CANADA STARTUP VISA REQUIREMENTS

Entrepreneurs with an innovative business idea and ability to get a letter of support from a Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator can immigrate to Canada. The goal of Canada’s Start-up Visa Program is to build innovative businesses in Canada that can create jobs for Canadians and compete on a global scale.

Venture capital funds, angel investor groups or business incubators are considered designated organizations under a start-up visa program. These organizations are business groups that have approval for investing in start-ups. If such an organization decides to support a start-up, it will give a Letter of Support. 

Learn more about Canada Startup Visa Designated Organizations.

Up to 5 people can apply as owners of a single business for a Start-up Visa Program. They must meet certain criteria:

• Each owner must hold a minimum of 10 percent of the voting rights in the business.
• The designated organization and the applicants must together hold more than 50 percent of the voting rights in the business. Voting rights are attached to each share of a business that is outstanding at a given time.

The ability to communicate in any of both official languages in Canada is a must if you want to have a successful business. It is necessary to meet the minimum point of the Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in speaking, reading, listening and writing in either French or English.

New start-up visa immigrants must demonstrate sufficient money to maintain life in Canada. The amount needed depends on the size of a family.

• Famly size - funds required in CAD $
• 1 - $12,960
• 2 - $16,135
• 3 - $19,836
• 4 - $24,083
• 5 - $27,315
• 6 - $30,806
• 7 - $34,299
• Each additional family member - $3,492