The Start-up Visa Program in Canada (Complete Application Process)

The Start-up Visa Program in Canada is designed for immigrant entrepreneurs with innovative business concepts, the ability to create jobs for Canadians, and the potential to compete globally. If you have an innovative idea and can secure support from a designated organization, you may be eligible to immigrate to Canada.

Start-up Visa Fee and Processing Time

The Normal Fee is $2075 to $2140 Now talk about processing time the whole process takes 12 to 16 months (Including biometrics submission if required) You may be required to provide biometrics as part of the application process, which would add to the processing time.

Who can apply for Start-up Visa Program in Canada

The Start-up Visa Program in Canada was created to encourage more individuals to establish businesses in Canada from outside the country. However, the requirements for this program can be quite challenging, especially for first-time entrepreneurs who are directly opening their businesses in Canada. If you fully understand these requirements, you will have a 100% chance of being able to apply for this program.

Start-up Visa Program in Canada Eligibility Requirements

• Possess a qualifying business
• Obtain a letter of support from a designated organization
• Meet the language proficiency standards
• Have sufficient funds to establish in Canada.

Start-up Visa Program in Canada. Now Let’s Talk About them one by one in detail.

Possess a qualifying business

A business is considered eligible if it meets the following criteria:

1. Receives a commitment from a designated organization
2. The applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights in the corporation (up to 5 people can apply as owners)
3. The applicant and designated organization together hold more than 50% of the total voting rights in the corporation

In order to obtain permanent residency through a start-up visa, the following conditions must be met:

1. The business is incorporated in Canada
2. The majority of the business activities are carried out in Canada
3. The business is effectively managed from within Canada

Obtain a letter of support from a designated organization

A letter of support from a designated organization is necessary for the applicant.

Get a Letter of Support from a Designated Entity

Designated organizations are authorized groups that invest in or support startups. To obtain their support, you must:

• Reach out to the designated entity and inquire about the process of obtaining its support.
• Provide proof of a strong and viable business plan to the entity, and receive a letter of support.
• Each designated entity operates based on its own criteria, and you may be asked to present your business plan in person or submit a detailed description of your business.
• If the designated entity sees potential in your business, it will provide you with a letter of support that must be submitted with your visa application.
• This letter acts as proof of the entity’s endorsement of your business plan and its commitment to support it. The entity will also provide a certificate of commitment to the authorities. Your visa application will be evaluated based on both the letter of support and the certificate of commitment from the entity.
• As your application moves forward, you may be required to provide additional information about your business before a final decision is made. Failure to provide a letter of support will result in your application being rejected.

Now Let’s Talk About Start-up Visa Program in Canada. Language Requirements

Meet the language proficiency standards

Having a solid understanding of English, French, or both languages can greatly benefit your business in Canada. To demonstrate your language proficiency, you must take a language test from an approved testing agency and include the results with your application. Failure to provide the language test results will result in the rejection of your application. The minimum language proficiency required is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all four language skills (speaking, listening, reading, and writing). If you do not meet this minimum requirement, your application will not be approved.

Now Let’s Talk About Start-up Visa Program in Canada Funds Requirements

Have sufficient funds to establish in Canada

In order to show that you have the financial means to support yourself and your family upon arriving in Canada, you will need to provide proof that you have sufficient funds. It is important to note that these funds cannot be borrowed and you will need to demonstrate that you have enough money to cover your expenses. A guideline table is available to give you an estimate of the number of funds you will need.

FAMILY MEMBER	FUNDS REQUIRED ( IN CANADIAN DOLLARS
1 family member	$12,960
2 family members:	$16,135
3 family members	$19,836
4 family members	$24,083
5 family members	$27,315
6 family members	$30,806
7 family members	$34,299
FOR EACH FAMILY MEMBER REQUIRE	$3,492

Visa application process

The complete visa application process for the Start-up Visa program in Canada involves the following steps:

• First, submit your visa application, and
• Then provide your biometrics (fingerprints and photo). This is a common requirement in most cases.

Fill out the application forms correctly

Fill out the Generic Application Form for Canada online. Check if there are any missing sections and fill them out. After you have completed the form, click the validate button. Print out the validated form with the barcode. If you have multiple forms, place a barcode page on each one. and do a Signature and write the date of the forms where required.

To complete the document checklist, follow these steps:

1. Gather all the required supporting documents and arrange them in the order specified on the Document Checklist.
2. Carefully review all the fields on the checklist to make sure you have included everything.
3. Place all the documents in a sealed envelope.
4. Print out the Document Checklist and sign it.
5. Place the signed Document Checklist on top of your application package.

Important: Make sure you have all the necessary documents, including all the forms, supporting documents, language exam results, proof of payment for the processing fee, and your signature. Providing false or misleading information can result in your application being refused, and could also make you ineligible to enter Canada for up to five years.

