Canada encourages international business people to invest in the Canadian economy through the Business Immigration Program. There are three parts to the Business Immigration Program: Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Self-Employed. The selection requirements for each category are different and applicants should review the criteria closely.

The following summarizes the Business Immigration Program. Please see the CIC website for full details.

Entrepreneurs

To qualify as an Entrepreneur, an applicant must -

• Have "Business Experience",
• Have a minimum personal net worth of at least $300,000 CDN, and
• Agree to meet "conditions" related to establishing a business after immigrating to Canada.

To qualify as an Entrepreneur, an applicant must meet the Entrepreneur definition. This includes meeting a "business experience" requirement that for at least 2 out of the previous 5 years, you have managed and had control of a percentage of equity of a "qualifying business" that is performing at a specific level as measured by the number of employees, sales, net income and equity. "Qualifying Business" is defined as follows:

"Qualifying business" means a business - other than a business operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends or capital gains - for which, 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, there is documentary evidence of any two of the following: That 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; That the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than CDN $500,000; That the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than CDN $50,000; and That the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.

Additionally, the "conditions" attached to the category require that a Canadian business of a specific size as measured by similar criteria be established and operate for at least one year within three years after arriving in Canada.

Investors

The Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) allows prospective immigrants to make a passive investment in a government fund and become a landed immigrant.

To qualify as an Investor, the applicant must:

• Have "business experience"
• Have a net worth of at least $800,000 CDN; and
• Make a payment of $400,000 CDN to the Receiver General for Canada.

The "business experience" definition includes managing 5 full time employees in a business for at least 2 out of the past 5 years, or meeting the definition as described under the Entrepreneur category.

The investment made is fully guaranteed and will be repaid to the investor upon maturity, approximately 5 years later.

Financing is allowed under this Program. The applicant may arrange his own financing by pledging the debt instrument issued by the federal government, to any financial institution. Alternatively, financing can be arranged with Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC) members who have entered into an agreement with Citizenship & Immigration Canada (CIC) and are currently offering financial packages to Investors.

Self-Employed

Self-employed applicants must have relevant experience in cultural activities, athletics or farm management. You must also have the intention and ability to establish a business that will create employment for yourself and make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics, or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.

No immigration conditions are imposed on this class. You must have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada