Business Investor class

A. Immigrant Investor Program

The Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) seeks to attract experienced businesspersons and capital to Canada.

The Canadian government's requirements for you to be an investor are as follows:

1. You must have operated, controlled or directed a financially successful business or commercial undertaking.
2. You must have accumulated, by your own endeavours, a net worth of $1.6 million Canadian.
3. You must make an irrevocable investment of a minimum of $800,000 for at least five years which will contribute to the creation or continuation of employment opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents other than you and your dependents.

All investments are to be made in projects which have been approved by the federal government in consultation with the particular province. You do not have to settle in the province of investment. You must pre-qualify by showing that you have managed at least five people, as a senior manager, during two of the five years prior to the application. Only then will Canada Immigration approve you for the investor program. You then have the privilege of lending to the Government of Canada the sum of $800,000 for a period of five years, after which the government will return your money without interest. There are approximately 3,000 such visas issued each year under the investor category worldwide.

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B. Temporary entry leading to permanent status

If you are willing to take a greater risk initially, and for temporary entry, there are avenues under Section 205 of the Immigration Regulations by which you can enter Canada, either on an intra-corporate transfer basis to set up the branch office of a foreign national subsidiary, or to create business opportunities which will contribute "significant benefits" to the economy and employment of Canada. Temporary entry pursuant to these routes could potentially lead to permanent residency, because such avenues do offer an additional 15 points under the skilled worker category. Thus, if you are short on points and can work in Canada within either of these temporary entry routes, a permanent residency could result.

C. Self-employed

The self-employed category under the business stream is reserved for those who are experienced in cultural activities or athletics. It is intended that the self-employed class enrich Canadian culture. Citizenship and Immigration Canada requires you to meet the test of experience, intent and ability and show reasonable expectation that you will be self-employed in a cultural activity. Once you have passed this qualification, CIC will assess whether your plans for Canada will contribute significantly to Canadian culture. There is no minimum investment required for a self-employed position.

The greater the number of individuals possessing the same skill set as yourself, the less the chances of being recognized as an individual enriching Canadian culture. However, if you seek a location where your skills are needed, you increase your chances of acceptance substantially.

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D. British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The BC PNP also allows the Government of British Columbia to select potential business immigrants for settlement in B.C. To qualify, you must have a minimum net worth and be prepared to invest in a potential business: CAD$200,000 outside the Greater Vancouver area and CAD$400,000 within the Vancouver area. Learn more and find out if you qualify here.