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Executive Summary
The Canada Investor Visa is the umbrella term for Canada’s investment immigration pathways — sometimes called the “Canadian investor visa,” “Canada investment visa,” “residency by investment,” or “Canada golden visa.” In 2026, following the 1 January pause of the federal Start-Up Visa program and the earlier closure and revision of the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, this pathway is delivered exclusively through Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Entrepreneur Streams.
Minimum investment starts at CAD $100,000 (approx. USD $71,000) for rural streams and CAD $200,000 (approx. USD $143,000) for metropolitan streams. Most applicants reach Canadian permanent residence in 2 to 3 years, with citizenship available roughly three years after PR.
This guide covers what the pathway looks like, who qualifies, what it costs, and what is required. It does not replace a legal assessment. Every situation is different, and the right program for you depends on your profile, your capital, and your business background.
Currency note: all USD figures on this page are converted at 1 CAD = 0.713 USD, the rate as at 31 July 2026, and rounded. Exchange rates move — treat USD figures as indicative only.
Key Takeaways
- No passive investment programs — multiple active business investment programs available across Canadian provinces
- Minimum investment: CAD 100,000 (rural) to CAD 200,000+ (metro)
- Total budget including costs and settlement funds: CAD 215,000–300,000 (rural) or CAD 365,000–450,000 (metro)
- Timeline from first assessment to permanent residence: 2 to 3 years
- Path to citizenship: approximately 3 years after permanent residence
What Is Canada’s Investor Visa?
The Canada Investor Visa — also called the Canadian investor visa, Canada investment visa, or residency by investment in Canada — is the popular term for the permanent residence programs that allow foreign entrepreneurs and investors to immigrate to Canada by investing in and actively operating a Canadian business. The correct legal name for this pathway is the Immigrant Entrepreneur Streams under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
As of 2026, investment immigration to Canada is available exclusively through Provincial Nominee Program entrepreneur streams. There are no active federal investment immigration programs. All pathways for entrepreneurs and investors seeking Canadian permanent residency run through the provinces.
How Canada’s Investor Visa Works in 2026
To apply, you invest directly into a commercial enterprise that you wholly own or co-own. You must take an active role in managing the business and create at least one job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Each province sets its own residency test — most require you to live in the nominating province and be genuinely present and operationally involved, and several measure this against a defined minimum. Once you have met your commitments, you apply to your provincial immigration office for a nomination. After the nomination is issued, IRCC reviews your permanent residence application and, if approved, grants permanent resident status.
If you know the U.S. EB-5 program, the logic is similar — invest, create jobs, obtain residency. The differences are that Canada’s investment amounts are substantially lower and the route to citizenship is shorter. The trade-off is that Canada requires you to run the business yourself; there is no passive equivalent.
How competitive is it in 2026?
More competitive than it was two years ago, and this affects your timing. Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, provincial nominations were set at 91,500 for 2026 — up 66% from 55,000 in 2025, but still roughly 17% below the 110,000 available in 2024. Entrepreneur draws close faster than they used to, and provinces are selecting on regional economic benefit, sector fit and job creation rather than bare eligibility. Meeting the minimum thresholds gets you into the pool; it does not get you selected.
Requirements Every Applicant Must Meet
These four requirements apply to Canadian investment immigration applicants across all provinces and streams.
| Requirement | What it means |
|---|---|
| Capital sourcing | You must prove with documentation that your investment funds were acquired legally. Accepted sources include salary, business profits, sale of property, inheritance, or a documented gift. Unexplained deposits or funds that cannot be traced to a verifiable source will create problems at multiple stages. |
| At-risk capital | Your committed funds must be genuinely at risk in the business. There can be no guaranteed return of capital or structural arrangements that protect your investment from loss. Capital that is not genuinely at risk does not qualify. |
| Job creation | Your investment must create or preserve at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, typically within a two-year performance period. This is a binding commitment, not a target. |
| Good standing | You must have a clean criminal record and pass background and security checks. A medical examination is required for you and all family members included in the application. |
No Passive Investment Options
Canada does not offer a passive investor visa or a “golden visa” in the Portuguese or Greek sense. There is no Canadian program where you simply invest a fixed amount, hand it to a fund, and wait for residency. Every Canadian investment immigration program requires you to actively run a real business, create genuine value for your local community, and live in Canada.
