+91 84482 35879 
Statistics show that the USA is the most favoured destination for Indian students for higher studies and settlement. However, once in the USA, it takes them only a few months to realize that obtaining a US Green Card is not an easy process. In fact, it takes a very long time and the process is complicated. Additionally, the fees charged by American universities for international students are one of the highest in the world.
In comparison, Canada provides much better opportunities. Here are some of the reasons why Canada is the most favoured destination in the world for immigrants and why Indian students, professionals and businesspersons should consider Canada as a destination for study, work and settlement.
1. World class education at affordable fees: As a country, Canada spends more on education per capita than any other industrialized nation in the world and has been named the most educated country in the world. Canada’s K-12 public education system is regarded as one of the best in the world and is available free of charge to all Canadian permanent immigrants and citizens.
Canada is also home to some of the world’s top universities, with McGill University, the University of Toronto, McMaster University, and the University of British Columbia ranking among the world’s top 100 institutions. These universities are heavily funded by the Canadian government and hence education fees for Canadian permanent immigrants and citizens is almost 80 per cent less than the fees paid by international students.
2. Permanent immigration after study in Canada is much faster than USA: Most Indian students go abroad for higher studies with the intention of settling permanently in that country. The same is the case with the USA. A majority of Indian students who go to the USA for higher studies want to settle down and start a new life there. Unfortunately, obtaining a Green Card may take years or may not be granted at all. This is due to the fact that over the last thirty years the Green Card quota available for international students has remained unchanged at 120,000 per year. In comparison, the number of international students coming to the US has increased many folds over the years. This has resulted in a minimum wait of ten years and longer, unless one applies under one of the exception classes.
Compared to the USA, Canada has a very systematic way of welcoming international students and immigrants under various programmes such as Canada Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, Canada Experience Class, Canada Trade Workers, International Students Business Class, Business Class and Start-up Visa Class. These programmes expedite the process of obtaining permanent immigration of Canada.
3. Canadian citizens are North American citizens: Canada is one of the few countries in the world which accords citizenship to new immigrants after a three-year stay in Canada. Canadian citizens can work and do business in the USA and Mexico under the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). Prior to 1 July 2020, this agreement was known as the North American Free Trade Agreement – NAFTA. This agreement offers unprecedented professional opportunities to Canadian citizens in the USA and Mexico.
Canada can be an ideal place for Indian tech companies and exporters. With their base in Canada, they can easily access the North American market. The UK and European markets are also just one flight away.
4. Canada is the tenth largest economy in the world and the largest trading partner of the USA: Canada is the thirty-eighth largest county in the world by population but when it comes to the economy, Canada is the tenth largest country in the world with a total output of 1.6 trillion or $48,100 per capita. At the same time, Canada has abundant natural resources. The Canadian industry is highly service oriented. Though the goods-producing sector is relatively small in comparison to the service sector, Canada’s manufacturing and oil and petroleum industries have experienced small but steady annual growth over the last several years.
5. Canada is the best place to live, work and do business for several reasons: . The United Nations has consistently voted Canada as one of the best places to live and work for several years in a row and rightfully so. This is due to number of factors such as:
(a) Canada promotes multiculturalism and is very immigrant friendly. In the early 1970s, the former prime minister of Canada, Rt. Hon. Pierre Trudeau, adopted multiculturalism for its citizens and new immigrants. This grants new immigrants the freedom to live according to their own cultural and religious beliefs in Canada and not become part of the ‘melting pot’.
(b) Canada’s urban centres such as Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver are particularly diverse, and home to many ethnic neighbourhoods. In Toronto, which is regularly referred to as ‘the most multicultural city in the world’, more than half of the population identifies as a visible minority.
6. Canada enjoys free universal healthcare: In the 1960s, Canada adopted the free healthcare system. Under the medical system of Canada, every province (state) or territory in Canada has a healthcare plan which provides all permanent residents and citizens with free access to medical services such as hospital visits or access to doctors. In 2017, Canada spent $6,323 per person on healthcare. Despite spending about half of what the US does per capita, Canada’s quality of care has been rated significantly higher. Due to the reliable healthcare programmes available to everyone in the country, Canada has one of the world’s highest life expectancy rates at just below eighty-two years.
7. Low crime rate and gun control makes Canada one of the safest countries to live: Canada is rated as the top ten safest countries in the world to live. As per the Global Peace Index, Canada was rated the sixth most peaceful country in the world. This is due to the fact that Canada is well known for its strong gun control and relatively peaceful approach to foreign diplomacy. The crime rate in Canada is declining year after year after having its peak in the 1980s.
