Business immigration starts with a viable plan, not a program name.
Programs come and go. The parts that matter most are the plan, the people and the fit with a specific Canadian route that is currently open.
What we help with
- Assessment of currently available federal, provincial and Quebec business or entrepreneur pathways, subject to intake
- Provincial entrepreneur streams and regional criteria, where and when open
- Work-permit strategies for founders, owners, executives or key personnel where an applicable legal basis exists
- Intra-company transferee and international-agreement categories where relevant
- LMIA support and employer-compliance issues for growing Canadian operations
- Coordination of business plans, financial disclosure and source-of-funds documentation with qualified financial, tax and legal advisers where needed
What we test before recommending a route
Every business file rests on a factual base that must hold up under immigration review. Before we commit to a route, we work through the pieces that most often decide the outcome.
- Ownership and control of the Canadian business
- Active, day-to-day management by the applicant
- Business viability, revenues, expenses and financial projections
- Job-creation or economic-benefit requirements where applicable
- Language and net-worth requirements where applicable
- Source-of-funds documentation, coherent with the applicant's history
- Location, timeline and family goals
Employer and business services
LMIA for employers
High- and low-wage LMIAs with attention to July 17 and April 1, 2026 changes.
LMIA-exempt work permits
Intra-company transfers, significant benefit and reciprocal categories.
Treaty work permits
CUSMA, CETA and similar international-agreement categories.
Employer compliance inspections
Preparation for and response to ESDC and IRCC inspections.
Not ready to book? Send a short enquiry. Enquiries are not legal advice; please do not include passport numbers, UCI or documents.
A few things clients often ask.
If I buy a business in Canada, do I get status automatically?
No. Ownership of a Canadian business does not create immigration status on its own. Any work in Canada requires appropriate authorization, and any permanent-residence pathway must be assessed against the current criteria of a specific program.
Is a work permit or a permanent-residence application the right first step?
It depends. Founders and executives sometimes enter Canada on a work permit, whether LMIA-based, LMIA-exempt, or under an international agreement, while a permanent-residence route is prepared. In other cases, a permanent-residence application is realistic without an intervening work permit. A careful assessment usually clarifies the sequence.
How important is the business plan?
A viable business plan is central to most entrepreneur applications. It must reflect ownership and control, active management, realistic financials and, where relevant, job creation or economic benefit. We coordinate with qualified financial, tax and legal advisers where needed.
What is the status of the federal Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons Program?
The federal Start-Up Visa Program has been paused since January 1, 2026. IRCC stopped accepting new commitment certificates after December 31, 2025, and the transitional deadline for applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate was June 30, 2026. That deadline has now passed. The federal Self-Employed Persons Program remains paused until further notice.
Existing files in progress and alternative pathways for founders should be assessed against the rules currently in force. Book a private consultation.
Related services and next steps.
Work permits
Founder, executive and key-personnel work-permit strategy.
Permanent residence
How business immigration fits within broader PR planning.
Complex matters
Refused business applications, procedural fairness and reassessment.
Information current as of July 2026. Program rules and intake can change without notice.
This page provides general information about Canadian immigration and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your matter, please book a consultation with an RCIC.
Speak with an RCIC about your matter.
Consultations are available online worldwide and, by appointment, at our Canadian offices.