There are several key advantages for those applying to the Canada Start-Up Visa Program, including:

The Canada Start-Up Investor Visa Programme is aimed at providing permanent residence to entrepreneurs and active investors in companies and expanding businesses that seek to establish a presence in the country.

The Canada SUV Programme targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build businesses in Canada that:

• are innovative
• can create jobs for Canadians, and 
• can compete on a global scale

• Aged 18 or over
• Have a qualifying business
• Have a letter of support from a designated organisation
• Sufficient funds to make the investment and settle in Canada
• Documentation to prove that all investment capital is legally sourced
• Pass a language test in English or French meeting the minimum level of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5
• Clean criminal record

1. Business incubation: no minimum investment is required, but confirmation that the start-up is part of a designated Canadian business incubator program.
2. Angel investment: raise CA$75,000 from an angel investment group, depending on a certain stage of the business.
   1. Investors will incorporate a start-up business with a Canadian government approved angel investor. Applicants must pass an interview with the angel investor in order to obtain the letter of support.
3. Venture capital fund: raise CA$200,000 from a venture capital fund, depending on a certain stage of the business.

A qualifying business means you created a business that meets the following conditions:

• At the time you get a commitment from a designated organisation:

1. Each applicant holds ten per cent or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time (up to five people can apply as owners).

    

   AND
   
   
2. Applicants and the designated organisation jointly hold more than 50 per cent of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time.

• At the time you receive your permanent residence:

1. You provide active and ongoing management of the business from within Canada.
2. An essential part of the operations of the business happens in Canada.
3. The business is incorporated in Canada.
4. Investor needs to have a minimum of ten per cent shares in a federally approved company in a specific industry as identified by the Government.

A total of five investors can apply as owners of one company — with one investor chosen as the head of the company (best-suited for the position as per investor’s qualifications). 

Furthermore, clients are required to prepare and submit a business proposal, which needs to be approved by a designated government business organisation. Once approved by a business incubator, an angel investment group, or a venture capital fund (depending on the investment option chosen), the client receives a letter of support. This allows them along with their family, to apply for permanent residence. In order to maintain permanent resident status, physical presence for two out of five years (or 730 days) in Canada is required.

The process can take up to 37 months.