Opinion: The Dwindling Future of the Quebec IIP – A Shadow of Its Former Self
The French requirement and the $500k walk-away option likely to result from the new rules will cripple the QIIP, laments Nicolas Laurin.
Canada’s Startup Visa offers entrepreneurs who can obtain the financial backing of venture capital funds or angel investors, or who are accepted by business incubators, the right to start and operate a new business in Canada.
The program offers a path to permanent residency in Canada in as few as two years and citizenship in as few as five.
Though there are no specific physical presence requirements, applicants are expected to take an active and ongoing managerial role in their startups and, therefore, in practice spend most of their time in Canada.
Program Type | Active Investor Visa |
Time to citizenship | 5 years |
Time to permanent residency | 2 years |
Minimum investment | None, but external financing needed (see How to Qualify) |
Physical presence requirement | None, but applicant must engage in active management of the business from within Canada. |
Application processing time | 12-16 months |
Citizenship grants visa-free travel to | 185 destinations, including Schengen countries and the US |
Contribution types available | No investment required |
General program requirements
Applicants to Canada’s Federal Startup Visa program do not need to make an investment themselves but must, instead, secure the financial backing of external, accredited investors for the startup they plan to launch.
Applicants must demonstrate a modicum of personal funds:
Prove a minimum bank balance of C$13,215;
Prove an additional minimum bank balance of C$3,500 per dependent;
Applicants must, additionally, obtain a certificate of commitment from an angel investor group, a venture capital fund, or a business incubator:
C$200,000 commitment from designated Canadian venture capital funds; OR
C$75,000 commitment from investors part of designated Canadian angel investor groups; OR
Confirmation that the startup is part of a designated Canadian business incubator program.
Applicable fees:
CAD $85 application fee for a single applicant;
CAD $170 for a family application;
CAD $285 for a group of three or more main applicants and their dependents.
The main applicant can sponsor a spouse, children under 21, and financially dependent parents and grandparents for residency in Canada.
Program benefits
Requirements to qualify for citizenship
After spending a total of 730 days (two years) in Canada, the Startup Visa applicant is eligible for permanent residence in Canada.
After spending at least 1,095 days over a five-year period in Canada, applicants are eligible for Canadian citizenship, provided they have first become permanent residents, have filed taxes each year, and has mastered either English or French.
Naturalization applicants must, furthermore, take an Oath of Allegiance.
Canada permits dual citizenship.
Legislation upon which this program is based:
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act 2001, Chapter 27 Sub 11 (1)
See more statistics on this program, and dozens of others, in the IMI Data Center.
. | Name | Expert based in | Areas of expertise | Program you'd like help with | Service language(s) | Get Started |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adriano Vieira | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Portugal Golden Visa Portugal D7 Visa Portugal HQA Visa | English, Spanish, French, Portuguese | |||
Alex Ingrim | 🇮🇹 Florence | Residence and Citizenship by Investment, International Tax and Wealth Planning | Greece Golden Visa Italy Elective Residency Visa Italy Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Spain Non-Lucrative Visa United States EB-5 | English | ||
André Gonçalves | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Portuguese | ||
Ariane Real | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Portugal Golden Visa Portugal D7 Visa Portugal HQA Visa | English, Spanish, Portuguese | |||
Calvin Mazlumyan | 🇺🇸 Los Angeles | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Canada Startup Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Philippines Special Investor Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Singapore Entrepass Spain Golden Visa Thailand Elite Residence Program Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States E2 Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, French, Spanish, Turkish | |||
Christina Georgaki | 🇬🇷 Thessaloniki | Greece Golden Visa; Greece FIP | English, Greek | |||
David Lesperance | 🇵🇱 Gdynia | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment, US Expatriation, International Tax and Wealth Planning, Family Office Advisory | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence Cayman Islands Investor Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Latvia Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Austria Independent Means Visa Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence Greece FIP Visa Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0) Italy Elective Residency Visa Jersey High Value Residency Portugal D7 Visa Canada Startup Visa Panama Business Investor Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa Hungarian Citizenship by Descent Irish Citizenship by Descent Italian Citizenship by Descent Latvian Citizenship by Descent Polish Citizenship by Descent | English | ||
Ekaterina Mavrenkova | 🇨🇭 Zürich | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa United States EB-5 | English, Russian | |||
Elena Ruda | 🇦🇹 Vienna | Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Russian, German | |||
Eric G. Major | 🇬🇧 London | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Anguilla Permanent Residency Program Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Colombia Investor Visas M and R Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Germany Self-Employment Visa Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency United States EB-5 | English, French | ||
Geoffrey DuBoulay | 🇱🇨 Saint Lucia | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Saint Lucia CIP | English | ||
George Ganey | 🇺🇸 Washington DC | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | United States EB-5 United States E2 Visa | English, Spanish, Catalan | ||
Güvenç Ketenci | 🇹🇷 Istanbul | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 United States E2 UAE Golden Visa Austria Independent Means Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Turkish | ||
