If you want to start a business in Canada, you are talented, you have business skills, you can create jobs there, you are innovative and you can meet the needs of the global market, then Canada is waiting for you. Its Start-up visa scheme targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build a business in Canada.
Processing fee and time
The normal fee for a start-up visa starts from $2075. The whole process can take 12 to 16 months. In some cases, you may be asked to provide your biometrics along with your application. Your biometrics time adds to this processing time.
Eligibility criteria for Start-up visa
If you can fulfill the following need you may eligible for this program:
- Have an eligible business,
- You fulfill the Language (English or French) needs,
- You need to prove enough money to settle in Canada,
- You will need to obtain a certificate from an authorized organization.
Have a qualifying business
An eligible business means you created a business that fulfills the following requirements:
- On the spot, you obtained a deal from a designated organization,
- Each candidate carries 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time (up to 5 people can apply as owners),
- Applicant and designated company jointly carry more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time.
You can obtain the PR of Canada through a startup visa if:
- This business is incorporated in Canada,
- an integral part of these business activities perform in Canada,
- you provide valid administration of this business from within Canada.
Obtain a letter of support from an authorized company
The applicant will require a letter of support from a designated organization.
Designated organization
A business group that has been authorized to invest in or support possible start-ups. The applicant will be required to:
- Contact the designated organization to find out how to get its support,
- Provide evidence to an organization that you have a business plan that is worth supporting and obtain a letter of support from the designated organization,
- Every designated organization deals with you according to its criteria, in some cases, you may be asked to present your business plan in person or submit a description of the business program. When a designated organization feels that your business is able to reach an agreement, it will provide you with a letter of support. You will submit this letter along with your application. This is the evidence you will require to show that the venture capital fund, angel investor, or business incubator is supporting your business plan. On the other hand, the organization will send a certificate of commitment to the authorities. Your application will review on the basis of both your letter of support and the organization’s commitment certificate. As your application process progresses further, you may be asked to provide further business details before making a final decision on your application. Your application will refuse if you do not provide the letter of support.
Language requirements
Understanding of English, French, or both languages will assist your business to succeed in Canada. You should take a language test from an approved agency and submit the results along with your application, otherwise, your application will not process. The minimum English or French language criteria is the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all four language skills (Speaking, listening, reading, and writing). You have to meet the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 otherwise your application will be refused.
Sufficient financial funds to settle in Canada
You will need to provide evidence that you have enough money to support yourself and your family in Canada. You cannot borrow this money. You can understand with a given table that how much money you will need.
| Number of family members | Funds required (in Canadian dollars) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
| For each additional family member | $3,492 |
Application Process
Now in almost all cases, the applicant will provide his biometrics (fingerprints and photo) after he/she applies. The complete visa application process is as follows:
Complete your application forms
Complete the Generic Application Form for Canada online Press the validate button on the form, if there is any category you are still required to fill it out. Print out all the validated application forms from the barcode. The barcode form will come up after you validate the form. In case of more than 1 package places another barcode page on each 1. Do your sign and write the date on the required places.
Fill out the document checklist
- Arrange all supporting papers and data in the order identified in the Document Checklist,
- Check all fields,
- Put all papers in a sealed envelope,
- Print out the document checklist and sign it,
- The top cover of your application should be the checklist document.
Make sure the availability of the following documents otherwise your application will be sent back without process:
- All the forms
- Supporting documents
- Language exam results
- Evidence of payment of the processing fee
- Your signature.
You must provide accurate and true information. in case of wrong information, your case could be refused, you could be found inadmissible and you could be banned for 5 years to enter Canada.
Application fee
Normally you have to pay:
- For biometrics,
- The processing fee for the candidate and his dependents in the application,
- Third-party payment,
- The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
You will pay your fee online through your debit or credit card.
Fee for biometrics
If your biometrics are required you have to pay the fee when you submit your application. This fee includes your fingerprints and a digital photo, if you do not pay this fee you may see a delay in the process. You will receive a letter of confirmation after submitting the biometrics fee that you are required to give your biometrics and where you can go. You will need to show this letter when you provide biometrics It’s obvious that you will provide your biometrics in person. You should make an appointment if this service is offered.
