Canada Owner Operator Visa

ENTREPRENEUR OWNER OPERATOR>

A glimpse of the Entrepreneur Owner Operator Pathway to Canada

Formerly called the owner operator work visa and now the Entrepreneur work visa program is a suitable pathway to start, buy or run a business in Canada, following the sale of a Canadian business or the start of a new company.

This process is successfully achieved in two steps, beginning with a temporary work permit under the Entrepreneur Owner Operator work visa where applicants can apply for a LMIA exempt two week streamlined procedure if they qualify under the senior managerial role as defined under NOC00 of Canada. Successful candidates, at a later stage or initially can apply for permanent residence in Canada under one of the programs serviced by the Express Entry system or under a suitable provincial nomination program.

Start a New Business or Purchase an Existing Business

OWNING A BUSINESS>

You may start a new or purchase an existing business but your active shareholding should be more than 50% in the business and you should be irreplaceable for the proposed job. You may also be eligible for LMIA exemption under the entrepreneur, owner-operator work visa stream, given you are actively involved in the day to day operations of the business.

“IF YOU HAVE A BUSINESS WHICH IS LUCRATIVE AND IS OFFERING YOU A MAKE OR BREAK DEAL, YOU CAN’T WAIT FOR THE LONG VISA PROCEDURES, YOU HAVE TO APPLY UNDER LMIA EXEMPT ENTREPRENEUR OWNER OPERATOR CATEGORY FOR THE QUICKEST CANADIAN WORK VISA.”

Dr. Neo Ahluwalia

Doctorate of Migration Studies

ELIGIBILITY

Basic Eligibility Requirements: 

• Should be an Entrepreneur, Senior Manager and or Self-Employed Owner-Operator.

• Should be the Major shareholder of the Canadian business (above 50%) and cannot be dismissed from the management of the enterprise.

• The concerned business should employ at least one Canadian PR or citizen.

• Should operate a business in Canada that significantly contributes to the social, economic and personnel benefit of Canada or the sponsoring province.

Challenges

1: It is a self followed PR pathway for Canada and not a government sponsored pathway.

2: Owner has to show their own capacity and funds to get the approval.

3: Investment is required before the visa is granted.

4: Starting a business in Canada while still being in the home country can be complicated to execute and manage.

Benefits

1: Quickest possible work visa approval.

2: Can get an LMIA exemption.

3: Can get you 200 points in the express entry CRS score under senior managerial occupation NOC 00 code.

4: Can qualify to get permanent residency for Canada while still being in the home country.