Investment in canada

Types of Methods for Immigration to Canada through Investment

Immigrating to Canada through investment is one of the ways to obtain permanent residency in Canada, allowing you to settle in this country for good.

If you’re looking to get residency in Canada through investment and are interested in investing in economic projects or starting and expanding your business here, both the federal and provincial governments of Canada have set up various programs that enable you to first obtain a work visa and later secure permanent residency and citizenship in Canada.

Investment programs in Canada

Currently, investment and business programs in Canada are divided into four federal programs (ICT, Startup, Entrepreneur C11, and the LMIA pathway) as well as provincial programs.

C11

C11 Entrepreneur Visa

The C11 Entrepreneur Visa is suited for entrepreneurs who want to invest in an existing business in Canada or wish to start a new business there. In this route, you first get a work visa, and after a year of activity, you can apply for permanent residency.

Start-Up

Startup Visa

Canada’s Startup Visa program is for entrepreneurs who have the potential to create an innovative company that can compete globally and create jobs. Through this program, up to 5 members of the team can receive a 3-year work visa and then apply for permanent residency.

ICT

Intra-Company Transfer Program

The ICT program is appropriate for companies looking to establish another branch of their business in Canada and transfer their employees to the Canadian office. Through this program, you can initially receive a 1-year work visa and then apply for permanent residency.

LMIA Pathway

Owner-Operator Visa

Foreign entrepreneurs and investors can obtain an LMIA-based work visa by registering a company or purchasing at least 50% of the shares of an active business, and after 2 years, they can also obtain permanent residency in Canada.

PNP

Canadian Provincial Entrepreneurial Visa

Canadian provinces offer various categories of entrepreneurial groups in their provincial immigration programs. Investors can start a business in a specific province through one of these groups.

Canada Self-Employment Visa

The Canada Self-Employment Visa is suitable for artists and athletes with relevant professional experience who can contribute to the growth of Canada in these fields.

Buying a Business in Canada

One way to obtain a Canadian entrepreneur visa is by purchasing an established business in Canada. You need to choose a business that aligns with your work experience and financial goals and provides significant benefits to Canada.

Buying a Franchise in Canada

If you don’t have enough knowledge and experience in business sectors in Canada, starting a business from scratch can be complicated and risky. For this reason, buying a franchise or a branch of a well-known business in Canada is an attractive option for investors.

Investment conditions in Canada

Each of the investment programs in Canada has its own specific requirements. However, generally speaking, for business immigration to Canada, you usually need to meet the following conditions:

Show an amount between CAD 100,000 to CAD 350,000 for investment in a business

Have a background in business management and the necessary skills

Proficiency in English or French (minimum IELTS score of 4 or 5)

Develop a business plan and project proposal

Comparison of investment methods in Canada

Conditions	Startup Visa	C11 Entrepreneur Visa	ICT Visa	Self-Employed Visa	Owner-Operator Visa
Business Features	Innovative with high growth and revenue potential	Specific businesses that create significant benefits for the Canadian economy	The desired business in Canada will be a branch of your company in your home country	Specific businesses in the fields of arts or sports	Small to medium businesses like supermarkets, coffee shops, restaurants, nail salons, etc.
Business Ownership Percentage	At least 10%	Members of your board of directors must have equal ownership and voting rights in the Canadian branch	At least 50%	100%	At least 50%
Minimum Investment	Between $10,000 to $50,000 to pay investor organizations and around $200,000 to invest in the business	Depends on the business, but a minimum of $300,000 is required	Depends on the business, but a minimum of $300,000 is required	Minimum $50,000	Depends on the business, but usually a minimum of $100,000 is required.
Language Proficiency	CLB 5	Not required for work visa	Not required for work visa	Not required but a minimum level of CLB 5 is recommended	Not required for work visa
Work Visa Processing Time	Currently 37 weeks	Currently 40 weeks	Currently 40 weeks	Currently 56 weeks	At least 3 months to get the LMIA and 40 weeks for the work visa
Permanent Residence Processing Time	Currently at least 3 years	, Apply through Express Entry after 1 year ,8 months to 1 year for application review , Total minimum of 2 years	,Apply through Express Entry after 1 year ,8 months to 1 year for application review , Total minimum of 2 years	2 to 4 years	8 months to 1 year
Rejection Risk	25% (according to official statistics)	Depends on the business. Based on our experience, it ranges between 12% to 20%	Depends on the business. Based on our experience, it ranges between 12% to 20%	Highly depends on the individual case conditions	Depends on the business. Based on our experience, it ranges between 5% to 10%

