IMMIGRANT INVESTORS

Before arrival candidate must

• The candidate must posess at least 3 years of business management experience in the last 10 years before the date of application, acquired through a profitable and lawful business
• Prove that they have accumulated a net worth of $ 800 000. The candidate must prove that this sum has been acquired legally. Recently, the Canadian government has put the responsability of verifying the legality of the funds on the financial intermediary. For most candidates it is quite easy to meet this criteria especially since the recent real estate boom. Because they don’t have to show liquid assets, most of them just show the market value of their primary residence and most of the time it is enough to qualify.
• Immigrant investor candidates must show that they have enough money to support themselves and their familly. This criteria, is obviously not a problem for candidates of this category.
• Finaly, the Immigrant investor must pass security and medical exams along with his familly.
• For more detail, here is the Quebec Immigrant Investor check list

At arrival the candidate must

• Invest $ 400 000 passively with the Provincial government as described in the Province Nominee Program (PNP)
• In the case of the Quebec Program, the Investor Immigrant allows the authorized financial intermediary to handle the transfer of funds with Invest -Quebec (investment arm of the Quebec government)
• Financial intermediaries will offer the financing option. The deal for the Immigrant Investor is that he does not need to freeze $400 000 for 5 years. Because the investment is garanteed by the Quebec government, the financial intermediairies can turn around and finance the $400 000 with a loan from Chartered banks in Canada.
• Depending on the current prime rate, the financing option can move between $ 120 000 and $ 130 000.
• It is a lot more profitable for the financial intermediary, the lawyers, and the consultants if you decide to go for the financing option. Their commission can sometimes reach $ 55 000.

After arrival

• Once you have landed, you are a permanent resident. If you want to keep this status you must be physically present in Canada for a period of two years on a total of five. This is one of the major negative points of this program as most investors can not commit to this. Intermediairies will suggest ways to avoid this constraints. Be carefull, the risks are very high if you get caught.
• Most Immigrant Investors will also apply for the citizenship after a period of three years.

If you want to understand which investment immigration program is best suited to your situation, fill out this short contact form. We will get back to you very shortly.