What business immigration requires
Owning a business, investing money or presenting a business plan does not itself create an immigration right. The applicant, source of funds, proposed business and operating or performance requirements may all need assessment.
Provincial and territorial entrepreneur pathways
Several jurisdictions offer pathways for experienced owners or managers who intend to establish, purchase or actively operate a local business. Many use an expression of interest or invitation and require operation before nomination.
Québec business immigration
Québec has separate investor, entrepreneur and self-employed programs. Its entrepreneur program includes innovative business, business start-up and business-takeover streams. Québec selection and federal permanent residence are separate stages.
Entrepreneur and self-employed work permits
A temporary work permit may be considered where proposed work could create or maintain significant economic, social or cultural benefits or jobs. A work permit is not automatically a permanent-residence pathway.
Graduate, farm and regional pathways
Some jurisdictions have streams for graduates, rural businesses, farms or regional communities. Availability, local support and invitation practices vary and should be checked before committing to a location or transaction.
Programs currently paused or unavailable
- Federal Start-Up Visa Program — paused June 30, 2026; accepted applications continue to be processed.
- Federal Self-Employed Persons Program — paused to new applications until further notice.
- Ontario Entrepreneur Stream — closed to new applications; transitional files may continue.
- Saskatchewan entrepreneur and farm pathways — permanently closed March 27, 2025; existing files continue.
- A High Impact Start-up Pilot has been announced, but no public intake or eligibility process was open as of August 28, 2026.
What may need to be reviewed
- Business ownership or senior management experience
- Intended location
- Business, industry, local benefit and job creation
- Net worth and source of funds
- Language, education, age and residence requirements
- Exploratory visits, community support or verification
- EOI, invitation, work permit, performance agreement or nomination stages
- Coordination with tax, accounting and corporate-law professionals
How Trogon may help
- Consultation and pathway comparison
- Review of eligibility, program status and process
- Review of business, management and source-of-funds documents
- Application review, limited scope or representation where accepted
- Coordination with independent business-plan, accounting, valuation, tax or corporate professionals
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is buying or investing in a Canadian business enough for permanent residence?
No. Immigration eligibility, active management, source of funds, local establishment and other requirements may also apply.
Do all business pathways lead directly to permanent residence?
No. Many use a work-permit and business-establishment stage, and some work-permit options do not create a direct permanent-residence pathway.
Are the federal Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs accepting new applications?
No, not as of August 28, 2026. Both are paused to new applications, while existing applications continue under applicable transition rules.
Can Trogon guarantee a business plan, work permit or nomination?
No. Trogon can assess requirements and provide agreed services, but the responsible authority makes every decision.
Trogon
Tell us about your situation
Information on this website is general information only and is not legal or immigration advice for a specific situation. Submitting a request does not create a consultant-client relationship.