8. Canada is a nature’s wonder: To give a perspective, India is approximately 3,287,263 sq km, while Canada is approximately 9,984,670 sq km, making Canada 204 per cent larger than India. However, the population of India is 130 crores while that of Canada is only 3.5 crores. This means that in Canada there are four people per square kilometre while in India there are 455 people per square kilometre. Canadian cities are among the cleanest in the world and provide excellent infrastructure and facilities to their residents. It is therefore not surprising that Canada offers the best quality of life.
Canada is also known for its natural beauty and wonders from coast to coast. There is no shortage of places to see and activities to do round the year. Some of the internationally renowned places are Niagara Falls, Banff Jasper National Park, Cape Breton, northern lights, etc. There are also a number of national and provincial parks which are well preserved and managed by the government.
9. Canada tech industry is rapidly growing in all major cities: Due to government policies and assistance provided to the tech sector in Canada, the industry is growing much faster than formerly predicted. This has also attracted the world’s leading companies to establish their research facilities in Canada. Toronto leads the pack, with big names like Google’s Sidewalk labs, Shopify, Salesforce and Facebook setting up shop in the city. Other Canadian cities are pulling in tech talent too. Montreal is known as an epicentre for innovation in AI and game development. Vancouver and Calgary are known for innovation in digital media and clean tech. This also increases the demand for tech workers in Canada.
Canada is also a pioneer in introducing the Start-Up Visa programme way back in 2013. This has allowed some of the leading global start-ups to relocate to Canada.
Canada is a world leader in science, technology and innovation, and is recognized as one of the most innovative and competitive economies in the world.
• First in the OECD – highest share of university or college graduates among working-age population. Approximately 55.2 per cent of workers have completed post-secondary education, the highest proportion of all OECD member countries. Over 500,000 students graduate from Canada’s colleges and universities each year.
• First in the G-7 countries for higher-education sector R&D performance. The availability of qualified engineers in the labour force in Canada is greater than in any other G7 country.
• $15.4 billion of STI-related R&D spending is by Canadian businesses. Entrepreneurs make up 17 per cent of the labour force.
• Second in the G-7 for attracting venture capital financing.
Canada generates over 4 per cent of global knowledge, despite accounting for just 0.5 per cent of the world’s population.
Canada’s performance is consistently strong in measures related to the quality of education, market regulation, and social factors.
10. Canada is the best place to work with a number of benefits: A full-time employee in Canada is entitled to two weeks of paid holiday plus six to ten statutory holidays per year. This depends on the province of residence. Canadians are also guaranteed access to a variety of monetary protections including Employment Insurance (EI), old age security, the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), and a federal childcare benefit.
The minimum wage in Canada is also one of the highest in the world, and ranges from $11 to $14 depending on the province of residence.
Canadian workers are permitted to take up to eighteen months of parental leave, with the mother and father able to share the leave however they choose.
The Canadian banking system is sound and modern. As per the World Economic Forum, Canadian banks are safe and have not experienced failure since 1983. This means that your money in Canadian banks is safe and secure.
Canada has adopted the PIN and chip technology, which is a lot more secure. Canadians are also very adoptive to technology for their financial transactions. Almost 68 per cent of Canadians conduct their financial transactions online or by using a mobile app.
11. Canada has most stable and democratic parliamentary system: Canada has adopted the British parliamentary system which is democratic and open for changes from time to time. Though governments change over time and different parties come to power, the differences between the political parties are very healthy. Canada’s political campaigns are also short and inexpensive for taxpayers compared to other democratic nations. Even at a national level, political campaigns rarely last more than a few months.
Over the years Canada has recognized the rights of women, LGBT and immigrants and does not hesitate in admitting its past mistakes to the concerned groups.
With all the above advantages it is not surprising that almost 300,000 new immigrants call Canada their new home each year. The largest number of immigrants are students and professionals coming from India, China and many Asian and African countries. At the same time a good number of businesspersons and investors come from China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam and Middle Eastern counties.
The percentage of people immigrating from India under Canada’s Business Class is very low or even negligible. This is because of many reasons such as currency restrictions, immigration being perceived as something that is meant for economically deprived people and not for businesspersons, lack of professional advice available in India to do business in Canada and even globally, Indian businesspersons being more interested in export of goods and services rather than having a permanent presence in the foreign country.
In view of the above it would be a good idea to look at the various Canadian federal and provincial business immigration programmes.
Canada: Pioneer of business immigration programmes of the world
History of business immigration to Canada
Immigration and visa policy and rules are the means by which a government controls who can come and settle in its country. Since Confederation, the immigration policy of Canada has been tailored to grow the population, settle the land, and provide labour and financial capital for the economy. Immigration policy also tends to reflect the racial attitudes or national security concerns of the time which also often leads to discriminatory restrictions on certain migrant groups.
Passing of Immigration Act, 1976
Immigration and population policies were overhauled substantially in 1975. After consultations, the Liberal government of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau (father of current prime minister of Canada Rt. Honourable Justine Trudeau) passed a new Immigration Act, 1976.
The Act, which took effect in 1978, was a radical break from the past. It established for the first time in law the main objectives of Canada’s immigration policy.
These objectives included the promotion of Canada’s demographic, economic, social, and cultural goals, as well as the priorities of family reunion, diversity, and non-discrimination.
The Act also enabled cooperation among levels of government and the volunteer sector in helping newcomers adapt to Canadian society. For the first time, the Act also defined refugees as a distinct group of immigrants in Canadian law, requiring the government to meet its obligations to refugees under international agreements.
By 1980, five classes of immigrants had been established for entry to Canada:
• Independent migrants (people applying on their own);
• Humanitarian migration (refugees and other persecuted or displaced people);
• Family migration (having immediate family already living in Canada);
• Assisted relatives migration (distant relatives, sponsored by a family member in Canada); and
• Economic migration (people with highly desirable employment skills, or those willing to open a business or invest significantly in the Canadian economy).
This was the first time that along with skilled/professional workers, businesspersons and investors were also recognized under the economic migration class of the Canadian Immigration Policy.
By the 1990s, after decades of legal and administrative reform, the racial make-up of immigrants was also changing and immigrants were not coming from European countries but mainly from Asian countries such as China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, South Korea, Pakistan, etc.
Canada Business Immigration Programmes
Canada has ten provinces and three territories. However, until recently the federal government of Canada was mainly responsible for immigration to Canada.
In order to attract the immigrants as per their need, each province of Canada signed an agreement with the federal government of Canada and developed its own skilled worker and business immigration programmes. However, the final immigrant visa (PR) is issued by the Government of Canada after medical and security clearance.
In the mid-1980s, the Federal Business Immigration Programme was introduced to attract three types of business immigrants to Canada.
1. Canada Entrepreneur (EN) Programme
The objective of the EN class is to attract experienced business persons who will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that contribute to the economy and create jobs. This programme is closed as of early 2014. However, each province of Canada has developed an entrepreneur class programme. It is important to note that once businesspersons have received unconditional permanent residency of Canada from the federal government of Canada, they and their family members are free to settle in any part of Canada. We will discuss the requirement and process of each of the provincial business / entrepreneur program in the latter part of this article.
2. Canada Self-employed Persons (SE) Programme
The objective of the SE class is to attract self-employed persons who have the intention and ability to create their own employment in Canada. They are expected to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada such as (i) cultural landscape or (ii) athletic life of Canada, or (iii) intend to purchase and manage a farm in Canada. This programme is active as of January 2021 but a third sub-programme known as Farm Experience Class, which requires the operation and management of a farm in Canada, is removed as of 10 March 2018.
Many applicants who are self-employed, running their own business or shop or a manufacturing unit, do not qualify under this class. The applicant must be self-employed in cultural activities or athletics at the world-class level.
Requirements For Canada Self-Employed Persons Programme
To qualify as a Canada self-employed person, you must have two years of relevant experience and show that you intend to become self-employed in Canada. This experience includes at least two one-year periods of experience in the period from five years before the application date to the day a decision is made on the application.
Self-employment experience includes experience in cultural activities or athletics or participating in cultural activities or athletics at the world-class level
3. Canada Investor (IN) Programme
The objective of the IN class is to attract experienced business persons and capital to Canada. To be eligible for immigration as an investor, the applicant must have business experience, a minimum personal net worth, and make a one-time investment in the Canadian economy, which is redistributed to participating provinces and territories for economic development. This federal programme is closed as of early 2014. A similar programme for the province of Quebec was running until 2019 and after that the Quebec Immigration Investor Programme (QIIP) was also suspended. It is likely to open up in early 2022.
Canada Start-up Visa Programme
Upon closure of the Federal Entrepreneur programme and Investor programme, the federal government introduced a new programme, namely, the Canada Start-Up Visa programme in 2013.
The Start-Up Business Class started as a five-year pilot programme targeting foreign entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that:
(a) are innovative,
(b) could create jobs for Canadians, and
(c) could compete on a global scale.