Fees for Third-party
It depends on your case you may be required to pay for language testing, a Police certificate, and Medical tests, etc.
Submitting your application
If more than one person is applying for permanent residence (PR) as a partner in an eligible business, authorities will process applications if they receive:
- Each business partner has to submit an application separately. Each application should be in a separate envelope,
- If a partner is no longer submitting a permanent residence application you will use the webform to inform authorities early as possible,
- To confirm you have completed the application you must fill out all the fields, answer all the questions, do your signature on the application and all the forms, submit your application fee and attach this receipt to your application and provide all the supporting documents.
You will provide your photo and fingerprints in almost all cases, it does not matter if you have given biometrics in the past or have a valid one. You will need to do this if you are between 14 and 79 years old. You will provide a receipt of the biometrics fee along with your application, if you do not do this the process of application will be delayed As you receive the confirmation letter that you need to provide biometrics you should do it early as possible. You have 30 days to submit your photo and fingerprints from the date you receive a confirmation letter.
How your application is processed
When you submit your application it is confirmed that: You have completed the forms accurately You have a signature on all the forms You have paid the processing charges You have submitted all supporting documents.
The processing time of your application
The normal time of the application process is 12 to 16 months. If you follow the steps below, your application will not be delayed:
- When you made any change in your application you should immediately inform the authorities such as your contact detail address, telephone number, email, or the birth of your child,
- You should not contact the officer twice for a single query.
Things that cause delays in your application process
- You have a criminal record
- Information about you and your family is confusing such as the procedure of divorce or adaptation is not clear yet and,
- The visa office has to contact the other visa offices in or outside Canada to verify the time you gave.
Your medical tests
You and your family are required to have a medical exam before departure. Your application will not be entertained if your health is a danger to Canada’s citizens.
Police certificate
You and your family members over 18 years old need to submit police certificates to the visa office (if required). You have to get a police certificate from each country or destination you have spent 6 or more months in sequence since the age of 18, Today or tomorrow you have to provide this, so we suggest you should arrange these letters. People with a criminal record or who pose a risk to Canada’s security are not permitted to come to Canada.
The result of your application
Your application will be approved if you:
- To fulfill the requirements you have sufficient financial funds to bear your and your family’s expenses,
- You have successfully passed the medical test and provided a police certificate.
If authorities need further documents they will contact you. If your application is accepted you will be asked to provide your passport to the visa office to give you permanent residency.
Permanent residence in your hand
When your application is successfully accepted you will be provided permission to come to Canada and permanent residence through COPR confirmation of permanent residence. The important thing is that the information on the passport should be the same as it is on the application forms.
If the candidate is already in Canada
Authorities will contact you for further action. The immigration office will do a little interview with you. For this interview, you can fix a time with one of Canada’s offices or you can go to a Canadian port and demonstrate that you have enough money to survive in Canada with your family and you have your visa and COPR confirmation of permanent residence.
What would happen in an interview?
The officer will confirm that all your documents are valid He will ask you some more questions to check your eligibility He will confirm your contact information, so they will mail your PR card Incase change of your address within 6 months of getting your status you will inform us by using the web form
You would not be permitted to appear in Canada if:
- You have provided incorrect or mismatched information
- You do not satisfy the officer that you fulfill the requirements
When you successfully convince the border officer that you meet the criteria he will permit you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. they will confirm your residence.
Disclosure of funds
If you arrive in Canada with more than CAN$ 10,000, you must tell the CBSA officer. Failure to do so could result in a fine and confiscation of your funds. These funds can be in the form of:
- cash
- Securities that relate to you (eg stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
- Bankers’ drafts
- Check
- Passenger checks
- Money order
Temporary work permit
Who can obtain a temporary work permit is a frequently asked question. Foreign nationals who have obtained a Letter of Support and Commitment Certificate from an authorized entity may get a temporary work permit. If you fulfill the requirements you can apply for a temporary work permit, this is possible if the designated entity will support the request for a work permit. To apply for a temporary work permit you do not need to apply for permanent residence first.
Eligibility criteria
To qualify for a work permit, you should:
- Plan to stay in a province or territory other than Quebec,
- Deposit the employer compliance fee,
- Obtain a letter of support and a commitment certificate from a designated entity.
