Work visa question

[superextra]

Hi

I live in Belgium and I'm exploring the option to temporarily move to Canada (min. 1 year).
I am looking to get a basic 9 to 5 job and to freelance in my spare time (I'm a consultant with over 9 years of experience).

Because I'm a consultant and no office or any other significant financial commitment is required I am able to test the business waters
slow and steady without the risk of losing my financial stability. In the mean time I also get the chance to witness Canadian life within
the community itself which also will brighten horizons and help me shape my business expansion model in a more detailed way.

Because I do not want to blindly start a business from scratch without having lived in Canada for at least one year, leaving me the option to evaluate,
it is my question what kind of visa is most applicable to my situation? Ideally, I'd like to get a work visa with the permission to get a VAT number and perform
freelance work. Also, with the option to extend the work visa after my authorized period is finished.

Can somebody help me figure this out please?

 

[scylla]

Hi

I live in Belgium and I'm exploring the option to temporarily move to Canada (min. 1 year).
I am looking to get a basic 9 to 5 job and to freelance in my spare time (I'm a consultant with over 9 years of experience).

Because I'm a consultant and no office or any other significant financial commitment is required I am able to test the business waters
slow and steady without the risk of losing my financial stability. In the mean time I also get the chance to witness Canadian life within
the community itself which also will brighten horizons and help me shape my business expansion model in a more detailed way.

Because I do not want to blindly start a business from scratch without having lived in Canada for at least one year, leaving me the option to evaluate,
it is my question what kind of visa is most applicable to my situation? Ideally, I'd like to get a work visa with the permission to get a VAT number and perform
freelance work. Also, with the option to extend the work visa after my authorized period is finished.

Can somebody help me figure this out please?

Easiest would be an open work permit through the IEC program / Working Holiday visa program. This would given you an open work permit that is good for 12 months. The one question here is how old you are since the top age to apply for this program is 30. This work permit cannot be extended. To work longer in Canada, you would have to make additional arragements such as managing to qualify for PR fast enough, or finding an employer willing to offer you a job and get an approved LMIA so that you can switch to a closed work permit (although this would put limits on the freelance work), or other arrangements.

Otherwise you would need to qualify for a closed work permit. This means that you first need to secure a job in Canada for the 9 to 5 and then that employer must get an approved LMIA. With that, you can then get a closed work permit that allows you to work your 9 to 5 job. This however will create limitations on your freelancing. You would still be able to freelance, however not for clients / companies in Canada - it would all have to be work outside of Canada (with no benefits / links to Canada) and you would not be able to set up a VAT (note that Canada doesn't actually have VATs - we call them other things).

So basically this is most doable and easiest if you're 30 or under. Otherwise quite a bit more complex.

 

[superextra]

Easiest would be an open work permit through the IEC program / Working Holiday visa program. This would given you an open work permit that is good for 12 months. The one question here is how old you are since the top age to apply for this program is 30. This work permit cannot be extended. To work longer in Canada, you would have to make additional arragements such as managing to qualify for PR fast enough, or finding an employer willing to offer you a job and get an approved LMIA so that you can switch to a closed work permit (although this would put limits on the freelance work), or other arrangements.

Otherwise you would need to qualify for a closed work permit. This means that you first need to secure a job in Canada for the 9 to 5 and then that employer must get an approved LMIA. With that, you can then get a closed work permit that allows you to work your 9 to 5 job. This however will create limitations on your freelancing. You would still be able to freelance, however not for clients / companies in Canada - it would all have to be work outside of Canada (with no benefits / links to Canada) and you would not be able to set up a VAT (note that Canada doesn't actually have VATs - we call them other things).

So basically this is most doable and easiest if you're 30 or under. Otherwise quite a bit more complex.

Hello Scylla
Thank you for your elaborative response which is appreciated in the highest regard!
I am 32 of age. That means not eligible for the IEC program. I do wish to freelance for Canadian businesses and individuals.
Maybe it is a plus that I have a specific expertise with credible references in a specific industries, expertise in the European territory
that could be of interest (e.g. a Canadian marketing agency wants to launch an international campaign that includes Europe, in this
case I would be suitable for the company to obtain certain insights on EU territories. It's just a train of thought..

 

[scylla]

Hello Scylla
Thank you for your elaborative response which is appreciated in the highest regard!
I am 32 of age. That means not eligible for the IEC program. I do wish to freelance for Canadian businesses and individuals.
Maybe it is a plus that I have a specific expertise with credible references in a specific industries, expertise in the European territory
that could be of interest (e.g. a Canadian marketing agency wants to launch an international campaign that includes Europe, in this
case I would be suitable for the company to obtain certain insights on EU territories. It's just a train of thought..

So the IEC / Working Holiday visa is out in that case. You're too old.

This means you would have to come on a closed work permit. As mentioned in my first post, this would involve finding an employer in Canada first who is willing to give you a job offer, having that employer obtain an approved LMIA, and then you can apply for a closed work permit.

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hi

I live in Belgium and I'm exploring the option to temporarily move to Canada (min. 1 year).
I am looking to get a basic 9 to 5 job and to freelance in my spare time (I'm a consultant with over 9 years of experience).

