Startup Visa in Canada

startup visa in Canada

startup visa in Canada program is for entrepreneurs who have skills and can create a business in Canada. Applicants can obtain Canadian permanent residence through this program if they are eligible.

The purpose of this program is to create and develop companies and businesses in Canada and use the expertise of people. The desired business must have the following conditions:

  • Be creative and new.
  • can create jobs for residents and Canadian citizens.
  • To the extent that it can compete with other businesses at the global level.

Why is Canada the best place to start your business?

  1. Canada’s economy is very broad, strong and advanced.
  2. Business taxes are lower compared to other developed countries.
  3. Business costs are lower than other developed countries.
  4. Technology, research and innovation in Canada is at its highest level.
  5. The quality of life and welfare level in Canada is very high.
  6. Canada’s welcome to trade
  7. Access to a unique market
  8. Highly educated workforce
  9. Competitive environment in research and development (R & D)

Table of Contents

First of all, you need to prove that your business is supported by a specific organization. These approved organizations can support the start of a business or invest in it. If an organization decides to support your business, then it will submit a Letter of Support to you. Note that the presence of this letter in your application is necessary and if it is not there, the possibility of rejecting the file will be very high.

The number of people who can apply for the start-up visa program in a specific business will be a maximum of five people. Each applicant must have at least ten percent of the shares of that business. The applicants and the specific organization that intends to support that business must have a total of more than fifty percent of the business’s shares.

First of all, you need to prove that your business is supported by a specific organization. These approved organizations can support the start of a business or invest in it. If an organization decides to support your business, then it will submit a Letter of Support to you. Note that the presence of this letter in your application is necessary and if it is not there, the possibility of rejecting the file will be very high.

The number of people who can apply for the start-up visa program in a specific business will be a maximum of five people. Each applicant must have at least ten percent of the shares of that business. The applicants and the specific organization that intends to support that business must have a total of more than fifty percent of the business’s shares.

If you intend to immigrate to another country and immigrate to Canada is one of your priorities, Hori Soleimani Immigration Organization has more than 24 years of successful experience in all kinds of immigration methods, including immigration to Canada through work, immigration Express Entry Canada, immigration Studying in Canada, immigrating to Canada through investment, immigrating to Canada to register a company, immigrating to Canada through entrepreneurship, etc. can help you in this important matter of immigrating to Canada through the most suitable method.

If your intention is to immigrate and obtain a visa from another country and immigrating to Canada is one of your priorities, Unique Immigration has more than 24 years of successful experience in the field of visas, including:

  1. Work visa in Canada
  2. Visitor visa in Canada
  3. Study visa in Canada
  4. Business visitor visa in Canada
  5. Startup visa in Canada
  6. Refugee visa in Canada
  7. Adoption in Canada
  8. Denied Entry To Canada
  9. And…

and can help you in this important matter of immigrating to Canada through the most appropriate method.

Language skills

The ability to communicate in English, French or both will help you succeed in establishing and developing your business in Canada. Having a valid language certificate and having it in your file is mandatory. You must obtain at least CLB five in each of listening, reading, writing and speaking skills in English or French.

The requirements of the startup visa in Canada program at a glance:

  • Having language skills (English or French)
  • Sufficient capital to stay in Canada
  • Decision to reside in a Canadian province other than Quebec
  • Having a certificate of no bad background and a medical health certificate
  • Proof that your business is supported by a specific organization
  • Proof that you are at least one of the business owners in question

The nature of the startup visa in Canada

The start-up visa, in its nature, which will bring a certain type of business launch, has the potential to be implemented in any of the cities and provinces of Canada, and which province is chosen will ultimately depend on the group supporting your idea. had

If your business startup is approved through one of the specific organizations for this program, you will be eligible to apply for a work visa and live in Canada with your work visa before your permanent residence is issued.

Another very important point is that the start-up visa with its special conditions cannot be used for all applicants for work or permanent residence visas and will not be. The number of acceptances in this specific path is not very high, except that you have all the necessary conditions. If you are unable to obtain approval from a designated organization, your business may be eligible to immigrate to Canada under other conditions, such as using a different route called the owner/operator or company registration route. Become an owner operator.

