Migrating to Canada as an Entrepreneur: Startup Visa Program

Posted on November 17, 2023November 22, 2023 by Vijay Leave a Comment

Migrating to Canada might be an everlasting aspiration for someone like you! There are many pathways for migrating to Canada. One of such ways is the Start-up Visa Program. Others include:

Express Entry
PNP
Work Permit
Open-Work Permit
Family Sponsorship

and many other programs!

While these are some common immigration pathways, there are other ways too for migrating to Canada, if you are a business aspirant. Entrepreneurs and wannabe entrepreneurs (like you) have start-up visa program which will help you establish your business in Canada and also obtain a Canada PR.

Hop on! Let’s see what this start-up visa program is all about!!

Start-Up visa Program

Do you have a well-established business or a business idea? You can migrate to Canada and get permanent residency. You heard it right!

Start-Up visa program enables you to establish your business in Canada and also gets you a permanent residency.

Starting a business in Canada is made easier for entrepreneurs with the new Start-Up Visa Program. This is in line with the nation’s strategy to welcome capable business owners who boost the Canadian economy by giving citizens job opportunities. Canada, for its part, banks the businesses of immigrants.

To start this, you need to

Create an innovative idea (or) pick up an idea that is creative!
Prove that the idea proposed can create jobs for Canadians!
Also prove that the idea can compete on a global scale…

How to Apply for a Canadian PR through Start-Up visa Program?

Firstly, you need to come up with a business proposal which will prove that promising employment opportunities will be given to the Canadian communities. With that business plan, there are certain eligibility criteria set by the Canadian government, that should be met by the applicant.

Those criteria include,

Investment
Evidence of Commitment
Language Requirement
Support and Syndication
Peer Review
Security and Medical Clearances

Breaking them down!

Investment for Start-up visa Program

In order to establish a business in Canada, having sufficient funds and capitalization is an important requirement. You can rely on the investment funds to bank your business in Canada.

There are 3 types of investments in Canada to fund your business they are,

Canadian Venture Capital Fund
Angel Investor Group
Business Incubator

To get funding from VC and angel investor group, the following amount must be secured as a minimum validated fund.

Source	Investment
Canadian Venture Capital Fund	CAD 200,000
Angel Investor Group	CAD 75,000

On the other hand, if business incubator program accepts your proposal, you must spend 0 CAD as your investment. You read it right.

Evidence of Commitment

To demonstrate that the application has received funding from a venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator, the investor organization must submit a completed Commitment Certificate to the IRCC. This document contains a detailed description of the agreement between the applicant and the investment organization. Its objective is to summarize the key details of the investment organization’s and applicant’s agreement.

The applicant will also receive a letter of support from the investment organization, which they must submit with their application for permanent residence. If the same business venture involves two or more applicants, the investment organization may condition its commitment on one or more “essential persons” obtaining permanent residence. An essential person is someone who the investment organization has formally designated as being vital to the company. If the application of a crucial person is rejected for any reason, the applications of all other applicants listed in the Commitment Certificate will also be rejected.

Language Requirement

The ability to communicate in French or English is the primary requirement for living in Canada. In Canada, starting a business requires the owner to be able to work and communicate in either French, English, or both. Taking a language test administered by an authorized testing organization and achieving the CLB 5 minimum Canadian language benchmark in either English or French for all modules, including Speaking, Listening, Reading, and Writing.

Support and Syndication2

Applicants may be eligible for syndication, or sponsorship that multiple organizations approves. This process requires identification of each participant. All the designated organizations will provide one Commitment Certificate to the IRCC, and the applicant(s) will receive one Letter of Support.

A designated venture capital firm invests a minimum of $200,000 in a business, regardless of whether a certified angel group has already made investments in the same enterprise.

If the company receives support from at least one authorized angel group but if the venture capital groups do not approve, then a company should have a minimum of $75,000 overall.

Peer Review

To protect this program from fraud, a peer review process has been added. Its objective is to guarantee the validity of the contracts made between foreign business owners and investment firms. An immigration officer may ask for an independent evaluation of a commitment by a peer review panel. An industry group forms these panels that reflects the type of investing organization making the commitment. In the case of an angel investor organization, for example, the National Angel Capital Organization would be in charge of establishing the peer review panel.

If the entity offering the guarantee was a venture capital fund, on the other hand, the jurisdiction would lie with Canada’s Venture Capital and Private Equity Association. If the immigration officer thinks peer reviews would be useful in their conclusion, they may be started at random or requested. The immigration officer is not considered to be legally bound by the decision made by the peer review panel. It will only vouch for the accomplishment of the required examinations and research in compliance with industry standards. It won’t provide an opinion on the wisdom or viability of the proposed plan.