Entrepreneurs seeking permanent residence under the Start-Up Business Class were not required to personally invest any capital in the proposed business.
In spite of the relatively small number of cases processed during its initial five-year period, the Government of Canada considered the pilot programme a success. On 18 July 2017, IRCC announced its intention to establish a permanent Start-Up Business Class once the pilot programme expired on 31 March 2018. The final regulations for the permanent Start-Up Business Class became effective on 11 April 2018.
Looking at the success of the programme, several European countries, the UK, Australia and New Zealand also introduced their own Start-Visa programmes. However, except Canada, most countries offer conditional immigration and immigration is awarded only upon the success of the start-up venture.
Requirements for Canada Start-Up Visa Programme
Applicants need to fulfil the following conditions in order to qualify under this programme:
• Applicant must obtain at least a 5 band in IELTS English-language test or an equivalent in French-language test.
• No education and investment requirement.
• Applicant has or will have a company in Canada based on an innovative idea and in which he/she holds 10 per cent or more of shares.
• The start-up must be incubated by a government-approved designated incubation centre in Canada or has obtained funds amounting to CD$75,000 from an angel investor or has obtained funds amounting to CD$200,000 from a venture capital fund in Canada.
• Applicant must have the necessary personal funds to meet expenses during the first six months of stay in Canada. For year 2021, the amount was CD$24,083 for a family of four persons.
Main Features of the Programme
Up to five founders of the start-up can apply for immigrant visa of Canada.
There is no need to make any investment.
Spouse and dependent children under twenty-two years of age can be included in the same application.
If the start-up is incubated in Canada, it could be entitled to various government grants and subsidies.
Processing time is generally 12-16 months but applicants can apply for a work permit if required.
Process
Founders of the start-up are required to pitch their ideas to either a government-designated incubation centre or an angel investor or a venture capital fund. A detailed business plan and presentation is necessary to apply to these designated entities.
Upon approval, either of the aforementioned entities will provide an approval letter known as ‘Letter of Support’.
With this ‘Letter of Support’, applicants can apply directly to the federal government for permanent residency visa of Canada.
On clearing the mandatory medical examination and security clearance, final immigrant visas will be issued to the applicant, applicant’s spouse and children under twenty-two years of age.
On receiving immigrant visa of Canada, the start-up founder can apply for citizenship of Canada with family after a period of three years provided, they meet the residency requirements.
General immigration requirements
Age of children must be twenty-two years or less to be included as dependents of the main applicant.
To maintain permanent residency of Canada, applicant must stay for at least 730 days in four years in Canada.
To apply for citizenship of Canada, applicant must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three out of four years.
After receiving citizenship of Canada, applicant can apply for E1 (Treaty Trader) or E2 (Treaty Investor) visa of USA.
Parents and siblings under the age of twenty-two years can be sponsored to Canada as dependents of the parents.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Programmes
Alberta: Self-Employed Farmer Stream
The Alberta Self-employed Farmer Stream aims to attract farm owners, managers and operators who wish to settle in Alberta and start a sustainable farming business.
Program requirements
1. Applicants must prove that they have farm management skills which can be shown by:
• Financial documentation of applicant’s existing farm business;
• Documentation of applicant’s education, training and work experience;
• Proposed business plan for the farming enterprise the applicant wishes to start in Alberta;
• Proof that a Canadian financial institution is willing to finance the applicant’s proposed farming business.
2. Applicant must have sufficient financial resources to develop a sustainable farming operation:
• Applicant must be able to invest a minimum of CD$500,000 of equity in a primary production farming business in Alberta;
• Applicant must provide documents that demonstrate a minimum net worth of CD$500,000 or confirmation of having access to a similar amount of funds from other sources;
• The CD$500,000 is the minimum amount. Applicant may be required to show the ability to invest more than the minimum.
3. Applicant must invest in a primary production farming business in Alberta:
• Applicant will have to document where (in what type of farming activity) he/she plans to invest in the proposed business plan;
• Applications representing the best opportunity for growth relevant to Alberta’s agri-food targets will be given priority;
• Meeting the criteria listed above does not guarantee a nomination or permanent residence.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Immigration Stream (IGE) : International students who have completed two years of post-secondary education in Alberta may qualify to apply under the Alberta Provincial Nomination Programme and eventually obtain permanent residency of Canada.
1. Applicants must have studied at a post-secondary educational institution in Alberta full-time for two years.
2. Applicants must have postgraduate work permit for 36 months and apply for Expression of Interest (EOI) before the completion of 12 months.
3. Applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 6 bands in each individual category.
4. Applicants must establish a new business or purchase an existing business in Alberta with minimum ownership of 34 per cent. The other partner must be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada.
5. Applicants must have six months of full-time work experience of running and managing an active business. This work experience can be obtained before or after study and inside or outside of Alberta. However, this work experience requirement can be waived if the two-year study period in Alberta is in entrepreneurship programmes.
6. There are no minimum investment requirement. However, applicants must have the necessary financial resources to establish and manage a business.
7. There is no age requirement but preferred age is between 21-49 years.
8. Though not mandatory requirements, the following factors may increase an applicant’s chances of being nominated:
• the business is located in a rural area;
• business is beneficial to the local economy;
• applicant has a relative in Alberta;
• applicant’s spouse is educated in Alberta;
• the amount of investment made by the applicant is substantial; and
• applicant opts for business succession.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration
The provincial government of British Columbia (BC) in agreement with the Government of Canada allocates a limited number of nominations each year to businesspersons.
The BC Entrepreneur Immigration Stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in and actively manage a business in BC.
Base Category Programme
1. The applicants must have their own net assets of CD$600,000 and must disclose all their assets. Inherited property cannot be included.
2. Applicant must be legally admitted in the country from where he/she is applying.
3. Applicant must have a minimum of:
(a) More than three years of experience as an active business owner-manager OR
(b) More than four years of experience as a senior manager OR
(c) A combination of at least one year of experience as an active business owner-manager and at least two years of experience as a senior manager.
4. Applicant must have post-secondary education or business experience of running and managing a business in which the applicant, his/her spouse and/or children have 100 per cent ownership.
5. Applicant must demonstrate that he/she will own at least one-third (33.3 per cent) of the business in BC. If the proposed ownership is less than 33.3 per cent, applicant must invest a minimum of CD$1million in an equity purchase.
6. Applicant must make an investment of CD$200,000 and more within 20 months of arrival in Canada.
7. Must create one full time job.
8. More than one foreign investor can become a co-investor and start a business in BC.
9. Language requirement: Applicants must have a score of CLB 4 (IELTS – L-4.5, R-3.5, W- 4.0, S-4.0) before being nominated by the British Columbia government.
Regional Pilot Community Programme
This programme is focused on attracting businesspersons from around the world to establish businesses in the regional communities or rural areas of British Columbia.
1. The applicant must be nominated by a regional community.
2. The applicant must have net assets of at least CD$300,000.
3. The applicant must make an investment of CD$100,000 in the community that has nominated the applicant.
4. The applicant must be actively involved in the business and spend 75 per cent of his/her time in BC.
5. The applicant must have a business experience of at least three years as a business owner or four years of experience as a senior manager.
6. The applicant must have post-secondary education from a licensed post-secondary institute or have experience as an active business owner with 100 per cent ownership in the business.
7. Language requirement: Applicants must have a score of CLB 4 (IELTS – L-4.5, R-3.5, W- 4.0, S-4.0) before being nominated by the British Columbia government.
Manitoba Business Investor Stream
The Business Investor Stream (BIS) allows Manitoba to select and nominate qualified business investors and entrepreneurs from around the world who have the intent and ability to start or purchase businesses in Manitoba.
There are two types of programmes:
1. The Entrepreneur Pathway for applicants seeking to open a business in Manitoba, and
2. The Farm Investor Pathway for those intending to establish and operate a farm operation in rural Manitoba.
Entrepreneur Pathway
1. Applicants must have net assets of CD$500,000 and must disclose all their assets.
2. Applicant must also have:
(a) More than three years of experience as an active business owner-manager with 33.33 per cent ownership OR
(b) More than three years of experience as a senior manager over the previous five years.
3. Applicant must be legally admitted in the country from where he/she is applying.
4. Applicant’s English language proficiency must be at least CLB level 5 (IELTS: R-4.0, W-5.0, L-5.0, S-5.0).
5. Applicant must have a minimum education equivalent to a Canadian High School Certificate or more.
6. There is no minimum age requirement but preferred age is between 25 to 49 years.
7. Applicant must make an investment of CD$250,000 in the Manitoba capital region or CD$150,000 outside Manitoba Capital region.
8. Business must create one full-time job.
9. Criteria such as spouse’s IELTS score, a dependent child, applicant’s educational qualifications and work experience or having a relative in Manitoba are allocated additional points.
10. Applicant must make a business exploratory trip to Manitoba for five days minimum and must prepare an extensive business plan based on extensive business research.
