Do you have an innovative business idea?  You may be able to migrate to Canada through Canada’s Start-up Visa Program!  The Start-up Visa Program specifically targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and talent to build businesses in Canada that:

• are innovative
• can create jobs for Canadians
• can compete on a global scale

How the program works:

The defining feature of this program is being able to gain support or financial investment from a designated organization. Designated organizations are groups that are approved by the IRCC to invest in new businesses through the Start-up Visa Program. Here is a list of Canada’s designated organizations:

• Venture capital funds
• Angel investor groups
• Business incubators

In order to move forward you will need to secure letter of support from a designated organization.  

How do I get a Letter of Support?
Every designated organization makes a determination about who they give a letter of support to. Some organizations may ask you to do a pitch while other organizations may ask you to submit a business proposal. If an organization decides to review your business idea, it’ll assess the potential of your proposal and whether or not it’ll succeed. If the organization believes your business idea will be successful then they may invest in your organization and give you a letter of support. 

• If your investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, you will need to secure a minimum investment of $200,000 CAD.
• If your investment comes from a designated Canadian angel investor group, you will need to secure a minimum investment of $75,000 CAD.
• If you are accepted into a Canadian business incubator program you don’t need to secure a financial investment. 

Once you have a letter of support  you can apply directly to the Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency.  You will need to meet the language requirements as well as have enough funds in order to settle with your family.  The current processing time is 12 to 16 months for the permanent residency application, however you can apply for a work permit to start working in Canada while you wait for your application to be processed. 

Interested in migrating to Canada? Contact Kari Davis, RCIC at info@bisonimmigration.com or WhatsApp 876-784-9302 or 647-988-7765 to book your assessment.