For foreign business operators and investors

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Canada has a stable, growth-oriented economy that reflects its powerhouse fiscal position in the world. There are many reasons why entrepreneurs, owners and managers choose Canada as a place to start or expand their business. 

• Canada ranks #1 among the G7 and OECD countries for the lowest number of procedures required to establish a new business
• Canada ranks #1 in the G7 and fourth overall in a recent study measuring a country’s potential for investment and growth in its economic infrastructure
• Authorized to transfer employees from foreign branches to Canada (branch location only)
• Ability to hire foreign workers
• Exposure to the USA market and trade-duty exemptions 
• Canada boasts a strong employment market

KANAI CROSS BORDER CONSULTANTS is qualified, experienced business consultants offer entrepreneurs and investors in-depth knowledge and a wide range of services for new and existing business professionals. 

LMIA – OWNER/OPERATOR STREAM (Business/Entrepreneur)Corporate Immigration

This category is for foreign nationals who wish to establish a business or purchase an existing business in Canada and relocate to Canada along with their spouse, and children under the age of 22, through an expedited process. This process allows an applicant to create a new business or invest or purchase an existing business. The applicant’s objective is utilizing their experience in an enterprise that will contribute to the economic and social growth in Canada. Once specific conditions are met, the applicant will be PR eligible. The applicant is eligible to travel out of Canada as required, however the applicant must be the managing executive for the business. A business plan and financial capability package is prepared to be submitted to obtain an Expression of Interest (EOI) from the government. With the government approval of the EOI, an applicant will be eligible to visit Canada to start implementing the business plan. Once the business plan commences, the applicant’s LMIA Owner/Operator application will be submitted for residency approval. The government needs to see that business plan is being implemented.

Eligibility

Creating a Canadian Corporation and Shareholders agreement.

Creating a business plan that shows the new business idea or growth plan for the investment in an existing business or through the purchase of an existing business.

Financial capability of the applicant

Executive level and active position in the company, one from which one cannot be dismissed.

The foreign national will need to pay himself the prevailing median wage for the specific position in the anticipated region of employment. Important to note: the applicant will not have to invest the funds but provide evidence that monies to pay himself plus operating expenses for the first year of business are available. Employing at least one Canadian or permanent resident (before the end of the first year which must be outlined in the business plan).

Once the business implementation has started (including agreements for business location and local municipal approvals), the business owner will receive the positive LMIA and work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Financial: Net Worth $200,000 USD. Minimum cash availability is $150,000 USD.

Additional Qualifications: the applicant must be admissible to Canada (no criminal record, no medical condition) and have a minimum IELTS of 5.0

PR Eligibility: The LMIA work permit validity is for to 2 years. After 1 year the business owner will apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry program as the approved LMIA job offer gives the applicant additional points based on being an executive in the business operation.

Business Stream - Existing Branch Company Transfer Work Permit Residency.

Intra Company Transfer Overview

The ICT Program was designed by the Government of Canada to allow foreign nationals to work in Canada LMIA to establish or launch the Canadian operations of an existing international company. The work permit granted for an Intra Company Transferee applicant is LMIA-exempt and falls under exemption code C-12. Once you receive a work permit, your spouse automatically is eligible for an open work permit, where they can work anywhere in Canada.  A pathway to Permanent Residency is more common after having gained the work experience necessary to apply for the appropriate immigration stream. The applicant is not required to stay in Canada continuously, however the applicant must remain the managing executive of the business operation.

Eligibility

Financial: Existing business/owners financials reflecting enough funds to setup the branch and 1st year of payroll for the owner/executive transferring. 

Employment: the applicant must currently own or be employed (minimum of 1 year) by a foreign company and seeking entry to Canada by establishing the branch of the foreign company in the country. The applicant must have been employed continuously (as an owner or employee through payroll or through a contract agreement directly with the company), by the company that plans to transfer him/her outside Canada in a similar full-time position for at least one year in the three-year period immediately preceding the date of initial application

Qualifying Relationship: the applicant is transferring to a branch location of the foreign company being established in Canada which he/she currently owns or is employed by for a minimum of 1 year, and will be undertaking employment in an executive level for the establishment of the new branch (where 18–24 months can be used as a reasonable minimum guideline);

Additional Qualifications: the applicant must be admissible to Canada (no criminal record, no medical condition) and have a minimum IELTS of 5.0

Job Position: his/her position must be an executive, senior managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity.

PR Eligibility: The LMIA work permit validity is for to 2 years. After 1 year the business owner will apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry program as the approved LMIA job offer gives the applicant additional points based on being an executive in the business operation.

Business Stream - PNP Business PR.

Canada PNP Business Immigration

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) business option is a provincial immigration program for foreign nationals who wish to establish a business or purchase an existing business in Canada, allowing them to migrate, settle and contribute to the economic growth of the province they will reside in. Within the PNP business immigration streams, applicants have an option of starting a new business or investing in or purchasing an existing business. Minimum investment and net worth requirements are to be achieved for the PNP business immigration. In this program, the applicant, their spouse and children under the age of 22 is granted a conditional approval for Permanent Residence (PR) in advance. The conditional PR includes a certain amount of time the applicant must stay in Canada and manage the day-to-day operation of the business. In some cases a performance agreement is required, which will impose other benchmarks or requirements. The PNP Business immigration program requires the package to be includes a detailed business plan, verifiable net worth and cash investment statements. A minimum of 2 years of work experience in a business ownership or management capacity. Once the package is prepared, an Expression of Interest (EOI) is submitted to the government. With the government approval of the EOI, an applicant will be eligible to visit Canada to start implementing the business plan.

Eligibility

Creating a Canadian Corporation and Shareholders agreement

Creating a business plan that shows the new business idea or growth plan for the investment in an existing business or through the purchase of an existing business.

Create employment, and contains at least a rudimentary financial plan and timeline of events Have majority ownership and controlling interest in the business

Additional Qualifications: the applicant must be admissible to Canada (no criminal record, no medical condition) and have a minimum IELTS of 5.0

PR Eligibility: Conditional PR approval granted. 

The minimum investment and the net worth under this program varies depending on the province.