Farm Investor Pathway
1. Applicants who have a net worth of CD$500,000 verified by a designated third-party service provider are eligible to apply.
2. Applicant must have a minimum of three years of farm ownership and operation experience supported by documents.
3. Applicant must make CD$300,000 investment in rural Manitoba.
4. Applicant must prepare a detailed business plan after undertaking an exploratory trip to Manitoba.
5. Applicant must have skills to operate and manage a farm on his/her own with practical, on-ground skills. Farm managers are not eligible to apply.
6. Applicant will be called for a personal interview conducted in French or English.
Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Programme (SINP)
The Entrepreneur Category
Through this, applicants and their family members can start, obtain or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and be actively involved in managing it, while residing in Saskatchewan.
1. Applicants must have a minimum of CD$500,000 in net business and personal assets.
2. Applicants must have a minimum of three years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience gained in the past ten years.
3. Applicants must invest a minimum of CD$300,000 in Regina and Saskatoon or a minimum of CD$200,000 in other Saskatchewan communities.
4. There is no specific age requirement but preferred age is between 21-54 years.
5. There is no specific education and language requirement, but points will be awarded for education and English-language proficiency (CLB level 4, IELTS – R-3.5, W-4.0, L-4.5, S-4.0) if adequate proof is provided.
6. Applicants must have a detailed business plan which indicates:
• Applicant’s plan to establish a business that aligns with the points assigned in the Entrepreneur Category Points Grid, if applicable (for investment amount and sector);
• Applicant’s ownership of at least one-third (33.33 per cent) of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan, unless the total investment is CD$1 million or higher;
• Applicant’s commitment to provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business; and
• The creation of two employment opportunities in Saskatchewan for Canadians or permanent residents who are not related to the applicant. This only applies if the applicant is establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon.
Saskatchewan Farmers Immigration Program
1. Applicants must have net assets of CD$500,000.
2. Applicants must provide a deposit of CD$75,000 to the Government of SK which will be refunded when they meet the conditions mentioned in the agreement signed with government.
3. Applicants must invest in a farm which has minimum revenue of CD$10,000 per year.
4. Applicants have to undertake a comprehensive exploratory visit to Saskatchewan for no less than five working days. They must meet the government representatives during this visit.
5. Applicants need to provide documentation (e.g., education and training, work experience, financial documents of previous farming operations) that demonstrates that the applicant is an experienced farm operator. If necessary, the government may verify this information further through an interview when the applicant visits Saskatchewan.
Young Farmers Stream: Farm owners and operators
The Young Farmer Stream of Farm Owners and Operators category was created to allow young farm families to establish their lives and farming operations in rural areas of Saskatchewan.
1. Applicants must have net assets of at least CD$300,000 that can be confirmed.
2. Essential to show accumulation of wealth as well.
3. Applicants must be under the age of forty years.
4. Applicants must have at least three years of experience in:
• Farm ownership
• Farm management or
• Practical farming experience
5. Applicant must have a detailed business plan. The farming proposal should be a commercial project with a reasonable expectation of profit. In Saskatchewan, a qualified farming business must have a minimum of CD$10,000 annual revenue. Hobby farms don’t qualify.
6. The applicant or spouse must have marketable employment skills, based on education and experience that allows the applicant or spouse to supplement the farming income.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
1. Applicants must have studied for two years full-time at a post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan.
2. Applicants must have postgraduate work permit for 36 months and apply for Expression of Interest (EOI) before the completion of 12 months.
3. Applicants must have a minimum IELTS score of 6 bands in each individual category.
4. Applicants must establish a new business or purchase an existing business in Saskatchewan with minimum ownership of 34 per cent.
5. Applicants must actively own and operate a business in Saskatchewan for at least one year prior to applying under this category.
6. Applicants must show that the business is generating minimum revenue after one year of operation.
7. Applicants must make a verifiable investment either from their own source or other eligible sources.
8. Applicants must provide a detailed business plan.
9. If an applicant meets the minimum criteria, he/she will be called for an interview. On passing the interview, applicant will be required to sign a business performance agreement with the Saskatchewan government.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Programme (NBPNP)
Entrepreneur Stream
The NBPNP Entrepreneurial Stream was developed for experienced business owners and senior managers who wish to become permanent residents by owning a business in New Brunswick (NB) and managing it, while residing in the province.
1. Applicants must have an eligible connection (work or study) to New Brunswick.
2. Preferred age is between 21-59 years.
3. Applicants must have a minimum CLB level of 5 (IELTS – R-4.0, W-5.0, L-5.0, S-5.0) in English proficiency. Though language test is not mandatory for spouse, if spouse has CLB level of 5, applicant will receive additional points.
