What is Business Immigration to Canada?
Canada offers a variety of economic permanent residency and temporary work programs for experienced entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners seeking to establish, acquire, or expand a business in Canada.
Business immigration programs are managed by the Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and individual Canadian provinces and territories. Many programs provide an opportunity to obtain a work permit while building a business that may ultimately lead to permanent residence.
At Dejavu Visa Inc., we help clients identify the most appropriate program based on their business experience, investment capacity, and long-term immigration and business goals.
Business Immigration - Provincial Programs
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) offer entrepenuer immigration streams for diverse eligible businesses to operate in select Canadian provinces. Each province with a PNP requires candidates to meet distinct investment and net-worth thresholds depending on where they choose to establish their business.
British Columbia
British Columbia offers entrepreneur immigration pathways for experienced business owners and senior managers who wish to establish or purchase a business and actively contribute to the province's economy. Eligible applicants may first obtain a work permit and, after meeting program requirements, may become eligible for provincial nomination for permanent residence.
BC Provincial Nominee Program for Entrepreneurs (BC PNP)
- Minimum Personal Net Worth – $600,000.00 CAD
- Minimum Operational Investment – $200,000.00 CAD
- Mandatory Job Creation - 1 Full Time (FTE) position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
eligibility criteria for base stream
Available Streams
- Base Stream - For experienced individuals looking to start a new business or take over and expand an existing business in B.C.
- Regional Stream - For entrepreneurs wanting to launch a business in participating regional communities outside of Metro Vancouver.
- Strategic Projects - For established foreign companies expanding into British Columbia and relocating key staff.
Alberta
Alberta offers several business immigration pathways for experienced entrepreneurs, business owners, and graduates who wish to establish or purchase a business in the province. Successful applicants may become eligible for permanent residence after meeting the program requirements and receiving a provincial nomination.
Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
-
Minimum Personal Net Worth: $300,000 CAD
-
Minimum Business Investment: $100,000 CAD
-
Mandatory Job Creation: At least 1 full-time (FTE) position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
-
Community Support: Community endorsement required before applying
eligibility criteria for rural entrepreneur stream
Available Streams
-
Rural Entrepreneur Stream – Entrepreneurs who want to start a business or buy an existing business in a rural Alberta community.
-
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream – International graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions who want to start a business or buy an existing business.
-
Farm Stream – Experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm in Alberta.
-
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream – Foreign graduates who have a degree from a post-secondary institution outside of Canada and want to launch a start-up enterprise and innovative business can work with a designated agency.
Manitoba
Manitoba offers business immigration opportunities for experienced entrepreneurs who wish to establish, purchase, or partner in a business in the province. Successful applicants may initially receive a work permit and, after fulfilling the terms of their Business Performance Agreement, may become eligible for provincial nomination for permanent residence.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
-
Minimum Personal Net Worth: $500,000 CAD
-
Minimum Business Investment: $250,000 CAD (for businesses situated in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region) and $150,000 CAD businesses outside the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region).
-
Mandatory Job Creation: At least 2 full-time (FTE) position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
eligibility criteria for entrepreneur PATHWAY
Available Streams
-
Entrepreneur Pathway - Entrepreneurs seeking to open a business in Manitoba.
-
Farm Investor Pathway - Indivduals intending to establish and operate a farm operation in rural Manitoba.
New Brunswick
Manitoba offers business immigration opportunities for experienced entrepreneurs who wish to establish, purchase, or partner in a business in the province. Successful applicants may initially receive a work permit and, after fulfilling the terms of their Business Performance Agreement, may become eligible for provincial nomination for permanent residence.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
-
Minimum Personal Net Worth: $500,000 CAD ($300,000 CAD for farming applicants)
-
Minimum Business Investment: $150,000 CAD
-
Mandatory Job Creation: At least 1 full-time (FTE) position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
eligibility criteria for Business stream
Available Streams
-
Business Immigration Stream – For experienced entrepreneurs seeking to establish, purchase, or actively manage a business in New Brunswick that contributes to the province's economic growth.
Nova Scotia
Manitoba offers business immigration opportunities for experienced entrepreneurs who wish to establish, purchase, or partner in a business in the province. Successful applicants may initially receive a work permit and, after fulfilling the terms of their Business Performance Agreement, may become eligible for provincial nomination for permanent residence.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
-
Minimum Personal Net Worth: $600,000 CAD
-
Minimum Business Investment: $150,000 CAD
-
Mandatory Job Creation: At least 1 full-time (FTE) position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
eligibility criteria for ENTREPRENEUR stream
Available Streams
-
Entrepeneur Stream – For experienced entrepreneurs seeking to establish, purchase, or actively manage a business in Nova Scotia that contributes to the province's economic growth.