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Canada Citizenship by Investment - Quebec Immigrant Investor Program

Canada At A Glance

 

While Canada has many different immigration programs, the Québec Investor Visa offers a route not just to permanent resident status, but also Canadian citizenship and passport. The Québec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) (or Quebec Investor Visa) was established in 1986 to give business people and their families the opportunity to live in Québec as permanent residents on an unconditional basis. In return, the program helps Québec generate funding for subsidies in support of local small and medium businesses.

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Canada is the second largest country in the world. It’s probably also the friendliest. Due to its sheer size, Canada is incredibly diverse with a boundless variety of landscapes and distinctive cultures. It really has it all: magnificent mountains, glaciers, rain forests, beaches, renowned national parks, and UNESCO world heritage sites. Not to mention world-class skiing in Whistler, white sand beaches and winding trails in Nova Scotia, roaming polar bears in Manitoba, an archipelago of rare wildlife and plants at Haida Gwaii, Niagara Falls, and many others.

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There is no shortage of adventure in Canada, whether you are looking for the cosmopolitan or natural kind. And for those that do prefer urban life over the outdoors, vibrant cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Québec City offer an abundance of cultural attractions and creature comforts. Also, to make the visit to the country easier the government has introduced Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for eligible travelers that don't need to obtain a temporary resident visa to enter Canada.

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Of these, Québec is Canada’s biggest French-speaking province. It’s a beautiful, charming place that feels like a piece of Europe somehow ended up in the middle of the Canadian wilderness. Québec City and Montreal are its two largest cities; both are rich in culture and offer world-class dining, shopping and cultural attractions. And surrounding Québec is pristine natural beauty: the dramatic coasts of the Gaspé Peninsula, mountains and skiing in Mont-Sainte-Anne, and scenic hiking trails in Parc National de la Jacques-Cartier. From its friendly people and cosmopolitan cities, to its stunning natural landscape and exhilarating outdoor adventures, Canada has so much to offer, making it a very popular choice for a place to live.

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Quebec Investor Visa - Investment Options

 

Note: High Net Worth Immigration offers the Quebec Investor Visa in partnership with a government-approved financial institution. All applicants’ files will be reviewed and approved by our legal team based in Montreal.

The Québec Investor Visa is very straightforward when it comes to the investment. There is only one option that qualifies applicants for permanent residency. However, you do have the opportunity to decide if you want to do a full or financed investment. See below for details on each.

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Full Investment

 

Applicants must invest a minimum of CAN$1,200,000 in a government-guaranteed investment and hold it there for a period of five years. At the end of this period, the guaranteed full amount is returned to you without accrued interest within 30 days. This option offers a passive investment, completely risk-free to the investor.

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Financed Investment

 

The second option allows everyone who wants to get Canada permanent residency to invest a reduced amount of CAN$350,000 to finance a closed 62-month term loan through an approved intermediary. However, with this option, there is no reimbursement at the end of the 5-year holding period.

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The financed option is a good choice for investors who do not want to liquidate their assets to pay the full sum, or those that want to have free capital available for other investments during the 5-year holding period.

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Whichever option you choose, revenues generated by the Québec Investor Visa investments are used to finance two Québec business assistance programs: Business Assistance - Immigrant Investor Program and Employment Integration Program for Immigrants and Visible Minorities.

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Qualifications & Conditions To Apply

 

In addition to the investment requirements, there are several other qualifications and conditions that applicants must meet in order to apply to the Québec Immigrant Investor program and obtain permanent residency in Canada:

  • Must be at least 18 years of age.

  • Demonstrate at least two years of business management experiences in the five years prior to applying.

  • Management experience is defined as having the planning, supervision and control of the financial as well as the personnel/physical resources in a company under your authority. This must be demonstrated over the course of five years prior to applying. Qualifying industries include:

  • A specific, legally-operating enterprise (agricultural, commercial, or industrial)

  • A governmental or international organization

  • In either scenario, you must be a full-time employee and the company must have at least two other full-time employees. The company does not need to be profitable.

  • *Managerial experience does not include experience acquired via an apprenticeship, training or specialization process attested to by a diploma.

  • Have a net worth of at least CAN$2 million individually, or combined with your partner/spouse.

    Assets such as real estate, bank accounts, pension funds, stocks and inherited assets can be counted toward your total net worth.

  • Commit to investing a minimum of CAN$1.2 million into a Canadian government-guaranteed investment and hold it there for five years without earning any interest.

  • Provide documents showing the legal origin of the invested funds.

  • Intend to settle in the province of Québec.

  • Successfully pass a medical examination and security background check.

  • Applicants must satisfy both the Québec selection and the Canadian admission requirements.

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Additional qualifications

 

While the following are not officially-specified qualifications, factors like your age, education, language skills, as well as the nature and duration of your professional experience will also be considered during the application review process.

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How To Apply For Canadian Citizenship?

