The Start-up Visa Program aims to attract immigrant entrepreneurs who are willing to move to Canada to launch a new business in Canada. Canada’s Start-up Visa Program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that:

• Are innovative
• Can create jobs for Canadians
• Can compete globally

In order to be eligible under the Start-up Visa Program, you have to fulfill below requirements:

1. Have a Qualifying Business

A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the following conditions:

Show that the designated organization(s) that supports you hold(s) at least 50% of voting rights in the business and that you and a maximum of 4 other persons, hold the remaining 50% of voting rights, each one having at least 10% of voting rights.

A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the following conditions:

Show that the designated organization(s) that supports you hold(s) at least 50% of voting rights in the business and that you and a maximum of 4 other persons, hold the remaining 50% of voting rights, each one having at least 10% of voting rights.

2. Obtain Letter of Support from a Designated Organization (DO’s)

Prove that your business is supported by a Designated Organization in Canada. Those are Canadian Incubators, Venture Capital firms, and Angel Investors groups, that need to issue you a Letter of Support.

3. Meet English Language Requirements

You must prove that you have a minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5, in IELTS or CELPIP English test. Effectively, this means followings score in each module.

Speaking: 5.0

Reading: 4.0

Listening: 5.0

Writing: 5.0

4. Benefits for Entrepreneurs

Canada seeks innovative entrepreneurs who have the potential to build dynamic companies that can compete on a global scale. The Start-Up Visa Program will link immigrant entrepreneurs with experienced private sector organizations that have expertise in working with startups.

The entrepreneurs can expect below benefits for being part of this economic growth.

• Strong, stable and competitive economy
• low operational cost
• low corporate taxes
• many federal and provincial business start-up benefits
• educated and highly skilled workforce

5. Bring enough funds with you to settle in Canada

The amount needed, updated every year, depends on the number of family members that are immigrating with you. You will need to show proof of funds as per the below table, when we apply for your Permanent Residence. You will need to confirm that you own the money and that it is not borrowed and that the funds must be readily transferable funds (example bank statement, fixed deposits etc.) in a convertible currency.

6. Other Key Benefits

• No minimum net worth requirement.
• No minimal education requirement.
• Unconditional Permanent Residence.
• Low English language requirements.
• No minimum income requirements.
• No minimum investment requirement.

7. Start Up Visa Process Flow

• Assessment of your profile to meet eligibility criteria for business concept under this program;
• Collection of required documents and review with the program guidelines;
• Assistance with compiling the Application package to the Designated Organization; coaching for the interview and formal support.
• Submission of applicant’s business package to the designated organization;
• Post-successful interview with the Designated Organization, candidate has to successfully complete a boot camp at a place designated by the Designated Organization.
• Post fulfillment of boot camp requirement, applicant would be eligible for Letter of Support from the Designated Organization;
• On receiving Letter of Support, assisting the applicant and their family will start collecting the documents for the Permanent Residency application;
• Preparing the PR application and submitting on behalf of the client to the IRCC; and
• Post submission of the PR application, we will apply for the applicant work permit application.

8. Processing Time of application:

The processing time for the entire process may vary from case-to-case basis and time in which Letter of Support is received and other program requirements are completed.

At this time, the processing of PR application may take 12-16 months as per time frame advertised on the Canadian government website.