People with the ability, experience, and money to set up or invest in a business may qualify to immigrate to Canada under several distinct pathways – each with its own eligibility, process and timeline. At the federal level and across the provinces, the emphasis is on active involvement, economic benefits to Canada, and clear value creation.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is constantly reviewing its programs and its quota for the number of applications it will accept under each category. Therefore, it is important to confirm that applications are being accepted before beginning the process.

Key Pathways

Here are the main pathways business people wishing to immigrate to Canada should consider:

1. Entrepreneur Work Permit Pathway

This pathway is for business owners who will come to Canada to operate a business.

• The C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit (under the International Mobility Program) allows entrepreneurs to enter Canada to start or buy a business, without requiring a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• Key criteria: ownership of at least 51% of a Canadian business; the business must generate clear economic, cultural or social benefit to Canada; funds to sustain operations; the applicant must be actively involved.
• There is no direct permanent-residence (PR) guarantee under this permit alone. Applicants often transition to PR via a provincial nominee program (PNP/entrepreneur stream) or other federal PR option.

2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) – Entrepreneur / Business Owner Streams

Many Canadian provinces now offer dedicated entrepreneur-immigration streams under their PNPs, each with its own specific criteria, investment requirements, and application process. Examples include the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream, British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration, and the Manitoba Business Investor Stream.

Often, an initial work permit ties to the province’s business-establishment requirement, followed by nomination and then application for PR.

3. Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) / Global Mobility & Business Start-up Within Canada

This is for executives, managers, or specialized workers who are being transferred from a foreign branch of a multinational company to a Canadian one. They are LMIA-exempt (meaning no Labour Market Impact Assessment is required), need a qualifying connection between the Canadian and foreign companies, and can be a stepping stone to permanent residence through Express Entry or PNP.

Note: These can be less suited for pure “investor” cases; the applicant must be actively engaged in Canada.

4. Owner-Operator LMIA Pathway

This involves the business owner getting an LMIA to support their own work permit. The key is proving the business will create jobs for Canadians. This can lead to permanent residence via Provincial Nominee Programs.

5. Buying an Existing Canadian Business / Investor Variants

Many business immigrants choose to purchase an existing Canadian business rather than starting from scratch. This can align with PNP entrepreneur streams. However, passive investment without active management is not sufficient. The business must operate, the applicant must participate, and an economic benefit to Canada must be demonstrated.

Programs no longer accepting applications

Start-up Visa Program (SUV) for innovative entrepreneurs – CLOSED

The Start-Up Visa Program permanently closed on December 31, 2025. It will be replaced by a new entrepreneur pilot program sometime in 2026.

The Start-Up Visa Program is no longer accepting new applications as of December 31, 2025. The one exception is for applicants who received a valid commitment certificate from a designated organization in 2025—they can still submit their application until June 30, 2026. A brand-new entrepreneur pilot program is scheduled to launch in 2026.

IRCC began the Start-up Visa Program in 2013. The pathway enabled foreign entrepreneurs to obtain permanent residence by launching an innovative, scalable business in Canada with the backing of a government-designated organization.

Self-Employed Persons Program – PAUSED

The Self-Employed Persons Program has been paused indefinitely since April 2024. This program was previously for individuals with experience in cultural activities, athletics, or farm management who planned to be self-employed in Canada.

Quebec

Note that Quebec manages its own separate business immigration programs under the Canada-Quebec Accord, so potential applicants should check Quebec’s current programs and rules.

Business Immigrant Application Process

While each program has its unique requirements, the general process for business immigration applications involves the following:

1. Pre-application analysis / eligibility check
2. Operational set-up / entry to Canada (if required)
3. Demonstrate business activity / compliance
4. Application for Permanent Residence (if not direct)
5. Become a Canadian Permanent Resident & (eventually) Citizen
   • Once PR is granted, you may live and work in Canada, gain access to social benefits, and, after meeting residency requirements, apply for Canadian citizenship if desired.
   • For business-owners, citizenship usually comes after meeting the standard residence requirement (e.g., 3 years in Canada in the last 5 years).
   • It is very important that, as a PR holder, you don’t commit any crimes in Canada or elsewhere, because this could lead to cancellation of your PR status and deportation.

Immigration Fees

Applicants must also pay a processing fee for themselves and any family members. The processing fee depends on how many people are included in the application. An Immigration Officer will assess the application to see if the basic eligibility standards are met. If any member of the applicants is found ineligible to apply, their processing fee will be refunded.

If they are eligible, the application will be sent for processing. The application will be assessed, and at this stage no refund on the fee will be given if the application is denied.

Additionally, there may a Right of Permanent Residence Fee per adult applicant. Applicants are also responsible for the fees charged for: the medical exam; a police certificate; and the language test.

Visit IRCC for a list of all application fees.

Get Help with Criminal Record Verification

Critical requirements often cause preventable refusals: Police clearance certificates from every country of residence (6+ months since age 18) must be obtained, authenticated, and submitted within strict validity windows. This is a process that can take 16+ weeks for some jurisdictions and destroy your application timeline if mishandled.

Each country has unique requirements. A single expired certificate discovered during final review can trigger a procedural fairness letter, adding 60-90 days to processing, or worse, result in outright refusal for misrepresentation if IRCC suspects deliberate omission.

Since a criminal record can delay and even prevent you from getting your immigration status in Canada, it is strongly advised to address this issue as early as possible. To erase your criminal record, call toll-free 1-888-808-3628 or learn more at Pardon Partners.

More Information and Legal Help

More information about immigrating to Canada under the Business Class is available from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. To find foreign consulates and embassies in your province, click here.

For strategic guidance on expanding your business to Canada—whether through the C11, ICT, LMIA, or investment-driven pathways — contact our preferred immigration lawyer, Sobirovs Law Firm at 1-416-895-3926 or wecare@sobirovs.com. The Sobirovs team helps entrepreneurs navigate Canada’s business immigration system with clarity and a structured plan for long-term success.

								
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