Obtain Investor Visa for Canada

Obtaining a Canada investor visa depends on several factors and on the regions the applicant wants to start a business in. You can rely on our immigration lawyers, who can guide you on how to obtain an investor visa.

What are the main ways to obtain an investor visa in Canada?

Canada offers several programs through which one can immigrate as an investor, as follows:

• the Start-Up Visa Scheme (closed to new applicants since 1 January 2026);
• the Quebec Investor Immigration Program;
• Provincial Nominee Programs;
• the C11 entrepreneur work permit (temporary; it does not itself grant permanent residence).

Note: There are also other options through which one can immigrate to Canada as an investor; however, they are based on employment. So, if you are interested in other relocation means for investors, we can advise on those as well.

What is the minimum amount to obtain an investor visa in Canada?

Under the former Start-Up Visa (closed in 2026): CAD 75,000 from an angel investor group or CAD 200,000 from a venture capital fund; provincial streams set their own minimums.

IMPORTANT! Additional fees apply, and our local immigration lawyers can advise on all of them.

You can read about how to obtain a Canadian investor visa in the infographic below:

What are the main requirements to obtain an investor visa in Canada?

Generally speaking, you need:

• to meet the qualifying requirements based on the type of program chosen;
• have specific language skills (English or French, depending on the part of the country you move to);
• have the minimum investment amount required;
• have the professional qualifications required;
• have sufficient funds to support your stay in Canada (aside from the money allocated to the investment).

What are the requirements of the Canada Start-Up Visa?

This program (closed to new applicants since 1 January 2026) required an applicant to:

• set up a qualifying business (a company that is registered under the regulations imposed by the Canadian authorities);
• speak English or French at least at CLB 5;
• obtain a support letter from a designated organization (group or investment fund that meets the startup support criteria);
• meet the self-sustenance requirements to settle in Canada (the necessary amount of money depends on the number of family members relocating here).

The following conditions applied:

1. once the endorsement from the qualified organization is obtained, up to 5 applicants can be included, and each must hold at least 10% of the voting rights;
2. the main applicant and the qualified supporting organization must hold together more than 50% of the shares in the company;
3. once the residence permit is obtained, the business must be incorporated in Canada (federally or provincially);
4. the applicant is required to actively participate in the management of the company while living in Canada;
5. the main operations of the company must be completed in Canada; however, other activities can be completed outside the country.

What provinces offer investor visas in Canada?

Among the most successful investor visa programs are:

• Alberta;
• Manitoba;
• New Brunswick;
• Ontario;
• Saskatchewan;
• British Columbia;
• Nova Scotia.

What are the documents required to obtain a Canadian investor visa?

The following:

• the valid passport and visa (if applicable);
• birth certificate (civil status certificates are also required, such as marriage or divorce ones, depending on the case);
• recent photos;
• proof of financial worthiness;
• documents attesting to managerial experience or business ownership;
• detailed business plan;
• clean criminal record;
• language certificates;
• medical certificate.

You can also watch our video:

Can I relocate to Canada with my family members if my investor visa is approved?

Yes. In fact, you can include family members on the same application. You can bring your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children (parents cannot be included as dependants).

How long does it take for a Canadian residence permit to be issued?

It depends on the program: business routes usually take well over a year, as most provincial entrepreneur streams first issue a work permit and nominate for permanent residence only after the business is established.

Our lawyers can also help you with immigration and Canadian company incorporation, no matter the type of company you choose to register. The incorporation can take around two weeks and there is no minimum share capital requirement for a Canadian corporation. You can also benefit from various tax incentives depending on the business activities you choose to perform and the province where you operate.

If you want to move to Canada through an investor visa, please contact our lawyers for support.