Canadian Investor and Business Immigration
Canada's business immigration programs are designed for entrepreneurs, investors, and business owners who want to establish or purchase a business in Canada and eventually obtain Canadian permanent residence.
The end goal is to obtain the right to live, work, and operate a business in Canada, with a pathway to permanent residence.
OVERVIEW
1. Your Next Chapter
2. The Canadian Business Immigration Landscape
3. Our Services: What You Can Expect
4. Your Investment
5. A Snapshot of our Process
6. Why Work With Us
Canadian business immigration is one of the most complex and rapidly changing areas of immigration law. The programs available today are not the same as they were two years ago, and they will not be the same two years from now. This is exactly the kind of situation where experienced legal guidance pays for itself many times over.
The Canadian Business Immigration Landscape
Canada does not have a single passive investor visa like the United States E-2 or EB-5. Instead, business immigration in Canada is built around the concept of active economic participation: you must genuinely operate or manage a business, not simply invest capital and wait for a return. Here is an overview of the main pathways:
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Entrepreneur Streams
Most Canadian provinces operate their own entrepreneur immigration streams under their Provincial Nominee Programs. These programs allow entrepreneurs with business ownership or management experience to apply for provincial nomination, which leads to Canadian permanent residence. Requirements vary significantly by province, including minimum net worth thresholds, minimum investment amounts, minimum ownership percentages, and business plan requirements. Intake periods open and close throughout the year. Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and others all operate streams in this category.
Owner/Operator Work Permit
An Owner/Operator work permit allows a foreign national who owns a controlling interest in a Canadian business to obtain a work permit to manage and operate that business in Canada. This pathway typically requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) demonstrating that the position cannot be filled by a Canadian worker and that the business is genuinely operational and beneficial to the Canadian economy. It is not a permanent residence pathway on its own, but it allows you to operate your business in Canada while you pursue PR through other channels such as the PNP or Express Entry.
Start-Up Visa Program (Currently Paused)
Canada's federal Start-Up Visa Program was designed for innovative entrepreneurs who could secure the backing of a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator. As of January 2026, the program is paused to new applicants while the federal government reviews and restructures business immigration more broadly. If and when the program reopens, it will again represent a strong pathway for entrepreneurs with genuinely innovative business ideas.
Quebec Business Immigration
Quebec operates its own immigration system independently of the federal government. Quebec has historically maintained investor and entrepreneur programs with different requirements than federal and other provincial programs. Quebec's business immigration programs have gone through several pauses and reopenings in recent years. If Quebec is your preferred destination, a separate assessment of Quebec-specific pathways is essential.
Because this landscape changes so frequently, the single most important thing you can do is get a current, accurate assessment of which pathways are open and which ones fit your situation. That is exactly what our strategy sessions are designed to do.
Sisu Legal's Canadian Business Immigration Service is a done-for-you application service that takes the guesswork out of a genuinely complicated process. We will identify the right pathway for your goals, assess your eligibility honestly, and build the strongest possible application on your behalf.
Our lawyers stay current on which programs are open, what provincial governments are prioritizing, and what a competitive application looks like right now. They understand the business and legal requirements on both sides of the border, which is particularly valuable for entrepreneurs expanding from the United States into Canada.
They are obsessed with efficiency, using systems, processes, and technologies to avoid errors.
This Service Will:
• Assess your situation and identify the pathway or pathways most likely to succeed for your specific goals.
• Guide you through the process, including checklists, a client portal, and a kanban-style visual board that lets you track where things stand at every stage.
• Ensure you understand everything and that all your questions are answered quickly.
• Support you with any difficulties encountered along the way.
When you unwrap the way this service works, here is an overview of what you will get...
A Pathway Assessment
Before committing to any application, we identify which programs are currently open, which ones you qualify for, and which one gives you the best combination of speed, cost, and certainty. You will not spend money building an application for a program that does not fit your situation.
A Strategic Plan
This service includes an initial meeting with a lawyer to discuss your business background, your investment capacity, your preferred province, your timeline, and your concerns. We will map out the exact pathway we recommend, the evidence required, and what a competitive application looks like for your specific situation. Never worry about googling your questions and getting misleading answers ever again.
An Execution Strategy
A plan is nothing without execution. You will receive a customized document and business plan checklist tailored to your specific program and province. We make document collection as painless as possible with a customized upload link and a secured shared folder you can add to at any time that is most convenient for you.
Attention to Detail: Always
Business immigration applications are scrutinized closely by both provincial and federal immigration officers. We have checks and balances in place throughout the process to make sure nothing gets missed. We have systems, processes, and technology in place to minimize the chance of errors and strengthen every element of your application.
Support: Reach Out Anytime You Get Stuck
Schedule a call or email us with your questions at any time, at no extra charge. You can always expect a response within one business day. The goal is to anticipate as many of your questions as possible so you always have a clear picture of what comes next.
Your Investment
The cost of our Canadian Business Immigration Service varies depending on the program and the complexity of your application. Fees are discussed and confirmed during your strategy session.
Typical Range: $5,000 CAD to $10,000 CAD
Business immigration applications are more complex than most immigration matters, and the fees reflect the depth of work involved, including business plan review, document preparation, and provincial or federal submissions.
Is it worth the cost?
A done-for-you service will save you time, energy, and frustration.
