Frequently asked questions: Investors, entrepreneurs and self‑employed persons

What do you mean by business experience?

You can find more information on the Entrepreneur Program, including what the various terms that apply to the Program mean on the definitions page.

How do I satisfy Citizenship and Immigration Canada that my net worth was obtained legally?

You will have to satisfy the visa officer that no portion of your net worth was obtained as a result of criminal activity. You should be able to explain material differences between your net income over the years and your present net worth, and to comply with reasonable requests for documents to back up both your income sources and the components of your net worth.

Who do I contact for more information about meeting my business conditions in Canada?

Once you are accepted into the Entrepreneur Program, you will receive a brochure that contains instructions and contact information for the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) offices in Canada. You are required to contact a CIC office within six months after you enter Canada as a permanent resident to report your address and telephone number.

Who are federal entrepreneurs and what do they bring to Canada?

Entrepreneurs are experienced business persons who own and actively manage businesses in Canada that contribute to the economy and create jobs.  Entrepreneurs bring economic benefits to Canada and are selected based on their proven business experience.

Why is a moratorium being placed on the federal entrepreneur program?

The Federal Entrepreneur Program needs to be re-designed.  Application intake has been declining in recent years; however, there is concern that a surge of applications could occur in the future due to a number of factors, including the new Federal Immigrant Investor Program cap.

A temporary moratorium would also support backlog reduction as current wait times are six to eight years.  Note that federal entrepreneur cases in the existing inventory will continue to be processed while the program undergoes review.

How long is the moratorium expected to last?

Officials will undertake a review of this program with the objective of ensuring Canada is better able to attract and retain innovative entrepreneurs.  In this way, a temporary moratorium is consistent with previous action to stop intake in the Federal Immigrant Investors Program while regulatory changes were introduced.

Will the moratorium affect Quebec-selected entrepreneurs?

No. Quebec-selected entrepreneurs are not subject to the moratorium.

Where do most entrepreneurs come from?

Entrepreneurs come from all over the world. Currently, the majority of entrepreneurs are from China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong, but there are also large numbers of them applying from the Middle East and elsewhere.

You can find more information on where business immigrants come from in the annual report, Facts and Figures from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. You will find a link to the report in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.

What are the requirements for qualifying as an investor?

To qualify as an investor, you must have two years of business experience and a net worth of at least C$1,600,000 that was obtained legally. You must also obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada. Before a visa is issued, you must make an investment of C$800,000 to Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

What is the procedure for becoming an investor?

You must meet all the eligibility requirements, pass medical, criminal and security checks, and make an investment of C$800,000. You can find more information about how to apply as an investor on this site.

What are the business experience requirements?

You must have been a part or full owner of a business for two years or more, or have managed the equivalent of five full-time workers in a business for a minimum of two full years.

Does the business experience have to be recent?

The business experience must be in the period that begins five years before you submit your application and ends when a decision is made on your application.

What do you mean by business experience?

You can find more information on the Investor Program, including what the various terms that apply to the Program mean on the definitions page.

How do I satisfy Citizenship and Immigration Canada that my net worth was obtained legally?

You must be able to prove that no portion of your net worth was obtained through criminal activity. You will be asked to explain any discrepancies between your net income over the years and your present net worth. The visa officer who assesses your net worth may ask you for documents to back up both your income sources and your net worth.

Who is responsible for the investment operations of the program?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) administers all aspects of the program, including the investment that successful applicants must make. CIC acts as an agent for the participating provinces and territories.

What documents do I receive after I make my investment?

You will receive a zero interest promissory note that is not transferable. You cannot sell the promissory note, but you can use it as collateral for a loan. At the maturity date, you must return the promissory note to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for repayment of your C$800,000 investment.

Why do you recommend that I make my investment through a Citizenship and Immigration Canada-approved facilitator?

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has set up administrative procedures with a number of facilitators to assist in the payment and redemption of your C$800,000 investment. These services are available to you at no cost. Facilitators also offer a variety of financing options if you want to finance your investment or use your promissory note as collateral for a loan in the future.

Where do most immigrant investors come from?

Investors come from all over the world. Currently, the majority of investors are from China, Taiwan, Korea and Hong Kong, but there are also substantial numbers of investors applying from the Middle East and elsewhere. You can find more information on where business immigrants come from in Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s annual report, Facts and Figures.

Why are you introducing a cap?

We are now receiving more federal immigrant investor applications than we can process and accept each year. We have more than enough applications on hand now to fill many of our needs.  A cap is the only guaranteed way to limit the number of applications we receive. Without the cap on applications, the backlog will worsen and processing times will get longer.

Is the annual cap by calendar year, fiscal year or from the date the instructions are published?