The two programs that came closest to a passive route have now closed, or became more onerous, to new applicants. The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, suspended since 2019, re-opened in 2024 and became a very demanding program. The federal Start-Up Visa was paused on 1 January 2026 pending a new “high-impact” pilot. For 2026, the Provincial Nominee Program Entrepreneur Streams are the only active investor pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
If you are looking for a program where your money does the work for you, Canada is not the right fit.
This pathway is built for entrepreneurs who are ready to move to Canada, build and operate a real business, and earn permanent residence — and eventually one of the world’s most respected passports — through their own effort.
Who Qualifies for the Canada Investor Visa
Eligibility is assessed against criteria that vary depending on whether you are targeting a rural community or a metropolitan area.
Capital minimums
Your minimum investment depends on where you choose to operate. Every province runs its own program, but the pathways broadly fall into two categories based on location:
- Rural and regional streams — CAD $100,000 to $150,000 (approx. USD $71,000 to $107,000). Designed to attract entrepreneurs to smaller communities outside major urban centres. Because the goal is regional economic development, minimum investment and net worth requirements are lower, competition is less intense, and processing can be faster. Many of these communities actively welcome new business owners, which can work in your favour during nomination.
- Metropolitan and city streams — CAD $200,000 to $250,000 (approx. USD $143,000 to $178,000). If you invest in or near a major urban centre such as Vancouver, Toronto or Halifax, the minimum investment and net worth requirements are higher and competition is stronger. In return you gain access to Canada’s largest markets and established business infrastructure.
Your choice of location directly determines your investment threshold, your net worth requirement, and your level of competition. Choosing the right stream is one of the most important early decisions in this process.
| Criterion | Rural / small communities | Metro / large cities |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | Rural Alberta, BC regional communities | Vancouver, Toronto, Halifax |
| Business experience | Typically 3 years of business ownership, or 4 years of senior management experience | Typically 3 years of business ownership, or 4 years of senior management experience |
| Minimum net worth | CAD 300,000 (approx. USD 214,000) | CAD 600,000 (approx. USD 428,000) |
| Investment required | CAD 100,000–300,000 (approx. USD 71,000–214,000) | CAD 200,000–500,000 (approx. USD 143,000–357,000) |
| Language | Functional English or French, typically CLB 4 | Functional English or French, typically CLB 4–5 |
| Residency requirement | Relocate, live in the province, and actively manage the business | Relocate, live in the province, and actively manage the business |
These are illustrative benchmarks modelled on British Columbia’s Base and Regional entrepreneur categories, which are among the most widely used. Every province sets its own thresholds and they change frequently. Verify current requirements directly with the province you are targeting before you rely on any figure here. USD converted at 0.713 and rounded.
Not sure which stream you qualify for?
Answer a few questions about your capital, net worth and business background. You will see which provincial entrepreneur streams you are eligible for in under 15 minutes. No personal details required.
Benefits of the Canadian Investor Visa Pathway
- Family included Your spouse and dependent children under 22 are included in the application. Your spouse can apply for an open work permit at the same time as your work permit. Children may enrol in Canadian public schools, which are free at primary and secondary level in every province. Permanent residence and citizenship are granted to the whole family under a single application.
- One of the world’s strongest passports The Canadian passport ranks 7th globally with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 183 destinations (Henley Passport Index, July 2026), including the USA, UK, EU, Australia, Japan and Singapore. Canada also permits dual citizenship in most cases.
- Accessible investment threshold Starting at CAD 100,000 (approx. USD 71,000) for rural streams, Canada’s entry point is among the most accessible for a G7 country offering a route to full citizenship.
- Predictable timeline Most applicants receive permanent residence in 2 to 3 years and become eligible for citizenship approximately 3 years after that. The process is structured and the stages are defined.
- English-speaking country Conducting business, enrolling children in school, accessing services and building a professional network are all significantly easier without a language barrier. French is an asset in Quebec and parts of New Brunswick and Ontario.
- Political and legal stability Canada consistently ranks among the world’s most politically stable and transparent countries. Property rights are well protected, contracts are enforceable, and the rule of law is not subject to political interference.
