Canada’s start-up visa program aims to attract skilled immigrant entrepreneurs having the potentials to start businesses in Canada that:

• Are creative,
• Can create jobs for Canadians,
• Can stand apart globally.

If you can get support for your innovative business idea from any of these designated organizations, you can immigrate to Canada.

Who can apply

To apply for the start-up visa program, you must:

• have a qualifying business
• get a letter of support from the designated organizations
• meet the language requirements
• bring enough money to settle

Have a qualifying business

Any business started by you falls under the category of a qualifying business if it meets the following conditions.

• At the time you get a commitment from a designated organization:
  • Each applicant holds at least 10% or more of the voting rights on all the shares of the corporation outstanding at that time. Note that up to 5 people can apply as owners.
  • If IRCC has rejected the essential applicant, it'll reject the other applicants as well.

AND

• Applicants and the designated organization together hold over 50% of the total voting rights on all shares of the business outstanding at that time.

• At the time you receive your permanent residence:
  • You provide active and ongoing management of the business from within Canada.
  • An essential part of the business operations occurs in Canada.
  • The business is incorporated in Canada.

Get a letter of support from a designated organization

You must get a letter of support from a designated organization. It's a business group that has been authorized to invest in or support possible start-ups in Canada.

For this:

• Contact the designated organization to know how to get its support,
• Convince them about your business idea that is worth supporting,
• Get a letter of support from the organization.

After reaching an agreement with a designated organization, you'll get a letter of support which you'll need to include while submitting your application. This will prove that the venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator supports your innovative business idea.

The designated organization will also send a commitment certificate directly to CIC which will be used along with the letter of support to assess your application.

Meet the language requirements

Proficiency to communicate and work in English, French or both languages will help your business grow in Canada.

You must fulfill the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either English or French in the following four areas.

●  Speaking

●  Reading

●  Listening

●  Writing

Bring enough money to settle

Since the Canadian government does not give financial support to the new start-up visa immigrants, you’ll need to prove that you have enough money to settle and support your dependents in Canada. Plus, you are not allowed to borrow any money from another person.

This amount would depend on your family size and is updated regularly.