Canada offers the most established and widely-used investment based immigration programs conferring permanent resident status.
The Canadian confederation system of government and the country’s social norms offer a “European alternative” to the more audacious capitalism of the USA. Canada offers European-style social benefits with fairly high levels of taxation and unparalleled quality of life. Under the Canadian model, business immigrants can enjoy the benefits of a national health care program, affordable first-class education and a national pension system that provides measurable annual income upon retirement.
Why invest in Canada
Canada has only a population of 36 M in the biggest Democratic land and is the 9th biggest economy in the world.
Canada was ranked number 1 as “the most attractive country for entrepreneurs” and was also ranked number 5 as the “most attractive country for highly skilled talent” by OECD Talent Attractiveness Indicators in 2019.
According to CBRE Scoring Tech Talent in 2018, Canada has a total of tech brain gain of 57,600 in comparison to the Bay Area in San Francisco, California that has a total 54,700.
Canada is the most educated country in the world with over 55% of Canadians, between the ages of 25 to 64, having graduated from post-secondary institutions.
Canada has the lowest overall tax rate on new business investment and lowest business cost in advanced corporate services among G7 nations. Canada also has the lowest business cost in the digital and research and development sectors.
According to the World Bank in 2017, Canada is the second only to Japan among G20 countries in terms of political stability.
Canada has the soundest banking system among G7 countries and ranks second in the world according to the “World Economic Forum 2018”.
In 2018, Transparency International, Canada is seen as the least corrupt country among G20 members and 9th among 180 countries.
Culture
Multiculturalism became official Canadian policy under the government of the late Pierre Elliot Trudeau (Justin Trudeau’s father, and current PM) in 1971. In doing so, Canada was the first country in the world to adopt multiculturalism as official policy.
In the Canadian context “multiculturalism” means:
“Canadian multiculturalism is fundamental to our belief that all citizens are equal. Multiculturalism ensures that all citizens can keep their identities, can take pride in their ancestry and have a sense of belonging. Acceptance gives Canadians a feeling of security and self-confidence, making them more open to, and accepting of, diverse cultures. The Canadian experience has shown that multiculturalism encourages racial and ethnic harmony and cross-cultural understanding”
Because of Multiculturalism, Canada is widely known to be considered a country that recognizes each culture and encourages integration “into their society and active part-taking in its social, cultural, economic and political affairs”.
Canada’s success in integrating disparate peoples from around the globe through its policies and immigration system has been held up as a model for the world.
Language
Canada is an officially bilingual country, with two official languages: French and English. In practice, however, the majority of Canadians speak English, with progressively smaller numbers speaking English and French, English and some other language, or only French.
Free Trade Markets
Canada is the only G7 country that offers investors preferential market access to over 1.5 billion consumers in 51 countries.
Canada is the country with the most access to Free Trade Markets, it is currently in various bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTA) with countries all over the world.
Some examples just to name a few:
CUSMA
The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), signed in November 2018, modernizes NAFTA.
CETA
The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) ensures nearly 99% of EU tariffs are duty-free for Canadian goods and guarantees market access to both EU and North America. No other top investment destination in the Americas can offer access to all 28 EU Member States.
CPTPP
The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) gives companies operating in Canada preferential access to one of the largest trading blocs in the world, including key markets in Asia and Latin America.
Transport Infrastructure
Canada is well placed to serve as a central hub for global trade. Air infrastructure is the best in the world and the coastal ports provide direct maritime access to Asia, Europe and South America. The Great Lakes also provide easy access to the U.S.
Combined with secure trade corridors and gateways, Canada’s infrastructure facilitates continual supply chain and business operations.
Canada has
26 Airports
17 Sea ports
117 Border crossings to USA
Canada key industries
• Aerospace
• Agri-food
• Biopharmaceuticals
• Digital Media
• Machinery and Equipment
• Mining
• Renewable Energy
• Software
Types of Investor Programs
Federal Venture Capital Program
If a business owner or manager with a personal net worth that exceeds $10 million, he or she may be qualified to apply under the Federal Venture Capital Pilot Program. Eligible applicants will be required to make a non-guaranteed investment of $2 million for up to 15 years in order to secure an investor visa (Permanent Residency).
Quebec Investor Program
Immigrant investors who are planing on living in the province of Quebec may do so by applying for a Quebec Investor Visa. The province is seeking applicants with a minimum personal net worth of $2 million and managerial experience within legal farming, commercial, industrial, or professional industries. Eligible investors will be required to make a five year, guaranteed investment of $1.2 million.
Provincial Nominee Programs for Investors
Certain provinces offer the opportunity to immigrate to Canada with an investor visa by applying under their own investor stream of the Provincial Nominee Program. Each province will establish their own set of rules and eligibility requirements based on its own economy, opportunities and market gaps.
Each province, with the exception of Quebec, operates several PNP streams. These streams are designed by the provinces to help meet their unique immigration goals, so the eligibility criteria and application procedures vary. However, PNPs are a popular option because they can be the fastest pathway to Canadian permanent residence.
All decisions regarding Canadian permanent residence must be approved at the national level by the federal government, so Canada’s provinces cannot approve permanent resident status on their own. This is why the provincial programs are considered “nominee” programs.
A successful applicant to a PNP will be nominated by the province to submit an application for permanent residence to the federal government. This means that securing a provincial nomination is always step one in a two-part process. First, an interested immigrant is approved at the provincial level and then they must apply to the federal level.
Provincies and Territories
Western Canada
Central Canada
Atlantic Canada
Northern Canada
Alberta
Ontario
New Brunswick
Northwest Territories
British Columbia
Quebec*
Newfoundland and Labrador
Manitoba
Nova Scotia
Yukon Territory
Saskatchewan
Prince Edward Island
*Quebec has its own Investor Program.
Canada’s top large cities are: Vancouver in British Columbia, the cities of Ontario and Toronto in the province of Ontario, Montréal in Quebec, as well as Calgary and Edmonton in Alberta.
Residency by Investment Visa and Permanent Residency 2019
Once an Immigrant Investor receives a Permanent Residency Visa, he/she is eligible to live, invest, work, prosper and study anywhere in Canada with no limitations at all.
After 3 years of having a physical presence in Canada under the Canada Residency by Investment Program, the Canadian Permanent Resident and his/her family will have the right to ask and receive the Canadian Citizenship and passport.
Once the Canadian Permanent Resident and his/her family have received the Canadian Citizenship and passport, they will be allowed to travel to any country and vote in any election held in Canada.
Alexandra Garcia