- Quality of life Clean air, vast natural landscapes, publicly funded healthcare and some of the best universities in the world, with lower population density and lower crime rates than most comparable destinations.
- Welcoming multicultural society Major cities have established communities from virtually every country. Business networks, professional associations and community organisations exist to help newcomers integrate from day one.
Two things to plan for, not assume
Healthcare is not immediate everywhere. Canadian public healthcare is provincial, not federal. Several provinces impose a waiting period of up to three months before new arrivals are covered, and eligibility for temporary residents varies by province and permit type. Budget for private coverage during any gap.
Domestic university tuition generally follows permanent residence. Primary and secondary schooling is free, but at post-secondary level the children of work permit holders are usually assessed at international rates in most provinces until the family holds PR. If your children will reach university age during your performance period, budget for international fees in the interim.
Canada Compared With EB-5 and Golden Visa Programs
The table below compares the Canada Investor Visa against four common residency- and citizenship-by-investment programs, on 2026 requirements.
| Criterion | Canada PNP Entrepreneur | USA EB-5 | Portugal Golden Visa | Greece Golden Visa | St Kitts & Nevis CBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | CAD 100K–250K+ (USD 71K–178K+) | USD 800K (TEA) or 1.05M | EUR 250K (cultural heritage) or 500K (qualifying funds) | EUR 250K / 400K / 800K by tier | From USD 250K, excl. government fees |
| Investment type | Active business you must manage | Regional centre fund (passive) or direct business | Funds, cultural donation or business. Real estate route closed. | Property by zone, funds, bonds or startup. Short-term letting banned on qualifying property. | Non-refundable contribution or approved real estate |
| Residency required | Yes — live in the province and actively manage | Yes — substantial presence once Green Card issued | Minimal — around 7 days per year | None to maintain residency; 183 days/year for citizenship | None currently; genuine-link requirement under discussion |
| Timeline to permanent status | 2–3 years | 3–5+ years | 1–2 years to residence | 1–2 years to residence | Direct citizenship, 4–6 months |
| Citizenship timeline | ~3 years after PR | 5 years after Green Card | 5 years residency + A2 Portuguese | 7 years living in Greece + B1 Greek | Immediate |
| Passport strength | 183 destinations, ranked 7th | Ranked below Canada in the July 2026 index | EU passport | EU passport | No visa-free access to the USA or Canada |
| Language of country | English and French | English | Portuguese | Greek | English |
Passport data: Henley Passport Index, July 2026 edition. EB-5 minimums are scheduled to rise on 1 January 2027 under the inflation adjustment in the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act. Third-country program rules change frequently and this table is not legal advice on any non-Canadian program — Sobirovs Law Firm advises on Canadian law only.
Canada requires more commitment than a golden visa. It asks you to build something real, live in the country, and contribute to a community. What it gives back is one of the world’s strongest passports, a stable place to raise a family, access to a major North American market, and a permanent residence pathway that is structured and accessible at an investment level no comparable G7 country matches.
Three Qualifying Investment Options
Canadian programs accept three types of qualifying business investment: buying an existing business, starting your own, or buying a franchise. Each carries a different risk profile, capital requirement and timeline.
1. Buying an existing business
You acquire a business that already has customers, staff and revenue. The operating history makes it easier to demonstrate viability to the province, and you are not starting from zero in an unfamiliar market.
What works in your favour
- Existing revenue and customer base from day one
- Operating history gives the province verifiable performance data, not just projections
- Faster path to stable operations than starting from scratch
What to plan for
- Higher upfront cost — thorough due diligence is essential
- Most provinces require the business to have been under the same owner for 3 to 5 years and actively operating at the time of purchase
- You may inherit problems not visible during due diligence; customer loyalty to the previous owner can affect year one
Best suited for: entrepreneurs who want a faster path to stable operations and have the capital and discipline for rigorous due diligence.
Related: Alberta business immigration success from Vietnam.
2. Buying a franchise
A franchise gives you an established brand, proven operating systems, training and ongoing support — a middle ground between buying and building.
What works in your favour
- The franchisor’s track record makes it easier to demonstrate viability
- Training and operational support reduce the learning curve in an unfamiliar market
- Brand recognition can accelerate customer acquisition
What to plan for
- Franchise agreements are restrictive — you must operate within the franchisor’s systems
- Most provinces require the franchise system to have operated for at least 5 years with a sound financial record, plus a formal franchisor support letter
- Operating expense caps may apply in some provinces
Best suited for: entrepreneurs with relevant operational experience who value structure.
