Build in Canada
Business Immigration
Canada has no single 'business visa' — it has a set of narrow doors: significant-benefit (C11) work permits, intra-company transfers for expanding businesses, provincial entrepreneur streams, and Start-up Visa for a small set of ventures. We identify which door your business case actually fits and prepare the strongest possible application for it.
Who it's for
- Entrepreneurs who want to launch or acquire a Canadian business and work in it
- Owners of established foreign companies expanding into Canada via a new affiliate
- Self-employed professionals whose work could bring significant cultural or economic benefit
- Investors evaluating provincial entrepreneur nomination streams and their deposit requirements
- Founders considering the federal Start-up Visa with a designated-organization commitment
- Business buyers who need the acquisition structured to support a credible permit application
Common scenarios
Buying a Canadian business
You've found a business to acquire and want to run it yourself. We test whether the purchase supports a C11 significant-benefit case — ownership level, jobs, viability — before you sign.
Expanding your company to Canada
Your established foreign company wants a Canadian office. We assess the intra-company transferee route for executives and specialized-knowledge staff, including the extra scrutiny start-up ICTs now receive.
Entrepreneur stream with PR in view
You want permanent residence, not just a permit. We compare provincial entrepreneur streams' investment, net-worth, and job-creation requirements against your capital and sector.
Evidence checklist
- A serious business plan: market analysis, financial projections, staffing, and location
- Proof of business ownership or the executed purchase agreement
- Personal net worth statement with source-of-funds documentation
- Corporate records of the existing foreign business: registration, financials, tax filings
- Evidence of relevant experience: management history, industry credentials
- Job creation or retention plan for Canadian workers
- Incorporation and setup documents for the Canadian entity
- Language test results and personal documents where a PR stream requires them
Exact requirements vary by program and profile — treat this as a planning baseline, not advice on your specific file.
Process overview
Business case triage
We evaluate your capital, experience, and business model against every federal and provincial route, and tell you plainly which are realistic.
Structure and plan
We work with you (and your accountant or lawyer) to structure ownership and draft a business plan that meets the program's actual assessment criteria.
Application preparation
We prepare the work permit or nomination application with a submission letter arguing significant benefit or program fit, backed by the corporate record.
Landing and next phase
After approval, we plan renewals, performance milestones, and the transition to permanent residence where a route exists.
Risks & common mistakes
Buying a business first and asking about immigration second.
Not every business supports a permit — margins, jobs, and your role all matter. Get the immigration assessment before the purchase agreement, not after.
Treating C11 as a passive-investor visa.
C11 requires you to actively run the business and show significant benefit to Canada — typically jobs or economic activity. A silent shareholding won't carry it.
Using a shell 'new office' for an intra-company transfer.
Officers scrutinize new-office ICTs for real premises, staffing plans, and the ability to support the transferee. Thin corporate substance is the leading refusal cause.
Underestimating provincial entrepreneur stream commitments.
Performance agreements bind you to investment and job-creation targets, verified before nomination. Sign only what your plan can genuinely deliver.
Related pathways
Frequently asked questions
Next step
Test your business case against the right program — before you invest.
Every file starts with an honest assessment: what you qualify for, what the evidence needs to show, and what the realistic timeline looks like. We prepare the strongest possible application — and we're direct with you about risk, because the final decision on every application rests with the officer, never with us.
Tell us about your situation
We review every enquiry and reply within one business day.