Citizenship & Residency by Investment | Global Mobility Solutions
Canada
Federal Start-Up Visa Program
About
Capital: Ottawa
Population: 35,362,905
Language: English, French
GDP per capita: 53,371 USD
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Member of G8 & NAFTA
Visa Free Countries: 172 countries including USA, UK, European Union, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, UAE, Brazil, South Africa
Start-up Visa Program Overview
The Federal Start-up Visa program encourages foreign nationals to build innovative and internationally competitive companies that will create employment opportunities for Canadians. Entrepreneurs who are eligible for the program will receive funding, guidance, and expertise for opening and operating their companies in Canada.
Canada’s Start-up Visa Program targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada (outside Quebec) that
- are innovative
- can create jobs for Canadians
- can compete on a global scale
Key Advantages
- Residency in Canada: As an entrepreneur, you and your family can apply for your Permanent Residency.
- The Start-up Visa allows businesses to identify any city in Canada (outside of Quebec) as their intended location.
- Up to five people may apply as shareholders provided that each applicant holds a minimum of 10% of the voting rights of the outstanding shares.
Requirements
- Obtain a Letter of Support from a designated organization (angel investor group, venture capital fund, or business incubator)
- Have a qualifying business:
- each applicant must hold 10% or more of the total voting rights AND applicants and the designated organization together must hold more than 50% of the total voting rights
- incorporate your business in Canada
- provide active and ongoing management of your business from inside Canada
- make sure an essential part of business operations happens in Canada
- Get an approved language test in English or French and obtain a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5 or higher in each of the four language abilities (listening, reading, writing, and speaking)
Qualifying Dependents
Spouse and children below the age of 22.
Process Overview
IRCC’s current estimated processing time for start-up visa applications is 39 months, however, this is subject to change by IRCC without notice and is outside of our firm’s control. Work permit processing times vary depending on the visa office processing your application.
STEP 1
Identification of business opportunities
An experienced business accelerator will assess your background and expertise to identify potential suitable business partners and facilitate introductory meetings.
STEP 2
Business validation
You and your business partners will work with the business accelerator to prepare and implement your business plan, market strategy, pitch deck, and various other team documents to present to a designated organization. You will also work with corporate legal counsel to incorporate and register your business and shareholder agreements, coordinate the subscription of shares, invest capital into the business, and disburse payments for various business validation services.
STEP 3
Letter of support (LOS)
Upon reviewing the documents and information presented to the designated organization, the designated organization may choose to proceed with further screening, following which they may issue a Letter of Support to the business.
STEP 4
Permanent residence application
Once the Letter of Support is obtained, you and your family members may submit your permanent residence application to IRCC within 6 months. Our firm will diligently work with you to prepare and submit the permanent residence application to IRCC on your behalf as expeditiously as possible.
STEP 5
Business implementation/market entry/incubation
While your permanent residence application is in process, you and your business partners will continue to work with the accelerator and designated organization to implement your business and enter the Canadian market. You will document all efforts made to ensure that this information can be provided to IRCC at a later date if requested. You will also continue to work with your corporate legal counsel to have funds disbursed into your corporate bank account when needed.
Work Permit Option
Our Global Team
Attorney at Law, Managing Partner
Attorney at Law
Attorney at Law
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Attorney at Law
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Chief Markets & Clients Officer
Project Management Officer
Executive Assistant
Administrative Support Specialist