Related: Canadian PR in under two years through a franchise.
3. Starting or expanding your own business
Starting a new business gives you full control over the concept and direction. This model also covers entrepreneurs expanding an existing business from their home country into Canada.
What works in your favour
- Full control over concept, location and team — no inherited liabilities
- Expanding a proven business from your home country is one of the strongest application profiles
- Provinces and communities actively seek entrepreneurs who fill genuine market gaps
What to plan for
- No existing revenue — your business plan must demonstrate viability entirely on projections
- Building a customer base in a new market takes time; budget for a market establishment period
Best suited for: entrepreneurs with deep sector experience, or those expanding a proven model into Canada.
What Businesses Canada Wants — and What to Avoid
The lists below reflect the general position across most entrepreneur streams. Always verify with your immigration lawyer before committing to a concept.
| Businesses Canada wants | Businesses to avoid |
|---|---|
|
|
The grey zone
Some business types are not explicitly prohibited but regularly attract scrutiny — businesses with a property component, businesses that are predominantly advisory in nature, or businesses where the primary revenue comes from a single client related to the applicant. If your concept sits near any of these edges, get a legal opinion before your exploratory trip, not after.
Before you commit capital
Is your business concept in the grey zone?
Businesses with a property component, advisory businesses, and businesses whose revenue comes mainly from one related client are not prohibited — but they attract scrutiny, and provinces read them differently. One hour with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer will tell you where your concept sits before your exploratory trip, not after.
Steps and Timelines
The path from first eligibility assessment to permanent residence is a structured, multi-stage journey. Each stage has a clear purpose and a defined timeline. The process is predictable — not easy, but predictable.
Total end-to-end timeline: most applicants complete the process in 2 to 3 years. Canadian citizenship becomes available approximately 3 years after that, once you have met the physical presence requirement of 1,095 days.
| Step | Stage and typical timeline |
|---|---|
| 1 | Eligibility assessment — 1 to 4 weeks. Your net worth, business experience and language level are assessed to determine which streams you qualify for. Do this properly before committing any capital. |
| 2 | Select your investment and develop your business plan — 2 to 3 months. You choose your model, conduct an exploratory visit, and develop a credible business plan. The numbers in that plan become binding commitments once you are nominated. |
| 3 | Apply for business immigration — 2 to 3 months. You submit to the provincial authorities. Your profile is scored and assessed, and a Letter of Support is issued once the province is satisfied. |
| 4 | Apply for your entrepreneur work permit — approximately 2 months. A Letter of Support does not by itself allow you to enter Canada and work. You apply to IRCC for a work permit tied to your business. Your spouse can apply for an open work permit at the same time. |
| 5 | Arrive in Canada and make your investment — up to 12 months. You establish the business, deploy your capital, and begin your performance period, submitting progress reports to the province. Most businesses take 6 to 12 months to reach consistent revenue — plan your personal finances accordingly. |
| 6 | Apply for permanent residence — 3 months to prepare. Once you have met your commitments, the province issues final nomination confirmation. You then submit your PR application with medicals, police clearances and family documentation. |
| 7 | Permanent residence approved — 6 to 8 months. IRCC completes background checks and verification. Once approved, you and your family become permanent residents and are no longer restricted to the nominating province. |
| 8 | Apply for Canadian citizenship — 3 years after establishing PR. Once physically present in Canada for 1,095 days within the preceding five years, you are eligible. Requirements include a knowledge test, a language test and a citizenship ceremony. |
Canada Investor Visa Cost in 2026
Many applicants focus on the minimum investment and underestimate everything else. The figures below give a complete picture, broken down by category.
