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The
Immigrant Investor Program seeks to attract experienced persons
and capital to Canada. Investors must demonstrate business experience,
a minimum net worth of CDN $800,000 and make an investment of
CDN $400,000.
"Investor" means a foreign national who
- has
business experience;
- has
a legally obtained net worth of at least CDN $800,000; and
- indicates
in writing to an officer that they intend to make or have
made an investment.
"Business experience",
in respect of an investor, means
- the
management of a qualifying business and the control of a percentage
of equity of the qualifying business for at least two years
in the period beginning five years before the date of application
for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination
is made in respect of the application, or
- the
management of at least five full-time job equivalents per
year in a business for at least two years in the period beginning
five years before the date of application for a permanent
resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made
in respect of the application.
"Net worth",
in respect of an investor, means the fair market value of all
of the assets of the investor and their spouse or common-law
partner minus the fair market value of all of their liabilities.
"Qualifying business"
means a business -- other than a business operated primarily
for the purpose of deriving investment income such as interest,
dividends or capital gains -- for which, in each of any two
years in the period beginning five years before the date of
application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the
date a determination is made in respect of the application,
there is documentary evidence of any two of the following:
- that
the percentage of equity multiplied by the number of full
time job equivalents is equal to or greater than two full-time
job equivalents per year;
- that
the percentage of equity multiplied by the total annual sales
is equal to or greater than CDN $500,000;
- that
the percentage of equity multiplied by the net income in the
year is equal to or greater than CDN $50,000; and
- that
the percentage of equity multiplied by the net assets at the
end of the year is equal to or greater than CDN $125,000.
"Full-time job equivalent"
means 1,950 hours of paid employment.
"Net assets",
in respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian
business, means the assets of the business, minus the liabilities
of the business, plus shareholder loans made to the business
by a foreign national and their spouse or common-law partner.
"Net income",
means in respect of a qualifying business or a qualifying Canadian
business, means the after tax profit or loss of the business
plus remuneration by the business to a foreign national and
their spouse or common-law partner.
"Percentage of equity"
means
- in
respect of a sole proprietorship, 100 per cent of the equity
of the sole proprietorship controlled by a foreign national
or their spouse or common-law partner;
- in
respect of a corporation, the percentage of the issued and
outstanding voting shares of the capital stock of the corporation
controlled by a foreign national or their spouse or common-law
partner; and
- in respect
of a partnership or joint venture, the percentage of the profit
or loss of the partnership or joint venture to which the foreign
national or their spouse or common-law partner is entitled.
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