Canada has consistently served as a beacon of stability, opportunity, and high quality of life. For Indian investors and entrepreneurs, seeking PR through Investment in Canada is a strategic decision to obtain PR and no other is as direct as Canada. Canada is one of the most welcoming and open economies in the world.
Although the former Federal Immigrant Investor Programme (FIIP) has been nixed, there are still plenty of solid and targeted investment programs to consider today. These programs are aimed at real active entrepreneurs and innovators and so, however business-centric, offer a clearer, more transparent, private sector route to securing Canada Residence by Investment, as opposed to the passive nature of the former FIIP.
The Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program: The Federal Route
The Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program is generally viewed as the most efficient investment pathway for PR in Canada on the federal level. It aims to facilitate entry for innovative entrepreneurs who may lead in the establishment of businesses that will create jobs for Canadians and compete internationally. The SUV Program is a great option for those who have a truly unique, and scalable business idea.
Key Requirements
The SUV program stands out because its primary focus is on the potential of the business idea, rather than the investor’s personal net worth. The core of this program is securing financial and mentorship support from a designated Canadian organization:
Investment Support: You must obtain a Letter of Support from a designated Canadian organization (i.e. venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator). This support is the most critical and will represent the investment component.
If the support is being provided by a venture capital fund, the minimum investment must equal to a minimum of $200,000 CAD.
If the support is being provided by an angel investor group, the minimum investment must equal to a minimum of $75,000 CAD.
If accepted by an incubator, there is usually no minimum financial investment required, rather you must be accepted into their program.
Language Proficiency: a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in both English or French in all four skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking).
Settlement Funds: You must have sufficient liquid and not encumbered funds to settle and support you and your dependents after arriving in Canada. These funds must be the same funds as the capital you invested in the business.
Ownership: You must co-own the qualifying business with the specified organization, and the applicants must collectively hold more than 50% of the business’ voting shares.
Why SUV is Attractive for Indians
For Indian entrepreneurs looking to establish business ventures with possibilities on a global scale, the SUV stream provides an opportunity for Permanent Residency (PR) independent of a PNP, allowing the immigrants to settle in most provinces with the exception of Quebec. This makes the SUV stream an appealing option for those individuals wanting business investment based PR in Canada without an obligation to remain in one specific province at the outset. The primary advantage is that you are a direct PR candidate.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Entrepreneur Streams
Outside of the federal SUV program, along with the provincial nominee programs (PNPs), the next most common and effective way to secure PR through investment in Canada is through the PNPs. Each province or territory has its own PNP stream to address its own economic development needs. Many provincial nominee programs have their own entrepreneur stream, which provides a pathway for foreign nationals to establish or purchase a business in Canada.
How PNP Entrepreneur Streams Work
The process for most PNP Entrepreneur Streams tends to be a two-step process:
Temporary to Permanent: The applicant receives a provincial Letter of Support on the basis of a solid business plan, permitting them to apply for a temporary work permit.
Nomination for PR: The applicant relocates to the province, establishes or purchases the business, and runs it according to the stipulated requirements (in most cases, the investment performance and job creation performance requirements) for a predetermined amount of time (typically 12 to 24 months.) Once the applicant has met the requirements, the province nominates the applicant for permanent residence, which helps expedite the federal PR application.
Examples of Canada Investment Visa Requirements in PNPs
While requirements can vary, PNP programs typically link to the proposed business’s location with lower requirements in areas outside major centres.
Ontario Entrepreneur Stream (OES):
If your proposed business is located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), you must have a minimum personal net worth of $800,000 CAD and be prepared to make a minimum personal investment of $600,000 CAD.
If your proposed business is located outside the GTA (or in the ICT/Digital Communications sector anywhere in Ontario), the requirements are lower: a minimum net worth of $400,000 CAD and a minimum personal investment of $200,000 CAD. In all cases, you must commit to creating at least one or two full-time jobs for Canadian citizens/residents.
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program (SINP):
Applicants must demonstrate a minimum legally acquired net worth of $500,000 CAD.
The required investment depends on the location: a minimum investment of $300,000 CAD is needed if the business is in Regina or Saskatoon, or $200,000 CAD if it is located in another Saskatchewan community. The applicant must own at least one-third (33.3%) of the business and actively manage it.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration (BC PNP):
Applicants must have a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 CAD.
The requirement includes a minimum personal investment of $200,000 CAD in an eligible BC business and the creation of at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
The Canada Residence by Investment through these PNP streams is most successful for applicants who can prove both the financial resources and the relevant business management experience.
Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP)
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is distinctive and is the only remaining yet more challenging pathway for purely passive investment based PR in Canada. It is important to note that it leads to the investor obtaining Canadian permanent residency, but the investor has to intend to live in the Province of Quebec.
Key Aspects of QIIP
The QIIP offers an avenue for wealthy individuals who seek permanent residency without the commitment of active business management, fulfilling the historical idea of a Canada Immigrant Investor Program.
Net Worth & Experience: The investor must have a legally obtained net worth of at least $2 million CAD, alone or combined with their spouse. The investor must have at least two years of management experience purchased in the five years before the application.
Investment: The applicant must sign an agreement to invest $1 million CAD for five years with a registered financial intermediary, backed by the Quebec government and returned without interest following the five-year period.
Additionally, a non-refundable financial contribution of $200,000 CAD is required. Many applicants choose to finance the investment so that they have less required upfront investment capital.
French and Residency: As importantly, the recent revisions to the program put an emphasis on integration. Applicants must demonstrate spoken French performance at B2 level, along with a mandatory residency requirement of at least six months in Quebec in the first two years after obtaining their work permit.
The QIIP outlines a transparent process for obtaining Canada Residence by Investment, but because of the strict financial, language, and residency requirements, it is only available for a specific subset of high-net-worth investors.
Comparing Your Options: Choosing the Best Path
For Indian applicants, your determination of the “easiest” route is based on your ultimate goal and profile. Regardless of the specific streams to obtain PR through investment in Canada, collectively, Canada continues to be a top destination for wealthy and skilled workers from India.
The Entrepreneur with Innovation: The Start-Up Visa (SUV) is generally the easiest and most straightforward federal route as long as you have a viable and innovative business idea and can receive support from a designated entity, this is your best bet for quickly applying for federal PR through Investment in Canada.
The Established Business Owner: The Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Streams are best. These programs may have similar high engagement requirements for management, but the financial obligations are usually lower for qualified applicants, and requirements imposed by Canada for the investment visa are not as stringent as the QIIP, particularly outside of the urban centres.
The High-Net-Worth Passive Investor: The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is the only truly passive option left. The QIIP has the highest qualification requirement in terms of net worth, and requires the highest and least flexible commitment in terms of a large, risk-free loan investment, as well as French language proficiency and commitment to residing in Quebec.
The central theme to determine success is if the applicant demonstrates legitimate intentions to make a contribution to the Canadian economy through either a unique and game-changing business idea or a solid business, providing opportunities for jobs, etc.
Related blog: Know the top benefits of Canada Residence by Investment
Take the Next Step
If you are an investor or entrepreneur from India who wants to safeguard your future through Canada Residence by Investment, the time is now! The process is a complex one, requiring you to carefully prepare business plans, prepare financial documents, as well as government documentation.
Don’t take this complicated journey by yourself! Speak to an immigration lawyer or a dedicated investment migration business like FRR Immigration. They will be able to help guide you through an assessment of your profile against the newest Canada investment Visa requirements, and will assist you through the process, thus increasing your likelihood of success.
Are you ready to start your journey to Canadian Permanent Residency? Contact FRR Immigration expert today to obtain a consultation and secure your future in Canada!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Is the Federal Immigrant Investor Program (FIIP) still active?
A: No. The Federal Immigrant Investor Program (FIIP), which offered a direct passive investment for PR, was terminated by the Canadian government in 2014. The remaining options for PR through Investment in Canada are primarily focused on active economic contribution, such as the Start-Up Visa and Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Streams.
Q2: What is the main difference between the Start-Up Visa and a Provincial Entrepreneur Program?
A: The main difference lies in the nature of the requirement. The Start-Up Visa focuses on innovation and a Letter of Support from a designated entity, leading directly to permanent residency (after an initial work permit period). Provincial Entrepreneur Programs focus on active business management and meeting a performance agreement within a specific province over 1-2 years before receiving a provincial nomination for permanent residency. Both are strong routes for obtaining investment based PR in Canada.
Q3: Do I get my investment back in all Canadian investor programs?
A: It depends on the program:
Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP): The $1 million CAD investment is a refundable, interest-free deposit returned after five years. However, the non-refundable financial contribution and any financing fees are not returned.
Start-Up Visa (SUV) & PNP Entrepreneur Programs: The capital you invest in starting or buying your business (e.g., equipment, inventory, rent) is a business expenditure and is not a refundable deposit to the government.
Q4: Can I include my family when I apply for Canada Residence by Investment?
A: Yes. All major economic Canada Immigrant Investor Program pathways—including the SUV, QIIP, and Provincial Entrepreneur Streams—allow the principal applicant to include their spouse or common-law partner and dependent children (under the age of 22 and unmarried) in the same application for permanent residence.
