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Updated: July 7, 2025
The Ultimate Guide for Business Immigration from India to Canada
In this article, we will showcase the most popular options entrepreneurs from India use to start their businesses in Canada. Indian entrepreneurs, business owners, and self-employed individuals have a number of options to come to Canada under Canada’s various business immigration programs. We will share our suggestions and tips on improving your chances of success in your immigration application from India and how to start a business in Canada. You will also find some of our successful cases where we helped Indian entrepreneurs immigrate to Canada.
Business Immigration Options from India
Here are some business immigration options that business owners and entrepreneurs from India use to arrive and settle in Canada:
- Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) – established businesses from India that are looking to expand to Canada can use this option to move their companies and teams to Canada. Indian nationals arriving in Canada on ICT work permits have several pathways to permanent residency in Canada after 1 year of employment in Canada.
- Entrepreneur Work Permits (C11) – available for entrepreneurs, high net-worth individuals, and experienced managers in India who want to invest in a business in Canada or start their own business in Canada. Individual entrepreneurs holding this type of work permit can transition to permanent residence after 1 year of running their businesses in Canada.
- Start-Up Visa (SUV) – up to 5 founders of the start-up can immigrate to Canada on a permanent basis, considering that they meet the requirements. This program allows foreign entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency once they receive SUV approval. However, the program has rigorous requirements and is very selective of who can qualify.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) – Canadian provinces also offer good pathways for Indian entrepreneurs to invest, work and settle permanently in a specific province in Canada. The most popular PNP programs among Indian entrepreneurs remain the Entrepreneur streams of Ontario PNP and British Columbia PNP.
- Owner-Operator LMIA Program – although this program was historically very popular among entrepreneurs and investors from India, it was cancelled by the government of Canada in April 2021. Now, investors and entrepreneurs from India can use the regular LMIA pathway or, even better, achieve the same results by using the Entrepreneur Work Permit option (above).
Pro Tips for Application Preparation
Here are some tips that we have for entrepreneurs from India submitting business immigration applications through the Canadian Visa Offices in New Delhi & Bangalore:
You need to follow numerous steps to start a business in Canada. They are listed below. However, there is no need to worry because when you work with Sobirovs, we take care of all of this and more!
Step 1 – Develop a business idea. Do you already have a service or a product? What is your target audience? Are you solving a specific problem in the market? You need to know the foundational elements of what business you are going into.
Step 2 – Seek mentorship and networking. Any business can benefit from new connections and valuable advice. Remember, the more information you have to base your business decisions on, the more likely you will succeed.
Step 3 – Create a business plan. You must research and develop a viable business, which will not only allow your business to succeed but also be compliant with business immigration if you are a foreign entrepreneur.
Step 4 – Seek investors. This step can take place at any point in the growth of your business, but sometimes ventures need a little bit more capital to get either started or to innovate their processes.
Step 5 – Register and incorporate your business. These formalities must be taken care of right from the beginning. You should know which business structure your company should have because it can play a significant role down the road once the business matures.
Step 6 – Obtain permits and licenses. Depending on your business, you may need to get government approval in the form of permits or licenses. Failure to do so, in many cases, can result in the shutting down of your business.
Step 7 – Open a bank account and apply for a business credit card. Your business will need a separate bank account in order to keep the finances separate and keep track of business expenses. Additionally, having a business credit card will help you build a credit history for your business and even get reward points!
Step 8 – Launch your business. It takes a lot to set up a business, but once the foundation is in place, it is time to hit the ground running!
Step 9 – Analyze and reflect. Any successful businessperson must always have a desire for learning. In business, it takes the form of learning from mistakes or successes and analyzing situations that can allow your business to grow even further.
Facts About Indo-Canadian Immigration
India and Canada have a long-lasting immigration relationship that dates back centuries. It is estimated that Indians are in the top 10 of Canada’s population, standing at 4%! Astonishingly, 51% of the entire Indo-Canadian population lives in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Many arrive on business visas to Canada’s Ontario and British Columbia provinces, which are at the top of the list of the most popular destination for Indian immigrants.
Canadian immigration has a well-developed range of options that suit established Indian businesses, new start-ups, and owner-operator ventures. The Mayor of Brampton in GTA once said,
“Our goal is to have over 50 start-ups from India located in Brampton in next year.”
However, Indo-Canadian entrepreneurs have already made their mark on the Canadian economy. Aditya Jha, who is worth over $100 million, is a tech, confectionary, and procurement entrepreneur who made Canada his and his businesses’ home. Maninder Dhaliwal, who came to Canada in 1999, is another prime example of a successful Indian professional in Canada. Maninder is the CEO of Lions Gate International, a British Columbia venture capital and advisory company. She once said,
“Embracing Canada as a whole not only connects you in your local community, it allows you access to all types of business resources and networks that you need to succeed.”
Evidently, Canada is not a new destination for Indian companies and entrepreneurs. If you are an entrepreneur that is just starting your business journey or an established company – we are certain that Canada can provide you with suitable business immigration opportunities.
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