Start-up Visa Program in Canada Application Fee

In most cases, you will need to pay:

• The fee for your biometrics
• The processing fee for you and any dependents included in your application
• Any fees for third-party services
• The Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).

You can make your payment online using your debit or credit card.

The fee for your biometrics

If you’re required to provide biometrics, you must pay the fee at the time you submit your application. This fee covers the cost of taking your fingerprints and a digital photo. Failure to pay this fee may result in a delay in processing your application. Once you’ve paid the fee, you will receive a confirmation letter that states you need to give your biometrics and where you can go to do so. You should bring this letter with you when you provide your biometrics. It’s important to note that you will need to provide your biometrics in person. If the service is available, it’s recommended to make an appointment.

Any fees for third-party services

In some cases, you may be required to pay for additional services such as language testing, police certificates, medical exams, etc. These fees are referred to as third-party fees and are separate from the main application and biometrics fees. Make sure to check the specific requirements of your case and allocate enough funds to cover these costs.

Submitting Your Permanent Residence Application as a Business Partner

If you and your partner are applying for permanent residence (PR) as eligible business partners, each of you must submit your own application. Here’s what you need to do:

• Submit separate applications: Each application should be placed in a separate envelope.
• Update authorities if a partner drops out: If a partner is no longer applying for permanent residence, use the webform to inform the authorities as soon as possible.
• Complete your application: Make sure you’ve filled out all fields, answered all questions, signed all forms, submitted your application fee, and attached the receipt to your application. Also, include all supporting documents.
• Provide biometrics: You will most likely be required to provide your photo and fingerprints, even if you already have a valid biometric in place. This applies if you are between the ages of 14 and 79.
• Confirm biometrics: You will receive a confirmation letter indicating that you need to provide your biometrics. Make sure to do so as soon as possible, within 30 days of receiving the letter.

Remember, it’s important to provide accurate and true information. If you submit incorrect information, your application may be refused, and you may be banned from entering Canada for five years.

How Start-up Visa Program in Canada Processed your application

Upon submitting your application, it will be confirmed that all the required steps have been completed accurately. This includes filling out the forms correctly, having a signature on all the forms, paying the processing fees, and submitting all the necessary supporting documents.

The processing time for your application

The processing time for your application can typically take 12 to 16 months. To avoid delays, it’s important to keep the authorities informed of any changes in your application, such as a change in your contact information or the birth of a child. Also, try to avoid contacting the officer multiple times for the same query.

Factors leading to delays in your application process are:

• A criminal record on file
• Confusing information regarding you and your family, such as ongoing divorce or adoption proceedings
• The need for the visa office to reach out to other visa offices within or outside Canada for verification of the information provided by you.

Medical Test

it’s important that you and your loved ones get a thorough medical check-up before you head out on your journey. The Canadian government needs to make sure that everyone coming into the country is in good health and won’t pose a threat to its citizens. So, make sure you take care of those tests, or your application may not move forward.

Police Certificate

If you’re 18 years or older, you and your family members will need to get police certificates and hand ’em over to the visa office. Yep, that’s right. If you’ve lived in a country for 6 months or more since you turned 18, you gotta get a police certificate from there. Time’s running out, so we recommend you take care of this ASAP. And just a heads up, if you’ve got a criminal record or if you’re a threat to Canada’s security, you won’t be allowed in the country. So, make sure you get those certificates in order.

The result of your application

If you wanna be approved for your application

• First off, you need to have enough money to cover your expenses and your family’s expenses.
• Second, you gotta pass those medical tests and get those police certificates squared away.

If the authorities need any more information from you, they’ll be in touch. If everything checks out, and your application is a go, you’ll be asked to hand over your passport to the visa office and they’ll give you that permanent residency status.

The Confirmation of Permanent Residence

If your application gets the green light, we’ll be giving you a permanent resident visa, and that includes your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and your entry visa. Now, your COPR will have all your info, including your picture, so make sure everything’s accurate, alright? It should match up with the info on your passport. If there are any mistakes, don’t worry, just reach out to us through your account and we’ll get it sorted out. And listen, when you land in Canada, you gotta have both your COPR and visa with you, got it? Oh, and one more thing, your COPR won’t be extended, so use it before it expires.

If you’re already in Canada

The authorities will get in touch with you soon. They’ll want to do a little interview with you to make sure everything’s in order. You can either set up a time with one of Canada’s offices, or you can head to a Canadian port and show them that you’ve got enough funds to support your family and that you have your visa and permanent residency confirmation ready to go.

What happens during this interview?

The officer will just double-check that all your documents are in order. They might ask you some additional questions to make sure you meet the requirements. They’ll also make sure they have your correct contact information so they can mail you your PR card. And remember, if your address changes within the first six months of getting your permanent residency status, you gotta let them know using the web form.