That entity will demonstrate that you are essential and there are serious business reasons for your urgent appearance to Canada and you have enough money to support you and your dependents in Canada for 13 months.
Prior to depositing your application, you will need to submit a $230 employer compliance fee along with your ‘self-employed’ offer of employment. If your business has registered for a Canada Revenue Agency business number you will use the online Employer Portal to deposit your offer of employment and pay the employer compliance fee. To use the Employer Portal you will need to enroll first in the portal, after enrolment you will be provided an ID and password to operate, after sighing in you will go to the next page and select “Submit an offer of employment”. You will complete the business information form only when you create your first-time employment offer until the information changes. With each form name, you’ll see a status symbol indicating whether the form is “not started”, “in progress”, or “completed”.
Kinds of forms
- Business Information form,
- Foreign worker form,
- Job detail form,
- Wages and benefits form.
Business information form
The initial three categories will be pre-populated with data you fill in when you enrolled in the Employer Portal. these three fields are unchangeable Write the business contact number and click on “Next” the next step in your business physical and mailing address of the basic business location Type of business: Select No Business information Fill in the contact details of the person who will be the basic contact for the business. Fill these fields to the best of your knowledge such as selecting less than 100 employees and gross salary as less than $30000. At the completion of this form, you should confirm the information, save and exit the Foreign worker form You should fill in the fields accurately as it is mentioned on your passport. You should be careful about spelling, hyphens, accents spaces, and capitalization
Job details form
The initial three categories will be pre-populated with data you fill in when you enrolled in the Employer Portal LMIA exemption title: Select “ Significant benefit” R205(a) LMIA exemption code: this option will be automatically populated
Details that how the job fulfills the needs of the exemption are requested
Tell in detail that you are searching to establish or operate your business in Canada that you essential to the start-up of your business as per section 8.0 of the commitment certificate Job title: Indicate “Start-Up Visa Entrepreneur”. NOC Code: NOC 8888 Physical job location: in this option, you will write the address of your business Main duties of the job: You should explain your work in detail, Examples could include such as: Registration for all forms Setting up your business You have obtained all required approvals Fee payment question: choose “Yes, I will be paying the employer compliance fee for this offer.”
Fill the remaining fields for the job and choose “Next ” Employer primary contact information: write the contact information of the person who will give information about the employment offer after completing all fields confirm your information then save and exit Wage and benefits form To complete this form, select ‘Wage Type’ per hour from the drop-down list and select Input ‘0’ in the following five boxes. In the “Alternative Compensation Scheme” box, indicate that you are a self-employed entrepreneur, and indicate that you have for 52 weeks your own and accompanying family members (if applicable) There is a minimum amount of help available. Indicate the number of indicator funds available and what documents you can provide as evidence. Advantages: Leave this section blank. After completing the form, correct the information, save and exit. Verify that the information in these forms is correct. Once you submit an offer, you will not be able to change it. If you make a mistake or enter incorrect information, you must withdraw the offer and start anew.
Deposit your employment offer: You will submit the offer of employment at the time the condition of 4 forms shows “Complete” When you appear on the page of LMIA-exempt offer of employment you will choose “Continue”. you will be directed to your document checklist.
As you told “Yes, I will be paying the employer compliance fee for this offer”, you do not need to upload any documents Choose” Next” On the page ‘ Your Declaration and Electronic Signature’: Understand the employer declaration and choose ‘I agree’ Then write your name in the signature panel and answer the Security Question Press option ‘ Sign’ Deposit the employer compliance fee You have to deposit a $ 230 employer compliance fee. After online signing your employment offer: Choose ‘Transmit and Pay’ Recheck the fees summary page and choose ‘Transmit and pay’ you will be directed to the Recover General’s online payment website Fill out the online payment form and press on ‘Process Transaction’ First, confirm and then print the transaction receipt. you have to submit a copy of this receipt along with your permit request in case you are applying by paper Choose ‘Return’ you will now appear back to the employer portal Choose ‘Exit questionnaire’ to go back to the Employer Portal Understand ‘Employment queue’ to retrieve the offer of employment number