Canadian
Immigration for
Entrepreneurs
Your tomorrow is our mission today
Canada’s Start-up Visa Program provides foreign entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to immigrate to Canada to establish a new business, and is one of many immigration initiatives designed to help talented foreign entrepreneurs find a home in the Canadian workforce.
In Canada
Your journey to secure a successful and prosperous future in Canada begins with a business idea. This is the first and most important step, which will ensure a successful and seamless process, especially when the time comes to creating a business plan and applying for an LOS.
The team of experts at Your Global Gates will help you innovate a business idea that is competitive, scalable, and unique to the Canadian market. This is important when getting a stamp of approval or support from designated organizations issuing the LOS, who are looking for incredible business opportunities and investments that have global potential.
Once you have innovated on a business idea that is scalable, unique, and competitive; the next step is to create a detailed business plan supported by necessary documentation for your application.
Market research, competitive analysis, and other studies are needed to support the development of a complete Business Plan (BP) including financial estimates, timelines and projections, presentation files, etc.
Our team of experts will help you put together key documentation and presentations required to begin the Start-Up Visa process. This includes in-depth market analysis in Canada and the US, 5-year financial estimates, business presentation or pitch deck and the initial concept plan of the product or service.
Once a business plan is put in place, our team will help you to build your MVP (Minimum Viable Product). An MVP is the answer to innovative product development, and can be in the form of a physical product, an online service, an application, or other software.
Creating a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) is a popular launch strategy which takes into account the needs of the customer as well as market and competitor analysis. Features are usually added or removed at this stage to ensure the best strategies for success. This step also helps determine your story and explain what makes it unique. What is the value offered, and what’s the problem you are solving?
Once your business idea has been cemented into a successful plan with highlighted indicators for profit and growth, it is time to register your business in Canada through the guidance of our team of experts.
t this stage, you will need to underline the structure of the business, including the composition of the company’s shareholders. Note that the board member/designated organization shares should not be less than 50% of the total shares.
In startup culture, the chances of acceptance are higher when applying with a team, as it adds tremendous value to the business, especially when the members have technical and related specialties.
Submit the required forms, documents and business plan to one of the sponsoring organizations approved by the Canadian Immigration Service.
hese sponsoring, or designated organizations include venture capitalists, angel investors or incubators/accelerators that will assess the business plan and investment opportunity and decide whether it has potential in the Canadian market.
Once your business is approved, you will receive a Letter of Support (LOS) from either venture capitalists, angel investors or incubators/accelerators. Simultaneously, you will also be issued a Certificate of Commitment which is sent directly to the Immigration Office (IRCC).
Both the LOS and the organization's commitment certificate will be used to assess your application. At times, further supporting documents might be requested for more information in order to take a final decision on your application.
Receiving an LOS is a big step in the startup visa process, which means that your idea is acceptable, scalable and entrepreneurial to Canadian investors. If you don’t include the letter of support or meet any of the other requirements, your application might be refused.
After receiving the LOS, the principal applicant must apply for a work permit in Canada. The principal applicant is a member of the startup team who is assigned at the beginning of the process to be responsible for presenting and defending the plan, following up on cases, and convening meetings with sponsorship and oversight organizations.
To apply for a visa, you must first complete the relevant forms and send the required documents, a receipt for legal fees and an LOS letter to the Immigration Office. The relevant department in the Immigration Office will evaluate the submitted documents after receiving them and then provide the final answer to your request.
By issuing a work visa, the main applicant will be able to travel to Canada and pursue the startup.
This is the final stage of the Start-Up Visa process, where all business members can apply for permanent residence. If the application is approved, all members will be issued a Canadian permanent resident visa, which includes a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR / PR) and an entry visa to Canada. Certificate of permanent residence includes your biometric identity and photo, and must be verified to be completely consistent with the passport information in the application.
pplying for a PR also entails preparation for relocation, which is an important step to ensure a smooth journey into Canada. Our team will provide the necessary support and guidance to help with the transition and help build a solid framework to start your future.
