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Start-Up Visa

Canada’s Start-up Visa Program was created to attract and ease the admission of creative foreign entrepreneurs who may help the Canadian economy meet its developing requirements. There are 32 Venture Capital Funds, 6 Angel Investor Groups and 14 Business Incubators. This program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that:

  • are innovative
  • can create jobs for Canadians
  • can compete on a global scale

Minimum Requirements

  • Letter of Support: Immigrant entrepreneurs must get a commitment from a certified Canadian business incubator, angel investor group, or venture capital fund to support their company plan before applying for a Start-Up Visa.
  • Meet Language Requirements: Applicants must also demonstrate language competence in either English or French at the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)/Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) level 5
  • Have enough Proof of Funds to Settle: Prove that they have enough finances to support themselves while in Canada
  • Get your Biometrics Done
  • Qualifying Business: If the following requirements are satisfied, a company is referred to as a “qualified business”:
    • When commitment from a designated organization is obtained:
      •   Each applicant must hold 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time (up to 5 people can apply as owners)
    • When the permanent residency is received:
      • Actively manage this business from within Canada
      • Carry the essential part of the operations in Canada
      • Incorporate the business in Canada  

Before applying for a Start-up Visa, a foreign entrepreneur or an entrepreneurial team of up to five persons must contact and obtain help from a designated business. A letter of support will be provided to them if a specified body agrees to assist their firm. A commitment certificate will be sent immediately to IRCC by the authorized company. After receiving the application package, IRCC will examine it and, if necessary, send specific business ideas to an industry group for peer assessment.

 

*please note these are minimum requirements, additional requirements will vary with each category/program*