Requirements for startup visa in Canada

Letter of support and commitment certificate

Applicants to immigrate to Canada through a startup and with a startup visa must have received a letter of support from a designated investor organization. To receive a letter of support, the applicant must convince the designated investment fund to invest in the applicant’s desired business. . Investor groups must submit a certificate of commitment directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada detailing the applicant’s commitment.

  • Need to invest

As mentioned above, if this investment is made through a specific investor group, it can be in the amount of 200 thousand dollars or 75 thousand dollars.

  • Language certificate required

The immigration applicant with a start-up visa must be able to communicate in English or French and be in contact and interaction with his project colleagues in the designed business. Applicants must obtain language test results from approved centers and must obtain a minimum level of CLB 5 in English or French. English language certificates IELTS and CELPIP as well as French language certificates TEF and TCF can represent your language level.

  • Educational records

The applicant must have completed at least one academic year in an institution after receiving the diploma. He must also be able to prove that he has been in good conditions while attending an educational institution for at least one year, and that they can provide their educational certificates and encyclopedias in addition to transcripts during their studies as required documents. The more educational qualifications you have, the better your chances are.

  • affordability

The applicant must be able to have sufficient documents to prove his financial ability to support himself and his family after immigrating to Canada. The amount of capital required in this case will be different depending on the number of family members accompanying the applicant.

You can contact us at Houri Soleimani Immigration Organization through the link above and book a consultation appointment with the experts of the institute.

  • Security and medical check

As with all immigration programs to Canada, the applicant and his family members must successfully pass security and medical checks and prove that they will not pose a security or medical threat to Canadian society.

Of course, in the case of medical checks, there are special conditions that are considered mostly on infectious diseases or diseases that endanger the health of the community or put too much pressure on the Canadian health care system.

Challenges of residence in Canada
  • Scrutiny by government nominated organizations

Since the start-up visa has provided simple and affordable conditions for creating a fast business in Canada, opportunistic people may seek to abuse this method. The Canadian Immigration Department has reserved the right that if all the conditions and principles are met, the applicant’s case will be easily approved and the residence permit will be issued, but if the documents provided are not sufficient or convincing and if For any reason, if the Immigration Department thinks that the documents are fake, the entire case will be sent to certain organizations for more detailed investigation, which will examine and confirm the details with greater accuracy and scrutiny. Failure to approve this group will lead to the rejection of the case.

  • Golden tips for getting a Canadian startup visa

Canada is known as one of the best countries in the field of immigration and currently it has welcomed many people from different parts of the world. Immigrants to Canada have had a great impact on the development of Canada.

In the last few years, the characteristics of Different people in different fields have chosen to immigrate to Canada with the aim of being able to grow in a better environment and use their maximum ability. Due to the rapid growth of complex and new job opportunities in Canada and North America in general, the culture of entrepreneurship is growing and the country of Canada attaches great importance to entrepreneurship issues.

The country of Canada with its investments in this field is trying to attract entrepreneurs from different countries, for this purpose it has created a special program for entrepreneurship visa or Canadian startup visa.

Immigrate to Canada through startup

Since other methods of immigrating to Canada have become much more difficult and limited for Iranians, considering this method, which is not a problem from a legal point of view, it can be a much more suitable option, and this is because the Canadian startup visa is very useful for Migration is a more attractive option.

Here are some important points about the Canadian startup visa:

The basic condition for obtaining a Canadian startup visa is to present a creative and scientific work project in the form of a startup (start-up company), which must be registered and start working in Canada for scale.

It is clear that a person who intends to start a startup must have the necessary technical knowledge to carry out and manage the project or have the ability to hire experts in that field and enter Canada to complete the project and work.

The company that you will register in Canada must fully commit to the human resources costs and pay the salaries of the experts according to the wage conditions in Canada.

For people who have a unique invention or product, it is better to test and make a prototype in Iran and then enter Canada for more sales and access to the world market. Of course, the first condition for this model is to get approvals and patents sale It is in Canada.

In general, 3 types of centers have the possibility of issuing the letter of support required for the Canadian startup visa for the applicant company.

Accelerators or growth centers are used, whose purpose is to support startups in the initial stage. But the start-up company must be physically present in the training and mentorship courses of these centers.

Another option is to interact and use angel investors, who basically invest in projects that have built a prototype (MVP) and have market studies.

