Note:The Federal Immigrant Investor Program is now closed as 700 complete applications have been received at the Centralized Intake Office. This new annual cap was introduced through ministerial instructions, which came into force on July 1, 2011. The cap will reset on July 1, 2012, unless otherwise indicated in a future ministerial instruction. The cap does not apply to the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.

(Updated on 2011-7-15)

The Business Immigration Program seeks to attract experienced business people to Canada who will support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy.

The candidate must have lawfully acquired a minimum net worth of CAN$1,600,000.

"Net worth" with respect to an investor means the fair value of all the assets of the investor and spouse, or common law partner, minus the fair market value of all liabilities.

The candidate must also satisfy one of the following managerial experience criteria:

• Managed a qualifying business and controlled a percentage of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application

OR

• Managed the equivalent of at least five full-time employees per year in a business for at least two years in the period beginning five years before the date of application

OR

• A combination of one year of experience described in the first point and one year of experience described in the second point above.

Through an authorized Immigrant Investor Program facilitator, the candidate must commit to a fully-secured passive investment of CAN$800,000 for a five-year term; or, they may choose to significantly reduce their payment up to CAN$240,000 which payment will cover the expenses incurred by the loan during its five-year term, regardless of interest rate fluctuations.