On April 11, 2018, regulations for the Start-Up Business Class (the “Start-Up Business Class”) came into effect. The regulations slightly modify the program that has been in effect since April 1, 2013. Both applicants as well as designated entities should be aware of the changes.
» Read more about: The Start-Up Business Class »
Read more ›On November 18, Citizenship and Immigration Canada released Operational Bulletin 360: Entrepreneur Terms and Conditions. Coming off the heels of the government’s decision to temporarily suspend accepting new applications in the Entrepreneur Program, the Operational Bulletin makes life easier for those Entrepreneurs already in Canada.
Section 98 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations provides that Entrepreneurs must:
- Control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian business equal to or greater than 33 1/3 per cent;
- Provide active and ongoing management of the qualifying Canadian business; and
- Create at least one incremental full-time job equivalent in the qualifying Canadian business for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
As of February 1, 2012, active monitoring of terms and conditions for entrepreneurs will cease. However, Entrepreneurs will still be expected to comply with their conditions.
Accordingly, on December 1, 2011 Citizenship and Immigration Canada will counsel approved entrepreneur class permanent residence applicants to meet the conditions. However, they will also be informed that they will only need to provide evidence showing that they met their conditions if specifically requested to do so by a Citizenship and Immigration Canada official. They will only be requested to do so if officers have a reason to believe that there has been non-compliance.
Citizenship applications will also not be delayed due to outstanding terms and conditions, provided the Citizenship Officer does not have reason to believe that the terms and conditions have been breached.
While this change does not affect a lot of people, it will significantly reduce the burden on those Entrepreneurs in Canada.
» Read more about: Entrepreneurs No Longer Have to Report Terms and Conditions »
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On July 1, 2011, a temporary moratorium on accepting new applications in the federal Entrepreneur program came into force.
Given the processing times below it is not hard to see why:
Cairo – 7 years, 7 months
Damascus – 7 years
Beijing – 3 years, 7 months
Manila – 5 years, 4 months
New Delhi – 6 years, 10 months
Seoul – 3 years, 10 months
Berlin – 3 years, 9 months
London – 4 years, 6 months
Paris – 7 years, 10 months
Buffalo – 6 years, 6 months
» Read more about: MI-3 Suspends the Entrepreneur Program »
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According to CIC, during the past 12 months the approval rate for different application streams for permanent residence has been as follows:
Immigration Category
Approval Rate
Economic
Quebec Skilled Workers
97%
Federal Skilled Workers (Pre-C-50)
57%
Federal Skilled Workers (Post C-50)
21%
Entrepreneurs
76%
Self Employed
45%
Investors
82%
Provincial Nominees
96%
Live-In-Caregivers
99%
Canadian Experience Class
85%
Family
Parents and Grandparents
91%
Spouses & Partners
83%
Dependent Children
80%
Family Class (Other)
70%
Humanitarian
Government Sponsored Refugees
76%
Private Sponsored Refugees
69%
Refugee Dependents
86%
H&C Applications
70%
FCH – Family Relations – H&C
90%
» Read more about: Live in Care Givers, PNP Acceptance Rates »
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Canada’s Self-Employed Program seeks to attract to Canada individuals who have the intention and ability to become self-employed in Canada. Self-employed persons are required to have either:
- relevant experience that will make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada or
- experience in farm management and the intention and ability to purchase and manage a farm in Canada.
The farm management component of the program closed on March 10, 2018.
Eligibility – Athletics and Cultural Experience
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (“IRCC”) website states that to qualify for the Self-Employed Program applicants must show that they:
- have relevant experience;
- intend and be able to be self-employed in Canada; and
- can contribute to Canada’s economy in one of the required areas.
“Relevant experience” under the Self-Employed Program means at least two years of experience during the period starting five years before a person applies for permanent residence and ending by the time the visa is issued. The experience must be:
- for cultural activities:
- two one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
- two one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
- a combination of a one-year period described in (1.) above, and a one-year period described in (2.) above.
- for athletics:
- two one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or
- two one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
- a combination of a one-year period described in (1.) above, and a one-year period described in (2.) above.
What Are Cultural Activities?
According to the IRCC website,
» Read more about: Self Employed Class – What Are Cultural and Athletic Activities? »
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