CanadaStarting a business
Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.
For a person who wishes to settle in Quebec in order to start a business there (Start-up profile).
You can submit an application for the Start-up profile if you wish to settle in Québec to start a business here.
The business project must be set out in a business plan submitted with the application, drawn up on the ministry's template 'Plan d'affaires — Programme des entrepreneurs - Volet 2' (available in French only).
Your business project must be outlined in a business plan and submitted with your application. To draw up your business plan, you must use the document Plan d’affaires — Programme des entrepreneurs - Volet 2 (PDF 316 Kb) (in French only).
At least CDN$300,000 must be spent on start-up or operations if the business is located in the Montreal Metropolitan Area, or CDN$150,000 if it is located outside that area; the applicant's contribution to the business's original capital must be at least 25% of its value, held alone or with the spouse included in the application, and each business partner who also applies under the Entrepreneur Program must hold an equity stake of at least 25%.
In the context of starting your business, you must have spent on the start-up or operations a minimum amount of: CDN$300,000, if your business is located in the Montréal Metropolitan Area ; CDN$150,000, if your business is located outside the Montréal Metropolitan Area . Contribution to the original capital of the business Your contribution to the original capital of the business must correspond to at least 25% of the value of this business. You can hold it alone or with the spouse included in the application. If you are starting your business with business partners who are also applying to the Entrepreneur Program, each of them must have an equity stake in the company of at least 25%.
The business must not operate in payday loans, cheque cashing or pledge loans; in the production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or sex-industry services such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massage; or in trading, leasing, brokerage, development or planning in the property sector. Family members included in the application can also obtain a permit. The official source does not state what other activity the holder may carry out.
Your business must not be engaged in activities in the following sectors: Payday loans, cashing cheques or pledge loans; Production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services related to the sex industry, such as nude or erotic dancing, escort services or erotic massage; Trading, leasing, brokerage, development or planning in the property sector.
If you meet all the conditions of the programme, with the exception of the offer to purchase and the expenses involved in taking over the business, you will receive a notice of intent to be selected from the Government of Québec. This notice will enable you to apply for a work permit from the Government of Canada to continue the stat up process of your company in Québec, if necessary. Family members included in the application can also obtain a permit. After receipt of your work permit, you can start your business. To obtain your Certificat de sélection du Québec (Québec Selection Certificate), you must demonstrate the effective start-up of the business by meeting the conditions below. Start-up of the business You must have started a business in Québec no later than two years after the issuance of the work permit obtained with the notice of intent to be selected. This business must have been registered for at least one year at the time you send the documentation justifying its start-up.
An applicant who meets all conditions except the purchase offer and the take-over expenses receives a notice of intent to be selected from the Government of Quebec, which allows a work-permit application to the Government of Canada (family members included in the application can also obtain a permit); the business may be started once the permit is received, must be started no later than two years after its issue and must have been registered for at least one year when the start-up documentation is sent to obtain the Certificat de selection du Quebec. Permit validity and renewal are not stated.
If you meet all the conditions of the programme, with the exception of the offer to purchase and the expenses involved in taking over the business, you will receive a notice of intent to be selected from the Government of Québec. This notice will enable you to apply for a work permit from the Government of Canada to continue the stat up process of your company in Québec, if necessary. Family members included in the application can also obtain a permit. After receipt of your work permit, you can start your business. To obtain your Certificat de sélection du Québec (Québec Selection Certificate), you must demonstrate the effective start-up of the business by meeting the conditions below. Start-up of the business You must have started a business in Québec no later than two years after the issuance of the work permit obtained with the notice of intent to be selected. This business must have been registered for at least one year at the time you send the documentation justifying its start-up.
These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.
Explore more pathways in Canada · All pathways
Not legal advice. No eligibility verdict or ranking. Check the linked sources before applying.