Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Symbol of the Government of Canada
Skip to content | Skip to institutional links

Common menu bar links

Home > Immigrating to Canada > Investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed persons > Investors > After applying

Institutional links

Investors: After applying—
Making your investment

After your application is accepted, you must make an investment of $400,000. In most cases, you must make the investment within 30 days of being accepted. The visa office where you submitted your application will confirm the time-frame in writing, and provide additional instructions. The visa office will not issue a permanent resident visa to you until your investment is made.

Notice to investors
As of April 1, 2009, you will need to use an updated form to complete an Electronic Funds Transfer. Please ensure the number in the bottom left-hand corner is IMM 5459 (04‑2009) B.

How to make your investment

Using a facilitator

Although it is not required, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) recommends that you use the services of an approved facilitator. These facilitators are financial institutions, approved by CIC, that are members of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC). You can find more information on facilitators in the Related Links section on the bottom of this page.

CIC pays a commission to the facilitator, who will help you with the administrative requirements of managing your $400,000 investment.

CIC has set up administrative processes so that you can use your investment as security for a loan. Your facilitator will be able to help you if you want to finance your investment.

Making your investment without a facilitator

If you do not use a facilitator, you must make your investment through an electronic funds transfer, also known as a “wire transfer.” You will find the form you need to make the transfer in the Related Links section on the bottom of this page.

You must include the following information when you complete the electronic funds transfer form:

  • Your first and last names;
  • Your address;
  • Your immigration file number, which is a 10-digit number starting with the letter B (B000000000); and,
  • The location of the visa office processing your application.

Documentation

You must also sign and submit two original copies of a Subscription Agreement. You can find a copy of the Subscription Agreement in the Related Links section on the bottom of this page, or you can request a copy from the visa office where you submit your application.

Please ensure that:

  • You enter your name and immigration file number on page 1 of the Subscription Agreement; and
  • You sign and date the agreement on page 5.

Submit your signed Subscription Agreements with a cover letter that contains the information from your electronic funds transfer to:

Immigrant Investor Program
c/o Permanent Resident Policy and Programs
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Jean Edmonds Tower South
365 Laurier Avenue West, 8th Floor
Ottawa, ON
K1A 1L1
Canada

Return of Subscription Agreement and promissory note

CIC will execute the Subscription Agreement and return one copy to you at the address that you provide. The promissory note will also be sent to you about six weeks after you make your investment. Make sure that you inform CIC of any address changes that might occur from the time of your investment until the maturity date of the promissory note. You can fax a change of address to CIC at (613) 941-9014.

Once CIC receives the Subscription Agreement and your investment, the visa office will be notified and will begin processing your application. The visa office will then contact you with further instructions.

Withdrawing your application

If you change your mind after you make your investment and decide that you do not want to immigrate to Canada under the Immigrant Investor Program, contact CIC at the address where you submitted your subscription agreements and the visa office where you applied immediately. Your investment will be returned if your permanent resident visa has not been issued. CIC will refund your investment within 90 days of receipt of a signed request for refund. If your visa has been issued, the investment cannot be refunded until it matures at the end of the five year term.

Getting a refund if your application is refused

CIC does not recommend making your investment until your application has been approved. If you make your investment and your application is refused, you can request a refund. CIC will refund your investment within 90 days of receipt of a signed request for refund.

Repayment of your investment

If you made your investment through a direct transfer of funds, contact CIC approximately two to three months before the end of the five-year term. You will find a link to Contact CIC on Business Immigration in the Related Links section on this page. CIC will provide instructions on how to claim your $400,000 promissory note. If you used the services of a facilitator when you made your investment, please contact the facilitator.

Please note that CIC has 30 days from the maturity date of your promissory note to repay your investment. Before CIC returns your investment to you, you must return the original promissory note to CIC along with your contact information and signature for verification purposes. Please inform CIC or your facilitator of any changes in your contact information during your five-year holding period.

It will be about 5 years and three months from the time you made your investment until CIC returns the funds to you.

Related Links

Some of the documents are available to you in Portable Document Format (PDF). This is a universal file format that allows you to read, print or download an online document while maintaining the fonts, graphics and general layout of that document. To view a PDF document, you must have a PDF reader installed. If you do not already have such a reader, there are numerous PDF readers available for free download or for purchase on the Internet.

Date Modified: 2010-07-23

Top of Page
Important Notices