The third option is the financial centers of venture capitals. The startup is in the advanced stage with the market and expansion. At this stage, the product or service must have some sales and have received feedback from customers and the market and have made reforms. 

In order to present a plan to venture capitalists or bold investors, it is necessary to prepare a complete and logical business plan for them that meets the standards of North America and Canada.

You can contact us at Unique Immigration through the link in front and get free advice from the experts of the institute.

You must write the documents accurately and in full detail to You can convince them.

Canadian support organizations

Canada is targeting a new type of entrepreneurial immigration through the start-up visa, potentially creating creative companies that can compete globally and create jobs. Do you have a business idea?

If you can get the support of designated Canadian organizations to start your business, you can immigrate to Canada.

work visa in Canada

Designated Canadian Organizations:

To apply for a start-up visa, your economic activity or business idea must be supported by one of the following designated organizations:

these organizations choose which business proposal to evaluate. If an organization decides to review your business proposal, they will evaluate the profitability and growth potential of your business. Each organization has its own evaluation criteria and process. If an organization supports your business idea, they will let you know through a letter of support. These organizations include:

  • Designated venture capital funds

To qualify for a startup visa, an individual must invest at least $200,000 in one or more designated Canadian designated economic activity funds.

  • Designated Angel investor groups

In order to receive a start-up visa, a person must earn 75,000 Canadian dollars through investment, if the invested amount is from investors who are associated with one or more angel investor groups introduced in Canada.

  • Designated business incubators

In order to be eligible for a start-up visa, a person must be accepted into one of the designated programs in the field of economic growth in Canada

Steps to apply for a startup visa

Once your business has been sponsored by a designated organization and you meet all the criteria, follow the steps below to get a startup visa:

  • Checking the time of the work process

Know the processing time of your job application by the Canadian Immigration Department. This time tells you how long the Canadian citizenship and immigration application process will take. This time can vary depending on how many Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) applicants are accepted. Various factors can affect these steps, including:

The number of unfilled applications, seasonal changes in the acceptance of job applications, changes in the operation of Immigration and Citizenship Canada, and other factors beyond the control of Immigration and Citizenship Canada. Since the startup visa is new and applications have not yet been received, the timing of the process is not yet known.

Things you should know after applying to enter Canada as an immigrant entrepreneur:

How is your job application evaluated?

  • The time of the process of doing the work
  • Medical examinations
  • Police Clearance
  • Final decision on your job application
  • Confirmation of permanent residence
  • Preparing to enter Canada

When you enter Canada, you will meet with a Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) officer. The Canadian Border Services Officer will ask you for your documents and passport. Before your luggage is packed, make sure that your documents are not in your luggage and are with you. This will help you enter Canada quickly.

When entering, you must bring the following items:

Valid passport or travel documents. Your passport must be legal and individual. You cannot immigrate with a political, government or public affairs passport.

Visa and Proof of Permanent Residence (COPR). The officer will make sure you enter Canada before the expiration date shown on your visa. Please note that these documents are not renewable; Therefore, you should use it before the expiry date.

Evidence that you have the financial credit to support yourself and your family.

The immigration officer will ask you a few questions to make sure you are still eligible to immigrate to Canada. These questions are similar to the questions you answered when applying for immigration. If you answer the questions incompletely or incorrectly, or if you do not convince the officer that you meet the requirements to enter Canada, you will not be allowed to enter. If there are no problems when you arrive, the officer will allow you to enter Canada as a permanent resident. The officer will also verify your Canadian mailing address and your permanent resident card will be sent to this address. If you change your address within 180 days after entering Canada, you must notify the Canadian Immigration Department online.

Admission Hearing

Temporary work permit for startup visa applicants

Did you know that those who intend to apply for permanent residence under the start-up visa can apply for a temporary work permit before that if they have the necessary conditions? To whom is temporary work permit issued for start-up visa applicants?

Who is eligible?

Only those who receive a commitment certificate or letter of support from an approved organization in Canada will be able to apply for a temporary work visa. If you meet the necessary conditions, you can apply for your temporary work permit before applying for permanent residence.

Immigrate to Canada through startup

  • These conditions are:
  • Intention to live in a province or region other than Quebec
  • Payment to the employer

You have received a certificate from an approved organization in Canada stating that your early presence in Canada is necessary for the business in question.