Comparison of investment methods in Canada

The steps for immigrating to Canada and obtaining permanent residency through various investment methods differ from one another. However, in general, the following steps can be considered:

Step 1: Starting or Buying a Business in Canada

You can invest in a Canadian business through the following methods:

Starting a business from scratch (Canada Startup Visa)

Buying an active business in Canada

Purchasing shares of an active business (at least 33%)

Buying a franchise in Canada

In general, you should allocate between CAD 100,000 to CAD 350,000 to start or purchase a business in Canada. However, this amount also depends on your personal and financial goals. For example, if you’re looking for a business that generates an annual profit of CAD 100,000, you would need to invest around CAD 500,000 (5 times the net income).

In the table below, we will examine the advantages and disadvantages of each investment method:

	Expense	Risk	Duration of business activity for permanent residency	Difficulty	Permanent residency conditions
Starting a business	Low (at least $50,000)	High	At least 12 months	Hard	The business must be active. Have at least 1 Canadian employee. Operate for 12 months.
Buying a business	High, Owner-operator program: between $50,000 and $250,000 ,Profitable businesses: at least $250,000	Medium	There’s no specific timeframe	Medium	Own at least 51% of the shares. The business must be active. Have at least 1 Canadian employee.
Buying shares in a business	Medium (between $200,000 and $300,000)	Medium	No specific timeframe	Easy	The business must have been operating for at least 12 months. The business must be active. The company should have adequate assets.
Buying a franchise	Medium (minimum $100,000)	Low	No specific timeframe	Easy	The business must be active. Have at least 1 Canadian employee.

Step 2: Applying for a Work Visa

After starting or buying a business in Canada, you can apply for a work permit, also known as a work visa for Canada.

There are various methods to obtain a work visa depending on your case circumstances:

LMIA-Based Work Visa: In this method, the business owner can apply for an LMIA and then obtain a work visa.

ICT Work Visa: Entrepreneurs who have set up another branch of their business in Canada use this method to obtain a work visa.

C11 Entrepreneur Work Visa: This method is suitable for entrepreneurs looking to establish a business that creates significant benefits for Canada.

Startup Work Visa: This method is for entrepreneurs who intend to launch an innovative business in Canada.

Provincial Entrepreneur Programs: Canadian provinces have also established specific conditions for foreign investors to apply for work visas through this route.

Step 3: Traveling to Canada to Operate the Business

After getting a work visa and traveling to Canada, you need to be active in your business for a specified amount of time.

This duration depends on the type of business and your work visa.

Keep in mind that your business doesn’t need to be making a profit. However, you should be able to cover operational costs and employee salaries.

Step 4: Applying for Permanent Residency in Canada

In general, before applying for permanent residency in Canada, your business must be active. This means:

Your business should be selling goods or services to actual customers inside or outside Canada.

You must have all the necessary permits to operate in Canada.

Your business address in Canada should be clear.

Canadian employees should be working in your business.

Your business should be progressing and operating according to the business plan you submitted.

Your business should have senior and executive managers.

If your business meets these conditions, you can apply for permanent residency as the business manager.

