Business Immigrants

Since 1990, Lowe & Company has helped foreign business people from many different countries immigrate to Canada. In the past, business people were able to immigrate by just making a passive investment into a fund. However, today, business immigrants must usually find a suitable Canadian business, invest into it, obtain a work permit to manage it properly, and then apply to immigrate into Canada.

Business people interested in immigrating to Canada can do so via (a) Entrepreneur PNP Programs; (b) the Federal Business Immigration Programs; or (c) the Canadian Business Experience Strategy. Each person’s situation is different, so we help our clients find the right business immigration option to fit their specific needs, goals, and situation.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) arise out of agreements between the Government of Canada and Canadian provinces or territories. Most of these agreements have provisions for the province or territory to select Skilled Workers and Entrepreneur Immigrants which will benefit their economy. The British Columbia PNP Entrepreneur Programs and Ontario PNP Entrepreneur Programs are the programs we most often recommend out of all the Entrepreneur PNP Programs.

Federal Business Immigration Programs are the business immigration programs of the Government of Canada, and are applicable wherever you wish to settle in Canada. These include the Self-Employed Persons Program, for immigrants who could be self Employed in a Cultural or Athletic field, and the Start-up Visa Program, for business people with innovative ideas who can obtain the support of a Canadian Venture Capital firm, Angel Investor Group, or a Business Incubator.

The Canadian Business Experience Strategy is a business immigration solution we have developed for qualified clients with good education, English or French language abilities, and business experience. This process combines the flexibility of work permits with the speed of Express Entry, resulting in expedited turnaround time for business immigrants seeking permanent residence in Canada.

By reviewing your background and objectives, we can help you develop a business immigration strategy that will benefit you, your family, your business, and your timelines. We have answers to your questions, so let us guide you each step of the way.

The BC Entrepreneur Provincial Nominee Programs

Experienced business owners and managers can immigrate to British Columbia under one of two BC PNP Entrepreneur Programs: the Entrepreneur Base Program and the Entrepreneur Regional Pilot Program.

The Entrepreneur Base Program requires a minimum investment of $200,000 CDN, and allows you to invest anywhere in BC, into many different kinds of businesses. You can either purchase a business or start up a new one, and while you must own 33% of the business, you can have local or immigrant partners. You must have at least 3 years of Business or Management experience and a personal net worth of at least $600,000 CDN. Find out more about the BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Program.

The Entrepreneur Regional Pilot program has a minimum investment of only $100,000 CDN, which must be made in one of BC’s Participating communities (most with a population of 4,000 to 45,000). You must start a new business and own 51%, so while you can have local partners, you can’t have another immigrant partner. Each community has between 3 to 10 kinds of businesses which you can invest in, from Restaurants, Manufacturing, software and other businesses. Find out more about the BC PNP Entrepreneur Regional Pilot program.

For both BC PNP Entrepreneur programs, applicants must submit business proposals, and they will be assessed on the basis of their business concept, jobs to be created, economic benefits, and the candidate’s suitability.

Lowe & Company has assisted BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigrants for many years, and has taught courses on this to immigration lawyers and consultants across Canada. Request a consultation to find out if this program or other business immigration options would be right for you!

The BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Program

The Base Program allows foreign entrepreneurs to obtain Work Permits and Permanent Residence by either purchasing an existing business, or establishing a new business, anywhere in British Columbia. Under the Base Program, business immigrants are allowed to:

  1. establish different kinds of businesses anywhere in BC, or
  2. buy and expand existing businesses with five or more years of financial history.

Steps in the BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Program

Click or hover to see description for each step:

PNP Entrepreneur Base Program Requirements (Personal):

  • Minimum 3 years of Business Ownership Experience or 4 years as a Senior Manager in a business in the past 10 years;
  • Minimum net worth of $600,000 CAD;
  • Basic English or French proficiency (CLB 4) at the time of registration;
  • Post-secondary education certificate, unless you have been sole owner of a business for 3/5 years

PNP Base Program Investment Requirements

  • May establish a new business in BC or purchase an existing business which the present owner has owned for at least 5 years;
  • Minimum investment of $200,000 CAD;
  • The business must create a minimum of 1 new job;
  • Must own at least 33% equity in the business

Lowe & Company has assisted BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigrants for many years, and has taught courses on this to immigration lawyers and consultants across Canada. Request a consultation to find out if this program or other business immigration options would be right for you!