Be able to prove that you can afford to pay for yourself and your family in Canada Keep in mind that you must submit your job offer before taking action

Doing this process as easy as needed It is a matter of accuracy and speed of action that using the experiences of a skilled immigration consultant can guide you in reaching your destination. If you want to know if you are eligible to receive a startup visa and permanent residence in Canada, pay attention to the following:

You must prove that the idea or business you intend to invest in is supported by a designated Canadian organization.

  • Language skills
  • Having a sufficient agreed budget
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Immigrate to Canada through start-up – start-up visa

What is a Canadian startup visa?

The Start-up Visa (Strat-up Visa) is a temporary 5-year pilot for those individuals and entrepreneurs who intend to start a new business in Canada with the help of investment from one of the designated companies. If this program has positive results in the Canadian immigration system, it is possible to extend or make the program permanent

Can I apply for a start-up visa with any new idea?

Having only 1 plan or idea, although a necessary condition, is not a sufficient condition to enter the startup program; You must have financial support from one of the designated organizations along with your plan.

Receive a letter of support as an entrepreneur

When you apply for a Canadian startup visa, you must be able to start an approved business in this country as an entrepreneur with a creative idea and get a Letter of Support from one of the competent organizations.

The three organizations approved by the Canadian government to invest in Canadian startups are:

  • Investment funds or Venture Capital Funds
  • Angel Investor Group
  • Business Incubator groups

In fact, the most difficult stage of this program is convincing one of these competent organizations to approve your idea. You should work on your business plan and try to have a perfect plan. After that, contact the authorized organizations and try to attract their support and approval. In fact, through your business plan, you have to convince the relevant organization that your business idea is worth supporting.

The process of receiving a letter of support to get a Canadian startup visa

The process of presenting a business idea is different for each organization. Each organization has its own conditions and requirements.

For example, you may be asked to present your business plan in person, or you may be asked to submit a complete business plan with full details. If you agree with one of the authorized organizations, they will send you a letter of support, which you must attach to your file when you submit your application to IRCC.

This letter is the confirmation that you need to prove the support of your business idea from investment funds, angel groups or business incubators, which you need to get a Canadian startup visa.

The desired organization also sends a letter of commitment directly to IRCC. IRCC will use both letters from relevant agencies to evaluate your application.

Receive investment support letter from more than one authorized organization

Receiving a letter of support from several investment funds or support groups to get a Canadian startup visa is considered a trade union. If you have union support, the identity of all investment organizations involved in the union must be known. Only one electronic letter of commitment will be sent to IRCC and a Letter of Support will be issued to you.

  • If an authorized investment fund invests in your business, the minimum investment amount is $200,000, even if an angel group has also invested in your business.
  • If at least one angel group invests in your business without the presence of any investment fund, the minimum investment amount is $75,000.
  • If an organization approves your idea and supports you, you will not be allowed to add new partners to the business. Therefore, make your final decision before contacting an authorized organization.

To get more information about immigrating to Canada through startups, you can use the following links:

What is a Canadian startup visa?

  • Study immigration to Canada
  • Immigrate to Canada through startup
  • Immigrate to Canada through work

For additional information about Canada’s startup visa, please contact the immigration lawyer to Canada, Houri Soleimani, with more than 22 years of experience and thousands of successful cases in obtaining permanent and temporary residence visas.

You can visit our YouTube channel to watch Canadian residency training videos. Applying for the Canadian startup program through incubators (no minimum investment required).

Canada’s startup program through incubators is one of the attractive routes for applicants of this type of immigration. One of the unique things about the Canada Startup Program is that unlike many other programs that only allow permanent residency after a few years (something like 5 years or more), Canada Startup Visa applicants in If the application is successful and accepted, they will receive permanent residence immediately.

You must be accepted by one of the designated incubators

The way this program works for Canada is that you must be accepted by one of the designated incubators.

Currently, there are 25 incubators. Once you are accepted into one of the incubator programs, the probability of your application being accepted is also very high and there is no minimum amount of capital required. As such, it’s all about convincing the incubator to confirm the viability of your business idea, and getting your plan accepted is the key to this program.