Security and Medical Clearances

You and your family members must undergo a medical examination and obtain a security clearance in order to determine whether you:

Pose a threat to national security.
Have a serious illness that would put a burden on Canada’s healthcare system.

Wrapping up!

Are you planning to set up your business in Canada? Then this is the perfect time for you. Use the Canadian start up visa to establish your business in Canada. CanApprove will help you in every step throughout the process.

Thanks for reading!

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs – Breaking the Ice For You

Posted on September 29, 2023November 25, 2023 by Vijay Leave a Comment

Are you avid about working in Canada? What’s stopping you when you have various options to fly to Canada? If you’re looking for a serene place to study, work, and live, Atlantic Canada could be the right pick for you. Atlantic Canada, also called the Atlantic Provinces is comprised of four provinces such as New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.

Canada introduced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program to pull in more skilled immigrants to Atlantic Canada. This program has been popular since 2017. Atlantic Canada has been the popular choice for newcomers looking to move to Canada. Take a read to know more about the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program!

How Does the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program Work?

Atlantic Canada has been facing a lot of labor shortages with an aging population. Through immigration, these Atlantic Provinces prioritize skilled workers by hiring them to fulfill labor shortages in each province of Atlantic Canada. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is also a great pathway to permanent residence for international graduates and skilled workers.

One of the criteria of this program is that applicants for this program must be working or should have an employment offer from employers in that region. The applicants must have a personalized settlement plan for themselves and their families.

Once the employer finds a candidate who is eligible for the job and meets the requirements, they must first offer the candidate a job. Employers need not go through the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process for this program.

After the candidate accepts the job offer, the employer connects the candidate with the respective settlement service provider organization for a needs assessment and begins with a settlement plan. The employer contributes to the long-term amalgamation of the candidate as a new immigrant and his/her family.

If an employer needs to fill in a job position quickly, the first thing they have to do is have access to a temporary work permit so that the applicant can fly to Canada as soon as possible with his family. To obtain a work permit, the applicant must,

Have a legit job offer.
State to apply for permanent residence within 90 days after applying for a temporary work permit.
Obtain a letter from the province.

Employer Designation Process for AIPP

Only designated employers can offer a job to skilled employees under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. Employers who like to recruit skilled immigrants must apply to the provinces to receive designation. If their business is functioning in multiple provinces must have a separate designation for each province. The eligibility criteria that the employer must meet varies based on each province.

Some of them include:

A plan to recruit long-term, full-time employees.
Prepared to meet the settlement needs of foreign workers and their families.
Must be established well and abide by the provincial and federal laws and standards.

Candidate Requirements

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program consists of 2 programs for foreign-skilled workers and 1 program for international student graduates.

The Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program
The Atlantic High-skilled Program
The Atlantic International Graduate Program

Some of the eligibilities such as education, job offer, and work experience vary and depend on whether the candidate is applying to work or to study. Other eligibility requirements remain the same for both skilled workers and international student graduates.

Catch a glimpse of the requirements table below.

	Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program (AISP)	Atlantic High-Skilled Program (AHSP)	Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP)
Employment offer from a designated employee	Full Time Intermediate NOC 0, A, B, or C	Full Time One-year contract NOC 0, A, B, or C	Full Time One-year contract NOC 0, A, B, or C.
Skilled Work Experience	One year in an occupation relevant to the job offer		N/A
Education	Completion of at least high school Educational Credential Assessment or Canadian credential is required		Two-year post-secondary diploma from a publicly funded learning institution in the Atlantic region, obtained within 12 months before the submission of the application for permanent residence.
Language	Level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in English or the Niveau de compétence linguistique Canadienin French
Provincial Endorsement	Letter of Endorsement

Eligibility criteria

You can apply to the Atlantic Immigration Program online. But first, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. Before applying for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program.

You must have a relevant educational background for the job position.
You should state the need for employment except for international students graduating from a well-recognized university in Atlantic Canada.
You must submit language test scores to demonstrate your proficiency in reading, writing, and listening skills to get employment in Canada.
You should be financially sufficient to manage your expenses in Canada.

Wrap-Up

Atlantic Canada is actively hiring immigrants and welcomes a wide range of foreign-skilled hands, international students to pursue higher education, and budding entrepreneurs to establish creative businesses and contribute to the economy.