Budget overview: rural vs metropolitan
| Cost category | Rural / regional | Metro / city |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum business investment | CAD 100,000–150,000 (USD 71,000–107,000) |
CAD 200,000–250,000 (USD 143,000–178,000) |
| Operational buffer (recommended) | CAD 50,000 (USD 36,000) |
CAD 100,000 (USD 71,000) |
| Government and application fees | CAD 5,400–8,300 (USD 3,900–5,900) |
CAD 5,400–8,300 (USD 3,900–5,900) |
| Settlement funds (18 months LICO) | CAD 57,000–85,000 (USD 41,000–61,000) |
CAD 57,000–85,000 (USD 41,000–61,000) |
| Total estimated budget (family of 2–4, excl. legal fees) |
CAD 215,000–300,000 (USD 153,000–214,000) |
CAD 365,000–450,000 (USD 260,000–321,000) |
Includes minimum business investment, recommended operational buffer, government fees and 18 months of settlement funds. Family size, province and business type will affect your final numbers. Legal and professional fees are excluded. USD at 0.713.
Government fees: what you pay and when
Government fees are fixed and are paid at different stages — not all at once. Plan your cash flow accordingly.
| Fee | CAD | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial business immigration application (representative) | 3,500 | 2,496 |
| Work permit — principal applicant | 155 | 111 |
| Open work permit — spouse (155 + 100 holder fee) | 255 | 182 |
| Study permit — per child | 150 | 107 |
| Permanent residence — per adult (990 + 600 RPRF) | 1,590 | 1,134 |
| Permanent residence — per dependent child (RPRF exempt) | 270 | 193 |
| Biometrics — per person, per stage | 85 | 61 |
| Total — single applicant | 5,415 | 3,861 |
| Total — couple | 7,430 | 5,298 |
| Total — family of four | 8,270 | 5,897 |
How the totals are built: biometrics are counted twice per adult, because permanent residence applicants must provide biometrics with the PR application regardless of whether they gave them earlier for a work permit. Children under 14 are generally exempt from biometrics. The family-of-four total assumes two adults and two children under 14. Permanent residence fees reflect the IRCC increase effective 30 April 2026 — the adult processing fee rose to CAD 990 and the dependent child fee to CAD 270. Provincial application fees vary; CAD 3,500 is representative. Verify all current amounts at canada.ca before budgeting.
Settlement funds: what IRCC requires
In addition to your business investment capital, IRCC requires you to demonstrate sufficient personal liquid funds to support your family on arrival. These are separate from your investment and cannot overlap with it.
| Family size | 6-month LICO base | Required: 18 months | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | CAD 15,263 | CAD 45,789 | 32,648 |
| 2 people | CAD 19,001 | CAD 57,003 | 40,643 |
| 3 people | CAD 23,360 | CAD 70,080 | 49,967 |
| 4 people | CAD 28,362 | CAD 85,086 | 60,666 |
| 5 people | CAD 32,168 | CAD 96,504 | 68,807 |
Base figures from the LICO table effective 7 July 2025, which remains the current baseline — IRCC had not published a 2026 revision as at 31 July 2026. These are updated annually; verify at canada.ca before applying.
Three rules on settlement funds
- Funds must be liquid. Cash, bank deposits, or easily convertible investments. Real estate and vehicles do not count.
- Funds must be yours and accessible. Held in your name or jointly, and available to you. Borrowed funds do not qualify.
- Funds must be maintained, not just shown once. IRCC verifies at the work permit stage and again at permanent residence. Money that appears for the application and then leaves the account will be noticed.
Budget planning
Get a realistic budget for your own profile
The figures above are benchmarks. Your family size, target province, business type and timing all move the number. In one hour we will walk through a budget built on your actual situation — including legal and professional fees, which the tables above exclude.
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Risks: What Can Go Wrong, and How to Manage It
Every investment carries risk. Every immigration process carries risk. When you combine the two, you need to understand both sides before you commit.
1. Insufficient capital and poor investment decisions
The risk: arriving with the minimum investment and no operational buffer is the most common financial mistake. When capital is tight, entrepreneurs make poor decisions under pressure — cheaper locations, cut-short due diligence, or buying a failing business because the price is low.
How to manage it: the minimum investment is the floor for eligibility, not a viable operating budget. Hold at least CAD 50,000 to CAD 100,000 in reserves above your investment. If you cannot, reconsider your timeline rather than your buffer.
2. Business failure and loss of investment
The risk: if your business fails before you complete your performance period, you face the financial loss and the collapse of your immigration pathway simultaneously. Your work permit is tied to the business. This is the highest-stakes risk in the process.