4. Applicants must have at least a Canadian secondary or high-school diploma or equivalent education from a foreign country.
5. Applicants must have a verifiable personal net worth of at least CD$500,000.
6. Applicants must have at least three out of five years of experience in managing and owning a business and must have been responsible for supervising at least two employees or should be a senior manager in a company, responsible for supervising at least two employees, have an authority to hire and fire them and be actively involved in the day-to-day operation of the company.
7. Applicants must have the desire to live permanently in New Brunswick, while owning and managing a local business.
8. Applicants must be willing to invest at least CD$150,000 of their own funds to establish a business in NB.
9. Applicant must visit NB for a business exploratory trip, prepare and provide a detailed business plan.
Nova Scotia Business Immigration Programme
Entrepreneur Stream
The Entrepreneur Stream is for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Nova Scotia. They must start a new business or buy an existing business and must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business. After operating the business for a year, the entrepreneur may be nominated for permanent resident status. Application to the stream is by invitation only.
1. Applicants must be 21 years of age or older.
2. Applicants must live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a business in Nova Scotia.
3. Applicants must have a net worth of at least CD$600,000.
4. Applicants must invest at least CD$150,000 of their own money to establish a business in Nova Scotia.
5. Applicants must have three years of experience in actively managing and owning a business (1/3rd ownership minimum) or have more than five years of experience in a senior business management role.
6. Applicants must have a minimum CLB level of 5 (IELTS – R-4.0, W-5.0, L-5.0, S-5.0) in English proficiency.
7. Applicants must operate a business in Nova Scotia on a Work Permit (WP) for at least one continuous year before being nominated for permanent resident status in Canada.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is for recent graduates of a Nova Scotia university or Nova Scotia Community College. Applicants wishing to apply under this stream must have already started or bought a Nova Scotia business and operated it for at least a year before applying. Applicants must also have the desire to settle in Nova Scotia as permanent residents. Application to the stream is by invitation only.
1. Applicants must want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a business in Nova Scotia.
2. Applicants must have at least one year of continuous work experience of actively managing and owning the business in Nova Scotia.
3. Applicants must have minimum 33.33 per cent ownership in the business.
4. Applicants must have completed a degree or diploma after at least two academic years of full-time, in-person study at a university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College.
5. Applicants must have a valid post-graduation work permit.
6. Applicants must have a score of at least CLB level 7 (IELTS – R-6.0, W-6.0, L-6.0, S-6.0) in English.
7. If an applicant meets the minimum criteria, he/she will receive an Invitation to Apply from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Programme (PEI PNP)
Business Work Permit Stream
Applicants may be eligible for a nomination for permanent residency through the Work Permit Stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Programme. This stream is for foreign nationals with business ownership or extensive management experience who would like to move to PEI to start their business, and eventually become permanent residents.
To be eligible for nomination, applicants must fulfil all of the following conditions:
• Have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CD$600,000 which has been accumulated through legal and legitimate sources by the applicant himself/herself.
• Have a minimum education of secondary school equivalent.
• Must be between 21-59 years of age at the time of application.
• Have transferable management skills and past employment or business ownership experience.
• Meet minimum language requirements equivalent to a CLB/NCLC level 4 (IELTS – R-3.5, W-4.0, L-4.5, S-4.0).
• Intend to live and work in PEI while providing day-to-day active and on-going management of the PEI-based company.
• Attend an interview with staff from the Office of Immigration.
• Meet the terms and conditions of the Performance Agreement signed with the Office of Immigration.
There is no fee to file the Consent to Pursue Investment Immigration in PEI.
Private loans, inherited and gifted assets, private loans and/or gifts cannot be included to meet the net worth requirement. Inherited assets will be considered with a copy of a death certificate and will. Automobiles and gifts cannot be included while calculating the total net worth.
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Programme (NLPNP)
The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Programme allows the province to nominate applicants who meet established criteria for permanent resident status.
International Entrepreneur Category
To be eligible, applicants must fulfil all of the following conditions
• Applicant must preferably be between 21 to 59 years.
• Applicant must provide a business plan with supporting financial documentation verified by a recognized third-party professional.
• Applicant must have a minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent foreign credential verified by an Education Credential Assessment (ECA), taken in the last five years prior to the date the Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted.
• Applicant must be willing to live permanently in Newfoundland and Labrador while owning and actively managing a local business that has the potential to create significant economic benefit to the province.