Hakan Cortelek | 🇹🇷 Istanbul | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa United States EB-5 | English, Turkish | ||
Hannah Ma | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Australia BIIP Investor Streams Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malaysia M2H Visa Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal D7 Visa Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Singapore Entrepass South Korea Investor Visa Spain Golden Visa Spain Non-Lucrative Visa Thailand Elite Residence Program Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States E2 Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Chinese | ||
Imad Elbitar | 🇹🇷 Istanbul | Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Nicaragua Investor PR Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Uruguay Independent Means Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Arabic, German | |||
Jasmin Lopez | 🇲🇽 Mexico City | Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Italy Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Nicaragua Investor PR Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Uruguay Independent Means Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Spanish | |||
Kemal Nicholson | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa | English | |||
Kevin Hosam | 🇦🇬 Antigua & Barbuda | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Anguilla Permanent Residency Program Australia BIIP Investor Streams Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence Barbados SERP Program Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program Cayman Islands Investor Visa Colombia Investor Visas M and R Greece Golden Visa Latvia Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Barbados Welcome Stamp Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Uruguay Independent Means Visa Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Cambodia My 2nd Home Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Malaysia M2H Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English | ||
Laszlo Kiss | 🇲🇹 Malta | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 United States E2 UAE Golden Visa Austria Independent Means Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Hungarian | |||
Matías Apparcel | 🇨🇱 Santiago | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Portugal Golden Visa Portugal D7 Visa Portugal HQA Visa | English, French, Spanish, Portuguese | ||
Melvin Warshaw | 🇺🇸 Boston | Residence and Citizenship by Investment, International Tax and Wealth Planning, US Expatriation | United States EB-5 United States E2 | English | ||
Mona Shah | 🇺🇸 New York | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Grenada CIP Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Turkey CIP UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 | English | ||
Natalie Fridlender | 🇻🇳 Saigon (HCMC) | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Russia Golden Visa | English, Russian | ||
Nicolas Salerno | 🇵🇹 Lisbon | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Monaco Carte de Séjour Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 | English, French, Spanish | ||
Paul Williams | 🇬🇧 London | Antigua & Barbuda CIP, Dominica CIP, Grenada CIP, Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Cyprus Golden Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 Spain Golden Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP Canada Startup Visa | English | |||
Peter Dunn | 🇿🇦 Johannesburg | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English | ||
Philippe May | 🇸🇬 Singapore | Citizenship by Descent, Residence and Citizenship by Investment, International Tax and Wealth Planning | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Anguilla Permanent Residency Program Australia BIIP Investor Streams Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence Barbados SERP Program Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program Cayman Islands Investor Visa Colombia Investor Visas M and R Greece Golden Visa Latvia Investor Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Barbados Welcome Stamp Paraguay Permanent Residency Program Uruguay Independent Means Visa Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity Cambodia My 2nd Home Canada Startup Visa Cyprus Golden Visa Malaysia M2H Visa Monaco Carte de Séjour Panama Business Investor Visa Panama Qualified Investor Visa Panama Rentista Retirado Visa Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, German, Chinese | ||
Rogelio Caceres | 🇺🇸 Miami | Bahamas Economic PR Canada Startup Visa Cayman Islands Investor Visa Costa Rica Investor Visa Czech Citizenship by Descent Hungary Citizenship by Descent Ireland Citizenship by Descent Italy Citizenship by Descent Latvia Citizenship by Descent Panama Qualified Investor Visa Poland Citizenship by Descent Portugal D7 Visa Singapore Entrepass Slovak Citizenship by Descent Spain Golden Visa Spain Non-Lucrative Visa UAE Golden Visa UAE Golden Visa United States E2 Visa United States EB-5 | English, Spanish | |||
Sam Bayat | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Grenada CIP Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Turkey CIP Malta MEIN Australia BIIP Investor Streams Cayman Islands Investor Visa Greece Golden Visa Malta Permanent Residence Program New Zealand Investor Visa Portugal Golden Visa Spain Golden Visa Canada Startup Visa United States EB-5 | English, French, Farsi | ||
Slava Apel | 🇨🇦 Toronto | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Canada Startup Visa | English, Russian, Romanian | ||
Troy Neel | 🇻🇺 Vanuatu | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English | ||
Vito Magagnino | 🇨🇭 Zürich | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Austria Independent Means Visa Germany Self-Employment Visa Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP UAE Golden Visa UK Startup/Innovator Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, German, Italian | ||
Zaid Aldayriyeh | 🇦🇪 Dubai | Residence and Citizenship by Investment | Antigua & Barbuda CIP Dominica CIP Greece Golden Visa Grenada CIP Malta MEIN Malta Permanent Residence Program Portugal Golden Visa Saint Kitts & Nevis CIP Saint Lucia CIP Spain Golden Visa Turkey CIP UAE Golden Visa United States EB-5 Vanuatu DSP/REO/VCP | English, Arabic | ||
Name | Expert based in | Areas of expertise | Program you'd like help with | Service language(s) |
As the hub for investment migration professionals, IMI is regularly in touch with program specialists in every corner of the globe.
