Registration of a company in Canada. Start a business or look for a job

How to open a business in Canada? The task of starting your own business can seem overwhelming. What do I need to do? Where to begin? This article has collected general instructions and recommendations for organizing business in British Columbia.

Step 1. Decide on the structure of your future enterprise

When you are sure that the idea for your business is viable and you are ready to start a business, one of the first steps is to register a name. However, before proceeding with this, you need to decide what kind of business structure you have chosen - private enterprise, partnership, joint stock company or non-profit partnership. Each of these types has significant differences in terms of financial obligations, taxation and succession planning.

There are some details to consider when choosing a structure for your business. In British Columbia, the main business structures include:

Private enterprise – This type Suitable for those who plan to manage the business themselves.
Partnership (partnership)– Such a structure implies the management of a business with one or more partners.
Joint-stock company– Under this structure, the business is registered as a legal entity separate from you and your personal property.
Non-profit partnership- This structure implies the use of absolutely all the resources of the organization for its work and development.
cooperative society– This structure applies when the organization is owned and equally controlled by individuals who use and benefit from its services.

It should be mentioned that the main difference between a joint-stock company and private enterprise (or partnership) is the following - in a joint-stock company, not a single member of the organization is responsible for the debts of the organization (if such liability is not intentionally specified in official documents). Also, if any member of the organization is fired or replaced, the business as a whole will not be affected and work can continue uninterrupted.

If you are planning to start a public limited company with the intent to sell shares in the organization (for services or investment), it is important to check local British Columbia laws that cover this matter. Read this article to find out more.

Step 3: Make sure your business has a license

In most cities in British Columbia, organizations require a license that allows you to operate a company on its territory (whether it be your living space or commercial space) located within that city.

In some cities, you may be required to obtain a license even if you do not own the territory in which you operate. If your business is located in a non-municipal area, a license must be obtained from the appropriate institution in the nearby city.

Please note that additional federal, provincial, and/or city government regulations may apply to your organization, so it is a good idea to review these in advance, if any.

For more information on the location of licensing agencies, please contact

If you are not in Canada, but have entrepreneurial skills, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the immigration program ».

One of the ways to open a business in the Americas for business people is business immigration to canada. To set up your own business in Canada, the following conditions are required:

300 thousand Canadian dollars in the account earned legally;
Experience successful management business in our country for at least 2 years;
within one year of the first three years of being in the country, you must be the owner of at least 33% of the shares of a small enterprise;
knowledge in English , to take an exam for which you can at the British Council office;
A letter confirming that you are able to fulfill all the conditions and fully agree with them.

The same requirements apply to family members of a prospective immigrant. Residence in Canada of each of them must be supported by a fortune of 300 thousand dollars and shares in the business. Rigid business requirements, which will need to be owned during the year:

Annual turnover of the enterprise, which you intend to own 33%, must be at least 500 thousand Canadian dollars. Or at the end of the year, the co-owner's share in the company's assets must be at least $125,000;
The number of employees in the enterprise must be at least two, they must have Canadian citizenship. If all the requirements are met and a business visa to Canada is opened for you, then after three years you can apply for permanent residence status.

You can open a business in Canada by choosing among existing species organizational and legal forms:

Corporation;
Limited Liability Partnership;
Partnership with unlimited liability;
Branch of a foreign company;
Self employed;
Trust.

Any of the above enterprises is registered either at the federal level, or in the provinces, or in territorial bodies. Depending on where the decision on registration is issued, the activity of the company also depends. Thus, a firm registered with a territorial agency has the right to conduct business only within the given territory.