Now, there are a few things that could prevent you from being allowed into Canada. If you’ve given false information or if something doesn’t match up, they won’t let you in. If the officer doesn’t think you meet the criteria, that’s another red flag. But if you’re able to convince the border officer that you’ve got what it takes, they’ll give you the green light to enter Canada as a permanent resident. They’ll just need to confirm your place of residence and you’re good to go.

Disclosure of funds

If you’re bringing more than $10,000 Canadian into the country, you gotta let the CBSA officer know. If you don’t, you could get hit with a fine and they might even take your money. That includes cash, stocks and bonds, bankers’ drafts, checks, passenger checks, and money orders. Basically, if it’s money and it belongs to you, make sure you let the CBSA know.

• cash
• Securities that relate to you (eg stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
• Bankers’ drafts
• Check
• Passenger checks
• Money order

Temporary work permit

People often ask who can get a temporary work permit. If you’ve got a Letter of Support and Commitment from an authorized organization, you’re in luck! As long as you meet the requirements, you can apply for a temporary work permit, as long as the designated entity supports your work permit request. And the good news is, you don’t have to apply for permanent residency first to get a temporary work permit.

Eligibility Criteria for Work Permit:

• Plan to stay in a province or territory outside of Quebec
• Pay the employer compliance fee
• Have a Letter of Support and Commitment Certificate from a designated entity, showing that:
  • Your presence in Canada is essential for business reasons
  • There is a sense of urgency for your arrival
  • You have enough funds to support yourself and your dependents for 13 months in Canada.

Note: The above criteria must be met in order to be eligible for a work permit.

Before you submit your application, you need to pay a $230 employer compliance fee along with your self-employed offer of employment. If your business has a Canada Revenue Agency business number, you can use the online Employer Portal to submit your offer of employment and pay the fee. To use the Employer Portal, you must first enroll and receive an ID and password. After logging in, go to the next page and select “Submit an Offer of Employment.” Fill out the business information form only when creating your first offer of employment or when the information changes. The status of the form will be displayed as “not started,” “in progress,” or “completed.”

Start-up Visa Program in Canada. Types of Forms:

• Business Information Form
• Foreign Worker Form
• Job Detail Form
• Wages and Benefits Form

Business Information form

• The first three categories will be pre-filled with information from your enrollment in the Employer Portal and cannot be changed.
• Enter the business contact number and move on to the next step by clicking “Next”.
• Provide the physical and mailing address of the business location.
• Select “No Business Information” for the type of business.
• Fill in the contact details of the main business contact person.
• Fill in the fields with information you know, such as having less than 100 employees and a gross salary of less than $30,000.
• After finishing the form, review the information, save it, and exit the Foreign Worker form.
• Make sure to fill in the fields accurately as it is written on your passport. Pay attention to details such as spelling, hyphens, accents, and capitalization.

Job details form

The first three categories of the Job Details form will be filled in with the information you provided. For the LMIA exemption title, choose “Significant benefit” under R205(a). The LMIA exemption code will be automatically populated for you.

Details on How the Job Fulfills the Needs of the Exemption:

• To explain that you are looking to establish or operate a business in Canada and that you are essential to the start-up of your business as per section 8.0 of the commitment certificate.
• Job Title: Indicate “Start-Up Visa Entrepreneur”.
• NOC Code: NOC 8888.
• Physical job location: write the address of your business.
• Main duties of the job: explain your work in detail, including tasks such as registering for all forms, setting up the business, and obtaining all required approvals.
• Fee payment question: select “Yes, I will be paying the employer compliance fee for this offer.”
• Employer primary contact information: write the contact information of the person who will provide information about the employment offer.
• Wage and benefits form:
  • Select “Wage Type” per hour from the drop-down list and input “0” in the following five boxes.
  • Indicate in the “Alternative Compensation Scheme” box that you are a self-employed entrepreneur and that you have provided for 52 weeks for yourself and accompanying family members (if applicable).
  • Indicate the number of funds available and what documents you can provide as evidence.
  • Leave the “Advantages” section blank.
• After completing the form, verify the information is correct and save and exit.
• Once you submit an offer, you cannot change it. If you make a mistake, you must withdraw the offer and start over.
• To deposit the employment offer:
  • The offer of employment must be in the “Complete” status for all four forms.
  • Choose “Continue” on the LMIA-exempt offer of employment page.
  • You do not need to upload any documents if you indicated “Yes, I will be paying the employer compliance fee for this offer”.
  • Agree to the employer declaration and sign your name in the signature panel.
  • Deposit the $230 employer compliance fee.
  • Confirm and print the transaction receipt.
• To exit the questionnaire, choose “Exit questionnaire”.
• Use the “Employment queue” to retrieve the offer of employment number.

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