• Have at least $600,000 CAD in unencumbered net business and personal assets that can readily be transferred to Canada.
• Be able to invest at least $200,000 CAD of their own money to establish a business in Newfoundland and Labrador with a minimum ownership of 33.3 per cent, or $1 million in equity investment.
• Demonstrate ability to create at least one full-time equivalent job for local population (permanent residents and Canadian citizens).
• Demonstrate that the business is a for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services.
• Have at least two years’ experience of actively managing and owning a business (25 per cent minimum ownership) in the last five years or five or more years of experience in a senior business management role in the last ten years.
• Have a score of at least 5 band in each category of IELTS.
Applicants meeting the above criteria can complete an online Expression of Interest (EOI). If they qualify, they will receive an Invitation to Apply from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Applicants intending to support regional economic development or focus on high-demand industries or sectors (e.g., agriculture, aquaculture, technology, natural resources) will receive priority consideration.
It is mandatory that applicants undertake an exploratory visit to Newfoundland and Labrador prior to submitting an official application.
There are two streams within the International Entrepreneur category:
1. Starting a new business and
2. Purchasing an existing business
Each stream has its own unique requirement criteria in addition to the aforementioned criteria.
Additional requirements when starting a new business:
• Applicants must create a minimum of one full-time employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Newfoundland and Labrador.
• This position must be other than the one filled by the approved applicant.
• Jobs created for or filled by dependents or relatives of the applicant are not eligible.
• Position must be relevant and directly related to the applicant’s business.
• Position must meet the prevailing wage levels.
Additional requirements when purchasing an existing business:
• The business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five years.
• All applicants purchasing or partnering in an existing business must complete an exploratory visit to meet the current owner(s).
• Applicants must provide evidence that reasonable efforts were taken to establish a fair market value for the business.
• The business must be actively in operation and not in receivership.
• Applicants must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.
Ontario Immigration Nominee Programme (OINP)
Entrepreneur Stream
Applicants may be eligible for this programme if they have a viable business activity that will bring significant economic benefit to Ontario. If approved, the applicant and his/her business partner (if applicable) may apply for a temporary work permit in order to establish the said business. Once the business is successfully established, the applicant and the business partner (if applicable) may be eligible for nomination under the OINP.
The applicant must meet all eligibility criteria in order to apply under the Entrepreneur Stream. If applying with a business partner, the business partner too must meet the eligibility criteria.
To be eligible, applicants must satisfy the following six factors:
1. Experience: At least two years of full-time business experience in the last five years. Experience must be as a business owner or as a senior manager (business management).
2. Net Worth: If the proposed business is located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA includes the City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions), applicant must have a minimum net worth of CD$800,000. If the proposed business is to be located outside of the GTA, applicant must have a minimum net worth of CD$400,000. If the proposed business is in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of the proposed business location), applicant must have a minimum net worth of CD$400,000.
3. Personal Investment Funds: If the proposed business is located within the GTA, applicant must make a minimum personal investment of CD$600,000 and have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3 per cent. If the proposed business is located outside of the GTA, applicant must make a minimum personal investment of CD$200,000 and have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3 per cent. If the proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of where the business will be set up), applicant must make a minimum personal investment of CD$200,000 and have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3 per cent.
4. Job Creation: Applicant must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens / permanent residents if business is located in the GTA area. If it is outside the GTA area, applicant must create one permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen / permanent resident.
5. Active Involvement and Capital Investment: Applicant must be actively involved on an on-going basis in the management of the business and the purpose of the business must be to make profit and not just to derive interest, dividend or capital gains.
6. Business-related visit: If the applicant plans to purchase an existing business, he/she must undertake at least one business-related visit to Ontario in the year prior to the date of submitting the Expression of Interest (EOI).
Based on the applicant’s EOI score, he/she may be invited to apply under the Entrepreneur Stream. Applicants are required to pay processing fees of CD$3500 after receiving an invitation to apply.
The following businesses are not eligible: Automated car wash business, holding companies, laundromats, pawnbrokers, payday loan and related businesses, scrap metal recycling, tire recycling, a business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services, businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees.
If your proposed business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area, the following types are also ineligible: Existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted), gas stations, bed and breakfasts.
Quebec Immigration Investor Programme (QIIP)
Please note that the Quebec Immigration Investor Programme (QIIP) and Quebec Entrepreneur Programme Stream 2 has been suspended since January 2020 and no date to restart the programmes has been announced. The Quebec government is coming up with its start-up visa programme in 2022.
