How To Apply For Canada’s Start-Up Visa From The United Arab Emirates

Colin Singer
January 19, 2024

The United Arab Emirates and Dubai in particular are hotbeds of tech innovation with start-ups that could grow faster and gain even greater access to Canadian markets through Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV) program.

“Few markets in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) can say they have a 20-year old startup eco-system that has given birth to a half dozen unicorns,” writes Erika Masako Welch in the Dubai’s Digital Economy and it’s Expanding Start-up Ecosystem report.

Although still a relatively-young start-up ecosystem that investment experts say only got underway in earnest a decade ago, the UAE has captured the attention of investors everywhere.

And now UAE entrepreneurs are looking at the perfect time to benefit by coming to Canada, starting up a business under Canada’s SUV, and expanding their access to markets.

Under the SUV, entrepreneurs who want to benefit by starting businesses in Canada can get their Canadian permanent residence.

Three types of private-sector investors are considered under the program: angel investors, venture capital funds, and business incubators.

A designated angel investor group must invest at least $75,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling $75,000.

A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it is investing at least $200,000 into the qualifying business. Candidates can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totaling $200,000.

A designated business incubator must accept the applicant into its business incubator program.

It is up to the immigrant investor to develop a viable business plan that will meet the due diligence requirements of these government-approved designated entities.

SUV Applicants Must Have A Qualifying Business

That’s usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem and experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business plan meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

Candidates to the SUV program can initially come to Canada on a work permit supported by their designated Canadian investor before qualifying for permanent residence once their business is up and running.

Investing and the development of the business is usually done with the help of business consultants in Canada’s start-up ecosystem with oversight from experienced corporate business immigration lawyers who can ensure a start-up’s business concept meets all industry-required terms and conditions.

The basic government-imposed candidate eligibility requirements for the SUV are:

a qualifying business;
a commitment certificate and letter of support from a designated entity;
sufficient unencumbered, available and transferable settlement funds to meet settlement funding, and;
proficiency in English or French at the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level 5. However, it frequently occurs that higher levels of English are needed to meet due diligence requirements imposed by designated entities.

Ottawa does not give financial support to new SUV immigrants.

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When candidates apply, they need to give a proof they have the money to support themselves and their dependents in Canada. This money cannot be borrowed.

The amount needed depends on the size of the candidate’s family.