply to the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program. (Read More)
Federal Entrepreneur Program – Start-up Visa
Get your business idea funded and immigrate to Canada permanently. Canada’s new Start-Up Visa Program is the first of its kind in the world, linking immigrant entrepreneurs with experienced private sector organizations that have expertise in working with start-ups. (Read More)
Federal Self-Employed Program
The Self-Employed Persons Program seeks to attract applicants who intend and are able to become self-employed in Canada. Self-employed persons must have either: (Read More)
Provincial Nominee Programs:
Certain provinces have their own Business Immigration programs within their Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP).
Province |
Minimum personal net worth |
Minimum investment required |
Business management experience required? |
Business plan required? |
Government deposit required? |
Performance agreement required? |
Exploratory visit required? |
Additional selection criteria? |
$350,000 |
$150,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes: Previous business ownership or a minimum of 3 years of senior management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Yes, for a minimum of 7 days |
Yes |
|
$300,000 |
$150,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes: minimum of 3 years of business management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Participate in day-to-day management of business & create new jobs for Canadians or permanent residents |
No, but recommended |
Yes |
|
$800,000 |
$400,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes |
Yes |
Optional Fast Track Option: $125,000 refundable deposit – SUSPENDED |
Yes, in order to obtain a work permit |
Strongly recommended |
Yes |
|
$400,000 |
$200,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of an eligible business |
Yes |
Yes |
Optional Fast Track Option: $125,000 refundable deposit |
Yes, in order to obtain a work permit |
Strongly recommended |
Yes |
|
New Brunswick |
$300,000 |
$125,000 |
Yes: previous business ownership or senior management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Yes, for a minimum of 5 days |
Yes – basic proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages |
$300,000 |
$100,000 – representing at least 25% of capital equity |
Yes: minimum of 2 years of business management experience in the last 5 years |
Yes |
No |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Strongly recommended |
Yes |
|
Prince Edward Island
|
$400,000 |
$150,000 |
Yes |
Yes |
$100,000 |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Yes |
Yes |
Prince Edward Island
|
$400,000 |
$150,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of a business OR make an investment of $1,000,000 |
Yes |
Yes |
$100,000 |
Participate in day-to-day management of business |
Yes |
Yes |
- |
$3,000,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of a business OR make an investment of $1,000,000 |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Participate in day-to-day management of business & create at least 5 new jobs for Canadians or permanent residents |
No |
Yes |
|
$500,000 (if buying a business in the city of Yellowknife) |
$300,000 in a business in the city of Yellowknife |
Yes |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Yes, in order to obtain a work permit |
Yes |
Yes |
|
$250,000 (including $150,000 in liquid assets) |
$150,000 and ownership of at least 1/3 of a business |
Yes: minimum of 5 years of business management experience |
Yes |
$75,000 refundable deposit |
Yes, in order to obtain a work permit |
Yes |
Yes – basic proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages |
**additional deposit of $10,000 if language results are below Canadian Language Benchmark 5
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – Business Immigrants.
- Quebec Business Immigration – Investor
- Quebec Business Immigration – Entrepreneur
- Quebec Business Immigration – Self –Employed
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program for Business
- Manitoba Young Farmer Nominee Program
- Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program – Entrepreneurs
- Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program – Large Scale Investors
- Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program – Science and Technology
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) – Farmers
- Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)