Entrepreneurs

Federal Entrepreneur Program

In order to qualify under the Federal Entrepreneur program, potential applicants must demonstrate:

• Have a minimum of 2 years of business experience;
• Have a net worth of at least $300,000 CAD that was obtained legally;
• Fulfill 3 conditions for at least 1 year within the 3 years after the day on which the applicant becomes a permanent resident:
  1. Make a commitment to control (at least 33 1/3 %) of a qualifying Canadian business;
  2. Provide active and on-going management of the qualifying Canadian business;
  3. Must create at least 1 full-time job equivalent in the qualifying Canadian business for Canadian citizens or permanent residents (other than the entrepreneur or his family members).

Quebec Entrepreneur Program

In order to qualify under the Entrepreneur program in Quebec, potential applicants must:

• Have net assets of at least $300,000 CAD that have been legally obtained (and if applicable, may have been obtained with your spouse or common-law spouse provided he/she is accompanying you);
• Have at least 2 years full-time experience in managing a business (within the last 5 years). The business may be managed alone, or with your accompanying spouse or common-law spouse. You (and if applicable, your spouse), must control at least 25% of the capital equity;
• Present their application in 1 of 2 programs:
  1. Creating or acquiring a business (agricultural, industrial or commercial) in Quebec, that you manage yourself or that you will have a role in managing on a daily basis. You must control (alone or with your accompanying spouse or common-law spouse) at least 25% of the capital equity with a value of at least $100,000 CAD.
  2. Acquire in Quebec (alone or with your accompanying spouse or common-law spouse), at least 25% of capital equity in a business (agricultural, industrial or commercial) with a value of at least $100,000 CAD. You must also manage the business yourself or have a daily role in the management of the business.
• Fulfill the following conditions for at least 1 year within the 3 years after the day on which the applicant becomes a permanent resident:
  1. Create or acquire (in whole or in part) a qualifying business (agricultural, commercial or industrial) in Quebec;
  2. Must hold at least 25% of the capital equity with a value of at least $100,000 CAD;
  3. Participate in the daily management and operations of the business;
  4. Must employ, on a permanent basis and for a minimum of 30 hours a week, a Quebec resident (other than yourself or a member of your accompanying family) in the qualifying business.