C-11
This is for foreign Entrepreneurs and self-employed applicants who are seeking to operate a business in Canada, and have dual intent i.e. they have applied or may apply for Permanent Residence (PR) in Canada, and also apply to enter Canada for a temporary period as a visitor, student or worker.
To be eligible, a foreign national must –
- have received either an offer of employment number, or authorization by the Immigration Program Guidance Branch (IPG) to submit the “Offer of Employment to a Foreign National Exempt from a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)”
- have paid the employer compliance fee, and
- have submitted an application for a work permit.
An applicant for C11 must satisfy the visa case officer that they have the ability & willingness to leave Canada at the end of the authorized temporary period, regardless of the outcome of any potential future permanent residence application.
In assessing an application for temporary residence, a visa case officer will consider, among other factors, the following:/h3>
- the length of time that the client will be spending in Canada
- means of support
- obligations and ties to the home country
- the purpose and the context of the stay
- the credibility of documents and information submitted
- past compliance with requirements of the IRPA and IRPR.
Applicants must satisfy that –
- they will be doing work that is likely to create a viable business that will provide economic stimulus
- they have related background & skills that will improve the viability of the business
- they have a business plan that clearly shows that they have taken steps to initiate the business
- they have taken some steps to put the business plan in action
- their business will generate significant economic, social or cultural benefits to Canada
- their business will generate opportunities to Canadian citizens or permanent residents
- they will generate significant benefit to Canadian clients (only applicable if the applicant is a self-employed person)
In addition –
- Applicant must control at least 50% of the business
- If you have a smaller stake in the business, you can ONLY apply for your Work Permit as an employee, and may be required to obtain a “Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)”
- If there are multiple owners in the business, only one owner is eligible for a Work Permit
Applicants seeking eventual permanent residence
There are two categories of potential permanent residence applicants who may apply for a work permit under this category:
- Actual or potential provincial nominees undertaking business activities
- Quebec-destined entrepreneurs or self-employed persons issued a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Contact us if you would like to apply under this visa category.