The cap for the third set of instructions begins July 1^st, 2011, and ends on June 30^th, 2012 (unless otherwise indicated in a future ministerial instruction).

What will happen with applications received after the cap is reached?  How will applicants know their application isn’t being forwarded to a visa office for processing?

These applicants will be informed, in writing, that their application will not continue for processing and that their processing fees will be returned.

Why are federal immigrant investor applications now being received at the Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia?

As of July 1st, 2011, federal immigrant investor applications will be received at the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia. The CIO will be responsible for completeness checking, data entry and fee processing functions, which will free up resources in visa offices abroad for processing applications.

Will the cap affect Quebec-selected investors?

No. Quebec-selected investors are not subject to the cap.

What are the new application requirements?

The new requirements can be found here: Applying for permanent residence - Business class applicants: Investors, entrepreneurs, self–employed persons (IMM4000)

Can applicants or their representatives bring applications to the Centralized Intake Office in Sydney in person?

No. 

Applications must be mailed to the Centralized Intake Office at the following address:

Citizenship and Immigration
Immigrant Investor
Centralized Intake Office
PO Box 8888
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 0C9
Canada

Applications can also be sent via courrier to:

Immigrant Investor Program
Centralized Intake Office
47-49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, Nova Scotia
B1P 5Z2

What happens to complete federal immigrant investor applications received at overseas visa offices on or after July 1st, 2011?

As the centralization of intake of federal immigrant investor applications takes place on July 1^st, 2011, all applications received at overseas visa offices on or after that date will be returned.  Similarly, applications received at the centralized intake office in Sydney before July 1, 2011, will also be returned.

At what point are applications counted towards the cap?

Complete applications are counted towards the cap once they are date stamped at the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney. The CIO will consider the date that a package arrives in the Sydney mailroom as the date of receipt.

What are the requirements for qualifying as a self-employed person?

To qualify as a self-employed person, you must have two years of relevant experience and show that you intend to become self-employed in Canada.

You must also obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada.

What is the procedure for becoming a self-employed person?

You must meet the definition of a self-employed person, pass a medical examination, criminal and security checks, and agree to operate a business in Canada. You can find more information under How to apply.

What is meant by “relevant experience”?

A detailed definition of what relevant experience means can be found in Self-Employed Persons: Definitions.

Does the relevant experience have to be recent?

The relevant experience must be in the period that begins five years before you sign your application and ends when a decision is made on your application.

What is meant by “cultural activities”?

“Cultural activities” include occupations generally considered to be part of Canada’s artistic and cultural field. Examples include authors and writers, creative and performing artists, musicians, painters, sculptors and other visual artists, technical support and occupations in motion pictures, creative designers and craftspeople.

What are specified economic activities?

You must plan to be self-employed in Canada in cultural or athletic activities, or purchase and manage a farm.

What is meant by a “significant contribution”?

There is no formal definition of what constitutes a significant contribution. This gives visa officers the ability to use their judgment and allow them to recognize that a contribution to athletics or the arts, even at less than a national standard, may still be of significant benefit at the local level. For example, a music teacher with reasonable qualifications will be in a better position to make a significant contribution in a small town than in a large city.

Please note that you must contribute to economic activities in Canada. While this does not preclude some activities outside of Canada, your experience must include a significant contribution within Canada.

Are there any reporting requirements once I arrive in Canada?

No. Unlike the Entrepreneur Program, you do not have to meet any conditions after becoming a permanent resident of Canada. However, there are requirements to retain your status as a permanent resident. You can find more information about being a permanent resident on this site.

Is there a net worth requirement?

There is no regulated minimum net worth requirement. However, you will have to satisfy a visa officer that you have sufficient funds to settle in Canada with your dependants, and to finance the economic activities on which your selection was based. For example, if you are a farmer, you will have to prove that you have sufficient funds to purchase and operate a farm in Canada.

Why does Canada have a business immigration program?

Canada’s Business Immigration Program seeks to attract experienced business people to Canada to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy. The program includes three classes: the Immigrant Investor Class, the Self-Employed Persons Class and the Entrepreneur Class.

Business immigrants are expected to contribute to the Canadian economy by owning and managing businesses in Canada or by making an investment in the Canadian economy.

How does Canada benefit from business immigrants?

The Business Immigration Program allows experienced business people to immigrate to Canada and apply their capital, entrepreneurial skills and knowledge of markets and technology within the Canadian economy.

What are the principal differences between investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons?

Investors must make a C$800,000 investment but are not subject to monitoring or other regulatory requirements once they arrive in Canada.

Entrepreneurs must invest and participate in the management of a business in Canada that creates at least one additional job for someone other than a member of their immediate family. They must report regularly on their progress.