You can continue reading provincial government websites, trying to piece together requirements that change every intake period, or...
You can let us handle it so you can focus on what really matters: building your business in Canada.
With proven systems and strategies to present your best possible application, stop wondering about what you could have done better.
Let's give you peace of mind that your very best possible business immigration application will be submitted.
A Snapshot of our Process
Step 1
Schedule a Strategy Session. This is where we assess your eligibility, identify the right pathway, and figure out if we are a good fit. Given how frequently business immigration programs change, this step is essential before taking any other action. If you decide to move forward within 7 days of your consultation, the consultation becomes free.
Step 2
After you agree that we are a good fit, it is time to come up with a tailored plan and execute it. We will confirm the program, outline the evidence and business plan requirements, assign you a customized checklist, and begin building your application.
Step 3
Now that we are almost there, we will put your entire application through an error-proofing review system. We will review your business plan, your supporting documents, and your forms to ensure everything is as strong as it can possibly be. No cutting corners here.
Please note, to keep up with our high service standards, there are limited spots available each month.
Five Promises
1. You will have step-by-step guidance and will not be left wondering what comes next.
2. You will have a lawyer on-call to answer any and all questions along the way, at no extra charge.
3. Your case will be processed with efficiency, using systems, processes, and technologies to avoid errors.
4. Your best possible business immigration application. You will NOT be left wondering whether you could have done something better.
5. You will never feel like just “another case.” We genuinely care, because we understand what it means to bet on yourself and your business in a new country.
And just who are we?
We are on a mission to help entrepreneurs and investors navigate the Canadian immigration system so they can build the businesses and lives they have worked for.
At Sisu Legal, we understand both sides of the Canada-U.S. border. We work with clients who are expanding American businesses into Canada, investors who want to establish roots in the Windsor-Ontario corridor, and entrepreneurs from around the world who see Canada as the right place to build. Our lawyers are obsessed with efficiency, using systems, processes, and technologies to avoid errors. Most importantly, we want to help you choose the right pathway and submit the best possible application.
This is how your next chapter begins.
And that, my friend, is why we created a solution...
Are you ready? Let's talk.
How to know if you are a perfect match for Sisu Legal's Business Immigration Service
• You would rather invest money than time.
• You want someone to identify the right pathway before you spend a dollar on an application.
• You want someone else to handle the attention to detail, precision, and organization.
• You understand that time is a non-renewable resource and that choosing the wrong program costs more than a lawyer ever would.
• You are tired of trying to piece this together on your own from government websites that do not tell you what a competitive application actually looks like.
• You do not want to risk having your application refused and would prefer expert guidance every step of the way.
• Above all else, you want the peace of mind that comes from knowing you submitted your best possible application.
FAQs
Here is what others have asked before working with us:
Does Canada have an investor visa?
Canada does not have a passive investor visa in the traditional sense. Canada's business immigration programs require active participation in your business, not just a capital investment. The available pathways include Provincial Nominee Program entrepreneur streams, Owner/Operator work permits, and federal programs that have historically included the Start-Up Visa. The right pathway for you depends on your net worth, business experience, preferred province, and timeline. A strategy session is the fastest way to get a clear picture of your options.
I am a U.S. citizen who wants to open a business in Canada. What are my options?
As an American, you have several options depending on how you want to structure your move. If you are transferring to a Canadian branch of your existing U.S. company, an Intra-Company Transfer work permit may be an option. If you want to establish a new business, an Owner/Operator work permit or a Provincial Nominee Program entrepreneur stream may be the right fit. CUSMA also provides certain business visitor protections for initial exploratory activities. We will assess which pathway makes the most sense for your specific situation during a strategy session.
Which province is best for business immigration?
There is no single answer. Different provinces have different entrepreneur stream requirements, investment thresholds, and intake schedules. Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Nova Scotia all operate entrepreneur streams, but the requirements and availability vary significantly. The best province for you depends on where you actually want to live and operate, your business sector, your net worth, and which programs are currently accepting applications. We will walk you through the options that are realistic for your situation.
What is a business plan and do I really need one?
Yes. A business plan is a required component of virtually every Canadian business immigration application. It is not the same as a general business plan you would write for a bank loan. Immigration business plans must address specific criteria set by the provincial or federal program, including the economic benefit to Canada, job creation potential, market analysis, and your own role in the business. A weak business plan is one of the most common reasons business immigration applications are refused. We will review and advise on yours before anything is submitted.
How long does Canadian business immigration take?
It depends on the pathway. Provincial programs vary widely, with some taking six months to two years from application to nomination. Federal permanent residence processing adds additional time on top of that. Some pathways include temporary work permit options that allow you to begin operating in Canada while your permanent residence application is pending. We will give you realistic timelines based on the current state of the programs that apply to your situation.
Do I need to move to Canada right away?
It depends on the program. Some provincial entrepreneur streams require you to establish a business and demonstrate active management in the province before you receive a provincial nomination. Others allow more flexibility during the initial stages. We will discuss the residency and presence requirements of any program before you commit to it.
Do you offer refunds?
We do not offer refunds, but you are not obligated to continue working with us. If you are not satisfied with our services, you can cancel your program at any time and will only be charged based on actual work completed on your file.
I have more questions. How do I get in touch?
You can email us at hello@sisulegal.com or schedule a strategy session to speak directly with one of our lawyers.