WHAT MAKES CANADA AN ATTRACTIVE INVESTMENT DESTINATION

Canada is the second largest country in the world with a population exceeding 33 million, half of which resides within 150 kilometers of the U.S. border. Canada’s exports approximately 72% of goods to the United States, 7% to Europe, 4% to China and 2% to Japan.

Businesses currently benefits from low interest rates, the availability of credit and a sound expanding economy. Canadian banks have strong balance sheets due to regulation, strong capitalization and conservative practices. Unemployment rates are slowly improving and inflation remains low.

WHY FOREIGN INVESTORS SHOULD CONSIDER CANADA

 Foreign investors should consider an investment in Canada for the following reasons:

✅Attractive business environment.
✅Strong growth record – Canada has led all G7 countries in economic growth from 2003-2012.
✅Incredible market access – foreign investors will have access to both NAFTA and the EU once the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement comes into force.
✅Highly educated workforce.
✅Competitive R&D environment.
✅Low tax rates – overall marginal tax rate is the lowest in the G7.
✅Financial stability.

THE CANADA BUSINESS IMMIGRATION PROGRAMS NAMES ARE:

IMMIGRANT INVESTOR VENTURE CAPITAL (IIVC)

Launched in December 2014, the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program offers permanent residency in Canada to qualified high-net-worth individuals and families worldwide. The brand new Canada investment immigration program is designed to boost the local economy by attracting foreign direct investment in exchange for Canadian residency. Prospective immigrants who wish to participate in the IIVC Pilot Program must have a legally obtained net worth of at least CAD $10 million and must be willing to invest CAD $2 million in Canada for a period of 15 years.

Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program Eligibility

The main focus of the venture capital immigration program is to strengthen the Canadian economy by attracting foreign investment to the country. To that end, standards of the investment immigration program are highly-selective. To qualify, the following IIVC Pilot Program requirements must be satisfied.

Canada Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Applicants Must:

  • Make a $2 million CAD at-risk investment for approximately 15 years.
  • Demonstrate a legally obtained net worth of CAD $10 million or more through lawful business or investment activity.
  • Meet all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) in English or French.
  • Have a Canadian post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate of at least one year, or the foreign equivalent as accepted by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
  • Meet basic requirements related to health and security.

This Program is now closed.

QUEBEC IMMIGRANT INVESTOR PROGRAM

Applicants must have these qualifications:

  1. Legally acquired personal net worth of $2 million.
  2. Two years of suitable management or business experience within the five years preceding the application.
  3. Investment of $1.2 million into a passive government guaranteed investment for a period of five years bearing no interest.
  4. Intend to settle in the province of Quebec.

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is passive in nature, meaning individuals are not required to establish or actively manage a business in the province.

Rather, the program requires an investment of $1.2 million into a prescribed (government guaranteed) investment. Applicants must have the intention of settling in the French-speaking province of Quebec.

Successful applicants are issued a selection certificate from Quebec for Canada immigration, which allows them to obtain Canadian permanent residence following health and criminality examinations by Federal immigration authorities.

Quebec is accepted a total of 1,900 applications in this new intake period, which runs until March 15, 2019. A maximum of 1,235 applications will be accepted from China (including Hong Kong and Macau). The Quebec Government has specified that no single country should account for more than 70% of the program’s applicants, and consequently a maximum of 1330 applications will be accepted from China (including Hong Kong and Macao). This stipulation will make it easier for non-Chinese nationals to be selected for processing since heavy demand from China will not be able to cap the entire program as soon as the intake period begins.

Application is Paused November 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020

QUEBEC IMMIGRANT ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAM

The Quebec Immigrant Entrepreneur Program aims to recruit individuals who have the skills and experience to operate a business in the province. The conditions to apply are different depending on the chosen stream.

Stream-01

This stream consists of managing a business in Quebec that the candidate created alone or with other partners (of which only 3 can be foreign nationals), with support from a business accelerator, a business incubator or a university entrepreneurship center. 

Stream-02

To apply under this stream, the entrepreneur must control at least 25% of the shares of a new enterprise, or at least 51% of an acquired enterprise, which must have a value equivalent or higher than the funds needed to start the business project.

Conditions include:

  • Investment of starting funds of $200,000 for a business outside the metropolitan area of Montreal, or $300,000 for a business located in the metropolitan area of Montreal.
  • A minimum guarantee deposit between $200,000.
  • A net value of $900,000 CAD legally acquired, alone with their spouse if applicable.

Under both streams, successful candidates must obtain the threshold score in the selection grid, which features criteria such as: age, education, language abilities, stays or family in Quebec, financial autonomy. 

All candidates must submit their business project under the form of a business plan. Every year, the government accepts a limited number of applications in the entrepreneur category.

QUEBEC SELF-EMPLOYED PROGRAM

To qualify under the Quebec self-employed program, applicants must meet the following conditions that differentiate them from the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

  • Have two years of applicable experience in the profession they intent to exercise in Quebec.
  • Possess a personal net worth of $100,000.
  • Have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their family.
  • Provide a start-up deposit of at least $50,000 if the self-employed candidate is based in the metropolitan area of Montreal, and $25,000 if the candidate is located outside of Montreal.

Like skilled workers, a self-employed applicant is assessed on several selection factors and must obtain sufficient points in order to qualify to apply.

MANITOBA BUSINESS INVESTOR STREAM

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream is aimed at qualified international business investors and entrepreneurs. Candidates are initially issued with a temporary work permit, and must have the intent and ability to start or purchase a business in Manitoba within two years of arrival. There are pathways for entrepreneurs and for farm investors.

A) Entrepreneur Pathway

For applicants wanting to open a business in Manitoba. Candidates are initially issued with a temporary work permit. They are nominated for permanent residence after establishing a business meeting the conditions of a Business Performance Agreement. Priority is given to candidates starting businesses outside Winnipeg.

B) Farm Investor Pathway

For applicants wanting to open and operate a farm in rural Manitoba. Candidates are initially issued with a temporary work permit. They are nominated for permanent residence after establishing a business meeting the conditions of a Business Performance Agreement.

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