It can be divided into two main types: closed and open. Closed, in turn, are divided into: Corporations, more than 50% of the authorized capital of which belongs to private individuals. If more than 51% of the shares are owned by Canadians, then such a corporation receives significant income tax benefits; Corporations whose authorized capital is owned by individuals who are not citizens of Canada. Open corporations can be classified as: Open corporations, whose shares can be freely bought on stock exchanges; Affiliated companies whose shares are owned by public corporations; Cooperatives. If you decide to buy a business in Canada, it is very important to decide on the form of corporation. If it is a company registered at the federal level, then it will be possible to conduct business throughout the country without restrictions. If in the province, then it will be necessary to have an office in this territory and conduct business only within its borders. To expand the area of activity, you must obtain a special permit.

How is doing business in Canada different from doing business in other countries? Its distinctive features are that:

There are no minimum restrictions on the size of the authorized capital;
Shareholders are liable for all debts of the company in the amount of contributed capital;
There is no limitation on the life of the corporation;
There is no obligatory closing of the financial year on December 31, as in all countries;
Companies of all forms are governed by a board of directors, more than half of whose members must be Canadian citizens;
All companies are subject to an annual audit.

What taxes will an entrepreneur who decides to open a small business in Canada have to pay to the budget?

Both the federal and local governments in each province levy corporate income tax and excise taxes on profits made by businesses. Municipalities levy a property tax on companies. Income tax in Kanata has four types: for persons with citizenship of the country, persons temporarily residing in Canada, residents and non-residents. What type of corporation to prefer, and what are their distinctive features and benefits?

Partnership with unlimited liability:

All shareholders are liable for debts in the amount of contributed capital;
The financial year closes on December 31, at the same time financial statements are prepared;
Profit is the property of the founders and is taxed as their income.

Limited Liability Partnership:

There are no restrictions on the minimum authorized capital;
Partners are liable for all debts of the company in proportion to the contribution made to the authorized capital;
The partnership is registered with the Agency of any province;
Contributors cannot go to the board of directors of their company;
The financial year closes on 31 December;
.Profit belongs to partners and is subject to income tax rates.

Branch of a foreign corporation- if a corporation does business in several provinces, then it must obtain a license and permission to do business in each of them.

joint venture

Established by two or more individuals who pool their capital to achieve specific purpose or the execution of any project;
This type of business does not have the status of a legal entity;
The financial year closes at any time convenient for the owners.

Private enterprise- the most simple and convenient form of reference small business. Such an organization may engage in any of the activities permitted by law. The enterprise is not considered as a legal entity and the activities are carried out on behalf of the owner. Registration is not required, but you will need a license and permission to run your own business.

Trust has the status of a legal entity, and its opening is justified if the property is managed by the owners, and the owner of the profit is the owner of the assets

In Canada, there are 4 categories of taxpayers: residents and non-residents, citizens permanently and non-permanently residing in Canada. Depending on the province, type of activity, the total amount of tax can be from 18 to 49%. Profits received by non-residents are often subject to a 25% rate from the source of income.

This article will give you valuable advice on how to start a business in Canada.

Many people think that starting a business in Canada is an order of magnitude more difficult than in other countries. However, it is not. Everything is much easier than it seems. In this country, business is supported in the form of loans and consultations, assistance is also provided by the government of the country, assistance is provided by representatives of various business structures. This greatly facilitates the procedure for starting your own business in Canada.

How to start a business in Canada

To open a business in this country, all conditions are provided. The state gives loans and provides the necessary benefits. The taxation system here is very loyal and is recognized as one of the softest in the world. The registration process itself is quite simple.

But there is one "but". In Canada, you can open your own business only if you have been successfully doing business in your country for at least two years.

Starting a business in Canada is directly related to the goals of creating your own business:

expansion of an existing business;
immigration to the country (assumes dual citizenship).

The second of these goals is the most difficult.

At the first stage, it is necessary to choose the organizational and legal form of the institution.

The stage is important in that the amount of security depends on the choice of the organizational and legal type of the future enterprise (the required amount that should be on the account of the company at the time of its registration).

Less difficulties arise when opening a business in the form of a joint venture (two or more founders), a limited partnership or a private firm.