How to manage it: choose a concept you have genuine experience running. Conduct thorough due diligence. Maintain your buffer throughout. Stay in close contact with your lawyer — if the business is struggling, there may be options you will not know about if you wait.
3. Refusal of the initial work permit
The risk: a provincial Letter of Support does not guarantee federal work permit approval. IRCC conducts its own assessment. The most common causes are incomplete documentation, admissibility issues, or a mismatch between the work permit application and the approved business concept.
How to manage it: ensure the application is complete and accurately documented. Do not make material changes to the business between nomination and the federal application. Work with a lawyer who manages both stages.
4. Refusal of permanent residence
The risk: refusal can occur even after a year of operating and meeting your milestones. Common reasons include incomplete documentation, background check issues, inadmissibility of a family member, or misrepresentation — even inadvertent.
How to manage it: document everything throughout the performance period. Keep clean financial records, employment records and proof of investment deployment. Engage your lawyer well before the PR application is submitted, not after a problem arises.
5. Change of rules or program closure
The risk: provincial streams can pause, tighten criteria, raise thresholds, or close — sometimes with limited notice. The federal Start-Up Visa closure on 1 January 2026 is the most recent example.
How to manage it: do not delay unnecessarily between stages. Stay connected to your lawyer throughout. Prioritise programs with a longer track record of stability.
Every risk above is manageable with the right preparation. The entrepreneurs who succeed are not the ones who faced fewer obstacles — they are the ones who planned honestly, chose the right business, maintained their capital buffer, and worked with advisors who knew what to watch for.
Those risks are real, and they are manageable — but only with an honest read of your own situation. If you are not ready to book a session yet, start with the free eligibility check at your convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Canada have a golden visa?
Canada does not have a golden visa in the traditional, passive sense. There is no program that grants Canadian residency in exchange for a bank deposit, a real estate purchase, or a fund subscription. What is commonly searched as the “Canada golden visa” is, in practice, the Provincial Nominee Program Entrepreneur Streams, which require you to actively own and operate a Canadian business, create jobs, and live in Canada during a performance period before permanent residence is granted.
Is the Canada Start-Up Visa still open in 2026?
No. The federal Start-Up Visa was paused for new applications on 1 January 2026. Applicants holding a valid 2025 commitment certificate could submit their permanent residence application until 30 June 2026, and that window has closed. IRCC has announced a replacement “high-impact” pilot expected later in 2026, but its parameters have not been published. For 2026, the only active investment immigration route is the Provincial Nominee Program Entrepreneur Streams.
Do I need to speak English or French to apply?
Yes — functional language ability is required. You do not need to be fluent, but you need to communicate effectively in a business context. Thresholds are set by each province and typically sit at CLB 4 to 5. If your level is below the relevant threshold, preparation steps are available before you apply.
Can my spouse and children get residency too?
Yes. Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children under 22 are included in your permanent residence application. Your spouse can apply for an open work permit at the same time as your work permit. Children may enrol in Canadian public schools, free at primary and secondary level. Permanent residence and citizenship are granted to the whole family under a single application.
Can my spouse be the main applicant while I keep my residency abroad?
In most cases, no. Canadian entrepreneur streams require the principal applicant to be the person who owns, manages and actively operates the business in Canada. If your spouse meets the criteria independently — business experience, net worth, language — they can apply as principal applicant in their own right.
Does age matter? I am 50 or older.
Most Canadian investment programs have no formal upper age limit. In practice the strongest profiles tend to be between 35 and 60 — the range where most people have accumulated sufficient business experience and net worth while retaining the runway for a multi-year process. Entrepreneurs of any age can and do complete this pathway.
Should I buy a business or start my own?
Both are valid. Buying gives you an existing customer base, revenue and operating history, but requires thorough due diligence and a higher upfront cost. Starting your own gives you full control and no legacy issues, but means no existing revenue and a longer path to profitability.
Do I need a Canadian business partner?
No. A Canadian partner is not required. You can own and operate the business entirely yourself, provided you meet the minimum ownership threshold for your stream. If you have a partner, all investors must be disclosed and your role as active manager clearly documented.
Do I need to prove the legal source of my funds?
Yes. Canadian immigration authorities require you to demonstrate that your investment capital and personal net worth were legally acquired. You will need documentation showing the origin of your funds — business income, salary, sale of assets, inheritance, or other legitimate sources. Large unexplained deposits will create problems at multiple stages.
