Canada Investor Immigration Programmes

Programme Overview

Canada has long been one of the world's most sought-after immigration destinations, attracting investors, entrepreneurs, and internationally mobile families with its high standard of living, universal healthcare, world-class universities, and multicultural society. The country's investor immigration landscape is decentralised and varied: the federal government and individual provinces both operate business migration streams, each with distinct requirements and target profiles.

The federal government's dedicated Immigrant Investor Programme was suspended in 2014 and, as of the date of this publication, has not been relaunched. However, several effective routes remain available:

• Quebec Immigrant Investor Programme (QIIP) — the most established investor programme currently active
• Provincial Entrepreneur and Business Owner streams — administered individually by provinces including British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Saskatchewan
• Atlantic Immigration Programme — for investment in Canada's four Atlantic provinces
• Self-Employed Persons Programme — for individuals with exceptional cultural or athletic achievement (note: IRCC stopped accepting new applications on 30 April 2024 and, as of December 2025, has extended the pause until further notice pending a new entrepreneur pilot)

This guide focuses primarily on the Quebec investor route and the leading provincial entrepreneur streams, which are the most relevant for high-net-worth investors.

Quebec Immigrant Investor Programme (QIIP)

The QIIP is the closest Canada has to a dedicated golden visa route at present. It requires:

• Minimum net personal assets: CAD 2 million (legally acquired, held for at least two years)
• Investment: a CAD 1 million five-year, non-interest-bearing government-guaranteed term note through an approved financial intermediary, plus a separate non-refundable financial contribution of CAD 200,000
• Business experience: minimum two years of management-level business experience in a qualifying enterprise within the past five years
• Language: since the programme reopened in 2024, advanced (B2-level) oral French proficiency is a mandatory requirement; English-only applicants are not eligible
• Age: applicants under 40 attract higher points in Quebec's selection grid; no absolute maximum age

The CAD 1 million term note is returned in full at the end of the five-year term with no interest; the CAD 200,000 contribution is non-refundable. The effective cost is therefore the CAD 200,000 contribution plus the opportunity cost of the foregone interest on the CAD 1 million over five years.

QIIP intake is managed through periodic intake periods; the programme is not continuously open. Applicants must submit within the intake window and meet the selection criteria.

Processing path: Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ) → federal PR application. Total elapsed time is typically 36–60 months from initial application to PR grant, though this varies substantially depending on intake cohort and IRCC processing backlogs.

Provincial Entrepreneur Streams

Most Canadian provinces operate entrepreneur immigration streams. These typically require:

• A business plan for a qualifying Canadian business
• Minimum investment of CAD 150,000–500,000 (varies by province and sector)
• Management or ownership experience
• Active engagement in operating the business in Canada
• Proof of net worth above the investment threshold

Notable streams:

• British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration: minimum CAD 200,000 investment, minimum net personal assets CAD 600,000, minimum one FTE Canadian job created
• Ontario Entrepreneur Stream: minimum 33.33% ownership in the business, minimum CAD 200,000 investment for businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area (higher for GTA), minimum two FTE jobs created
• Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Pathway: minimum CAD 300,000 investment, minimum net assets CAD 500,000

Provincial entrepreneur streams typically lead to a provincial nomination certificate, which enables a federal PR application. Processing times are considerably faster than QIIP — 18–36 months is a reasonable estimate for many provincial streams, though this varies.

Eligibility Requirements (General)

• Minimum age: 18 (no maximum for most streams, though provincial scores may favour younger applicants)
• Lawfully acquired business or investment assets
• Clean criminal record and no immigration violations
• Health examination (required for all Canadian PR applications)
• Language ability: English or French (higher ability attracts more points and is required for Quebec)
• Genuine intent to operate a business in Canada

Dependants: Spouse/partner and unmarried children under 22 may be included in the PR application.

Processing Timeline

Processing times for Canadian investor and business immigration are among the longest of any major destination:

Stream	Typical Timeline
QIIP (Quebec investor)	36–60 months
BC Entrepreneur	18–30 months
Ontario Entrepreneur	24–36 months
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur	18–24 months

Federal PR processing following provincial nomination adds 6–12 months. Timelines are subject to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) caseload and policy changes. All processing times are indicative only.

Benefits

Permanent Residency: Canadian PR grants the right to live, work, and access services in Canada. PR must be renewed (Permanent Resident Card) every five years, subject to meeting physical presence requirements.

Pathway to citizenship: After three years of physical presence in Canada in the preceding five years (PR or temporary resident status), applicants may apply for Canadian citizenship. The Canadian passport provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 185 countries.

Universal healthcare: Canadian PR holders are entitled to enrol in provincial health plans (varies by province; waiting periods may apply). The publicly funded system covers most hospital and physician services.

World-class education: Canada hosts globally ranked universities (University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, McGill). PR holders pay domestic tuition rather than international rates.

Safety and quality of life: Canada consistently ranks in the top ten globally on human development indices. Its major cities — Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary — offer genuine cosmopolitan living with relatively low crime.

Business environment: Canada has a transparent legal and regulatory environment, well-developed capital markets, and proximity to the US economy (Canada-US border management includes preferential business travel under CUSMA/USMCA).

No wealth or inheritance tax: Canada does not levy a wealth tax or inheritance tax. Estate planning in Canada is primarily driven by deemed disposition rules on death (capital gains may be triggered), but no separate estate duty exists.

Limitations

• Canada imposes worldwide income tax on residents. Canadian tax residency is determined primarily by significant residential ties to Canada. Once resident, global income is taxable in Canada. This is a material consideration for high-net-worth investors with complex international income streams.
• Processing times are among the longest of any investor immigration programme globally. The QIIP in particular involves a multi-year process from first application to PR grant.
• Since its 2024 reopening, the QIIP requires advanced (B2-level) oral French, which is a significant barrier for non-French speakers. Applicants typically need to undertake substantial French language study.
• The federal dedicated investor programme was closed in 2014 and no announcement of its return had been made as of the date of this publication. Programme availability is subject to policy change.
• Maintaining Canadian PR requires minimum physical presence (730 days per five years). Investors with highly mobile lifestyles should model their travel carefully to maintain PR status.
• Living costs in major Canadian cities (particularly Vancouver and Toronto) are high by global standards, driven significantly by housing costs.

Due Diligence Notes

IRCC conducts thorough source-of-funds checks on all investor and business migration applications. A complete source-of-wealth file (tracing all qualifying assets to their legitimate origin) is required. Canadian Immigration authorities work closely with FINTRAC (Canada's financial intelligence unit).

Applicants should engage a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or a lawyer authorised to practise immigration law in the relevant province. Using unlicensed advisers is a legal violation under Canadian immigration law.

Programme rules, intake periods, thresholds, and processing times are subject to change. This page reflects the position as understood at the date of publication. Professional immigration and tax advice must be sought before making any decision.

How Global Investments can help

Global Investments works with RCIC-registered immigration advisers and Canadian tax specialists across British Columbia, Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec. We help clients identify the most appropriate Canadian investor or entrepreneur stream for their profile and objectives, prepare comprehensive source-of-wealth files, develop compliant business plans, and navigate the provincial nomination and federal PR process.

We also provide pre-emigration tax planning, connecting clients with Big Four or independent Canadian tax advisers to manage the transition from their current tax domicile into the Canadian system, and advising on structures that may mitigate the worldwide income tax exposure on arrival.

Contact us for a confidential consultation. Processing times and programme availability change regularly; advice must always be verified against current requirements.