Welcome to Canada! You are now a business owner and permanent resident in one of the world’s most highly-rated destinations for immigrants. With access to quality healthcare, education, and state-of the art resources to help your business grow, you and your family can pave the way to a secure and prosperous future.
It is important to note that between the application submission and the issuance of a Permanent Residency, you must continue working on developing your business.
Sponsoring organizations will continue to enforce milestones to review the progress of the project and the PR request may be rejected if the project process is not approved.
We believe in simplifying the application and submission process by actively providing a structured step-by-step guidance that will ensure a diligent and seamless experience.
Analyze the initial concepts and innovate on key ways to build and present it as an eligible and successful business plan for the Start-Up Visa Program.
Expert insight on building an efficient team structure, from an organizational framework to the distribution of responsibilities.
Conduct a thorough analysis of the US and Canadian markets to develop marketing strategies and financial estimates and projections.
Professional guidance to ensure a thorough preparation of proposals, business plans, documentations, and required submissions.
Consulting on production and development of prototype design (MVP) that will have the highest chances of LOS success.
Expert training for how to present, defend, and reinforce the business and support the team in multiple defense meetings and joint commissions.
Legal advice throughout the process, and notably in concluding contracts and memoranda of understanding with relevant organizations.
Guidance and advice on traveling, setting up, and starting a business in Canada, as well as building a supportive framework to establish your future.
Our mission is not only to help build a successful start-up business, but to ensure that it will continue to sustain your new future in Canada.
A Canadian Start-up Visa or SUV is a government run program to attract entrepreneurs and Start-ups. Through this program, entrepreneurs can start heir business in cand and get their Canadian Permanent Residency.
Yes. If you stay in Canada for at least three years in the first five years, you can apply for Canadian Citizenship.
No. Investing in Canada to get a startup visa and immigrate to Canada is unnecessary.
Before you submit your requests to designated organizations, you must establish a company in Canada. The type of company does not matter.
It is not mentioned in the requirements of the immigration office of Canada to have an educational or related degree to the idea. Still, it is worth mentioning that having a pertaining educational background to the idea you are applying.
You must submit your IELTS or CELPIP with a score of at least 5 if you speak English. You must also submit TCF or TEF with a score of at least 5 if you speak French.
Language proficiency documents of all members must be submitted after getting the LOS (letter of Support) and before submitting a Permanent Residency request. Still, the designated organizations occasionally ask for language proficiency documents before giving the LOS to avoid possible problems in the future.
No, you have to show that you can pay the least amount of living expenses in Canada for one year (financial ability).
No, you do not need to announce that.
Yes, if you get your startup visa, simultaneously, your partner and children younger than 22 years old get the visa.
Yes, when you get the Start-up Visa, your partner will have the permit to work in Canada. You need to apply for a Work Permit. Your children also can get Study Permits to study in Canada.
Yes, you must participate in interviews to defend your idea and business during the startup visa process.
Yes, providing medical exam results from designated medical centers is mandatory for startup visa group members and their families.
The Start-up Vista plan is part of a federal plan and is not limited to a particular province or state.
No. During the assessment period, you do not need to travel to Canada. Still, after getting the approval and LOS, it might be necessary to travel to Canada to avoid any possible background and credit checks.
Yes, after getting LOS, a Work Permit will be issued for the principal applicant, and with that, the applicant can enter Canada and manage the Start-up. Other team members can travel to Canada after getting their PR.
After entering Canada with a closed Work Permit, the principal applicant must stay in the same province as the designated organization is located for at least one year or until getting the PR. After the PR, all applicants can live or stay in any part of Canada with no limitations.
This amount depends on the number of family members. The most important thing is that you do not use the money from the financial ability for any living expense.
A business plan is a formal written document containing the goals of a business, the methods for attaining those goals, and the time frame for the achievement of the goals
Designated organizations are business groups approved to invest in or support possible startups through the Start-up Visa Program. There are three leading players in the startup ecosystem.