At the second stage, the submission of documents and the registration itself are carried out.

A person who wants to open a business in Canada, before submitting documents to the Ministry of Government Services, passes a special test aimed at determining the prospects of the desired direction. It is a private or joint venture. However, citizenship is not required. You just need to live in the country legally. Based on the results of such a test, it becomes possible to receive recommendations in choosing the field of activity, business direction and organizational and legal form of the institution.

Registration takes place at the nearest Revenue Canada office where you live in the case of a sole proprietorship or partnership.

For registration you will need the following list of documents:

international passport;
apostilled civil passport;
visa;
notarized and apostilled copies of all documents that confirm the fact of ownership of the enterprise for two years in the country where you live;
documents that confirm the fact of your residence in the country.

As a result of the registration process, filling out the necessary forms, you will receive a business number. Obtaining a business number and registering is free of charge. You need to pay for the registration of the name of the enterprise, for the search for a trademark (free name).

For non-residents of Canada, registration cannot be carried out. But there are more complex forms of registration, which are also recorded in the Ministry of Consumer and Commercial Relations.

As of 2011.

How to open a business in Canada.

All conditions have been created for business in Canada, including loyal taxation.

A company can only be opened if you have been successfully doing business in your country for at least two years.

Starting a business in Canada is directly related to the goals of creating your own business:

expansion of an existing business;
immigration to the country (assumes dual citizenship).

A business immigrant is considered foreign citizen, which the:

has experience in running a qualified business or manages a business;
owns legally acquired wealth of at least $400,000 CAD;
confirms in writing the intention to invest at least $200,000 CAD in your business and create at least one job for permanent residents of Canada.

Types of entrepreneurial activity in Canada (legal form):
- an individual entrepreneur without forming a legal entity (sole proprietorship);
- partnership (partnership) / limited partnership (limited partnership) / partnership with limited liability (limited liability);
- corporation (corporation or limited company).

All companies established in Canada (residents) are required to pay taxes on all income, wherever they are received.

In addition, any company, regardless of its place of incorporation, is also considered a Canadian tax resident and is subject to taxation on its worldwide income if it is controlled and managed from Canada.
Companies are governed by the following laws:
- Federal act on business corporations (The Canada Business Corporations Act) and similar provincial acts (for example, Ontario Business Corporations Act);
Investment Canada Act;
Competition Act (Canada);
Income Tax Act;
Business Names Act;
Small Business Development Corporations Act;
Corporate Information Act (Corporations Information Act);
Securities Act.

Individual entrepreneur without formation of a legal entity (sole proprietorship)

An entrepreneur is liable for the obligations of his business both with the funds invested in it and with his personal property. Lenders present their claims personally to the owner of the business, a specific individual.

Partnership

The concept of partnership in Canadian law is similar to the concept of partnership in Belarusian law. Partners jointly conduct business without forming a legal entity, while jointly and severally answering for the obligations of the business with personal property. In this form of business relationship, the responsibility for the actions of one of the partners is shared by all partners. The partnership does not have to be documented. A partnership can be established on the basis of a number of practical criteria, such as actual participation in the profit and loss, lease relationship, reference to the partnership in the company's business correspondence, and so on.

limited partnership

The concept of a limited partnership is similar to the concept of a limited partnership in Belarusian law. In a limited partnership, the common partner bears unlimited personal liability for the obligations of the business, while the liability of limited partners is limited to the size of their investment in the business. This legal form is typical for investment funds and start-up businesses.

Limited Liability Partnership
(limited liability)

This form of management has no direct analogy in Belarusian law. The main difference between a limited partnership and a simple partnership is that the partners will not be liable for partnership obligations arising from the bad faith actions of one of the partners. Professional business (lawyers, auditors, architects, etc.) is usually organized in this form.

