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 and provincial levels, the emphasis is on active involvement, demonstrated 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. C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit Pathway

This pathway is for business owners who will come to Canada to operate a business. Learn more about this opportunity in Sobirovs’ comprehensive guide to the C11 Work Permit.

• 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 (as of February 2026, standards for “significant benefit” have been clarified and strengthened); funds to sustain operations; active involvement required.
• Processing time: 3-4 months for a decision.
• Duration: Typically 2 years, renewable.
• There is no direct permanent-residence (PR) guarantee under this permit alone. Applicants typically transition to PR via a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) after 12-24 months of operating the business, or through other economic immigration streams.

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

Many Canadian provinces now offer dedicated entrepreneur-immigration streams under their PNPs, each with specific criteria, investment requirements, and application processes. These are currently the primary pathway for business immigration in Canada. Examples include:

• British Columbia (BC PNP): Base Stream (urban): $200,000 CAD investment, $600,000 net worth, 33% ownership | Regional Stream (rural): $100,000 investment, $300,000 net worth, 51% ownership
• Alberta (AAIP): Graduate Entrepreneur: from $50,000 investment | Rural: $100,000-$150,000 investment with lower net worth requirements
• Manitoba (MPNP): Business Investor Stream with tiered investment levels
• Atlantic Canada (NB, NS, PEI): Entrepreneur streams with varying investment thresholds
• Saskatchewan: (Suspended since March 2025; no reopening announced)

Most PNP entrepreneur streams require a business performance agreement (typically 12-20 months on a work permit) before nomination, followed by a provincial nomination and then application for permanent residence through IRCC. Typically, applicants must create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. For a detailed guide to BC’s program, see Sobirovs’ BC PNP Entrepreneur guide, as an example.

3. Intra-Company Transfers (ICT) 

This pathway is for executives, managers, or specialized workers transferred from a foreign branch of a multinational company to a Canadian one. They are LMIA-exempt (no Labour Market Impact Assessment required), must have a qualifying connection between the Canadian and foreign companies, and can transition to permanent residence through Express Entry or PNP after accumulating Canadian work experience.

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) – CURRENTLY CLOSED

The Start-Up Visa Program permanently closed to new applications on January 1, 2026. The federal government has announced a replacement entrepreneur pilot program, but details and a launch date have not yet been confirmed. See Sobirovs’ business immigration guide for updates on the new pilot when it launches.

• Started: 2013. Closed: January 1, 2026.
• Previous pathway: Foreign entrepreneurs obtained permanent residence by launching an innovative, scalable business in Canada with backing from a government-designated venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
• Backlog: Over 30,000 existing applications remain in queue. Those with valid commitment certificates dated 2025 can still submit their PR application until June 30, 2026.
• Replacement: A new “targeted entrepreneur pilot” is expected in 2026, with focus on higher-growth ventures and stronger job-creation metrics. Details to be announced by IRCC.

Self-Employed Persons Program – PAUSED TILL THE END OF 2027

The Self-Employed Persons Program has been paused indefinitely since April 2024. This program was 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. Quebec’s programs include investor pathways (requiring $1.2 million CAD investment) and entrepreneur pathways for business ownership.

Business Immigrant Application Process

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

1. 1. Pre-application analysis / eligibility check
   2. Obtain a work permit (C11, PNP-supported permit, or LMIA-based)
   3. Enter Canada and establish / operate your business (typically 12-24 months)
   4. Demonstrate business activity, job creation, and compliance with requirements
   5. Apply for provincial nomination (if PNP route) and/or permanent residence
   6. 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 (e.g., 3 years in Canada in the last 5 years), apply for Canadian citizenship. As a PR holder, avoid crimes in Canada or elsewhere, as this could lead to cancellation of PR status and deportation.

Immigration Fees

Applicants must pay processing fees for themselves and any family members. The fee depends on how many people are included in the application. An Immigration Officer will assess the application to determine if basic eligibility standards are met. If any family member is found ineligible, their processing fee will be refunded. If eligible, the application proceeds to full processing. If denied after processing begins, no refund is issued.

Additional fees include: Right of Permanent Residence Fee (per adult), medical exam, police certificate, and language test fees.

Visit IRCC’s official fees page for the latest fee information.

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.

For strategic guidance on expanding your business to Canada—whether through the C11, PNP entrepreneur streams, ICT, LMIA, or investment-driven pathways — contact our preferred immigration lawyer, Sobirovs Law Firm at 1-416-895-3026 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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