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The Government of Canada established certain requirements for those who want to immigrate under the business class. These criteria apply for all provinces and territories, except the province of Quebec, that has own requirements and a special selection process.
The following charts show the major differences between the Federal and Quebec Business Program categories.
| Criteria | Federal entrepreneur program | Quebec entrepreneur program |
| Work experience |
2 full-time years in management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage of equity of the qualifying business* (in the past 5 years) |
2 full-time years in a business that you manage, alone or with your accompanying spouse or common-law spouse, controlling at least 25% of the capital equity (in the past 5 years) |
| Finances |
net worth of at least C$300,000 that was obtained legally, with, where applicable, your married or common-law spouse provided he or she is accompanying you |
net assets of at least C$300,000 that have been legally obtained with, where applicable, your married or common-law spouse provided he or she is accompanying you |
| Conditions after obtaining the Permanent Resident Visa |
Within three years of becoming a permanent resident:
- You must control at least one-third of the equity and actively manage a qualifying Canadian business for at least one year after becoming a permanent resident.
- The business must have created the equivalent of at least one full-time job (1,950 hours of paid employment) for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (other than yourself and your dependants)
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Within three years of becoming a permanent resident:
- create or acquire, in whole or in part, an agricultural, commercial or industrial business established in Quebec where you hold at least 25% of the capital equity with a value of at least C$100,000 and which will employ, on a permanent basis and for a minimum of 30 hours a week, a Quebec resident other than yourself and accompanying family members.
- participate in the daily management and operations of the business for at least one year
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| Interview language |
English |
French |
| Proof of language abilities |
Mandatory |
Not mandatory |
| Other conditions |
Live in Canada at least 730 days in every 5 year period in order not to lose the right to live in Canada |
Live in Canada at least 730 days in every 5 year period in order not to lose the right to live in Canada |
| Processing times (average) |
24-40 months |
12-30 months |
| Official fees |
Federal only |
Provincial + Federal |
* qualifying business means a business — other than a business operated primarily for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest, dividends or capital gains — for which, during the year under consideration, there is documentary evidence of any two of the following:
(a) the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time job equivalents per year;
(b) the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales is equal to or greater than $500,000;
(c) the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the year is equal to or greater than $50,000; and
(d) the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than $125,000.
| Criteria | Federal investor program | Quebec investor program |
| Work experience |
you must have:
- managed a qualifying business and controlled a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application
OR
- managed the equivalent of at least five full-time employees per year in a business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application
OR
- a combination of one year of experience described in the first point and one year of experience described in the second point above.
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Have experience in management in a legal farming, commercial or industrial business, or in a legal professional business where the staff, excluding the investor, occupies at least the equivalent of two full-time jobs, or for an international agency or a government or one of its departments or agencies; We define management experience as the exercise, for at least two years in the five years preceding the application for a selection certificate, of duties related to the planning, management and control of financial resources and of human or material resources under your authority; the experience does not include experience acquired in the context of an apprenticeship, training or specialization process attested to by a diploma. |
| Finances |
net worth of at least C$800,000 that was legally obtained (money obtained by donations not accepted) |
net assets of at least $800,000 CAN obtained legally, excluding the amounts received by donation less than six months before the date on which the application was filed |
| Investment conditions |
Invest $400,000 CAN for a period of 5 years (no interest) which begins following visa issuance. |
Invest $400,000 CAN for a period of 5 years (no interest) which begins following Quebec approval, even before the investor comes to Canada |
| Conditions after obtaining the Permanent Resident Visa |
x |
x |
| Interview language |
English |
French |
| Proof of language abilities |
Mandatory |
Not mandatory |
| Other conditions |
Live in Canada at least 730 days in every 5 year period in order not to lose the right to live in Canada |
Live in Canada at least 730 days in every 5 year period in order not to lose the right to live in Canada |
| Processing times (average) |
24-45 months |
12-30 months |
| Official fees |
Federal only |
Provincial + Federal |
| Criteria | Federal self-employed program | Quebec self-employed program |
| Work experience |
Relevant experience is defined as:
- participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics
- farm management experience or
- self-employment in cultural activities or athletics. Please consult the Related Links section at the bottom of this page for a list of activities that qualify. You will also find a link to definitions of terms that apply to self-employed persons.
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have at least two years of experience as a self-employed worker in the profession or trade you plan to practice in Quebec |
| Finances |
have net worth of at least C$100,000 that have been legally obtained with, where applicable, your married or common-law spouse provided he or she is accompanying you |
have net assets of at least C$100,000 that have been legally obtained with, where applicable, your married or common-law spouse provided he or she is accompanying you |
| Qualifying professions |
Librarians, Archivists, Conservators and Curators, Authors and Writers, Editors, Journalists, Professional Occupations in Public Relations and Communications, Translators, Producers, Directors, Choreographers and Related Occupations, Conductors, Composers, Musicians and Singers, Dancers, Actors, Painters, Sculptors, Photographers, Film and Video Camera Operators, Graphic Arts Technicians, Broadcast Technicians, Audio and Video Recording Technicians, Graphic Designers, Interior Designers, Theatre, Fashion, Artisans, Patternmakers - Textile, Leather and Fur, Athletes, Coaches, Referees, Instructors in Recreation, Sport and Fitness |
Any |
| Project conditions |
File the business plan showing that you will be able to create your own job as self-employed |
File the business plan showing that you will be able to create your own job as self-employed |
| Conditions after obtaining the Permanent Resident Visa |
x |
x |
| Interview language |
English |
French |
| Proof of language abilities |
Mandatory |
Not mandatory |
| Other conditions |
Live in Canada at least 730 days in every 5 year period in order not to lose the right to live in Canada |
Live in Canada at least 730 days in every 5 year period in order not to lose the right to live in Canada |
| Processing times (average) |
24-40 months |
12-30 months |
| Official fees |
Federal only |
Provincial + Federal |
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