Limited Liability Corporations

The concept of a corporation with limited liability (hereinafter referred to as a corporation) is identical to the concept of a legal entity in Belarusian law. The main difference between a corporation is that it is a legal entity that is not identified with its owners.
From the point of view of the law, the creation of a corporation is the creation of a new legal unit. The property of a corporation is owned by the corporation and not by the individual shareholders. Its obligations are the obligations of the corporation, not the obligations of the shareholders.
Corporations are divided into public corporations - open joint stock companies with the right to sell shares on the market - and private corporations - private corporations without the right to publicly sell shares.
The corporation may be provincial or federal. A provincial corporation can only do business in the province where it is registered.
A federal corporation may operate throughout Canada, subject, however, to provincial laws, including the requirement to obtain a business license or register in that province.
Credit and trust corporations, investment companies, banks and insurance (reinsurance) companies require licensing of their activities.
A corporation is considered a small company if:
- controlled by permanent residents or citizens of Canada;
- receives income from entrepreneurial activities in Canada;
- has an annual income not exceeding the limit established by law;
- corporations "associated" with this corporation do not qualify for taxation at the rate of small companies.

Registration of a corporation (company).

If you want to register your business in Canada, then Before submitting documents to the Ministry of Government Services, you must pass a special test aimed at determining the prospects of the desired direction.

The minimum amount of capital is not set. Payment of the declared authorized capital of the corporation is not required. It is allowed to issue registered, preferred shares, shares without par value. The minimum number of shareholders is one individual or legal entity, which does not have to be a resident of Canada. Information about them is not subject to registration. The law ensures non-disclosure of information about the real owner of the corporation. It is possible to use a nominee director and hold shares in a trust. The minimum number of directors is one, and he must be a resident of Canada.

It is necessary to have a registered office in Canada.

Mandatory accounting, drawing up an annual report, in some cases - the provision of an audit report.

The term for registering a corporation is ten days. Acquisition of ready-made companies is possible.

The first stage of registration is the selection and verification of the repeatability of its name.

Instead of a name, a corporation may use a registration number, but most entrepreneurs prefer to give their corporations names. The name of a limited liability corporation must necessarily include one of the three words - "Limited", "Incorporated", "Corporation" - in full or abbreviated form. The words bank, trust, profitable, etc. cannot be used in the name. (without further obtaining the appropriate license). After checking, a printout is issued, where the proposed names will be arranged in order of preference (name search printout).
The second stage is filling in the registration certificate in two copies with the charter attached, a certificate of the presence of a registered office, a protocol on the appointment of a director, a printout of a name search, issuing a check, a cover letter and sending this package to the address of the registration services.
After that, within a week, the applicant receives a registration certificate.
The third stage is ordering a book of protocols, shares and a seal of a corporation, opening a corporation account in a bank, drawing up and filling out a book of protocols in accordance with the established model.

The final basic set of company documents consists of the following documents:
original certificate of registration;
the original decision of the founder on the appointment of the first director;
originals of constituent documents;
original certificate of tax registration;
company's stamp.

The Certificate of Incorporation (Articles of Incorporation) is the main document confirming the registration of a legal entity in Canada.

The Certificate of Incorporation and the Articles of Association of Partnership (Partnership Agreement) are confirmation of the legitimacy of registering a partnership (partnership) in Canada.

The certificate of incorporation and the memorandum of association (Shareholder Agreement) are confirmation of the legitimacy of the registration of the corporation in Canada.

All registration activities for new legal entities are handled by the Ministry of Government Services of each province in Canada.

Access to information posted in the register of legal entities in Canada is public.

Some government programs to support small businesses:

1. Steps to Growth Capital

This web-based program teaches entrepreneurs how to structure and properly present an investment project to sources of risk capital. The program is available to any Canadian entrepreneur through Strategishttp://strategis.gc.ca.

