The Canada Start-Up Visa Program

Canada is among the world's wealthiest countries, with a high per-capita income and a leading trade market. The Canada Start-Up Visa Program is aimed at providing permanent residence to entrepreneurs and active investors in companies and expanding businesses that seek to establish a presence in Canada.

Benefits of residence by investment in Canada

• High standard of living
• Affordable, high-quality education and healthcare
• Family included in the application
• Multicultural, tolerant, and vibrant cities
• Excellent place to do business, with access to the entire North American market
• Minimal application requirements, with no age restriction, no net worth, and no higher education needed

Requirements of the Canada Start-Up Visa Program

To obtain permanent residence in Canada, foreign entrepreneurs must propose an innovative, scaling start-up business, approved by a designated organization.

Choose one of following options:

1. Business incubation: No minimum investment required
2. Angel investment: Raise CAD 75,000 from an angel investment group, depending on a certain stage of the business
3. Venture capital fund: Raise CAD 200,000 from a venture capital fund, depending on a certain stage of the business

For all three options, additional fees apply for optional consulting, government fees, business structure, document processing, and immigration filing.

Investors are also required to:

• Have English or French language proficiency at the CLB/IELTS 5 level
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal record

Procedures and time frame of Canadian residence by investment

Clients are required to prepare and submit a business proposal, which needs to be approved by a designated government business organization. Once approved by a business incubator, an angel investment group, or a venture capital fund (depending on the investment option chosen), the client receives a letter of support, allowing them and their family to apply for permanent residence. In order to maintain permanent resident status, physical presence for two out of five years (or 730 days) in Canada is required.

The process takes 12 to 31 months.

Acquiring Canadian citizenship following the Start-Up Visa Program

After three years (or 1,095 days) of permanent residence in Canada within a five-year period, successful applicants can apply for citizenship.

The Canadian passport holds one of the top 10 ranks on the Henley Passport Index, with visa-free or visa-on arrival access to over 180 destinations worldwide.