CANADA BUSINESS IMMIGRATION OPTIONS


WHAT ARE THE BEST 3 WAYS TO IMMIGRATE TO CANADA AS AN ENTREPRENEUR?


  • The Owner Operator Work Permit allows entrepreneurs to open a new business, buy an existing business or a franchise. The company must be running before sending the work permit application. With corona virus and many businesses closing and laying off employees, this type of application, if well done, can have high chances of approval since it will help Canadian economy restart, maintain businesses,and create jobs for Canadians.  You can open this business anywhere you want in Canada.

  • The Intra-Company Transfer Work Permit allows a company to open a branch in Canada. To start, the company can send its owners or senior managers to set up the Canadian entity, and then transfer additional employees from one branch to another. If you have an existing, profitable business back home and have the financial capacity to open a branch/subsidiary/parent company in Canada, this is definitively a program to consider. There is no minimum investment, it depends on the scale of your business. There is no need for IELTS, and the branch can be opened anywhere in Canada.

  • The Start-Up Visa program allows an entrepreneur with an innovative business idea to obtain permanent residency and get the support of a Canadian investor who will help the entrepreneur enter the Canadian market and succeed. Each business idea can include up to 5 business partners.

To find out the details about these 3 key business immigration programs, please see the table below:


OPTION 1 2 3
GOAL OPEN A NEW BUSINESS - OR BUY AN EXISTING BUSINESS – OR BUY A FRANCHISE OPEN A BRANCH OPEN AN INNOVATIVE BUSINESS
NAME OWNER OPERATOR LMIA ICT START-UP START-UP VISA
WHERE ANYWHERE IN CANADA ANYWHERE IN CANADA ANYWHERE IN CANADA
WHAT YOU GET 2 YEARS WORK PERMIT 1 YEAR WORK PERMIT PERMANENT RESIDENCE
CONDITIONS
  • Choose between opening your own business or buying an existing business. It can also be a franchise.
  • Own at least 51%.
  • Business services or products must be relevant/useful to the Canadian market.
  • You must have relevant experience in this industry.
  • You must hire 1-2 Canadians.
  • No minimum/maximum investment amount – depends on the business concept, but to give you an idea, you should be ready to invest at least $150,000.
  • Business must be started before coming to Canada: incorporation, business bank account, physical location/office, complete business plan, list of distributors/potential clients (negotiations with potential clients must have at least started).
  • Open a branch/subsidiary or parent company of your business.
  • You can be the owner or a senior manager.
  • You must have been working for this company for at least 12 months during the past 3 years.
  • Your business must be financially successful in your home country.
  • You must hire 1-2 Canadians.
  • No minimum/maximum investment amount – depends on the business concept.
  • You cannot close the business back home.
  • Have an innovative business idea that solves a problem and that is scalable.
  • The business idea must be validated by an incubator, angel investor or venture capitalist. They each have their own requirements and fees. Some are free, some will invest in your business, some will charge high fees.
  • If strong business idea + complete business plan + business is already active and generating profits: more chances to be approved by a free incubator or VC or angel investor.
  • Can have up to 5 business partners.
PROCESS
  • Discussion with Lawyer to assess chances of success.
  • Sign contract with lawyer.
  • Payment of first installment.
  • We help you find and buy a business. We take care of all financial and corporate processes.
  • We help you open a bank account.
  • We do the business plan tailored to immigration requirements.
  • When the application is ready, second payment is due.
  • We submit the LMIA application (stage 1).
  • Once stage 1 is approved, we submit the work permit application (stage 2).
  • You come to Canada with your family (spouse obtains a work permit and children study permits).
  • You will have to operate the business for 1 year.
  • Apply for permanent residence (cost are separate – different application).
  • Discussion with Lawyer to assess chances of success.
  • Sign contract with lawyer.
  • Payment of first installment.
  • We do the business plan tailored to immigration requirements.
  • We incorporate the Canadian business.
  • We find the business location.
  • We help you open a bank account.
  • When the application is ready, the second payment is due.
  • We submit the work permit application.
  • You get the work permit.
  • You come to Canada with your family (spouse obtains a work permit and children study permits).
  • You can bring your team from overseas to help you setup the Canadian business and start running it.
  • You operate the business for 1 year.
  • We apply for permanent residence (cost are separate – different application).
  • Discuss business ideas with lawyer to assess chances of success.
  • Contract with Lawyer.
  • Payment of first installment.
  • We help you increase the potential of success of your business idea (pitch deck, business plan, pitching).
  • We find the investors interested in your business idea.
  • If the business concept is still at the very beginning, you may have to go through an incubator’s training process. This process varies in time but usually takes betweek 3-4 months. During this time, you will be mentored by the incubator and will receive the help of their entire network.
  • Once your project is formally approved by an investor, we will receive a letter of support.
  • We submit your work permit and permanent residence applications.
  • You will first come to Canada with a work permit, set up the business, until you receive permanent residence. Your spouse will also receive a work permit and your children study permits.
  • You will get permanent residence after 1-1.5 year.
TIME
approximate		 ~ 6-8 months to prepare application ~ 4-5 months ~ 8 months to obtain your work permit
~ 1-1.5 year from the time the application is submitted to obtain permanent residence
DOCUMENTS
some may not apply to your case and some can be replaced/added
  • Passport
  • National ID
  • Marriage certificate
  • Education
  • Resume
  • Proof of work experience (business ownership, taxes, job letters, reference letters from clients, employers)
  • Proof of financial capacity
  • Property ownership
  • Business licence/registration for the Canadian business
  • Business location in Canada
  • Marketing materials
  • Canadian clients or potential clients: agreements, invoices
  • Passport
  • National ID
  • Marriage certificate
  • Education
  • Resume
  • Proof of business ownership/activity back home
  • Proof that business back home generates money
  • Proof that business back home has employees
  • Proof that business has been opened in Canada
  • Business location in Canada
  • Canadian clients or potential clients: agreements, invoices, correspondence
  • Passport
  • National ID
  • Birth certificate
  • Education
  • Resume
  • Proof of work experience
  • Proof that you can provide for yourself and your family for the first year in Canada
  • Business plan
  • Letter of support from investor
LANGUAGE None None IELTS 5
MEDICAL COVERAGE Covered for the Applicant and his family. Covered for the Applicant and his family. Covered for the Applicant and his family.
OPINION With corona virus and many businesses closing and laying off employees, this type of application, if well done, will have high chances of approval since it will help Canadian economy restart, maintain businesses, and create jobs for Canadians.
You can have this business anywhere you want.		 If you have an existing, profitable business back home and have the financial capacity to open a branch/subsidiaty/parent company in Canada, this is definitively a program to consider. If you have an innovative business idea, this is your ticket to direct permanent residence, for you and your family.
In addition, you will have a business ready to start as soon as you come to Canada, while having an investor as a mentor and access to its entire network.

We help entrepreneurs set up their business and immigration strategy and execute on it.

We believe immigration is more than just a visa. We accompany our entrepreneurs during their entire immigration journey: from business set up to the first work permit, then permanent residency and finally, citizenship.

  • Find the business to buy or rent.
  • Find the location.
  • Incorporate the business.
  • Write a business plan tailored to immigration requirements.
  • We put you in touch with our network to start finding clients, distributors, suppliers.
  • Find schools for your children.
  • Your spouse and children under 22 years old can be included in your application.

To book a consultation with a lawyer and explore your business immigration options, email us.

Contact

+1 647.979.7068 (WhatsApp available)


immigration@navaelmilawyer.com


85 East Liberty Street, Toronto, Ontario, M6K 3R4, Canada


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