Entering the Canadian startup program through incubators

To obtain a Canadian startup visa through incubators, it is necessary to check different acceptance criteria. Currently, because each of the 25 incubators have different criteria for accepting people in their programs, we at Hori Soleimani Immigration Organization provide services that will help you to make the proposed plan as successful as possible; In such a way that the relevant conditions and requirements in your business plan are met and sent to all incubators related to that plan, and the chances of its acceptance increase significantly.

  • The main goal is immigration

In most cases, there is a viable and profitable business, but if you are in the ideation stage, in other words, you have nothing but your idea and plan, you can still be attractive to an incubator, assuming that the plan You are well-bred and be in line with your ability and experience.

Most entrepreneurs have a desire to enter new areas, but it all comes down to the validity of the plan and having the right business partners, so that they can add skills that you probably don’t have and bring your business idea from zero to profitability. .

In Canada, there are different criteria, so there are 25 different sets of criteria in front of you, but in general, your plan should be in the area of knowledge and information, in other words, rather than construction businesses. The fields of information technology, clean technology, biotechnology or related software.

Also, Canada’s startup program through incubators does not act like a franchise, unlike franchises; Rather, the need for new ideas in your business is the main point.

Some of these incubators in Canada require more than just an idea, and you must have reached profitability and attracted clients and customers by the time you submit your plan. Of course, this is not true for all incubators.

  • Other entrepreneurial paths for foreign applicants

If you are not eligible for Canada’s startup program through incubators, and you definitely want to choose the immigration route through incubators, you may be eligible for another startup program for foreign applicants. Our experienced consultants with more than two decades of experience will help you choose the best path; You can also refer to our articles on the site for more information:

Learn more about immigrating to Canada:

  • Immigrate to Canada through entrepreneurship
  • Immigration Canada Express Entry

To get additional information about Canada’s start-up program through incubators, contact Hori Soleimani, an immigration lawyer to Canada with more than 22 years of experience and thousands of successful cases in obtaining permanent and temporary residence visas.

You can visit our YouTube channel to view educational videos on Canadian residency.

Startups in Quebec expand by receiving financial support from investors

According to Canadian News, the investment company CDPQ in collaboration with Teralys Capital will grant $50 million in financial aid to help start-ups in Quebec.

If you’re an entrepreneur and considering starting a business in Quebec, getting financial aid just got a lot easier. The company will provide $50 million to start-up companies in Quebec. According to a press release, CDPQ has made a long-term commitment to seed funding for startups in Quebec, and not just grants, which are critical to the continued support of new companies.

Seed funding helps startups in Quebec get off the ground by providing a certain amount of capital in exchange for partial ownership of the business.

Fields of investment in Canada

Over the past ten years, Teralys Capital has built the largest Canadian investor specializing in innovation in Montreal. In recent years, the growth of small businesses and startups has become easier. Two months ago, the Canadian government announced that it will reduce the tax rate for this category of businesses to 9%. CDPQ says the funding will help grow a variety of businesses, each tailored to the unique needs of these startups in Quebec. This company is one of the managers of Canadian institutional funds.

These investors globally invest in the following sectors:

  • Major financial markets
  • Private capital
  • Infrastructures
  • Real estates
  • Private sector debts

Teralys is an innovation investor that primarily invests in the following sectors:

  • Information Technology
  • Life sciences
  • Industry or clean technologies
  • Start-ups and startups in Quebec can use these funds as soon as they are ready.

To view other news related to Canada:

  • Dealing with sending fake documents to immigrate to Canada
  • Canadian immigration work
  • Study immigration to Canada
  • Immigrate to Canada through investment

To get additional information about various methods of immigrating to Canada, contact Hori Soleimani, a Canadian immigration lawyer with more than 22 years of experience and thousands of successful cases in obtaining permanent and temporary residence visas.

You can visit our YouTube channel to watch educational videos on Canadian residency.

Are you an entrepreneur who would like to come to Canada and start a business?

The startup visa immigration program in Canada was designed and offered in the past few years. But due to the many problems that existed in the implementation of this method, it received less attention than in the past year, due to the changes that occurred in this system, it has enjoyed unparalleled success.

The Startup Program was designed to attract dynamic and observant entrepreneurs who recognize Canada as the land of opportunity around the world and who want to come to Canada and take advantage of the many supports available to new entrepreneurs. The main purpose of designing this system was to attract new ideas and capable work forces who can move forward with new ideas in the global competition as a Canadian citizen, at the same time create new jobs for Canadians.