The BC PNP Regional Entrepreneur Pilot Program

The Regional Entrepreneur Pilot Program allows foreign entrepreneurs to work and immigrate by starting new businesses in one of 26 smaller communities across BC. The investment and personal requirements are much less than that of the BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Program, with a minimum investment of $100,000 CDN and a Personal Net Worth requirement of $300,000 CDN.

Each community has between 3 and 10 different priority industry sectors which one can invest in. You must start a new business, and cannot buy an existing one; however, you may a local partner own part of the business.

Steps in the BC PNP Regional Entrepreneur Pilot Program

Click or hover to see description for each step:

Regional Pilot Program Requirements (Personal):

  • Minimum 3 years of Business Ownership Experience or 4 years as a Senior Manager in the past 5 years;
  • Minimum net worth of $300,000 CAD;
  • Basic English or French proficiency (CLB 4) at the time of registration;
  • Post-secondary education certificate, unless you have been sole owner of a business for 3/5 years

Regional Pilot Program Investment Requirements

  • You must visit the community and gain support for the proposed investment;
  • Must establish a new business in one of the community’s priority sectors;
  • Minimum investment of $100,000 CAD;
  • The business must create a minimum of 1 new job;
  • Must own at least 51% equity in the business

Lowe & Company has assisted BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigrants for many years, and has taught courses on this to immigration lawyers and consultants across Canada. Request a consultation to find out if this program or other business immigration options would be right for you!

Federal Business Immigration Programs

The Canadian federal government currently has two options for business immigrants: the Self-Employed Persons Program and the Start-up Visa Program. Each has specific requirements which limit their usefulness for most business immigrants, but if you meet their conditions, they can be very helpful.

The Self-Employed Persons Program

Foreign business people with “relevant experience” in a cultural or athletic field may be able to immigrate to Canada under the Self-Employed Persons Program. This program is aimed at immigrants with (a) the

relevant experience, (b) the intention and ability to be self-employed in Canada, and (c) the intention and ability to make a significant contribution to Canada’s cultural or athletic life. Those accepted must be able

to support themselves independently through their craft.

Business immigrants considering the Self-Employed Persons Program must have at least two years of

recent experience being self-employed in either Canada or their own country, as well as the intention and ability to maintain self-employment in a cultural or athletic field in Canada.

We have helped self-employed authors, artists, musicians, yoga instructors, film producers, and more from the USA, UK, China, Singapore, and many other countries immigrate as self-employed immigrants.

Two Years of Self-Employment Experience

Self-employed business immigrants must show that they have the relevant experience necessary to maintain self-employment status in Canada. In the context of the Self-Employed Persons Program, this means they must have either (a) taken part in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level or (b) been self-employed in cultural or athletic activities for at least two years. These actions must have taken place within five years prior to the submission of their immigration application.

Intention and Ability

To be eligible under the Self-Employed Persons Program, applicants must provide evidence that they can and will carry out the actions necessary to make a living as a self-employed person in a cultural or athletic field once they are in Canada. Applicants must show they have researched their prospects and self-employment opportunities for their field. Only then will they be able to fit themselves into the picture.

At Lowe & Company, we review our client’s background and experience, and discuss Canada’s business landscape and relevant self-employment prospects. We also actively help our clients research and put together customized business plans which demonstrate their intention and ability to (a) be self-employed in Canada and (b) make a significant contribution to the specified economic activities in Canada.

Start-up Visa Program

The Start-up Visa Program is targeted at innovative business immigrants with ideas that can help Canada’s economy. The issue is Canada Immigration officials may not be the best judges of what ideas are likely to succeed and which ones are non-starters; thus, they rely on validation of your ideas by either a Canadian venture capital fund, an Angel investor group, or a business incubator. If a member of one of these groups supports your idea, you and up to 4 partners may be able to acquire start-up visas and begin building your business in Canada.

To be eligible under this program, applicants will need a letter of support from a designated venture capital fund (that has agreed to invest at least $200,000 in the business), Angel investor group (that has agreed to invest at least $75,000 in the business), or business incubator. Applicants must also have a minimum language proficiency (CLB) score of 5 in English or French, as well as settlement funds depending on family size.

The Canadian Business Experience Strategy

The Canadian Business Experience Strategy is aimed at qualified foreign business people who wish to come to Canada with their families as soon as possible. This strategy works best for clients who are well-educated, have good English or French, and have business experience. The overall process includes researching and finding a business to invest in, obtaining work permits and study permits for you and your family, and then applying to immigrate under Express Entry. Working closely with each client, we are also able to determine how to best meet their business goals and needs on the path to permanent residence.

