Canada offers permanent residence for business owners, investors and entrepreneurs to become Canadian citizens.
In order for a foreign national to become a permanent resident of Canada they must apply through one of the various Canadian immigration programs assuming that they meet all of the requirements to do so. One of which is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). This program is for workers who
● Have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory
● Want to live in that province and
● Want to become permanent residents of Canada
Each province and territory have its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target
● students
● business people
● skilled workers
● semi-skilled workers
The term “skilled workers” Skilled work experience means that you’ve worked in 1 of these (NOC) job groups:
● Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
● Professional jobs (skill level A)
● Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)
Furthermore, through Express Entry the process of visa application is made easier by using electronic methods of managing applications of skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada. Which includes 2 ways to apply: You contact the province or territory and apply for a nomination under an Express Entry stream. If the province or territory agrees to nominate you, you create an Express Entry profile (or update your profile if you already have one) and show you have been nominated.
OR
You create an Express Entry profile and show the provinces and territories you’re interested in. If a province or territory sends a “notification of interest” to your account, you contact them directly. You apply to their Express Entry stream. If you’re nominated, the province or territory will send a nomination certificate to your account, and you accept it electronically.
Canada has two streams of business immigration programs:
● Self-employed persons
● Start-up Visa Program
In the context of Canadian immigration, A self-employed person is an immigrant admitted to Canada because they have relevant experience in working for himself or herself. The person must intend and be able to become self-employed in Canada in the arts or athletics.
In order to qualify to immigrate to Canada as a self-employed person, you must possess at least two years of relevant experience (the experience must be during the period starting 5 years before the day they apply and ending on the day the IRCC make a decision on their application):
[At a minimum, the applicant’s experience must be: for cultural activities:
a. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
b. 2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
c. a combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)
for athletics:
d. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
e. 2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
f. a combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above].
You must also display their intent to become self-employed in Canada and score at least 35 points on a selection grid (this score is the current score- but it is subject to change). Furthermore,
In order to Immigrate to Canada to become a self-employed person, you must meet the definition of a self-employed person; pass a medical examination; and pass criminal and security checks.
When it comes to the Start-up Visa Program, a person can qualify for it by meeting all 4 eligibility requirements as well as the admissibility requirements to enter Canada. The eligibility requirements for the Start-up Visa are: having a qualifying business, having a letter of support from a designated organization, meeting the language requirements, and having enough money to settle and live in Canada before you make money from your business.
If you are interested in starting a business in Canada or investing in Canadian businesses, please contact our immigrant consultant at Hillfield Immigration Corporation as he is well equipped to handle your immigration needs.