| This year, Canada plans to admit up to 265,000 new | | | | investment of $400,000 in Canada, which is akin to |
| immigrants, but like every country looking to attract | | | | giving the Canadian government an interest free loan |
| immigrants from far flung corners of the world has | | | | over five years. Entrepreneurs are classed as |
| both skilled workers and investors at high on the | | | | experienced business people with a net worth of |
| immigration wish-list. Canada is no exception to this rule. | | | | $300,000 and can testify before an immigration officer |
| Investors naturally bring money into the Canadian | | | | that they will spend at least a year within the first three |
| economy as well as providing some much needed | | | | years of becoming a Canadian permanent resident |
| goods and services and increased employment | | | | controlling at least a third of a Canadian business, |
| opportunities. Nevertheless, the global economic crisis | | | | which qualifies for the programme and that they will |
| has taken its toll on the number of business people | | | | create at least one full-time post, which can be filled by |
| applying for this type of immigrant visa and only 11,600 | | | | a Canadian citizen outside of the entrepreneurs family. |
| Business Class visas are expected to be given in 2010. | | | | Self employed persons must prove that they have |
| Canada immigration is still keen to bring in "fresh blood" | | | | business experience and will be able to do business in |
| - successful foreign entrepreneurs who have | | | | Canada and that they have sufficient funds to buy a |
| knowledge and access to other markets outside of | | | | business in Canada, where the applicant will work. |
| Canada. Canada's rigorous campaign to attract | | | | Furthermore, all applicants regardless of which |
| investors has resulted in this group of immigrants | | | | subcategory they fall into are assessed in terms of |
| making up around 10% of the total immigration, market. | | | | their business experience, level of education, age, |
| To this end Canada has offices in several Canadian | | | | language ability (in either English or French) and their |
| embassies, who are dedicated to serve the Business | | | | perceived ability to adapt to Canadian life. Points are |
| Class entrepreneur and investor. Specific target | | | | allotted for each of these criteria and each applicant |
| countries for the Business Class Programme are within | | | | must achieve a minimum of 35 points. Business |
| Europe, France, UK and Germany (Paris, London and | | | | experience scores higher than any other category on |
| Bonn), USA (Buffalo), within Asia and the Middle East | | | | the points list. Business applicants are permitted to bring |
| China (Beijing and Hong Kong), South Korea (Seoul), | | | | immediate family (namely spouse and children) to |
| Singapore and Syria (Damascus). | | | | Canada and do not need to file separately for them - |
| The Federal Business Immigration Programme is | | | | they can include them as dependants as part of their |
| divided into three distinct subgroups; Investor, | | | | visa application. |
| Entrepreneur and Self Employment with each province | | | | Canada offers a great new life with a sophisticated |
| applying its own criteria in order to attract a large slice | | | | market, which welcomes new business. Business |
| of the business investor cake. Investors must have a | | | | people interested in applying for a visa under the |
| proven track record in business and net assets of at | | | | Federal Business Immigration Programme should check |
| least $800,000 and are prepared to make a business | | | | out the Canada Immigration Law website. |