Typically, to get permanent residency in Canada and score higher in the Express Entry system, you should also meet the following conditions:

A minimum score of 6 in each of the IELTS General test skills (or equivalent tests)

A university degree

No criminal record or specific medical issues

Statistics on Iranian immigrants who obtained permanent residency through Canada's business programs

Business Method	2020	2021	2022	2023	January to September 2024
Entrepreneurship	10	20	15		10
Investment	185	505	445	370	310
Self-employment	20	10	25	55	280
Startup	30	85	70	260	1,155
Total	245	620	555	685	1,755

The cost of Canada investment visa

Depending on the method you choose for investing in Canada, the application fees for the investment visa vary.

Some investment methods in Canada result in obtaining a work visa, while others lead to direct permanent residency in Canada. Therefore, the respective costs for each are listed in the table below.

Cost of the work visa application in the Canada investment program

Type of application	Amount in Canadian dollars
Main applicant work permit	$255
Spouse work permit	$255
Children visitor visa	$100

Cost of permanent residency application in the Canada investment program

Type of application	Amount in Canadian dollars
Permanent residency for main applicant	$2,385
Permanent residency for spouse	$1,525
Permanent residency for each child	$260

Frequently asked questions

How much is the minimum investment amount in Canada?

The minimum investment amount in Canada usually ranges between $100,000 and $350,000. However, the investment amount varies across different investment methods.

Can you get permanent residency in Canada by buying property?

Buying property in Canada can be a way to invest, and there are no restrictions on property purchases for foreigners. But the important point is that, first, buying property does not lead to obtaining permanent residency in Canada, and second, foreigners have to pay higher taxes on property purchases compared to citizens or permanent residents of Canada.

Is there an age limit for obtaining a Canadian investment visa?

It depends on the investment method. In some provincial entrepreneur programs, like the New Brunswick entrepreneur program, there is an age limit, while in others, there isn’t. In some methods, like the federal self-employment method, age is a factor in the scoring system.

Is having a degree necessary to get an investment visa?

In most programs, having a degree is not required, but presenting one can increase your score and consequently your chances of obtaining an investment visa.

Do I need a language score to obtain a Canadian investment visa?

It depends on the program and investment method. In some investment programs that lead to a work permit, there is no need to provide a language score initially, but later, when applying for permanent residency in Canada, you will need to present a language score. In other investment methods, such as the Canada Startup Visa, which directly leads to permanent residency, you must provide a minimum IELTS General score of 5 or its equivalent from the very beginning.

Can I bring my family along with me?

Yes. After your investment visa is approved for Canada, you can bring your spouse and children under 21 with you. If you apply under the Manitoba immigration program, you can even bring your brother or sister along.

How long does it take to get a response for the Canadian investment visa?

It depends on the investment program and method. On average, obtaining a Canadian investment visa can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years.

What does a $100,000 investment in Canada look like?

The British Columbia entrepreneurship program refers to the $100,000 investment program as the regional pilot pathway because the minimum investment amount for this program is $100,000.

Do we need to have a company in Iran to register a company in Canada?

There is no obligation in this regard. You can register a company in Canada from inside Iran. However, you will need a tax code to work in that company. In this case, you need to partner with a Canadian individual in your business to obtain this code.

Which industries are suitable for investment in Canada?

Technology: in software development, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity

Advanced manufacturing: in automotive, machinery and equipment, chemicals

Natural resources: in oil and gas, minerals and iron, forestry industry

Entertainment and media: in visual effects and animation, video games, and film and television

Commercial agriculture: in agricultural production and livestock, food and beverage processing

Clean technology: in agricultural production and livestock, food and beverage processing

Life sciences: in pharmaceuticals, medical technology, and clinical trials

What is the best way to invest in Canada?

You might be wondering which investment program is better than the others? The answer to this question depends on many factors. First, you need to answer a series of questions, and based on those answers, the right method will be suggested to you.

To make a decision about the best investment method in Canada, please answer the following questions:

Do you have a productive business in Iran that generates income?

Do you plan to keep your business in Iran and go to Canada, or shut it down and start a business in Canada?

Is your goal for investing in Canada just to obtain permanent residency?

Do you have a business idea that you intend to implement and want to generate income from in Canada?

Do you have children who are included in your investment program?

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