Tell us a little about your situation and what you need so that we may put you in touch with the right advisors.
The French requirement and the $500k walk-away option likely to result from the new rules will cripple the QIIP, laments Nicolas Laurin.
Suspended since 2019, the QIIP is likely to reopen by the end of the year with a new set of requirements, writes Patrick McCarthy.
Quebec’s Immigrant Investor Program recently saw its suspension extended. But the program still has a future, argues Stephane Tajick.
Slava Apel: Canada’s Startup Visa is the “most viable and direct path to Canada PR” and the “most profitable program” for immigration firms.
In 2019, says Bastien Trelcat, “some consultants started abusing loopholes in the program, such as by selling it as a passive investment,” which has resulted in lower approval rates.
From real estate to bonds and shares, global investors are spoilt for choice when it comes to investing in residencies. Except in Canada.
Programs that offer citizenship within months in exchange for investments or donations, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Programs that offer citizenship in exchange for investments following a 1-2 year period, with minor/no physical presence requirements.
Bulgaria Investor Program (discontinued)
Malta MEIN
Programs that offer residence permits within months in exchange for passive investments, with limited physical presence requirements.
Andorra Residence Without Lucrative Activity
Anguilla Permanent Residency Program
Australia BIIP Investor Streams
Bahamas Economic Permanent Residence
Barbados SERP Program
Bermuda Economic Investment Certificate (EIC) Program
Brazil Investor Visa (VIPER)
Cambodia My 2nd Home
Cayman Islands Investor Visa
Colombia Investor Visas M and R
Costa Rica Investor Visa
Curaçao Investor Permit Program
Cyprus Golden Visa
Georgia Investor Visas
Greece Golden Visa
Guernsey Investor & Entrepreneur Residency
Ireland Immigrant Investor Program (discontinued)
Italy Investor Visa
Latvia Investor Visa
Luxembourg Investor Visa
Malaysia M2H Visa
Malta Permanent Residence Program
Mauritius Permanent Residency Program
Monaco Carte de Séjour
Netherlands Investor Visa
New Zealand Investor Visa
Nicaragua Investor Permanent Residency Program
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Philippines Special Investor Residence Permit
Portugal Golden Visa
Russia Investor Visa
South Korea Investor Visa
Spain Golden Visa
Taiwan Golden Visa (APRC Plum Blossom Card)
Thailand Elite Residence Program
UAE Golden Visa
UK Investor Visa (discontinued)
United States EB-5
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who can demonstrate income or personal wealth above a certain level, usually requiring that the holder not take up employment locally.
Argentina Rentista and Pensionado Residency
Austria Independent Means Visa
Barbados Welcome Stamp
Gibraltar Category 2 HNWI Residence
Greece FIP Visa
Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS)
Ireland Independent Means (Stamp 0)
Italy Elective Residency Visa
Jersey High Value Residency
Mexico Legal Residency Visa
Nicaragua Pensionado and Rentista Visas
Panama Rentista Retirado Visa
Paraguay Permanent Residency Program
Portugal D7 Visa
Spain Non-Lucrative Visa
Uruguay Independent Means Visa
Programs that offer residence permits within months to those who physically relocate to start and/or run a business. Startup and entrepreneur visas fall under this category.
Policies that offer citizenship - free of charge and without a residency period - to grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and sometimes even more distant descendants of European ancestors.
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