Business Visa

Canada has a highly developed and diverse economy which attracts many businesses and people to establish their businesses here.

Canada’s Business Visa programs aims to create new opportunities for self-employed persons, entrepreneurs, investors and business managers that have the skills and experience to promote and develop Canada’s economy.

The province of Quebec runs its own business immigration program.

Find out about the different Business Visa options.

BUSINESS VISA (VISITOR)

You can visit Canada as a business visitor but you must understand that there are limitations with regard to what you can do as a business visitor.

You are a business visitor if you:

  • come to take part in international business activities such as attend meetings, participate in conferences or workshops, or sign agreements, etc. without being part of the Canadian labour market, and/or

  • are visiting Canada temporarily such as look for ways to grow your business, invest, or advance your business relationships.

Business visitors usually stay in Canada for a week at most, but are able to stay for up to six months.

START-UP VISA

Canada’s Start-Up Visa program supports innovative entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada. Such businesses should be innovative, can create jobs for Canadians and can compete on a global scale.

To be eligible, you must meet the minimum requirements:

  • you must have a qualifying business,

  • you must have a letter of support from a designated organization,

  • you must meet the minimum language requirements in either English or French in all four categories (reading, writing, speaking, listening), and

  • you must have sufficient funds to live and settle in Canada.

SELF-EMPLOYED VISA

The Self-Employed Visa is designed for foreign nationals who has relevant experience in economic activities and able to support themselves and family financially.

The following economic activities are as follows:

  • cultural: musician, artists and performing artists, music teachers, choreographers, writers, journalists, designers;

  • athletics: prominent athletes and coaches, referees, program leaders;

Activities for self-employed person selected by a province are decided by laws of the province.

We can do an assessment for you and give you advice about which programs would be right for you.