Invest in Canada.
Grow your business.
Secure your future.

Yes — but you generally need a work permit to operate the business on a daily basis in Canada. Programs like C11, BC PNP Entrepreneur, Alberta Rural Entrepreneur, and Nova Scotia Entrepreneur are designed specifically for foreign business owners.

PNP entrepreneur streams are permanent residence pathways. You operate a business, meet provincial requirements, receive a provincial nomination, and then apply for Canadian permanent residence. C11 is a temporary LMIA-exempt work permit under the International Mobility Program. It lets you enter Canada quickly to establish or operate a business, but it does not, by itself, lead to permanent residence.

There is no published minimum, but in practice we review owner-operator files from around CAD $50,000 of investable capital into the Canadian business and CAD $100,000 of personal net worth. What matters just as much is the business itself, your experience running or managing a business, and the benefit to Canada — those are assessed individually by our RCIC. Provincial Nominee entrepreneur streams, which lead to permanent residence, sit higher: generally CAD $100,000+ investment and CAD $300,000+ net worth.

No. C11 is a temporary work permit, not a PR program. Permanent residence must be pursued separately through a PNP entrepreneur stream,or another eligible pathway. Eligibility for PR depends on your business performance, program criteria at the time, and immigration policy changes.

Transition is uncertain because C11 requires genuine temporary intent — officers must be satisfied you will leave Canada if required. At the same time, PR programs have their own evolving thresholds for net worth, investment, job creation, language, and community support. A C11 permit can bridge the gap, but the PR outcome is never automatic and must be planned as a separate, evidence-based application.

The strongest approach is dual planning from day one. NCIS designs the C11 work permit application and a parallel PR-eligible business plan as one coherent strategy — matching ownership structure, investment, community support, and job-creation milestones to the requirements of BC PNP, Alberta Rural, Nova Scotia Entrepreneur, or the Start-up Visa.

It depends on the stream. BC PNP Regional, Alberta Rural, and Nova Scotia Entrepreneur pathways start at CAD $100,000–$150,000. BC PNP Base typically requires CAD $200,000. We match your net worth and experience to the right stream.

Most PNP entrepreneur streams require at least 3 years of active business ownership or senior management experience within the last 5–10 years. C11 and TRV routes may be more flexible depending on your overall profile.

No. The standard route is: work permit → operate the business → receive provincial nomination → apply for permanent residence. This staged approach lowers risk and lets your family settle in Canada sooner.

Yes. Spouses typically receive open work permits and children can attend Canadian public schools while the principal applicant operates the business on a work permit.  Under Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) guidelines, "dependents" include a principal applicant's spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children.  Grandparents, parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and other relatives cannot be processed as accompanying dependents on your immigration application. [1] To bring a child with you to Canada as a dependent, they must meet specific eligibility rules: [1, 2, 3, 4] Under 22 Years Old: The child must be younger than 22 years of age on the date your application is locked in. Unmarried: The child must not have a spouse or common-law partner. If they marry at any age, they lose dependent status. Overage Exceptions (22 or Older): A child 22 or older can only qualify if they have depended on their parents for financial support since before turning 22, and they cannot support themselves due to a mental or physical health condition.

Most entrepreneur streams require CLB 4 or CLB 5 English (or NCLC equivalent in French). Some streams accept lower scores if other factors are strong. We assess this during the confidential review.

Each program is tied to a province. You must intend to live and actively manage the business in that province. Regional and rural streams often have lower thresholds but require community support.

Profitability is not always required, but active management and compliance with the performance agreement are.