Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs:

The Entrepreneur Program allows applicants with business experience and a legally obtained minimum net worth of $300,000 to immigrate to Canada provided that they commit to managing and owning at least one-third of a business of a defined size for at least one year within three years of landing in Canada.

All applicants must indicate in writing that they intend and will be able to meet these conditions, which are also applicable to all family members.

Conditions are administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) after landing.

In order to qualify as an entrepreneur, you must first meet the regulatory definition of an entrepreneur and then obtain a minimum of 35 points in a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to become economically established in Canada.
Do you qualify as an entrepreneur?
To determine whether you qualify to apply under the Entrepreneur Program, answer the following questions.

1. Have you managed and controlled a percentage of equity of a qualifying business for at least two years within the period beginning five years before the date of your application?
2. Do you have a legally obtained net worth of at least CAN $300,000?
3. Can you obtain a minimum of 35 points in the selection grid?

>> Use the Self-Assessment Grid to determine your score
If you answered "yes" to ALL of the above questions, and you meet the health and security requirements, you will likely qualify under the Entrepreneur Program.

Please review the more detailed criteria below to clarify the eligibility requirements and help you determine whether you should continue to Step 2, the application process.
Business Experience

You must have managed a qualifying business (see below) and have had control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of your application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of your application.

A qualifying business means a business for which there is documented evidence of two of the following. In each of any two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the date a determination is made in respect of the application:

1. the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full-time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
2. the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CAN $500,000;
3. the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CAN $50,000; and
4. the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CAN $125,000.

Your business must not be operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends or capital gains.

 

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