The Canadian provinces of Quebec and Saskatchewan both revealed changes to the business streams of their immigration programs in recent weeks.
The Quebec, application intake dates for the investor, entrepreneur and self-employed categories were made public, in addition to some minor changes to the entrepreneur category For Saskatchewan, significant changes were made to the Entrepreneur and Farm Category.
Quebec
- Quebec has announced that the intake period Quebec Investor Program will be from August 31, 2015 to January 29, 2016. There will be a maximum of 1,750 applications accepted for processing.
- The Quebec Entrepreneur category is designed to allow qualified business owners and managers who can effectively create or acquire an agricultural, commercial or industrial business in Quebec. Between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016, with a maximum 150 cap for the announced period.
- The Quebec Self-Employed category is designed to allow qualified individuals who can effectively establish themselves in Quebec by practicing a trade or profession. Candidates must have a minimum net work of CAD$100,000 and a minimum of two years’ experience in the profession or trade that they intend to practice after establishing themselves in Quebec.
Applicants from each of the above categories who demonstrate that they have an advanced intermediate knowledge of French are not subject to this maximum number of applications and may submit their application at any time. Moreover, these applications will receive priority processing.
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur and Farm Category:
The changes in investment and entrepreneur program offers successful candidates and their families the opportunity to establish, acquire or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and have active management.
There are basic eligibility criteria in the Entrepreneur and Farm category that candidates must meet in order to be selected and approved:
- A minimum net worth of $500,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD) that can be verified;
- Accumulation of net worth through legal means, which can be verified; and
- Minimum three years entrepreneurial or relevant business management experience.
If candidates are approved, they should intend to:
- Establish a business in the Entrepreneur Category
- Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan
- Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management of the business; and If establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon, create two employment opportunities for Canadians or permanent residents in Saskatchewan (non-relative workers).