 

After three years of permanent residency, candidates can apply for citizenship. The following requirements must be met:

  • Continue to satisfy the requirements of permanent residence

  • Have been primarily resident in Canada for 3 years. Note that each day spent as a temporary resident counts as a half-day toward the physical presence requirement, but only up to a total of 365 days. This means that if someone holds temporary residency and is present in Canada for 2 years, they will now be able to count that time as 1 year of the 3 year requirement.

  • Have filed income taxes

  • Intend to continue to reside in Canada

  • Demonstrate satisfactorily language level in French or English

  • Demonstrate knowledge of Canada plus the responsibilities and privileges of Canadian citizenship

  • Have no criminal record in Canada, and not be facing criminal charges outside of Canada

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Application process

 

Due to the high demand for the Québec Immigrant Investor program, the application and selection process is highly selective. The applicant(s) must satisfy both the Québec selection and the Canadian Government admission requirements, and pay all associated fees. Fees will not be refunded unless the application is incomplete, in which case it will be returned. The processing period varies depending on the applicant’s country of origin, overall applicant numbers, and Canadian staff availability.

 

Applicants should submit appropriately certified copies of personal documents, since documents will not be returned. All documents must be translated into French or English. The government application fee is CAN$15,235 for the primary applicant. This fee covers any family members included on your application. The legal and advisory fees charged by the intermediary will depend on the number of the people included under the same application.

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Submission Process and Required Documents

 

The application, in order to be considered complete and admissible, should include:

  • Application for a Selection Certificate – Investor

  • The narrative document for the primary applicant, and spouse or partner

  • The declaration of intent to reside in Québec

  • Confirmation of fee payment

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Supporting Documents

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  • Confirmation that the applicant’s intermediary has power of attorney

  • Declaration of the source of investment funds

  • Proof of net worth including income statements, credit reports, etc.

  • A detailed narrative document written by the applicant in their native language explaining the source of funds for the investment

  • Passport copies

  • A reccent photograph

  • Identity and civil status documents

  • Birth, marriage, adoption, divorce certificate copies, as appropriate

  • Proof of spousal or partner status (e.g. joint bank accounts, mortgages held)

  • Proof of the primary applicant’s managerial experience

  • Medical certificates

  • Police clearance certificates

  • Conirmation of French language competence (for French speaking applicants)

Upon receipt of the completed application, the Ministére will review. In some cases they may ask for updated/additional information – these requests must be satisfied within 60 days.

Successful applicants will receive a Certificat de Sélection du Québec (CSQ – a Certificate of Selection). The application will be then passed to Canada’s Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia for assessment of the medical report, and to issue the final admission confirmation.

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Benefits Of Canadian Citizenship 

 

When it comes to outlining all of the benefits of securing a permanent residence and citizenship in Canada, there are just far too many. Canada is one of the most popular destinations for obtaining dual citizenship. It consistently ranks at the top of key comparative surveys of industrialized nations. Plus, the Québec Investor Program is in itself very desirable. More specific key benefits include the following

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Financial

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  • Your investment is risk-free! The Québec government guarantees to return your full investment funds after 5 years.

  • Passive investment – you don’t need to manage or do anything related to the investment once it is made.

  • Canadians get more favorable income tax rates and corporate tax rates than most other Western countries.

  • Canada has tax treaties with many countries around the world to avoid double taxation.

  • G8 and NAFTA (North American Federal Trade Agreement) member.

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Lifestyle

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  • Family-inclusive program. All immediate members including your spouse and dependent children are included in the application will be given the same status.

  • One of the best universal health care systems in the world.

  • Excellent education system with free public education and renowned universities.

  • Children can apply to local schools and universities as a Canadian resident.

  • One of the best passports for international travel. As of 26 March 2019, Canadian citizens have visa-free or visa on arrival access to 184 countries.

  • The right to move to and reside in any province in Canada, as guaranteed by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

  • No restrictions on dual citizenship.

  • One of the safest countries in the world.

  • High quality of life.

  • Cultural, ethnic and religious tolerance.

  • Affordable cost of living.

  • Beautiful nature and pristine wilderness with strict environmental regulations to keep it that way.

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Business

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  • Québec has a diversified, dynamic and modern economy.

  • Highly-skilled work force.

  • Competitive operating costs (especially when it comes to labor and electricity).

  • Advantageous corporate tax system that supports new businesses and investments.

  • Business support programs for small and medium-sized businesses that help encourage growth via technical support and advice, financial support, tax credits, subsidies, and help with design, innovation, research and development.

  • Successful export market.

  • Vast majority of businesses are small and medium-sized with less than five employees.

  • Key sectors in Québec include: aerospace, agriculture, automatize and ground transport equipment, light metals, microelectronics, multimedia, life sciences, IT and software, and telecommunications.

  • Flexible administrative procedures that make registering or incorporating a business in Québec fast, easy and inexpensive.

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