Open work permit to self employment

[chamarajaya]

Hi all,
i need to get some information from you guys.
currently i am live in nova scotia with my family.
i am a open work permit and thinking about start a business.
It will be seafood import business and what is the process to start this one
do i need to change my work permit to business visa?
do i want to make business bank accounts:?
do i need to show any infrastructure facilities
Thanks lot

 

[itstime]

As a student you are only allowed to work 20hrs a week off campus. Self employment doesn't count for students towards CEC. Actually, I don't think it does for CEC at all but don't quote meon that.

It seems that what youo want to do is going to take a lot more of your time than the allowed 20hrs per week. Have you thought this through? How will youo be able to keep up with your studies and stay in good standing?

As for all your questions regarding taxes, licensing etc, google is your friend.

 

[chamarajaya]

hi mate,
i am not a student. i am a full time worker. i have open work permit and my wife is student
thanks for reply

 

[maximin]

As a foreigner you can not have 100% ownership of business in Canada. You need Canadian partner. If I am not mistaken you can own at most 50%.

 

[itstime]

hi mate,
i am not a student. i am a full time worker. i have open work permit and my wife is student
thanks for reply

So, why are you asking this in the student section?

 

[Regina]

this in the student section?

As I understand he asks it here because his wife is a student and his OWP is based on her status.
But I agree with you he should as Temporary Workers on the forum if he could be a self-employed when on WP.
And, of course, the best way to figure it out is to call CIC. They do not ask names.

 

[itstime]

And, of course, the best way to figure it out is to call CIC. They do not ask names.

And CBSA and CFIA.

 

[guri3577]

Hi all,
i need to get some information from you guys.
currently i am live in nova scotia with my family.
i am a open work permit and thinking about start a business.
It will be seafood import business and what is the process to start this one
do i need to change my work permit to business visa?
do i want to make business bank accounts:?
do i need to show any infrastructure facilities
Thanks lot

Unless, you are a citizen or PR of Canada, you cannot own 100% of the business. You can try to find someone who is a PR or citizen and make him/her a partner. He/she will need to invest at least 25% in the business depending on the province. You can find more info. on this for your specific province online.

 

[Regina]

And CBSA and CFIA.

No, not at all.

Unless, you are a citizen or PR of Canada, you cannot own 100% of the business.

It sounds logical but could you please give a link? I have been trying to find about that on www.cic.gc.ca and Service Canada but no luck so far.

 

[itstime]

No, not at all.

Wouldn't they be the ones best equipped when it comes o import of fish products? It is food, we're talking about. I am under the impression that permits could be involved for organic matter like food and plants.

It sounds logical but could you please give a link? I have been trying to find about that on www.cic.gc.ca and Service Canada but no luck so far.

I haven't heard any of that at all. On the contrary, I've ben told that it is perfectly OK for a foreigner to own a company in Canada but t work in your own company you have to have a work permit.

Self-employement is not the same thing as owning a company.

 

[scylla]

It sounds logical but could you please give a link? I have been trying to find about that on www.cic.gc.ca and Service Canada but no luck so far.

Google is your friend:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/jec/invest/busfacts/govt/f_ownership.html

 

[itstime]

Google is your friend:

http://www.gov.mb.ca/jec/invest/busfacts/govt/f_ownership.html

That is some industries and that is Manitoba and those listed make total sense.

Explain how foreigners with workpermit only can own and operate farms? It has happened I know of a few both in Alberta, BC and Ontario.

 

[itstime]

I am a student and I am in a field where freelancing is pretty much the only way to get a job. I can freelance, i.e. be self-employed or operate as a sole-proprietor while studying as long as I have an open work permit. It is up to me if I want to register a company name if I trade as anything different than my real name or if I want to trade as a Limited Liability Company. I have not found anything that says I can't register or incorporate a company on a work permit (yes, I did research this before I came here as a student). I could even start up a limited company without a work permit but I would not be allowed to work in it. I would have to employ people to run it and work for me.

As long as you have an open work permit, there are no restrictions who you work for. Yourself or anyone else, apart from jobs that require PR or citizenship.

 

[scylla]

That is some industries and that is Manitoba and those listed make total sense.

Explain how foreigners with workpermit only can own and operate farms? It has happened I know of a few both in Alberta, BC and Ontario.

Similar rules apply for other provinces as well.

I can't answer your farm question. There may be an exemption.

 

[itstime]

There may be an exemption.

The exemptions are the ones listed in the link you provided. And those exemptions make sense.

It does not say that you can't own and operate any business as a foreigner.