Residency by Investment
Canada / The Québec Immigrant Investor Programme
Enjoy universal healthcare, free public education, and access to world-class universities.
Canada is consistently rated by the UN as the world’s best country to live in. It is politically and economically stable, with a very high standard of living.
Canada is a G7 country with one of the world’s best performing economies over the past decade. As the world’s second largest country, it is also rich in natural resources, including the world’s second largest oil reserves and fourth largest supply of fresh water.
Canada provides a cosmopolitan, family-friendly lifestyle, with several world-class cities that provide well diversified business environments, vibrant social scenes and a wealth of cultural events. It has an excellent education system with numerous private schools and elite universities, including four in the world’s top 100 as ranked by QS World University Rankings® 2018. Five of the world’s top 100 business schools are also in Canada.
Geographically speaking, the country also offers incredible natural beauty, including oceanic coastlines, immense forests, rugged mountains, vast prairies and pristine beaches.
The Québec Immigrant Investor Programme requires applicants to declare an intention to establish residency in the province of Québec and, once granted, the applicant will need to commit at least two years in any five year period in Canada to maintain permanent residence status. The principal applicant may include his or her family members who will also benefit from becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident. The programme requires the purchase of non-interest bearing Québec Government bonds in the amount of CAD $1.2 million and many financial institutions offer a financing package starting from $350,000.
Investors and their family members are eligible to apply for citizenship if they live in Canada for three out of the four years (1,095 days) preceding the citizenship application; have an adequate knowledge of English and/or French; have no criminal record; and have acquired knowledge of the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, as well as an understanding of Canada’s history, values, institutions and symbols.
Key Benefits
An exceptional standard of living
Application process: 24-36 months
Residency requirements: 730 days over five years
Required investment CAD$1.2 million
To qualify for residency or citizenship, applicants must meet the following criteria:
1. Investment
Applicants may select one of two options:
- Full Investment - Applicants invest a minimum of CAD$1.2 million in a government-guaranteed bond and hold it for a period of five years. At the end of this period, the guaranteed full amount is returned to the investor without any accrued interest (0%).
- Financed Investment -Investors pay a reduced amount that is used to finance the CAD$1.2 million investment. Many financial intermediaries will offer a one-time/up-front financing option where the applicants pays in fees and interest of $360,000 (non-recoverable) which will cover the full $1.2 million bond purchase.
2. Personal requirements
Applicants must:
- Have a legally acquired net worth of at least CAD$2 million
- Demonstrate an intention to settle in Québec
- Provide documents supporting the source and origin of invested funds
- Demonstrate at least two years of suitable business experience within the five years preceding the application.
3. Fees
Government application fees
Fees for the Québec Immigrant Investor Programme are CAD$15,235 and include the principal applicant and all accompanying dependants.
Federal Government Fees
Permanent resident application processing fees are:
- Principal Applicant: $1050
- Spouse: $550
- Children under 18: $150
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee Principal Applicant: $490
- Spouse: $490
- Children are exempt
Considerations
The QIIP is currently closed until March 31st, 2021. We are waiting for the government to confirm the requirements of the revised programme and we will likely begin to assist clients with their application at the beginning of 2021 in anticipation of submitting once the programme reopens.
It is necessary to reside in Canada for 730 days within a five-year period to uphold permanent resident status.