Welcoming eligible small businesses and startups alike, Canada helps your business reach new heights while bolstering the economy and creating jobs for its citizens and permanent residents.

Federal Entrepreneur Program

Note: This program has been terminated and it is unlikely to reopen in the future.

Eligible applicants and their immediate families were granted Canadian permanent residence for managing and establishing or acquiring at least 33.33% of equity within an eligible Canadian business that created a minimum of one new job within the economy.

Federal Startup Visa

Business entrepreneurs can grow their companies in Canada with the funding and expertise from approved Canadian private sector organizations, and receive a Canadian Startup Visa in return for growing the economy and creating employment opportunities for citizens and residents. Unlike Immigrant Investor programs or the Federal Entrepreneur program, applicants are not required to invest their own capital to meet the program’s eligibility requirements. Instead, they must receive a minimum venture capital or angel investment from one or multiple designated organizations.

Read more about Canada’s start-up visa here.

Quebec Entrepreneur Program

If you are an experienced business person or manager with an intermediate knowledge of the French language, you may be eligible to obtain a Business Entrepreneur Visa by creating or acquiring a business in the province of Quebec. The Quebec Entrepreneur Program has two streams available for foreign entrepreneurs:

1. Stream 1: For entrepreneurs who wish to create a business in Quebec. You must control at least 25% of the equity of the business, which must be worth at least CAD$100,000.
2. Stream 2: For entrepreneurs who wish to acquire a business in Quebec. You must control at least 51% of the equity of the business.

Provincial Nominee Programs for Entrepreneurs

Certain provinces operate their own entrepreneur streams of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). If you are interested in settling and managing a business within a particular province, you may be nominated for Permanent Residence, provided you meet the eligibility requirements set forth by the province.

Key Points:

• Alberta: Alberta’s Self-Employed Farmer Stream targets experienced farm owners and operators who plan to invest in a farm in Alberta.
• British Columbia: The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for business people who want to invest in and actively manage a business in British Columbia.
• Manitoba: The Entrepreneur Pathway is for individuals with business management experience who want to start a business in Manitoba.
• New Brunswick: The Entrepreneurial Stream is for individuals planning to start or purchase a business in New Brunswick.
• Nova Scotia: The Entrepreneur Stream targets experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Nova Scotia.
• Ontario: The Entrepreneur Stream is for individuals from outside Canada who want to start a new business or buy an existing business in Ontario.
• Prince Edward Island: The Business Impact Category’s Work Permit Stream is for individuals who want to invest in and actively manage a business in PEI.
• Saskatchewan: The Entrepreneur Category targets individuals who want to invest in a business and actively manage it in Saskatchewan.

Canada offers various pathways for entrepreneurs to immigrate and contribute to its economy. While the Federal Entrepreneur Program is no longer available, other options like the Federal Startup Visa, Quebec Entrepreneur Program, and various Provincial Nominee Programs provide multiple avenues for businesspeople to establish and grow their ventures in Canada. Each program has specific requirements and benefits, ensuring that entrepreneurs can find the right fit for their business goals and personal circumstances.