From Start to Work Permit:

From Work Permit to Permanent Residence:

Buying or Investing Into a Business

As with the other Business Immigration strategies, one of the first things that the business immigrant must do is to research and find a suitable business to invest in. This can be done online, but is usually most effective if done in-person. See our article on Investing into a Business for Business Immigration.

How Does It Work?

Once you have found a business to invest in, there are two stages in the Canadian Business Experience Strategy.

  1. The first stage would be to acquire a work permit to manage the business. While there are over 40 ways for foreigners to work in Canada, some of the work permits we use for business immigrants are Free Trade Investor Work Permits, Significant Benefit Work Permits, Intra-Company Transfers, and others depending on the business immigrants’ background.

    When we obtain a work permit for the primary applicant, we can obtain a work permit for their spouse or common-law partner, and study permits for their children in primary or secondary school. We are typically able to acquire work permits for our clients within three months.
  2. The second stage of the Canadian Business Experience Strategy is to apply for permanent residence under Express Entry. With a business work permit, one may be able to obtain between 50 and 200 bonus points under Express Entry, and possibly additional points for the applicant or spouse working in Canada. In total, through the Canadian Business Experience Strategy, we are able to get our clients permanent residence status within 1 to 3 years.

Lowe & Company has developed innovative strategies for our clients to qualify to immigrate for over 30 years. Request a consultation and find out how we can assist you!

CUSMA (formerly NAFTA) Investor Work Permit

The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement came into effect on July 1, 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement, and is designed to facilitate trade and investment between the USA, Mexico, and Canada. For trade and investment to be conducted, citizens of each Member Country must be able to travel to, and do business in, other Member Countries; thus, CUSMA thus includes provisions to facilitate entry and Work Permits.

The CUSMA Investor Work Permit allows citizens of the USA or Mexico to come to Canada to develop and direct a business in which they have invested a “substantial” amount of capital. This is one of the most flexible and useful tools which we have to help Americans and Mexicans establish, purchase, or invest into a business in Canada.

Requirements to get a CUSMA Investor Work Permit: To qualify for a CUSMA Investor Work Permit:

  1. The Applicant must have American or Mexican citizenship;
  2. The Canadian company must be majority owned by American or Mexican citizens;
  3. “Substantial investment” has been made, or is actively being made;
  4. The Applicant is seeking entry solely to develop and direct the enterprise; and
  5. The Applicant complies with other Immigration requirements (e.g. is not criminally or medically inadmissible, and will likely leave Canada after the authorized stay is complete).

Frequently asked Questions:

What is the minimum investment required for a CUSMA Investor Work Permit?

Technically, there is no minimum investment required under the CUSMA Investor Work Permit category. Instead, Visa Officers will consider whether the business is a real and active commercial entrepreneurial undertaking, and will result in productive investment in Canada. Passive investments where no employment is created or maintained for people other than the CUSMA Investor are not likely to qualify. We have used the NAFTA/CUSMA Investor category for investments as little as $50,000 CDN and as much as $300 Million.

What kind of businesses can qualify for a CUSMA Investor Work Permit?

There are few restrictions. We have assisted clients acquiring or starting up many kinds of businesses, including Retail, Construction Management, Restaurants, Food Processing, Real Estate Development and others. Job creation or maintenance is often more critical than the amount invested.

How long is the CUSMA Investor Work Permit good for, and can it be renewed?

Generally, the first CUSMA Investor Work Permit would be issued for 1 year. This is renewable, usually for periods of 2 years at a time, assuming that the business is active and operating.

Do I need to have experience in the kind of business that I will be investing in?

You must prove that you have the intention and ability to manage the business; however, that does not necessarily mean prior experience. We have assisted clients who had no prior experience in the Canadian business they purchased, but were able to show that they were capable to manage it.

Should I start my own business or should I purchase a Business?

From the CUSMA Investor perspective, either is workable. However, by purchasing an existing business, one can often prove that the business is genuine more easily than a new start-up which hasn’t commenced operations.

Can my spouse or common law partner obtain a Work Permit as well?

Yes. Once your Work Permit has been approved, we can obtain a Spousal/Common Law Partner Work Permit which would allow him/her to work for any employer, multiple employers, or even start his/her own business.

Can my children study in Canada as well?

