- 184 York St, London, ON N6A 1B5, Canada
- info@immigrationtocanada.com
The Start-Up Visa Program offers a pathway to permanent residency for immigrant entrepreneurs who wish to build their businesses in Canada. It is designed to support these entrepreneurs in establishing a strong business presence in the country. Through this program, successful candidates are connected with private sector organizations in Canada, providing them with crucial support such as funding, mentorship, and valuable industry expertise to help them launch and manage their businesses successfully.
Immigration to Canada facilitates this exciting initiative, guiding you through the entire process to ensure you have the best chance of success. The Start-Up Visa Program not only helps entrepreneurs gain permanent residency but also fosters innovation and encourages economic growth in Canada. By participating in the program, entrepreneurs can benefit from Canada’s vibrant economic landscape and access to its vast resources.
At Immigration to Canada, our goal is to attract innovative entrepreneurs from around the world who can generate new employment opportunities and contribute to the country’s economic development.
To qualify for the Start-Up Visa, applicants must fulfill the following criteria:
A maximum of five foreign nationals can apply for permanent residency under the same business project within the Start-Up Visa Program.
Immigration to Canada, a company dedicated to helping individuals immigrate to Canada, highlights the involvement of various venture capital funds, angel investor networks, and business incubators in the Start-Up Visa initiative.
To qualify, applicants must secure a certain level of investment for their start-up in Canada. If they are securing funds from an approved Canadian venture capital fund, the investment must be at least $200,000. For those receiving backing from an angel investor network, the minimum required investment is $75,000.
While applicants do not need investment from a business incubator, they must gain acceptance into a Canadian business incubator program.
Importantly, applicants are not obligated to invest their personal funds. Should their Canadian start-up not succeed, individuals granted permanent residency through this program will maintain their status as permanent residents.
To successfully show that an Immigration to Canada applicant has received backing from a venture capital firm, angel investor consortium, or business incubator, the investor group must fill out and send a Commitment Certificate directly to IRCC. This important document details the agreement between the applicant and the investment entity and serves to outline the commitment specifics between them.
Additionally, the applicant will be provided with a support letter from the investment group, which they must include with their permanent residence application. In cases where multiple applicants are involved in a single business venture, the investment group’s commitment may depend on one or more “essential persons” being granted permanent residence status. An essential person is identified by the investment group as crucial to the business. If an essential person’s application is denied for any reason, this results in the rejection of all applications mentioned in the Commitment Certificate.
In scenarios where multiple individuals apply under the same business venture, the investment group’s pledge may be reliant on one or several “essential person(s)” successfully obtaining permanent residence. An essential person is one designated by the investment group as critical to the venture’s success. If any essential person’s application is turned down, all other related applications listed in the Commitment Certificate will consequently be denied.
At Immigration to Canada, applicants can gain backing from multiple designated entities, a process known as syndication. In such cases, it is essential to specify all participating organizations. These designated bodies will collaborate to issue a single Commitment Certificate to IRCC, and applicants will be provided with one Letter of Support.
When a designated venture capital firm makes an investment in a business, the total minimum investment required for that venture is $200,000. This remains the case even if a designated angel investment group also chooses to invest in the same business.
Conversely, if the business secures support solely from a designated angel investment group, and not from a designated venture capital firm, the minimum required investment drops to $75,000.
To safeguard against fraudulent activities, a peer review process has been embedded into the program. Designed to validate the legitimacy of agreements between investment organizations and foreign entrepreneurs, this process guarantees transparency. An immigration officer may request that a commitment be independently evaluated by a peer review panel. These panels are set up by an industry association representing the type of investment organization involved. For instance, the National Angel Capital Organization would establish the panel for angel investor groups.
Similarly, if a venture capital fund is involved, the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association would be responsible for forming the panel. A peer review may be requested at the discretion of the immigration officer if it is deemed helpful in the decision-making process, or it may occur randomly. The findings of the peer review panel are advisory and are not binding on the immigration officer. They serve to confirm that the investment organization has conducted thorough checks and investigations in alignment with industry standards, without providing a judgment on the proposal’s wisdom or feasibility.
The peer review scrutinizes the level of due diligence executed by the designated organization, ensuring:
Canada's Start-Up Visa Program is an immigration program that targets innovative entrepreneurs who have the potential to build businesses in Canada that are innovative, can create jobs for Canadians, and can compete on a global scale.
To be eligible, applicants must have a qualifying business, a commitment from a designated organization (venture capital funds, angel investor groups, or business incubators), meet the language proficiency requirements in English or French, and have sufficient settlement funds.
A designated organization is a business group that has been approved by the Canadian government to invest in or support start-up businesses through the Start-Up Visa Program. These organizations include venture capital funds, angel investors, and business incubators.
Applicants need to secure a letter of support from a designated organization. This shows that the group endorses the business idea and is willing to invest or mentor the start-up. The organization will also provide a commitment certificate directly to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in either English or French, with a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 5 in speaking, reading, listening, and writing. Language tests from approved agencies must be completed for this purpose.
The amount of settlement funds required depends on the size of your family and is intended to support your family’s initial expenses in Canada. The exact amount is updated annually, and applicants must have sufficient funds to support themselves and any family members accompanying them.
Need Any Help, Call Us 24/7 For Support
info@immigrtiontocanada.com
405-1275 Finch ave West, Toronto,ON M3J 2G5
Company services and contacts.
It all begins with a simple step – completing our immigration assessment form.
With a team of seasoned immigration professionals, we specialize in providing tailored solutions for your journey to Canada.
info@immigrtiontocanada.com
Mon – Sat: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm Sunday: Closed
405-1275 Finch ave West, Toronto,ON M3J 2G5
Discover everything you need to know about our services and how we can help you on your journey. Simply leave your email address below, and we’ll send the brochure straight to your inbox.