Through eight stages of learning, the aspiring entrepreneur learns how to become invest-ready and build relationships with investors. Steps to Growth Capital also introduces entrepreneurs and regular business advisors to the Investment Toolkit. Investment Toolkit includes tools financial analysis, investment proposal templates and a database of venture capital sources. The Steps to Growth Capital website also contains information and links to books on the subject, software and other websites that help you effectively prepare investment proposals.

2.Western Economic Diversification Canada's (WD)

WD is focused on conducting innovative activities with financial institutions on commercial terms, providing loan capital to emerging industries where access to capital is a problem for Western small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Loan funds provide financing for SMEs, especially in small, high-risk, export-oriented and new economy companies. WD provides front-end support to potential loan clients in terms of information, business planning advice, and helps clients review the experience of other companies before meeting with a potential source of capital. Loan approval decisions are made by the lending institution.

In cooperation with WD, financial institutions created loan funds in the following industries:

information technology and telecommunications (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Royal Bank);
new technologies (TD Bank);
micro-loans, independent economic development (Assiniboine Credit Union, VanCity Savings Credit Union);
micro-loans for small businesses (First National Bank of Canada).

3. IDEA-SME

This program provides small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with a wide range of resources and services, information and guidance, and financial support for initiatives in each of the priority areas for the Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions:

innovation;
research and development (R&D);
design;
marketing research;
entrepreneurship;
business climate.

4. Electronic commerce

BDC keeps up with the times and, as part of the development of e-commerce, has its own electronic representation BDC Connex©, which provides access to the entire product line of the bank, including the Global Line of Credit® product.

To help small businesses master e-commerce and take a leading position, the Techno.net loan was developed. Operating businesses can receive funding of $25,000 - $50,000 to cover the cost of developing Web solutions. This new product complements the BDC Connex© project.

Useful sites

1. To fill in all documents and especially annual reports
Corporations Canada Online Filing Center

2. Documents for searching and hiring specialists

Dream of starting your own business last years becomes not just an obsession, but also the meaning of life for the majority of enterprising citizens in all corners of the planet. And if in their homeland they face many sometimes insurmountable obstacles and bureaucratic formalities, then what can we say about abroad, where not only the laws, but also the language are incomprehensible. This conclusion, in most cases, however, can be considered a fallacy. To open a business in Canada, for example, you need to draw up a business plan and prove the financial benefits of your idea for the selected region. If everything goes well, help from the state will not keep you waiting. But first you need to study all the legal and organizational subtleties.

What forms of business and ownership are provided in Canada

Planning your own business begins by choosing the form it will take in the Canadian economic environment. To date, the following options are legally fixed:

Corporation (corporation) - conditionally they can be divided into two groups - open and closed, each of which still has the following subspecies:
- Canadian-Controlled Private Corporation - most of the authorized capital is owned by Canadians, a non-resident cannot have the right to control the company. But this makes it possible to receive tax benefits of 51%;
- Other Private Corporation - most of the invested funds are controlled by non-residents who can already run the business;
- Public Corporation - the shares of such a company are freely available on the stock markets;
- Corporation controlled by any Public corporation - in other words, a subsidiary of a public company;
- Other Corporation - any other firm that is different from those listed above, such as a cooperative.
This type of enterprise can be organized without any minimum capital, and all shareholders are endowed with limited liability for the obligations and debts of the firm. The only province where you can form an unlimited company is Nova Scotia, with the majority of shareholders allowed to be non-residents.
General Partnership is a partnership that has unlimited liability. This type of relationship is a kind of union of two or more persons who decide to create an enterprise for the purpose of making a profit. To open such a company, you will not need permission from the Canadian government or a minimum authorized capital.
Limited Liability Partnership is a partnership with limited liability. To create it, you will definitely need to register with the relevant department. There is also no minimum authorized capital.
Branch Office - a branch of a foreign company. It must be registered or licensed in each region where such an office will be opened. From a legal point of view, the branch has no independence, but only represents the main company in Canada.
Joint Venture - involves the implementation of a specific project by combining the efforts and capital of two or more persons. The liability of the parties is limited solely to the amount of capital they have invested. Moreover, each participant of such a project is an independent tax payer.
Sole Proprietorship is a private enterprise. The most simple form business organization. A Canadian citizen who is the sole owner of a business, as well as a non-resident who intends to conduct all activities on his own behalf, is considered a private entrepreneur and can engage in any type of activity, if it is not prohibited by law.
Trust - is a legal entity that consists of one or more founders. Management in such companies is carried out by trustees, but the profit is divided among all beneficiaries.

