The Quebec investor program in 2021:
How to immigrate to Canada as an investor
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The Quebec investor program in 2021 is the only immigration program in Canada specifically designed for immigrant investors. Foreign investors with net assets totaling at least CAD$2 million may be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence by signing up to invest through the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.
Though the province of Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking province, the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program does not require a person to have French-language proficiency as a part of the application. However, language proficiency may be considered when selecting applicants.
Why choose the Quebec Investor Program in 2021?
Quebec investor program in 2021, Canada’s only passive investor immigration program, with a number of other advantages. Many business investor immigration programs internationally, such as the EB-5 program in the United States, require individuals to create a certain quota of jobs within a specified time frame.
The Quebec Investor Program in 2021 has no such requirement.
Moreover, the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program also brings Canadian permanent resident status upon initial landing, with no interim temporary status. The applicant’s immediate family members may also be included on the application and obtain Canadian permanent residence, enjoying all the benefits that this status bestows, including universal health care and access to world-class education.
Quebec Investor Program in 2021?
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is passive in nature, meaning individuals are not required to establish or actively manage a business in the province.
Rather, the program requires an investment of $1.2 million into a prescribed (government guaranteed) investment. Applicants must have the intention of settling in the French-speaking province of Quebec.
Successful applicants are issued a selection certificate from Quebec for Canada immigration, which allows them to obtain Canadian permanent residence following health and criminality examinations by Federal immigration authorities.
Applicants must have these qualifications:
- Legally acquired personal net worth of $2 million;
- Two years of suitable management or business experience within the five years preceding the application;
- Investment of $1.2 million into a passive government guaranteed investment for a period of five years bearing no interest;
- Intend to settle in the province of Quebec.
How to Qualify Under Quebec Investor Program in 2021?
The Quebec investor program offers high net worth applicants with CAD $2 Million permanent residence through a risk-free investment of CAD $1,2 Million.
The investment can be financed through a recognized intermediary under a ‘walk-away’ financing scheme. With approved “walk away” financing, the liquidated cost is approximately CAD $350,000 (USD $270,000), depending on interest rates.
QIIP is the only option in Canada for high net worth business immigrants to secure Canadian permanent residence on the basis of a passive investment.
QIIP will accept a maximum of 1900 new applications during the period from September 10, 2018 through August 31, 2019. This includes 1235 applications from China, Macau/Hong Kong and 665 applications from the rest of the world.
How to qualify?
- A legally acquired personal net worth of CAD $2 Million;
- Two years of suitable management or business experience within the five years preceding the application;
- Invest $1.2 Million in a passive government guaranteed investment for a period of five years, bearing no interest;
- An intention to settle in the province of Quebec.
What is the process?
- Gather documentation supporting your personal net worth and managerial experience. You must also prove the legal, historical accumulation of all your assets.
- The completed application is reviewed for compliance, by an approved licensed financial intermediary with quota allocations from Quebec immigration authorities.
- The application is then submitted to Quebec immigration authorities.
- A file number is issued by Quebec within 30-days after reception.
- A notice of interview or interview waiver takes place within 12 months after submission.
- A decision takes place within 30 days after interview.
- Approved applicants will be requested to make their investment within 110 days of a positive decision.
- After investment you will receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). This document allows you to apply for permanent residence at the federal level.
- Submit a full application to federal immigration authorities, who will conduct security and medical checks.
- Depending on the visa office, applications are finalized to visa issuance within a range of approximately 12 months (North America, Western Europe and South America) to 44 months (China).
- After approval, passports are requested and a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) is issued to the applicant and dependants.
- Applicants and dependants must travel to Canada before the expiry date on the COPR document. The COPR will have a validity date near 12-months, corresponding to the 1-year anniversary of the medical exam.
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Who is eligible for the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program?
Eligibility for the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is determined by a person’s ability and willingness to invest in the province of Quebec. To be eligible, an applicant (and their spouse, if applicable) must have net assets of at least CAD$2,000,000 and must make a five-year term investment of CAD$1,200,000 with the organization Investissement Québec – Immigrants Investisseurs Inc.
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program also requires applicants to demonstrate that they have at least two years of management experience obtained in the five years preceding their application. This experience must be related to the planning, management, and control of financial, human, or material resources.
All applicants have to sign an investment agreement with one of Quebec’s participating financial intermediaries.
As of January 1, 2020, all applicants for permanent residence through Quebec immigration programs are required to show they understand Quebec values. This can be done by passing a Quebec values test or completing a course in Quebec values.
How do you apply to the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program?
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program only accepts applications during designated intake periods. Quebec announced that the Immigrant Investor Program is closed to new applications from November 1, 2019, to at least March 31, 2021. It is not guaranteed that new applications will be accepted after March 31, 2021. Quebec’s immigration ministry will release more details closer to this date.
Quebec uses a two-step application process to admit new permanent residents.
- Selection: Selection occurs at the provincial level. All Quebec immigration applicants have to apply to the province of Quebec for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
- Admission: Admission occurs at the federal level. Once a person has a CSQ, they must apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status. As with all permanent residence applications, applicants must pass through a medical exam and police background check to ensure they are admissible to Canada.
Once an application has been approved at both the provincial and federal levels, an applicant may be approved for Canadian permanent resident status.
To apply to the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, interested applicants have to prepare a paper-based application, preparing the required immigration forms and collecting the necessary supporting documents. For investors, immigration officers will be looking for proof of intention to settle in Quebec, management experience, the official investment agreement, as well as details surrounding their personal assets. Comprehensive information about required forms and supporting documents can be accessed on .
Applications for the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program must be submitted in hard-copy by courier to the Direction de l’enregistrement et de l’évaluation comparative in the city of Montreal. Once an application is approved and a CSQ is issued, the investor may apply federally for permanent residence.
Which other Canadian immigration options exist for investors?
The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is currently the only immigration program in Canada specifically designed for foreign investors. In previous years, the federal government managed the Canadian Immigrant Investor Program, but this program was closed in 2014.
For foreign investors with entrepreneurial experience, there are a range of Canadian immigration options for entrepreneurs. The federal Start-up Visa Program is one option for immigrant entrepreneurs who have their business ideas picked up by designated organizations in Canada. As well, many provinces offer entrepreneurial immigration streams, including the popular immigrant destinations of Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia.
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