Recently, Canada closed the popular Owner/ Operator Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program. That had provided an exemption for majority share business owners of Canadian businesses to seek permission to work for their own Canadian companies without first advertising the job to Canadians.
With the changes, business owners who seek a work permit to work for their own businesses must qualify for an exemption from the usual LMIA requirement or must use the usual process for obtaining a LMIA. The usual process involves at least 28 days of advertising the position nationally in Canada to give qualified Canadians an opportunity to apply for the position. LMIAs will only be allowed if the business can show a shortage of qualified Canadians and a genuine need to fill the position with the owner of the business.
Some of the LMIA exemptions still available to business owners and investors to qualify them for a work permit include the following programs:
There are also permanent residence programs available for business owners which allow them and their families to settle permanently in Canada:
Do you have questions about business immigration to Canada? Do you want to know if you are eligible or how best to apply? Please contact Pathway to Canada Immigration by email at info@pathwaytocanada.ca for more information or for a consultation.