The first ones are venture capitals or VCs. VCs are typically formed by several investors who come together to invest in potentially successful programs. They mainly invest in mature programs or the ones with historical growing statistics.
View the list of approved VCs.
The second one is angel investors. They mostly work individually and are interested in investing in seed or early-stage startups.
View the list of approved Angels.
The third group is accelerators or incubators. They mainly support startups with potential successful business proposals that could be commercialized and provide some support like office space, facilities, and mentorship.
View the list of approved Incubators.
If you have an innovative and able to be commercialized idea, you can get a Letter Of Support (LOS) from one of the designated organizations. The process of getting an LOS depends on the type of organization. It is worth mentioning that this letter is an essential and required document to be delivered to the immigration office to start the immigration process.
After issuing the LOS, the designated organization will issue a letter for IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) called a commitment letter. IRCC needs both LOS and commitment letters simultaneously.
Canada Work Permit, or a Work Visa, is issued to eligible overseas individuals to work in that country for a specific period
Permanent residency in Canada is a status granting someone who is not a Canadian citizen the right to live and work in Canada without any time limit on their stay
In the Start-up process, one team member will be introduced to the designated organizations as the main applicant. The main applicant is responsible for presenting the idea, defending the idea, following the process, and participating in meetings with designated organizations. Also, in the commitment letter and LOS, the main applicant will be recognized as the main person. It does not mean that the other members do not have significant duties and roles.
If the main applicant gets refused, the other applicants get declined, and they should find a new investor or incubator.
No. It is not necessary to have a lawyer to get a startup visa approval.
No. The business idea must be innovative, lead to entrepreneurship and new job opportunities in Canada, have competitive advantages to compete with competitors and have a high potential growth opportunity.
Artificial intelligence, health, energy, education and learning, and construction are some of the most exciting areas.
No. But executing and starting the plan will be helpful to get the LOS.
No. You will not lose your PR because of any failure in your startup.
Before receiving your PR, this is impossible. However, you can work as a freelancer and earn money.
Yes. Legally five members can immigrate to Canada as startup team members and apply for the same startup idea and plan. It is worth mentioning that if the idea is too strong to need five people, it is better to apply with three members to minimize the risk of refusal by the immigration officer.
Yes, but in this case, your chance of acceptance for the LOS will be significantly reduced. In startup culture, teamwork has a significant advantage and is valuable. If the team consists of several people with different expertise, it will increase the succession rate chance.
Yes. If your idea is attractive to an angel investor, it can get at least 70 thousand CAD; if it is interesting for a VC, it can get at least 200 thousand CAD.
All three organizations are key players in the startup ecosystem. VCs are formed by a group of professional investors who bring money from outside resources. Still, Angel Investors are individuals who use their investments, experience, and money. Moreover, Incubators provide some preliminary services, like office space, tools, mentorship, and camps to support the startups.
VCs are likely to invest in startups with more maturity in business and good tractions, while Angel Investors typically invest in earlier-stage startups. The investment amounts in those stages are different, so naturally, VCs put more money into investments in startups.
Yes. In this case, called SYNDICATION, both organizations will provide a commitment letter and LOS together. Typically, one organization plays the main role, and total investment must meet the minimum. For instance, you can raise 70 thousand CAD from two Angel Investors, and they both can issue commitment and LOS together.
You can see the list of approved designated organizations on the IRCC website.
The designated organization (Venture Capital, Angel Investor, or Incubator) will assess your business plan, and your immigration request will be evaluated and processed by the immigration office of Canada (IRCC).
In the Start-up process, the officer might ask for more inspection or Peer-review and send the documents (commitment letter, time paper, related forms, personal information of applicants, etc.) to the union. They will announce this to the applicants.
Although the officer will consider the union’s assessment results, the final decision will be the officer’s responsibility and authority.
If the officer is not convinced with the documents and overall assessment, He will officially submit the reasons for refusal to applicants. If the officer feels there are vague points in the case, an interview can be held, and more questions may be asked. In this case, applicants have 30 days to answer the questions.
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