If you’re anticipating building a peaceful and successful future abroad, Atlantic Canada could suit you best. And if you’re perplexed about how to go about your overseas plans, we, CanApprove, can help you paint your dream picture. Talk to our immigration experts and gain valuable insights. Connect with us right away; we’d love to hear from you!

FAQs

1. What are the benefits of AIP?

AIP benefits include providing permanent resident status to thousands of immigrants each year, addressing the needs of local employers, and promoting population, labor force, and economic growth.

2. What are the different streams of the AIP?

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program consists of 2 programs for foreign-skilled workers and 1 program for international student graduates.

The Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program
The Atlantic High-skilled Program
The Atlantic International Graduate Program

3. What is the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program?

How Can Language Proficiency Help You Qualify For Canada PR?

Posted on February 22, 2023October 31, 2023 by Sandy Leave a Comment

Canada Immigration Points system awards 24 points to any candidate with excellent language proficiency, the highest among any other human capital criteria like age, education qualification, and work experience for profile evaluation and assessment.

Canada is reliant on foreign skilled workers or economic class immigrants to not only sustain its economic growth. And especially in post-pandemic but also to overcome demographic transitions like aging demography and a low birth rate among natives. The huge skill demand gap in the workforce is also contributing to the increasing demand for foreign immigrants in Canada.

Proficiency in English or French will help you easily qualify for Canadian immigration. This blog is directed at aspiring migrants to help you better understand the scope for gaining the highest proficiency in one of the two official languages in Canada.

Importance of English or French in Canada for Aspiring Migrants

IRCC assesses language components in four broad areas: Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening. Upon completion of any one of the IRCC-designated language tests (refer below), candidates must compare the obtained test scores on Canadian standards like

1. Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) for English, and

2. Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French.

3. Nominations Draw for Canada PR

Economic-class programs across the spectrum from Express Entry programs, Provincial Nominee Programs, and pilots like Atlantic Immigration Programs and Quebec skilled worker programs to study visa and temporary work permit programs require a varying degree of proficiency in language assessments.

For example, candidates must obtain a CLB of at least 7 in all four abilities (writing, reading, listening, and speaking) to qualify under the popular Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Candidates with a higher Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for English score get more points, thereby making it easier to qualify under pathways managed via Express Entry and expression of interest systems operated by the provinces and territories.

Language-based targeted Draws

As per the latest Bill C-19 that received the royal assent on June 23, 2022, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may now invite eligible profiles in the Express Entry pool based on subjective skills like occupation, education qualification, or language proficiency in upcoming Canada PR Express Entry draws.

IRCC had already held its first-ever exclusive Express Entry draw for Federal Skilled Workers last month. We have seen targeted Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws from Quebec, Alberta . And New Brunswick invites French-speaking applications for provincial nominations.

Take this free assessment online to explore a suitable immigration pathway to Canada.

French-speaking candidates have a better chance to qualify for Canada PR

French-speaking candidates receive additional points under Express Entry. This means that between two applicants with similar work experience and academic backgrounds. And an applicant who is proficient in French will have a better chance than one who is proficient only in English.

The Express Entry system is an application database to select applicants who meet the criteria of the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

The Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Program , the system recognizes French language skills . And awards points for high levels of French language proficiency.

Connect with our expert overseas education counselors at CanApprove and explore various study options and eligibility to obtain a Canada study permit.

Submitting Certified Copies of Translated Documents with an Immigration Application 

Failing to provide a complete, accurate, and certified translation of foreign-language documents into English or French can have dire consequences. There have been several instances in the past where immigration applications were rejected due to non-certified translation copies.

Guide 5523 that stated any immigration supporting documents submitted in a non-official language must be accompanied by an official language translation, complete with a translator’s declaration.  The Guide also states that documents submitted only in non-official languages will not be considered.

Acceptable Language Proficiency Tests for Immigration to Canada

Any applicant for economic class immigration to Canada can submit English proficiency test scores assessed by any one of the following designated language-testing organizations

1. The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) administered by Cambridge Assessment English, International Development Program (IDP) Australia, and British Council.

2. The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises Inc.

3. The Pearson Test of English (PTE) by Pearson Canada Inc.

Additionally, IRCC also accepts immigration aspirants with proficiency in French through tests, like TEF Canada (Test d’Evaluation de Français) . And TCF Canada (Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada).

If you found this blog useful, you may share this post or comment below for more information.

Book your free appointment with CanApprove and learn more about your requirements and eligibility to qualify for Canadian immigration.

Tag: Canadian Visa