The Business Immigration Program is aimed at promoting economic development and employment through the immigration of people who have the capital, business expertise and entrepreneurial skills. The program also pursues the development of new commercial opportunities and access to foreign markets by attracting people who are familiar with those markets.

To achieve these objectives, the Business Immigration Program currently has three classes of business immigrants:

Investors,

Entrepreneurs

 Self-Employed Persons

Business Class
The type of relationship between the sponsor and the applicant has a major effect on the processing time of the application and the requirements that the sponsor and the applicant must meet.
criteria consisting of:
Relevant experience,
Age
Education,
English and/or French language ability
Adaptability

The pass mark for selection under these criteria is 35 points out of a possible total of 100.

Please contact our office for further information regarding the procedures for applying for immigration to Canada under the Family Class Program.

	In order for an application under entrepreneur class to be successful, the applicant must have managed and controlled a percentage of equity of a qualifying business for at least two years (two one-year periods) in the period beginning five years before the date of application; have a net worth of at least CDN $300,000 which has been legally obtained; and must provide a written statement to a visa officer that they intend and will be able to manage and control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian business equal to or greater than 33 1/3 percent, and create at least one full-time job equivalent for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for a period of at least one year within three years of arrival in Canada.

The personal net worth is determined by considering both business and personal assets and liabilities of the applicant as well as those of the spouse or common-law partner.

For a business to be considered as a qualifying business, it must not have been operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends or capital gains. To qualify, documentary evidence must show that the business, during each of the two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application, meets at least two of the following criteria:

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 CDN $500,000;

3- the percentage of equity, multiplied by the net income in the year, is equal to or greater than CDN $50,000; or

4- the percentage of equity, multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year, is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.

The above-noted criteria are summarized in the following table:

As noted above, within three years of arrival in Canada, entrepreneurs are required to control at least 33 1/3 percent of a qualifying Canadian business to create at least one full-time job equivalent for a period of at least one year. These conditions are set forth in the following table:

Please contact our office for further information regarding the procedures for applying for immigration to Canada under the Family Class Program.

	To be eligible for immigration as an investor, an applicant must:

have either managed and controlled a percentage of equity of a qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application, or managed at least five full-time job equivalents per year in a business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application;

have an accumulated net worth of at least CDN $800,000 which has been legally obtained; and

make an investment of CDN $400,000, which will be allocated to participating provinces and territories in Canada for job creation and economic development. The full amount of the investment, which is fully guaranteed by the participating governments, is repaid to the investor without interest after five years.

The personal net worth is determined by considering both business and personal assets and liabilities of the applicant as well as those of the spouse or common-law partner.

Please contact our office for further information regarding the procedures for applying for immigration to Canada under the Family Class Program.

	To be eligible for immigration as a self-employed person, an applicant must demonstrate that they have

at least two years (two one-year periods) of relevant experience;

the intention and the ability to be self-employed in Canada; and

the intention and the ability to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada.

The two one-year periods of experience must have been gained during the period beginning five years before the date of the application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made on the application in one the following activities:

self-employment in cultural activities or athletics;

participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics; or

farm management experience.

Please contact our office for further information regarding the procedures for applying for immigration to Canada under the Family Class Program.