Qualified entrepreneurs who want to reside in Canada through a startup visa can complete their work and case procedures quickly and in a short time.

While it was thought that entrepreneurs in the field of advanced technology would have more luck in this method, but the passage of time proved that entrepreneurs in different jobs and from all countries of the world can take advantage of this opportunity and send their request.

How does the immigration program work with a startup visa?

If you want to immigrate to Canada through this program, you will need the support of one of the Canadian investment funds or the Angel Investment Group or the Anco Batteries Group who are willing to invest in your new business.

These three main groups have many subgroups that should help you with your business idea. Therefore, the first step is to convince one of these groups to be willing to invest in your business idea. Usually, investment groups go through different processes to make sure that the business you are considering will be worth investing in. Some of these groups require a lot of documents to ensure that your business idea is correct and acceptable.

Success in persuading investment groups

Investor groups focus on different businesses, so it is very important to know exactly what type of business they are targeting, and in this important matter, Hori Soleimani Immigration Organization can be by your side. We will help you succeed by presenting your plan to committed groups.

The Startup Visa connects successful applicants with private sector organizations in Canada that are able to provide funding as well as guidance and assistance in establishing and operating a business in Canada. Successful applicants will be granted permanent residence under this immigration program to Canada.

Judicial Reviews

Requirements for startup visa in Canada

  • Letter of support and commitment certificate

Immigration applicants with a startup visa must have received a letter of support from a designated investor organization. To receive a letter of support, the applicant must convince the designated investment fund to invest in the applicant’s desired business. Investor groups must submit a certificate of commitment directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada detailing the applicant’s commitment.

  • The need for investment

As mentioned above, if this investment is made through a specific investor group, it can be in the amount of 200 thousand dollars or 75 thousand dollars.

  • The need for a language certificate

The immigration applicant with a start-up visa must be able to communicate in English or French and be in contact and interaction with his project colleagues in the designed business. Applicants must obtain language test results from approved centers and must obtain a minimum level of CLB 5 in English or French. English language certificates IELTS and CELPIP as well as French language certificates TEF and TCF can represent your language level.

  • Academic records

The applicant must have completed at least one academic year in an institution after receiving the diploma. He must also be able to prove that he has been in good conditions while attending an educational institution for at least one year, and that they can provide their educational certificates and encyclopedias in addition to transcripts during their studies as required documents. The more educational qualifications you have, the better your chances are.

  • Financial ability

The applicant must be able to have sufficient documents to prove his financial ability to support himself and his family after immigrating to Canada. The amount of capital required in this case will be different depending on the number of family members accompanying the applicant.

  • Security and medical check

As with all immigration programs to Canada, the applicant and his family members must successfully pass security and medical checks and prove that they will not pose a security or medical threat to Canadian society. Of course, in the case of medical checks, there are special conditions that are considered mostly on infectious diseases or diseases that endanger the health of the community or put too much pressure on the Canadian health care system. to be

  • Detailed investigation by government organizations

Since the start-up visa has provided simple and affordable conditions for creating a fast business in Canada, opportunistic people may seek to abuse this method. The Canadian Immigration Department has reserved the right that if all the conditions and principles of item no If it is observed, the applicant’s case is easily approved and the residence permit is issued, but if the documents provided are not sufficient or convincing, and if for any reason the immigration department thinks that the documents are fake, the whole case will be sent to the organizations for a more detailed investigation. A specific is sent so that they will examine and confirm the details with greater accuracy and scrutiny. Failure to approve this group will lead to the rejection of the case.

Summary of immigration process with start-up visa

The start-up visa in Canada is designed to attract entrepreneurs with new ideas and to compete and advance in the global market. The following conditions are required for success in this method.

  • Having financial resources
  • Obtaining the approval letter of the applicant’s plan and idea from the introduced organizations
  • Passing the security and medical check
  • Proof of coordination and communication of five members of the group
  • Having a language certificate
  • Having an idea with global marketing capabilities
  • Continuous activity in business
  • Preparation of business plan and
  • Providing documents from technology and digital marketing experts to prove the profitability of the idea

Persian