Business registration procedure

The main advantage of doing business in this country is the absence of complex bureaucratic barriers. The local government is interested in the presence of foreign investors, and therefore creates all conditions for their comfortable existence.

All companies here can be divided into two types:

federal - which can operate throughout the state;
provincial - have the right to carry out their activities only in a certain province.

From an idea to implementation, an entrepreneur will have to go through several stages:

Drawing up a business plan.
Choice of organizational form.
Formation of capital for a successful start.
Name search.
Registration insurance policy for your future business.

In addition, immigrants should be aware of the fulfillment of a number of conditions that will allow them to obtain the status of an entrepreneur:

availability of funds - at least 300 thousand Canadian dollars (221,000 USD);
business management experience in their home country - from two years;
owning a third of the shares of a small business during 1 year of stay in the country;
knowledge of at least one of the two state languages;

To open an office of your own business in Canada, you will have to follow the following algorithm of actions:

Submission of a package of documents to the Ministry of Industry. It takes no more than a day thanks to the electronic sending of the application. Within 5 next days the future company is assigned a special number.
Registration of a unique name.
Transfer of data on the newly established company to the State Revenue Agency, where within one day it receives its income tax number.
If the company's turnover exceeds 30 thousand CAD per quarter, then you need to register as a VAT payer.

Do not forget that some activities may require a license.

Buying a ready-made business

In order not to burden themselves with the legal intricacies of the process described above, many people prefer to buy a business in Canada already in ready-made. This method may well be called the simplest and fastest. But it can be considered successful only if you are sure that the deal will really turn out to be profitable. To do this, get answers to the following questions:

why the previous owner is selling his company;
how long has it been in existence;
What state is the company in at the time of the sale?
profitability;
Are her papers in order?

Carefully study the prices for the same enterprises in the local market, check whether there are any debts for the business and whether its property is under arrest. Prudently study your competitors and existing customers of the company. Be sure to entrust the verification of all documentation to lawyers.

Documents for registration

Pay special attention to the package of papers that you need to prepare. To register a business, you will need:

National passport with apostille.
Copies of documents that can confirm that you have managed companies in your home country for the previous two years. All of them must be translated and apostilled.
Proof of residency in Canada.
Evidence that you have the necessary amount to open the account.
Completed registration form.
The results of the search for a unique company name in printed form.

It may also happen that the authorized body may request additional documents. You also need to be prepared for this.

Things to do in Canada

Many businessmen choose to start ethnic businesses and serve clients in communities made up of fellow migrants. But this option can hardly be called the most successful. In a foreign country, it is always more profitable to focus on the needs of its inhabitants.

In the environment of small and medium-sized businesses in Canada, services of various directions are in demand:

car maintenance;
legal support;
accounting services;
financial assistance;
real estate transactions.

Activities such as home teaching, home renovations are also in high demand. household appliances, babysitting or babysitting services.

In addition, Canada is one of those countries that actively apply modern technologies for small and medium businesses. And for those who are afraid to start their own business in a foreign country, they can buy a ready-made business model and follow the so-called franchising path, which, by the way, is very popular here.

Licenses, permits and taxes

Please note that a number of activities in Canada will require a license or permit. These include:

healthcare;
safety;
Food.

If your business is within locality, then it is necessary to apply for such a document to the local municipality. And if you decide to organize a business away from residential areas, then you need to submit an application to the regional office.

