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The Federal Investor Program: requirements to qualify
Business persons who, during the past 5 years, have had at least 2 years experience in managing and owning a percentage of a business may qualify. So may business persons who, having not owned equity in such a business, have nevertheless been in charge of managing at least 5 full time employees or the equivalent by part time employees.
To qualify as an investor, a candidate must also at a minimum:
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Have a legally obtained net worth of at least $800,000 (alone or with their spouse or common law partner)
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ake an investment of $400,000. These investments are in the form of a loan made by the investor to and guaranteed by the government of Canada. These loans do not bear interest and are paid back to the investor, after a little more than 5 years. Please see investment financing options below.
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Obtain a minimum number of points during selection according to the grid applicable to investors. Candidates are evaluated mostly but not only on the basis of business experience: criteria such as their age, level of education, knowledge of Canada’s official languages, etc may contribute to their success in obtaining a permanent resident visa as an investor
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Successfully undergo Canadian government mandated security and medical examinations
Investment financing options
To qualify as an investor, candidates may either invest their own money in the program or borrow from one of the financial institutions recognized by the government as a facilitator:
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Option 1 : you invest 400 000 $ CAN from your own money at no interest, and after approximately 5 years this amount is returned to you. Remember: this money is guaranteed by the government so there is no risk to you as an investor.
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Option 2 : you invest no money of your own. A number of Canadian Financial institutions have been approved by the government as facilitators: upon signing an agreement with you, these may advance the 400000 to the government on your behalf. You will be charged fees and interest up front by the financial institution, and, at the end of the 5 year period, the government pays the investment back to the financial institution, not the investor.
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 may also help you plan and organize a business exploratory trip to Canada. If you choose the Quebec Investor program, you may also want to request that your immigration interview with government officers be held in Montreal.
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
The government of the province of Quebec runs its own Investor Program and is in charge of selecting investor candidates who wish to settle in this province of Canada. The Quebec government Investor Program is very similar to the Federal program.
Once accepted by Quebec officials, investors:
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Are granted a document proving they have been accepted by Quebec. It is called the Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ)
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Must apply to the Canadian government for a permanent resident visa and successfully undergo Canadian government mandated security and medical examinations
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Although very similar to the Federal government’s Investor Program, the Quebec program emphasizes a slightly different definition of admissible experience:
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Candidates must have a minimum of three years management experience acquired over the course of the 10 years preceding your application for a Québec selection certificate
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This must be in a profitable and legal business (agricultural, industrial or commercial), in government or in an international organization.
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Management experience is defined as having been in charge of the responsibilities and duties related to the planning, management and control of material, financial and human resources (Other than in the course of studies, an apprenticeship, training or specialization process).
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Financing options available for the Quebec investors program are similar to those of the federal investor program, but the money invested is guaranteed by the Government of Quebec instead of the government of Canada.
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