Because I'm a consultant and no office or any other significant financial commitment is required I am able to test the business waters
slow and steady without the risk of losing my financial stability. In the mean time I also get the chance to witness Canadian life within
the community itself which also will brighten horizons and help me shape my business expansion model in a more detailed way.

Because I do not want to blindly start a business from scratch without having lived in Canada for at least one year, leaving me the option to evaluate,
it is my question what kind of visa is most applicable to my situation? Ideally, I'd like to get a work visa with the permission to get a VAT number and perform
freelance work. Also, with the option to extend the work visa after my authorized period is finished.

Can somebody help me figure this out please?

A VAT number in Canada is a GST HST / RT # . You need a SIN to get one of those . And as a non resident, dependant upon factors , you’d need to provide a security deposit , since you’re dealing with crown funds

 

[superextra]

A VAT number in Canada is a GST HST / RT # . You need a SIN to get one of those . And as a non resident, dependant upon factors , you’d need to provide a security deposit , since you’re dealing with crown funds

Hello Copingwithlife!
Thank you for your answer. If I'm correct, I should get a SIN prior to requesting a Canada type of VAT number (I do not completely understand which term is appropriate with reference to VAT number). Also, dealing with crown funds I assume that this is due to the fact that I will be appointed a SIN and therefore rely on the Canadian health care system which is financed by 'crown funds' or am I wrong?

Could you elaborate (if you feel like it of course ) the security deposit that is required? Is it a percentage based deposit or a fixed fee?

 

[superextra]

So the IEC / Working Holiday visa is out in that case. You're too old.

This means you would have to come on a closed work permit. As mentioned in my first post, this would involve finding an employer in Canada first who is willing to give you a job offer, having that employer obtain an approved LMIA, and then you can apply for a closed work permit.

Thank you, so a closed work permit does not allow me to freelance but only to work for an employer?

 

[scylla]

Thank you, so a closed work permit does not allow me to freelance but only to work for an employer?

You can freelance, but that freelancing must only involve customers / clients / companies / projects that are outside of Canada. Your freelancing can have nothing to do with Canada and cannot deliver any services or products to any Canadian companies or involve any Canadian customers.

 

[superextra]

You can freelance, but that freelancing must only involve customers / clients / companies / projects that are outside of Canada. Your freelancing can have nothing to do with Canada and cannot deliver any services or products to any Canadian companies or involve any Canadian customers.

What if I want to freelance in Canada and for Canadian companies/clients? My services consists of foreign expertise that could be valuable to Canadian clients/companies.. Is there another option? Thank you.

 

[scylla]

What if I want to freelance in Canada and for Canadian companies/clients? My services consists of foreign expertise that could be valuable to Canadian clients/companies.. Is there another option? Thank you.

You would need an open work permit to do that. I don't see any options for you to get an open work permit. They are only issued specific circumstances.

 

[superextra]

You would need an open work permit to do that. I don't see any options for you to get an open work permit. They are only issued specific circumstances.

Thank you, Scylla. Are there any examples/cases/checklists of these specific circumstances?

 

[scylla]

Thank you, Scylla. Are there any examples/cases/checklists of these specific circumstances?

Yes, everything can be found on the IRCC website. If you google, you can find the links. I'm in transit and don't have any info like this handy. One example is if you come to Canada as a full time student and complete a full time program at a recognized school that's at least eight months in length. You will then qualify for an open work permit equal to the length of your program.

 

[scylla]

Thank you, Scylla. Are there any examples/cases/checklists of these specific circumstances?

List is in the link below. Scroll down through the page until you hit the section that reads: Open Work Permit LMIA exemption categories

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/operational-bulletins-manuals/temporary-residents/foreign-workers/eligibility/open.html

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hello Copingwithlife!
Thank you for your answer. If I'm correct, I should get a SIN prior to requesting a Canada type of VAT number (I do not completely understand which term is appropriate with reference to VAT number). Also, dealing with crown funds I assume that this is due to the fact that I will be appointed a SIN and therefore rely on the Canadian health care system which is financed by 'crown funds' or am I wrong?

Could you elaborate (if you feel like it of course ) the security deposit that is required? Is it a percentage based deposit or a fixed fee?

Security deposits are “ sometimes “ required because gst hst accounts involve refunds . And the Government requires security deposits because of said refunds . SIN numbers have nothing to do with having access to the healthcare system . SIN program is a Federal Program, Healthcare is Provincial.
As a nonresident you just can’t apply and get a SIN . You need a work permit connected to that SIN.
And as a sole proprietor, it’s MANDATORY to supply a SIN in order to get a gst hst account. One will not be registered without it .
The GST HST program involves trust taxes ( crown funds ) .You , the registrant is collecting a tax on behalf of the Federal Government. They are “ trusting “ you to collect and remit . So if you’re a nonresident a security deposit is sometimes collected , just in the odd chance those taxes are not remitted . Form of collateral kept on file . If one doesn’t remit those trust taxes , the government seizes that collateral.
It’s called a GST HST registration number , not a VAT.
But the above is all irrelevant if you can’t get a SIN

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/forms-publications/publications/rc4027.html