As for tax legislation, experts rate Canada as the country with the lowest burden in this matter among all the G7 countries.

What's next for entrepreneurs:

corporate income tax rate - 15% at the federal level, 11-16% at the provincial level;
VAT - the federal rate is 5%, provincial - 7-10%;
income tax - up to 45.3 thousand CAD (33.4 thousand USD) - 15%, and over 200 thousand CAD (147,400 USD) - 33%. The gradation of the rate suggests another 20.5, 26, 29% based on the level of income. In general, the range of rates is from 15 to 33%.

At the same time, these indicators may differ in different provinces, as well as be directly dependent on the scale of business and types of activities.

Lending to foreign entrepreneurs

Since the Canadian government does its best to support foreign investors, loan programs are also quite affordable for entrepreneurs. For example, you can choose one of the following loans:

Canada Small Business Financing. With a company income of up to 5 million Canadian dollars (3 million 685 thousand USD), you can count on a loan of 250 thousand CAD (184 thousand USD) for up to 10 years at a rate of 2-3% per annum. It is not possible to take advantage of such an offer only from agricultural companies and religious organizations.
Businessmen under the age of 29 can participate in the Young Entrepreneur Program.
The Canada Immigrant Investor Program. As part of this project, immigrant investors can receive assistance from their compatriots living in Canadian territory in a legal status.

Do not refuse to work with visitors and leasing companies, as well as some banks in the country. Nevertheless, with all the variety of choice of creditors, experts still recommend resorting to this method of accumulation start-up capital like a loan, in the most extreme case.

Features inherent in some territories

It is no secret that the Canadian state consists of provinces, which, in turn, are divided into districts and counties.

The government of each province has signed an agreement with the federal government, on the basis of which they can choose their own business immigrants.

This means that in different parts of the state, the requirements for candidates will sound completely different. Perhaps the only common feature is the requirement to live and conduct business only in the region where the registration was completed. This is not only a condition for participation in a particular program, but also a necessary step on the way to obtaining permanent residence.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that all territories differ from each other in their preferences. So, for example, the province of Alberta considers mainly those investors who have managerial experience in agriculture. But organizing your own business in Quebec will only be possible for those who are fluent in French.

If you plan to bet on your compatriots who have moved here, then you should create a Russian-speaking business in Toronto. After all, it is here that the largest number of immigrants from the CIS countries is concentrated.

Do I need a business visa

The Canadian state is not visa-free for residents of the post-Soviet space. Only those who have citizenship or permanent residence, say, the United States, will be able to enter here without special permission. Everyone else, in order to one day start the process of registering their company in the Maple Leaf Country, will have to request a visa stamp from the Canadian consulate. Although you will have to get it in any case, regardless of the purpose of the visit.

Features of visa permits

There are several types of visa stamps in Canadian immigration law:

Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program or investor visa to Canada. Permits under this program have been issued since 2010. To date, the project has been suspended, but not closed. The country's authorities periodically open up such an opportunity for businessmen if there is a need for additional foreign investment. You can follow the status of the program on the website of the Canadian government.
Start-up Visa - is designed to introduce innovative developments that can be profitable and create jobs in the country. 5 people can count on such a visa at once, if each of them owns at least 10% of the company's shares, which should be more than 50% in total.
Visa stamp for self-employed persons. Most often, cultural figures, athletes, entrepreneurs in the farming sector fall into this category.

Preparation of documents

Most milestone is the preparation of documents. We remind you that for each type of visa, the package of documents will have a certain set. An application for submission to the consulate can be found on the same website of the Canadian government.

The main package of documents should include:

Visa Application. It must be filled out on the specified portal, printed and signed.
Make sure you fill in all the fields first. Otherwise, the application will not be accepted. Try to avoid abbreviations and abbreviations. Provide only valid information. The language for entering information is English or French.
A copy of the foreign passport.
A cover letter detailing the purpose and program of the visit.
Birth certificate.
Marriage certificate.
Certificate of no criminal record.
Photo.
Receipt for payment of the fee.