School age children may obtain Study Permits to study in Elementary and Secondary schools, often being exempt from paying foreign student fees.

Will this allow me to obtain Permanent Residence?

Not automatically; the CUSMA Investor Work Permit is only for Temporary Residence. However, this may assist you in gaining additional points to immigrate under Express Entry.

At Lowe & Company, we have helped American and Mexican clients invest into businesses in Canada, obtain Work Permits as NAFTA/CUSMA Investors, and then apply for Permanent Residence. Request a consultation to find out whether this route may be viable for you!

The information provided herein is of a general nature and is not intended to provide advice to any specific situation. Because Immigration laws are constantly changing, and subject to varying interpretations, we strongly recommend that you seek legal advice with respect to your particular situation.

CETA Investor Work Permits for EU Citizens

The European Union is one of the largest economies in the world, and is Canada’s second largest trading partner. The Canada-European (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement came into effect in September 2017, and is designed to facilitate trade and investment between Canada and the 27 European Union member countries. For trade and investment to be conducted, citizens of each Member Country must be able to travel to, and do business in, other Member Countries; thus, CETA thus includes provisions to facilitate entry and Work Permits.

EU Member Countries

On April 1, 2021, Canada entered into the Agreement on Trade Continuity with the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which offers similar visas for UK and Northern Ireland citizens.

The CETA Investor Work Permit allows citizens of an EU member country to come to Canada to develop and direct a business in which they have invested a “substantial” amount of capital. This is one of the most flexible and useful tools which we have to help citizens of EU member countries to establish, purchase, or invest into a business in Canada.

Requirements to get a CETA Investor Work Permit

To qualify for a CETA Investor Work Permit:

  1. The Applicant must have citizenship in a EU country;
  2. The Applicant:
    1. Will establish, develop, or administer the operation of an investment in a capacity that is supervisory or executive;
    2. Is the investor; or
    3. Is employed by an enterprise that has committed or is in the process of committing a substantial amount of capital

Frequently asked Questions:

What is the minimum investment required for a CETA Investor Work Permit?

Technically, there is no minimum investment required under the CETA Investor Work Permit category. Instead, Visa Officers will consider whether the business is a real and active commercial entrepreneurial undertaking, and will result in productive investment in Canada. Passive investments where no employment is created or maintained for people other than the CETA Investor are not likely to qualify.

How long is the CETA Investor Work Permit good for, and can it be renewed?

Generally, the first CETA Investor Work Permit would be issued for 1 year. There are possible extensions, assuming that you can establish the need to have your stay extended.

Do I need to have experience in the kind of business that I will be investing in?

You must prove that you have the intention and ability to manage the business; however, that does not necessarily mean prior experience. We have assisted clients who had no prior experience in the Canadian business they purchased, but were able to show that they were capable to manage it.

Should I start my own business or should I purchase a Business?

From the CETA Investor perspective, either is workable. However, by purchasing an existing business, one can often prove that the business is genuine more easily than a new start-up which hasn’t commenced operations.

Can my spouse or common law partner obtain a Work Permit as well?

Yes. Once your Work Permit has been approved, we can usually obtain a Spousal/Common Law Partner Work Permit which would allow him/her to work for any employer, multiple employers, or even start his/her own business.

Can my children study in Canada as well?

School age children may obtain Study Permits to study in Elementary and Secondary schools, often being exempt from paying foreign student fees.

Will this allow me to obtain Permanent Residence?

Not automatically; the CETA Investor Work Permit is only for Temporary Residence. However, this may assist you in gaining additional points to immigrate under Express Entry.

At Lowe & Company, we have helped foreign businesspeople invest into businesses in Canada, obtain Work Permits, and then apply for Permanent Residence. Request a consultation to find out whether this route may be viable for you!

The information provided herein is of a general nature and is not intended to provide advice to any specific situation. Because Immigration laws are constantly changing, and subject to varying interpretations, we strongly recommend that you seek legal advice with respect to your particular situation.

Work Permit Options for Business Owners

For many entrepreneurs who wish to purchase or start up a business in Canada, a Work Permit is the fastest way. While it can take years to process a Permanent Resident application, Work Permit applications can usually be processed in 1 to 4 months.

Lowe & Company has assisted clients from over 70 countries to work, invest and immigrate to Canada since 1990. This Presentation will review some of the Work Permit Options for Business Owners (and Managers) as of August 2022.

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Presentation of the Work Permit Options for Business Owners (and Managers) as of August 2022