x
Contact us

Contact Information

1 (403) 452-9515

1 (800) 932-1190

Learn how we can help you

More Options...

Canada Attracts Immigrant Entrepreneurs With The Startup Visa

Blog posted on by Evelyn Ackah in Business Immigration to Canada, Entrepreneurs, Permanent Residence and Start-Up Visa Program

Canada Attracts Immigrant Entrepreneurs With The Startup Visa
"Coming out of the pandemic, the clear message we are sending with the startup visa program is that Canada is open for business.”

- Marco Mendicino,
Canada's Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Mendocino announced on Twitter that Canada wants immigrant entrepreneurs, tech founders and students to help the country's economic growth and to create jobs for Canadians. He went on to say:

"Undoubtedly, 🇨🇦 will bolster its economic growth and employment by bringing in international students, at least some of whom will become tech founders, as well as business owners.''

Mendocino linked a recent article by Forbes Magazine that announced, If The U.S. Won’t Welcome Immigrant Entrepreneurs, Canada Stands Ready To Do So


The article contrasted the immigration hurdles faced by foreign entrepreneurs and founders who want to move to the United States with Canada's startup visa program that became permanent in 2018. The Startup Visa Program has welcomed over 200 entrepreneurs to Canada who have gone on to become permanent residents.

Mendocino said Canada is actively recruiting international students who may become tech founders, as well as business owners.

“We believe immigration is a competitive edge for Canada, and that’s how we are going to stay competitive on the global scale. The reason we want that talent to stay in Canada is the long-term demographic pressure that we face from declining birthrates and an aging population.”

- Marco Mendicino

Requirements for Canada Entrepreneur Start-Up Visa

Are You An Entrepreneur Who Wants to Move To Canada?

There are many opportunities for founders to move to Canada. An experienced immigration lawyer has the knowledge and expertise to assess your qualifications and match them to opportunities, to understand complex Canadian immigration rules and regulations, to solve problems and to remove obstacles for someone who wants to immigrate to Canada.

We help you smooth the way to new opportunities in Canada.

At Ackah Business Immigration Law, our goal is to make Crossing Borders Seamlessly a reality and to smooth your way to new opportunities in Canada. Ackah Law is headquartered in Calgary with offices in Vancouver and Toronto. Contact Ackah Law today at (403) 452‑9515 or email us directly at contact@ackahlaw.com.


    Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

    Founder/Managing Lawyer

    Ms. Ackah is passionate about immigration law because it focuses on people and relationships, which are at the core of her personal values. Starting her legal career as a corporate/commercial ...

    More About Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

    Growing Up Black in Canada: Honouring Black History and Embracing the Future

    Black History Month is a time for reflection, learning, and celebration. It serves as a catalyst for deeper conversations about race, identity, and progress. My journey, from immigrating ...

    Read More

    Navigating Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program: A Step by Step Guide for Foreign Entrepreneurs

    Canada is a land of opportunity, and its Start-Up Visa Program (SUV) for foreign entrepreneurs is a golden gateway for foreign entrepreneurs who dream of establishing their business ...

    Read More

    Updates to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

    Alberta has seen a surge in interest from qualified individuals seeking to immigrate and contribute to our vibrant economy. While this is fantastic news, it also means the Alberta ...

    Read More

    How Canada Business Ownership Can Lead to Permanent Residence

    Canada offers many opportunities for business immigration to grow and strengthen the economy and create jobs for Canadians. For business immigrants, owning a business in Canada ...

    Read More

    1 in 4 Canadian Health Care Workers Are Immigrants: Why Not You?

    1 in 4 Canadian Health Care Workers Are Immigrants: On #WorldHealthDay on April 7, IRCC shared that one out of four physicians, nurses and pharmacists in Canada are immigrants. Over ...

    Read More

    NEXUS and Immigration Fee Increases in 2024

    Canada has announced new immigration application fees for Permanent Residents and NEXUS frequent travellers. Processing fees are required to pay for the application processing ...

    Read More

    It is one thing to earn a living; it is another thing to make a difference in the world.

    This is our formal thank you note to Evelyn Ackah and the Ackah Law Team for all the effort they put into helping us navigate and finally resolve the hurdle that was Canadian Immigration back in the spring of 2012.

    A friend referred us to Evelyn; he assured us that Evelyn would take good care of us. Our friend was confident we were in good hands and said Evelyn would do her very best to help us and she did! At the time we did not know that his referral would go far beyond finding us help. Slowly we realized that it would become our own personal story of how we received grace and were reminded of the power in paying it forward

    We wrote a detailed page of our dilemma, explaining how we came to be in the position we were in (overwhelmed with the hurdle that was Canadian Immigration and the uncertainty that we faced as a young family in Calgary). Evelyn agreed to take on our file with her team. They found the time to personally call us and listened intently and understood the details of what we were dealing with. They gave us their time, an honest opinion and provided clear direction which proved to be invaluable advice. Months went by but in time, we received word from Ackah Law that the Immigration office had finally reviewed our file and a decision had been made allowing our family to finally put the immigration matter to rest. We were finally able to focus again to live our lives without fear or pending doom.

    Looking back now, even the sun appeared to shine a little brighter that day. At first we didn’t know whether to bake them a cake, drive out to meet their team, find their offices and personally thank them with a mighty hug or simply cry out to the heavens in thankful relief. Instead we emailed them to express our heartfelt thank-you and we hoped that they would know deep in their hearts just how grateful we were for all of their help.

    Even though we relied on emails and phone conversations to communicate with them that year, we will always remember their constant professionalism, their kindness and understanding at a time that brought us so much pain not to mention fear. As if all their hard work wasn’t enough, Evelyn then then casually mentions that all their work was done pro-bono! We were thoroughly humbled!

    To this day we are still eager to share how wonderful they all are as human beings but even more than that, we continue to pay it forward in honour of them, their service to us and their continued dedication in helping others.

    Eternally thankful

    – The Brummunds

    View All Testimonials