Can I buy real estate as my investment?
No. Real estate purchases do not qualify as an eligible business investment under any Canadian PNP entrepreneur stream. Buying commercial or residential property — even for business purposes such as operating from owned premises — does not count toward your minimum investment. Canada requires capital to be deployed into an active, operating business that creates jobs. This is a fundamental difference from programs like the Portugal or Greece Golden Visa, which were historically built around property. If your plan includes real estate as a component, get legal advice before you commit.
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How is this different from applying as a skilled worker?
The skilled worker pathway is for people who want to work for a Canadian employer. It requires no business investment, business plan or performance agreement. The entrepreneur pathway is for people who want to own and run their own business, and requires capital, business experience, a viable concept and a multi-year commitment to a specific province. It is more complex and more capital-intensive, but available to people who would not qualify under skilled worker criteria, and it leads to the same permanent residence outcome.
What happens if my business underperforms during the performance period?
Underperformance is serious but not necessarily fatal. Your permanent residence application can still be approved provided you complied with the terms of your Performance Agreement — meaning you made your eligible investment and created the required jobs. If your business is struggling, contact your lawyer proactively. There may be options, but only if you act before deadlines are missed.
Can my application be refused?
Yes. Applications can be refused even after you have invested and operated a business for a year. Common reasons include poorly documented net worth, failure to meet eligibility criteria, misrepresentation, a weak business plan, or failure to meet Performance Agreement milestones.
Do I have to live in the province where I invested permanently?
You must live and operate your business in the nominating province during your performance period, as a condition of your work permit and Performance Agreement. After you receive permanent residence you are free to live and work anywhere in Canada. Moving provinces before PR is granted can jeopardise your nomination.
How soon can I apply for Canadian citizenship after getting PR?
Once you have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days — three years — within the five years immediately before your application. Days spent in Canada before you became a permanent resident can count as half days, to a maximum of 365. Most entrepreneur clients are eligible approximately three years after arriving as a permanent resident.
Can I keep my existing citizenship?
Canada permits dual citizenship in most cases. You do not need to renounce your current nationality. However, some countries do not permit dual nationality, and that is governed by their law, not Canada’s. Verify with a lawyer in your home country before applying for Canadian citizenship.
Are you licensed, and why a lawyer rather than a consultant?
Sobirovs Law Firm is a licensed Canadian immigration law firm. Business immigration involves corporate law, contract review, business plan preparation, Performance Agreement negotiation, due diligence on business purchases, and compliance across a multi-year performance period. When your Performance Agreement is a binding legal contract with immigration authorities, a lawyer can act for you in ways a consultant cannot — including in Federal Court.
What if I get refused — will you refund my fees?
Refundable package options are available, subject to initial evaluation and due diligence. Not every client qualifies; it depends on your profile, risk factors and our assessment at the start of the engagement. Raise it at your strategy session and we will explain the conditions. Standard packages are non-refundable, as the work begins from day one regardless of outcome.
Will you help me find a business and manage the whole process?
Yes. Our full-service packages cover the journey from first eligibility assessment through to citizenship — identifying the right business, developing the concept, planning the investment, managing the immigration process, supporting operations during the performance period, and guiding your family through settlement.
How We Can Help
You now have a clear picture of what this pathway looks like, what it costs, how long it takes, and what is required. The next step depends on where you are in your thinking.
1. Not sure if you qualify?
Use our free PNP eligibility calculator. Answer a few questions about your background, capital and business experience, and find out which streams you are eligible for — in under 15 minutes. No personal details required.
2. Ready for a straight assessment?
Book a 1-hour strategy session. We will assess your eligibility, walk through a realistic budget for your profile, and give you an honest picture of your options. If you do not find the session valuable, we will refund you. No questions asked.
3. Still researching?
Download our 39-page Canadian Residency Through Business Investment guide — the full process, real client case studies with numbers, a complete cost breakdown, and the risks most guides leave out. Updated for 2026.
Bringing you, your family and your business to Canada
One focused hour with a licensed Canadian immigration lawyer. Your eligibility, a realistic budget, and an honest picture of which streams actually fit your profile. If we do not think this pathway is right for you, we will say so.
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