Self-employed persons are selected based on their intention and ability to create a job for themselves in cultural or athletic activities, or to purchase and manage a farm in Canada. They are not subject to monitoring or other regulatory requirements once they arrive in Canada.

What type of documents do I have to submit to support my application?

In addition to the usual documents required to support any application for immigration to Canada, you must provide documents that demonstrate your past business experience, such as:

• financial statements
• corporate and personal income tax returns
• tax assessments
• bank statements
• business licences
• minute books
• letters of reference and
• promotional material.

Where do I apply?

You must submit your application to the correct visa office.

For applicants in the investor program, send your completed application to the Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

For applicants in the entrepreneur or self-employed program, send your completed application to the Canadian visa office.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/francais/information/faq/immigrer/affaires/index.asp#programme

How long will it take for my application to be processed?

The length of time it takes to process your application is different in each visa office.

Check application processing times.

Does the Government of Canada have a financing program to help small businesses?

Yes. The Canada Small Business Financing Program makes it easier for small businesses to get loans from financial institutions by sharing the risk with lenders.

Does the Government of Canada have other programs to help small businesses?

Yes. Visit the Canada Business website for information on government services for entrepreneurs related to business start-up, financing, grants, taxes, importing, exporting, and more.

When did the simplified application process come into effect?

The simplified application process came into effect on September 1, 2006.

What does the simplified application process involve?

Simplified kits and forms have been developed to guide applicants through the application process. Applicants are required to complete and submit a three-page form along with the processing fees, which secures them a place in the processing line.

All supporting documents will be requested at a later date, usually about four months before the visa office is ready to assess the application. A letter of receipt provides advice to the applicant on labour-market preparation. The letter also encourages applicants to take advantage of the waiting period. For example, some applicants could use this time to start courses to improve their language skills.

What does the supporting documentation to be provided later include?

Supporting documentation would include education documents or other certificates attesting to the educational level, employment letters confirming work experience, language test results, police certificates, birth and marriage certificates, and bank statements confirming the applicant’s funds.

Is the simplified application process being used at all visa offices?

Since September 1, 2006, the simplified application process is in use at all visa offices except Buffalo, U.S.A. For applicants who submit their applications in Buffalo for processing by Buffalo and the other U.S. offices, the regular application process continues to apply. Applicants must submit their supporting documents at the same time as the application form.

Why is the simplified application process not being used by Buffalo and other U.S. offices?

Buffalo and its partner missions in the U.S. use a streamlined system where all files are created and pre-processed in Buffalo. It requires you to submit all relevant documents and information with your application. This makes processing faster for most clients who already live in Canada or the U.S. The SAP does not work well with this system.

Can a foreigner living in the United States who has legal status submit a simplified application?

No. Since Buffalo continues to use the regular application process, American citizens and other residents of the United States must submit a full application to our visa office in Buffalo, which will then forward it to the visa office closest to the applicant’s residence.

If you submit a simplified application to Buffalo, it will be returned to you with a letter requesting you submit a regular application. Any fees sent with the simplified application will also be returned.

If I am using the simplified application process, do I have to notify the visa office if I change jobs?

No. You only have to notify the visa office if you have a new address (postal or email) or hire a new immigration representative. You should also contact the visa office if you decide to withdraw your application. You do not have to notify Citizenship and Immigration Canada of any other changes until the visa office contacts you (about four months before the office is ready to assess your application).

I have already submitted my application. Do I have to start over?

No. Applications that were submitted before September 1, 2006, will be processed as usual. Regular applications received after September 1, 2006, are accepted, but the supporting documents will be returned to the applicant until the visa office requests them.

Why do you return the supporting documents?

The simplified process is intended to help applicants by eliminating the burden of continuously having to submit documents while waiting for their application to be processed. It also allows Citizenship and Immigration Canada to avoid duplication of work and save storage space. In addition, given application processing times, most documents would have to be updated if the applicant’s situation changes (for example, marital status, job, education and financial situation).

Will my processing fees be refunded if I decide to withdraw my application?

Yes. If you contact the visa office before they contact you (that is, before the assessment of your application begins), your fees will be refunded.

Will this initiative reduce processing times?

No. However, the simplified application process will reduce the amount of information you need to submit when you apply. It also secures you a place in the processing line, and you won’t have to submit supporting documents more than once.

I have just taken a language proficiency test at a designated organization, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) or the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF). Can I submit the results now?

If you apply under the simplified application process, the visa office will not accept any supporting documents. If you submit documents with your application, they will be returned to you.

Submit your language test results with your other supporting documents. The visa office will contact you to request these documents about four months before your application is processed. If you take the language test within two years of submitting your simplified application, the results remain valid and will be accepted as supporting documentation by the visa office.