Canada Overview
Canada is the second largest country in the world – after Russia – and largest on the continent. It is one of the world’s wealthiest nations and has one of the world’s highest qualities of life. Today Canada closely resembles the US in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production, and high living standards.
An Excellent Choice for Residence and Citizenship
The relaxed life style, stable political, justice, economic and social environment, excellent educational and health system, multilingual population and worldwide known Canadian tolerance of other cultures, made Canada one of the most desirable countries to live, do business, raise family, work and invest.
Canada has a long tradition of immigration and an elaborate system to evaluate and admit new residents. Citizenship is available after four years of residence (and 183 days minimum physical presence during each of the four calendar years), and the Canadian passport is one of the best travel documents in the world.
You can establish residence by applying for Canadian Permanent Residence in one the following categories:
- Investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Self Employed Persons
- Skilled Workers and Professionals
Once your application is approved, you and members of your immediate family may enjoy all advantages of Canadian citizens (with the exception of voting and holding political office) including access to excellent free health care and first class education.
Canadian Immigrant Investor Programs
The Immigrant Investors Program was created by the Canadian government to attract wealthy business persons and their capital to Canada. Investors and their immediate family can gain permanent residency in Canada by satisfying the following four government selection criteria:
1) You must demonstrate proper business experience, as defined under the Regulations. In essence, you must have previously managed or operated a qualified business for at least two out of five years preceding your application
2) You and your spouse must have legally obtained a personal net worth exceeding CAD 1.6 million
3) The entire family must complete and pass Canada’s medical and security evaluations
4) You must invest CAD 800,000 for a period of five years at no interest (0%) under the one of the two available Immigrant Investor Programs. The investment is government-guaranteed and will be repaid in full at the end of the investment period
There are several ways to become a permanent resident in Canada. The two most popular economic programs are:
- The Federal Immigrant Investor Program, and
- The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program
The selection procedure is similar under both the Federal and Quebec programs, with the following distinction: in Quebec, the investor first has to obtain a Certificate of Selection of Quebec before applying for health and security screening at the federal level to be admitted to Canada. Once legally admitted to Canada, applicants who receive a Certificate of Selection of Quebec do not have to establish residency in Quebec because they – as all Canadian residents – have total liberty of movement and establishment in any of 10 Canadian provinces and three territories.