If you are interested in a Start-up business visa to Canada, then you will have to attach documents confirming:

Participation in a specific program.
Sponsor invitation.
Proof of paid accommodation and travel.
Availability of funds to stay in the country.
Confirmation from the sponsor of his willingness to invest in your project.

If you were able to become a member of any program, a paper from the relevant municipality will become mandatory - confirmation that your future company will be supported by the federal government or the authorities of a particular province.

Invitation

In most cases, to apply for a business category visa, you will have to attach an invitation from the Canadian side to the package of papers. Such a paper is compiled by a sponsor or representative of an organization that undertakes to support your project.

The document must include:

Name of the receiving party.
Legal or actual address.
Description of the purpose of the visit.
The itinerary of the guest in the country.
His residence address.
An indication of who will pay for the visitor's stay in Canada

Insurance

Please note that insurance is usually required to obtain a tourist or visitor visa. In the case of permissions long-acting the policy is not even on the list of required documents.

But, given the distance of the flight and the high cost of the trip in general, it is better, of course, to insure yourself against the troubles that may happen to you on the way to Canada.

With regard to stay in the country, once you start legalizing your status, you will be required to complete the necessary insurance documents that will allow you to use medical care in Canadian territory.

How long is a Canadian business visa valid?

The process of obtaining a business category visa permit for the Maple Leaf Country is not so simple. But the big advantage of this type of stamp is its validity. Usually a business visa is issued for a period of three years.

After this period of time and upon fulfilling all the obligations assumed, the migrant will be able to apply for permanent residence. After another 5 years in permanent resident status, he will be eligible to apply for citizenship.

How long does it take to get a visa and how much does it cost?

Do not forget that a business visa is a long-term permit, and therefore it may take a long period of time to process it. You need to apply so that you have approximately 7-10 months left before the trip. Delays in the issuance of the stamp may occur if additional documents are required. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the type of program under which the applicant will pass. Participation in federal projects usually takes longer to be considered and approved than in provincial ones.

As for the cost of stamping, today it can hardly be called low. Submission of a package of papers for any of the specified categories will cost 1,540 CAD (1,141 USD). When applying to the visa center, this amount can increase significantly.

Immigration programs

Business immigration to Canada in 2019 is more accessible for those who are of some interest to the country in economic terms. To this end, the government has proposed a whole list of professions, the owners of which can get " green light» when applying. Separate programs have been developed for those who intend to run their own business or act as an investor.

Programs at the federal level

What is reassuring when moving to Canada is the fact that if you have managed to succeed in your homeland, then here - where no one interferes, but, on the contrary, every assistance is provided - you can succeed all the more. In addition, the requirements for business candidates are less stringent than for those who go through the Skilled workers program.

Federal support for migrants is provided in three areas:

Self-employed (private practice);
Entrepreneurs (entrepreneurs);
Investors (investors).

Each program has a specific set of requirements. So, for example, in order to migrate to Canada as a self-employed person, you need to prove that your project will be profitable and will benefit the country's economy.

Provincial Level Programs

In addition to the fact that the applicant can take a chance and receive support at the state level, he can become a participant in one of the projects proposed by the authorities of a particular province.

Emigration under provincial programs is somewhat faster - after about 7-10 months, the candidate will already be able to receive Required documents and move to a new place of residence.

To date, there are about 15 programs at the provincial level. Each of them differs in the amount of invested capital. But the requirement for candidates regarding knowledge of a foreign language is not always mandatory, which greatly facilitates the whole process. The most popular are programs from Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Summing up, it should be emphasized once again that the preliminary stage of preparation, at which all the subtleties of business migration to this state should be studied, is the most important in the whole process. Devote the greatest amount of time to it so that all subsequent efforts bring the expected result.