Investor Immigration FAQs

1. Will the old federal Immigrant Investor program ever return? My guess would be that it's unlikely that the program will ever return. Currently, the only program like it in Canada is Quebec's immigrant investor program.

2. Are there any viable alternatives to the now defunct federal Immigrant Investor program? For people with business ownership/management experience, I would recommend considering some of the Provincial Nominee Program business immigration streams. Keep in mind that PNP business immigration stream nominations are entirely discretionary. What that means is that meeting the basic requirements doesn't guarantee nomination by a province. To be successful in a PNP business immigration application, an applicant must go above and beyond the basic requirements.

3. Does Alberta have a business immigration stream? Unfortunately, at the moment the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program doesn't have a business immigration stream. Under its current management, I suspect it is highly unlikely that the AINP program will have a business immigration stream in the foreseeable future.

4. Are there any options for investors who wish to work temporarily in Canada while they are setting up a business? There are a few reasonable good options for investors wishing to come to Canada and set up businesses. In many cases, these temporary arrangements can lead to permanent residence down the road. Investors who happen to be from the United States or Mexico can take advantage of the investor provisions under NAFTA to work temporarily in Canada while they are setting up businesses. Another option involves applying for an owner/operator LMIA. If the conditions are satisfied, the owner of a business can qualify for an LMIA-based work permit. A third option involves applying for a work permit by making the case that the creation of a business in Canada will offer significant benefits to the Canadian economy.