Who should apply for a C11 Entrepreneur Work Permit?
The C11 work permit is suitable for the following categories of individuals:
Self-employed individuals that would like to start a business in Canada;
Entrepreneurs who would like to buy a business or franchise in Canada;
Individuals who were selected under any of the Entrepreneur streams of the
Provincial Nominee Programs.
If you are considering the C11 work permit, you will need to convince the immigration
officer that:
You own your business or a majority share of your business in Canada (at least
50%);
You have the relevant experience and capacity to operate your business in
Canada;
You have the financial capacity to execute your business plan;
Your business plan is feasible and can be executed;
You have taken significant steps to execute your business plan;
Your business will generate “significant benefit to Canada.”
Application Process & Timeframes for C11 Work
Permit
To apply for a work permit under the C11 program, applicants should follow the
following process:
1. Start a new business in Canada or buy an existing business
We recommend that you consult with a lawyer before starting or investing in a business
in Canada, as not all business ventures meet the requirements for the program. Learn
more about starting a new business and purchasing an existing one with us
2. Research & prepare a solid business plan
Your business plan is the heart and soul of your application, and immigration officers
scrutinize the business plan very carefully to assess the viability of your business.
Therefore, it is incredibly important that you make sure your business plan has all the
necessary information, including your business model, hiring plan, pricing strategy etc.,
to convince the officer that your plan is viable and feasible.
3. Develop an execution plan and start executing your business plan
Another important aspect of your applications is the initial execution of your business
vision. The immigration officer will examine your commitment to running a business in
Canada and review evidence of any steps you have taken to execute your business
plan. Often, opening a bank account and depositing funds alone is not sufficient to
demonstrate your commitment, and you may be required to do more than show that you
have the money to finance your plans and business.
Your initial execution plan will depend on the nature of your business and the strategy
outlined in the business plan. At Sobirovs, we know that entering a new market can be
difficult, and we help our clients develop their execution plans and assist with the initial
steps in the most cost-efficient and speedy manner.
4. Prepare & submit a C11 work permit application
Once you have collected sufficient proof of your commitment and evidence of your
business plan execution, you can proceed to submit the work permit application as a
self-employed individual under the C11 LMIA exemption code. Make sure to include all
your relevant documents, including evidence of your entrepreneurial or managerial
experience, financial documents, or support letters from vendors or customers in
Canada.
5. Receive approval of your application
Within approximately 1-3 months after submitting your application and providing your
biometric information to the IRCC (if applicable), you should receive a decision from the
IRCC on your application. If your decision is positive, you can start planning your trip to
Canada. If your decision is negative, we encourage you to talk to your lawyer and
develop a strategy to challenge the negative decision.
6. Arrive in Canada & operate your business for 12 months
If your application is approved, you will be issued a 2-year work permit as an
entrepreneur by the CBSA officer upon arrival to Canada (airport or land border). As a
self-employed individual, you will be authorized to work only for your business in
Canada and not for any other employer in Canada.
Your spouse will also usually receive an open work permit which allows her/him to work
for any employer in Canada. You need to operate your business for at least 12 months
before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence.
7. Apply for permanent residence
As a foreign entrepreneur, you may become eligible to apply for permanent residence
under the Express Entry (Federal Skilled Workers) program with an executive job offer
after operating your business in Canada for at least 12 months.
For that, you need to demonstrate that you meet the basic eligibility requirements for the
Federal Skilled Worker stream under the Express Entry program, demonstrating that
you have a viable and operational business in Canada that can support your
employment in a senior managerial or executive capacity, and the minimum language
skills requirements (CLB level 7).
