What this area covers: citizenship in Canada
Citizenship is one of 6 parts of our “Immigration & Relocation” practice. It covers the full cycle from initial scoping to operational launch, run by a single named partner from our Canada practice.
What it is in Canada: CBI · naturalisation by long-term residency.
How we handle citizenship
The “Citizenship” project in Canada is structured as a 4-stage process run by a single named partner.
Entrepreneur visas, employment passes, investor residency — sequenced with the corporate setup so neither blocks the other.
The same desk that runs citizenship handles your banking, bookkeeping, compliance and — where needed — your wind-down.INNOVA · Operating model
Why Canada
Canada is our primary launchpad for MSB licensing and fintech projects. We know where you can genuinely open a corporate account, how to clear FINTRAC on the first attempt, and how to avoid the common pitfalls in provincial corporate law. A G7 country with a developed banking system, a broad network of tax treaties, and a bilingual operating environment.
A reliable regulatory environment
Banking ecosystem
Corporate tax 26.5% federal + provincial blended (Ontario)
INNOVA represented on the ground
Why INNOVA
Operational differences that hold up on the 2nd, 5th and 10th project — not just at first impression.
One partner — the whole cycle
Registration, banking, tax, compliance, immigration — run by one team from start to finish.
14 years of practice
Working since 2012 through several regulatory cycles — including FATCA/CRS, the tightening of banking, and the introduction of UAE CT.
Regulator-grade documentation
Every output document is ready for audit and investor scrutiny — whatever the size of the deal.
Multi-jurisdiction within the group
Cross-border work is handled inside the group — no chain of external subcontractors.
How the work is structured
A 4-stage process led by a single named partner — from the intro call to the operational hand-over.
Route assessment
Routes and realistic timelines
Document gathering
Certificates, financial documents and references
Submission
Filing with the embassy or online
Decision and relocation
Approval, biometrics, entry and settling in
What we need from you · what you get from us
What we need from you to begin — and what you walk away with. We won't pester you with needless questions: we already have most of the answers.
- Passport + biographical dataall family members
- Education + qualificationswhere the route requires
- Police clearance certificatesper jurisdiction
- Financial evidenceto thresholds
- Health and insurancewhere required
- Visa / residence permitissued
- Resident cardbiometric
- Tax-residency application supportdocumented
- Family-member visaslinked
- Renewal calendarset up
Four ways to work together
We don't quote a fixed price without understanding your situation — cost depends on the complexity of your case. Start with an initial call, then we pick the right format.
Intro call
A 30-minute online consultation. We discuss your situation, define the project scope, and propose a structure and timeline.
Written analysis
A written consultation with a full review of the business — tax positioning, structure options, jurisdiction comparison, banking path. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Operating roadmap
For complex situations — multi-jurisdiction structures, regulated activity, founder relocation. A full plan with stages, dependencies, deliverables and timing.
Direct execution
You know what you need — we execute. No advisory mark-up and no discovery phase.
Fill in the questionnaire
Complete the online questionnaire: it creates your account on the portal, where your structure, renewal reminders and documents will live.
Fill in the questionnaire
4 steps · creates an INNOVA portal account · 24h review.
Once you submit the questionnaire we create a portal account. Inside: your live structure, a renewals calendar (annual returns, register updates, tax filings), a document vault (certificates, share register, bank letters), a partner chat and project status. A single place for your entire operational life.
From a client
A review from a client who went through a comparable project. Verified, the engagement is ongoing.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we're asked most often. If yours isn't here, an intro call is the fastest way to get an answer.
Most “Citizenship” projects in Canada run 2–8 months start to finish. The fastest stage is document filing; the longest is post-registration onboarding (banking, tax registration). A single named partner runs the project throughout.
From US$ 4,500 + government fees. The lower bound is for clean, standard profiles; the upper bound is for complex ownership structures, multi-jurisdiction projects or regulated activity. A fixed quote follows a 30-minute scoping call.
In most cases, no. The entire process runs remotely under a notarised power of attorney. A handful of jurisdictions require an in-person visit (typically biometrics for a residence permit) — we plan those as efficiently as possible.
The Start-up Visa (SUV) is a permanent-residency path for founders of an innovative business. You need a Letter of Support from an IRCC-designated organization: a venture capital fund (from CAD 200,000 invested), an angel investor group (from CAD 75,000), or a business incubator. The company is incorporated in Canada, the applicant holds 10%+ of voting shares and meets the language (CLB 5) and settlement-funds requirements. IRCC's official processing time now runs about 43–52 months, and from 31 December 2025 the program stopped taking new applications — only holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate may still apply, with a permanent-residence deadline of 30 June 2026.
Express Entry is Canada's main skilled-worker selection system (FSWP, FSTP, CEC). Business owners aren't its direct target, but you can qualify through the FSWP with managerial experience at NOC TEER 0 or 1. Provincial Nominee Programs tied to Express Entry — the Ontario OINP Entrepreneur Stream, for one — go straight for self-employed and investor applicants.
Timelines vary by stream: Start-up Visa about 43–52 months to permanent residence (new applications closed since 31 December 2025, permanent-residence deadline 30 June 2026 for holders of a valid 2025 commitment certificate); Intra-Company Transfer (work permit) 2–8 weeks; LMIA-based work permit 3–6 months; PNP entrepreneur streams 18–36 months. The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) reopened on 1 January 2024 under revised rules (French-language requirement, Québec residency) and stays open to applications, subject to intake windows and quotas. The fastest compliant route for your background, source of funds, and Canadian plans, we map.
No. Tax residency is determined by domestic tests in the origin and destination country, not by visa status. We coordinate the visa and tax sides specifically to keep the position consistent.
Citizenship in other countries
The same service — in every jurisdiction we run. One desk, one standard.
