Canada Start-up Visa

(Investor visa)

About visa:

The Start-Up Visa program grants permanent residence to immigrant entrepreneurs while assisting them to become established in Canada.

The program encourages immigrant entrepreneurs to grow their companies in Canada. Successful applicants link with private sector organizations in Canada, where they can receive funding, guidance and expertise in opening and operating their enterprise in Canada.

Features:

The Start-up visa continues to grow. Initially temporary - visa to Permanent-visa .

In order to be eligible, applicants for a Start-Up Visa must meet the following requirements:

• Meet minimum language requirements in English or French (CLB 5 in all abilities);
• Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education, during which the applicant was in good standing at their educational institution;
• Have sufficient funds to settle in Canada;
• Plan to settle in a province other than the Province of Quebec;
• Pass Canadian security and medical clearances;
• Prove your business is supported through a designated organization; and
• Show your business meets ownership requirements.

Investment Details:

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has designated a number of venture capital funds, angel investor groups, and business incubator organizations to participate in the Start-Up Visa program.

• Applicants with support from a designated Canadian venture capital fund must secure a minimum investment of $200,000.
• Applicants with support from a designated Canadian angel investor group must secure a minimum investment of $75,000.
• Applicants can also opt for support from below designated Canadian business incubator programs:
  1. Communitech
  2. GrowLab
  3. Innovacorp
  4. Innovate Calgary
  5. Toronto Business Development Centre.

Applicants are not required to invest any of their own money. If their Canadian start-up is unsuccessful, individuals granted permanent residence through this program will retain their permanent resident status.

At the date of publication, designated entities that may support an application under the Start-Up Visa program are:

Designated venture capital funds

• BDC Venture Capital
• Blackberry Partners Fund II LP (doing business as Relay Ventures Fund II)
• Celtic House Venture Partners
  • Celtic House Venture Partners Fund III LP
  • Celtic House Venture Partners Fund IV LP
  • DRI Capital Inc.
  • Golden Opportunities Fund Inc.
  • iNovia Capital Inc.
  • Lumira Capital
  • MaRS Cleantech Fund L.P. I.
  • New Brunswick Innovation Foundation Inc.
  • OMERS Ventures Management Inc.
  • Pangaea Ventures Fund III, LP
• PRIVEQ Capital Funds
  • PRIVEQ III Limited Partnership
  • PRIVEQ IV Limited Partnership
• Quorum Group
  • Advantage Growth (No.2) LP
  • Ontario SME Capital Corporation
  • Quorum Investment Pool Limited Partnership
  • Quorum Secured Equity Trust
• Real Ventures
• Rho Canada Ventures
• Rogers Venture Partners, LLC
• Summerhill Venture Partners Management Inc.
• Tandem Expansion Management Inc.
• Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
• Version One Ventures
• Wellington Financial LP
• Westcap Mgt. Ltd.
  • Canadian Accelerator Fund Ltd.
• Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.

Designated angel investor groups

• Angel One Network Inc.
• First Angel Network Association
• Golden Triangle Angel Network

Designated business incubators

• Communitech
• GrowLab
• Innovacorp
• Innovate Calgary
• Toronto Business Development Centre

Interested readers are invited to complete our Free Assessment to determine whether they qualify for immigration to Canada under Canada's Start-Up Visa program or under another business program.