How to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines: A business owner's guide

If you are a business owner with a growing company in the Philippines, or you simply want to build a new life abroad, this article is for you. Here, we will discuss the main ways to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines as a business owner or investor. In any case, you can also get the help of an immigration lawyer in this new venture.

What is the best path for businesspeople to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines?

Business owners can take advantage of several programs to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines as part of the business immigration program. There are three main pathways for Canada's business immigration:

• Start-Up Visa Program (SUVP)
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
• Québec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP)

We'll discuss these programs below. You can also use the table of contents above to go stairght to a specific program.

Start-Up Visa Program (SUVP)

Filipino businesspeople who want to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines can use the federal SUVP, also called the Start-Up Business Class. Under the program, individuals or a group of up to five people can apply to build an innovative business in Canada that can help create jobs for Canadians.

The SUVP applies to all provinces and territories, except for Québec. If you want to reside in Québec, you will not be able to apply under the SUVP.

Learn more about the SUVP in this video:

Head over to our directory of the best immigration lawyers in Canada as ranked by Lexpert if you're looking for a lawyer to help you immigrate to Canada.

SUVP eligibility requirements

To qualify for the SUVP, you or your group must:

• have a qualifying business: each applicant must hold 10 percent or more of the business' total voting rights, and all applicants together with the designated organization must hold more than 50 percent of the total voting rights
• meet the language requirements: you must get a language test from an approved agency, and get a Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in listening, reading, writing and speaking (English or French)
• settlement funds: you must submit proof that you have enough money to support you and your dependents when you arrive in Canada; the minimum amount will depend on the number of your family members

This means that you must get a commitment (including a commitment certificate) and letter of support from a designated organization in advance. You'll have to reach out to a specific organization yourself to get a letter of support.

Commitment for a start-up business

Your start-up business must get a commitment from one of the following entities, with these minimum confirmed investments:

• Designated Angel Investor Group (DAIG):
  • one DAIG investing at least $75,000 in the qualifying business, or
  • two or more DAIGs investing together at least $75,000 in the qualifying business
• Designated Venture Capital Fund (DVCF):
  • one DVCF investing at least $200,000 in the qualifying business, or
  • two or more DVCF investing together at least $200,000 in the qualifying business
• Designated Business Incubator: confirming that it is accepting you and your qualifying business into its business incubator program

Getting a commitment and letter of support from any of these entities is important because you need to attach them to your application for the SUVP.

Applying for SUVP: step-by-step process

Here's how to apply for the federal SUVP:

• Gather the required documents and create an account through the Permanent Residence (PR) Portal under the Start-Up Business Class
• Pay the fees, such as the processing fee, right of permanent residence fee, and biometrics fees, including for your spouse, partner, and dependent children
• Submit the application, including your processing fee receipt, and upload all supporting documents

If your application is complete, you will receive a letter giving you further instructions for your application.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Under the PNPs, foreign nationals are selected through an "immigration stream" by a specific Canadian province or territory to live and work there. This makes it easier for Filipinos, especially businesspeople, to immigrate to a specific province or territory in Canada from the Philippines.

These immigration streams under the PNP may refer to:

• skilled workers
• semi-skilled workers
• students
• businesspeople

After obtaining the nomination of the preferred province or territory, foreign nationals may then apply through:

• provincial: the Non-Express Entry Process found on the website of the specific province or territory, or
• federal: the Express Entry system found on the federal government's website

Below is an example of a PNP stream for businesspeople in Alberta, which is also where a lot of Filipinos live, according to data from the Philippine Embassy in Ottawa.

Watch this video to know more about the Express Entry system:

Learn more about investor immigration, which is another way to move to Canada, in this guide on the Canadian Investor Immigration program.

Example: Alberta's entrepreneur immigration

Filipino business owners can immigrate to Canada from the Philippines through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP). While there are two main categories under the AAIP that you can from – one for workers and one for entrepreneurs – the streams specific for entrepreneurs are:

• Rural Entrepreneur
• Graduate Entrepreneur
• Farm
• Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur

Applying for an AAIP stream

To apply to any of these streams, you must:

• EOI application: Complete a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) by accessing the AAIP Portal to be invited. Note that you can only have one AAIP application at any time; EOIs are valid for one year, and you can apply again after its expiry. You must also pay a $200 fee
• Business Application: AAIP will review and score your EOI within 30 days of submission. If you're one of the highest-ranking candidates, you will receive an email requiring you to submit a Business Application for a specific stream, upload all the required forms and documents, and pay a $3,500 fee
• Business Agreement: AAIP will assess your Business Application using their eligibility criteria. If approved, they will email you a legal document called Business Performance Agreement, which you must review and sign. Afterwards, a Letter of Support will also be sent, which will allow you to apply for a two-year work permit.

Québec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP)

Unique to Québec is the QIIP, which allows investors to immigrate to the province. This includes Filipino investors who want to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines. Although it somehow works like a PNP stream, there are different requirements that you must comply with:

• enter into an investment agreement with a financial intermediary, which will invest and contribute on your behalf
• have at least two years of management experience, acquired within five years before submitting the application
• have a net worth of at least $2 million excluding donations, but may be shared with your spouse or common-law partner
• hold at least a secondary school diploma, vocational studies diploma, or certificate of college studies
• know how to speak French, at least level 7 according to the Québec scale of French proficiency levels

When approved, you will receive a notice of intent to select, which will allow you to apply for a work permit and stay in Québec.

What are the other ways to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines?

Aside from business immigration, there are several ways for Filipinos to immigrate to Canada. These would depend on each person's skills and established connections in Canada, such as family and employment referrals.

In addition to the SUVP, PNPs, and QIIP, here are some of the common ways to immigrate to Canada, not just from the Philippines, but from any other country:

• Express Entry
• Family or spousal sponsorship
• Study permits and visas

Example: Express Entry and Ontario's PNP

To show how the Express Entry and PNPs work together, we'll use the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) as an example. Currently, the OINP has following streams to choose from:

• under the Expression of Interest Streams (Employer Job Offer):
• Foreign Worker
• International Student
• In-Demand Skills
• under the federal Express Entry Streams:
• Human Capital Priorities
• Skilled Trades
• French-Speaking Skilled Worker
• for those who have a Master's or PhD degree from a university in Ontario:
• PhD Graduate
• Master's Graduate

This means that you can register in either the Expression of Interest system or the Express Entry system to get an invitation to apply or notification of interest for work in Ontario.

How can lawyers help those who want to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines?

It is important to consult with an immigration lawyer if you want to immigrate to Canada from Canada to the Philippines. These lawyers can help you and your business through the following legal services:

• explain immigration options: as discussed above, there are several options you can use to immigrate to Canada from the Philippines. Deciding which pathway is best for you, your business, and your family is something to review with an immigration lawyer
• act as your legal representative: even before issues arise, your immigration lawyer can represent you in an immigration or citizenship applications and hearings, and can deal with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or any provincial immigration office on your behalf
• check whether your application is legitimate: with many immigration scams out there, an immigration lawyer can make sure your application is correct and that you're using official, lawful channels; for instance, emails for your AAIP application will only come from @gov.ab.ca - anything else is a scam

With the leap of faith that you and your family are taking, it's best to proceed in a safe, lawful way. This is possible with the help of an immigration lawyer.

Immigrating to Canada from the Philippines: Looking ahead to business and life in Canada

For many Filipino entrepreneurs, Canada offers both fresh markets and a stable home. The right program can match a strong track record with real opportunities. With careful planning and the support of an experienced immigration lawyer, this move can support both family goals and long-term business growth.

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