How can a Mexican entrepreneur move to Canada?
Mexican business owners, investors and executives usually come to Canada on a work permit first, then apply for permanent residence. Because Mexico is a party to the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Mexican citizens can apply for work permits as CUSMA traders, investors, professionals and intra-company transferees without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The other main routes are a general intra-company transfer (ICT), a C11 entrepreneur work permit, and a provincial entrepreneur stream that leads to permanent residence.
One rule changed the planning for everyone: since February 29, 2024, most Mexican citizens need a visitor visa to enter Canada, and work permit applications must be made from outside Canada, not at a Canadian airport.
Key takeaways
- CUSMA gives Mexican citizens LMIA-exempt work permits as traders, investors, professionals and intra-company transferees.
- An established Mexican company can transfer an owner or manager to a Canadian branch or subsidiary through an ICT, if the person has worked for the company full time for at least 1 year in the last 3 years.
- A C11 work permit is for temporary stays only. Owners who plan to stay permanently should look at a provincial entrepreneur stream.
- Since February 29, 2024, most Mexican citizens need a visitor visa. An eTA is only available for air travel to people who hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa or had a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years.
- The Start-up Visa Program was paused on June 30, 2026 and is not accepting new applications.
Which business immigration routes can Mexican citizens use?
The right route depends on whether you already run a company in Mexico, how much control you will have over the Canadian business, and whether you want to stay in Canada permanently. The table compares the four main options. For a wider comparison that is not specific to Mexico, see our guide to immigration options for business owners.
| Intra-company transfer (ICT) | CUSMA investor or trader | C11 entrepreneur work permit | Provincial entrepreneur stream | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | An established Mexican company opening or growing a Canadian branch, subsidiary or affiliate | A Mexican owner investing substantial capital in a Canadian business, or trading substantially with Canada | An owner buying or starting a Canadian business that brings a significant benefit to Canada | An entrepreneur who wants permanent residence in a specific province |
| Key test | At least 1 year of full-time work for the company in the last 3 years, in an executive, senior manager or specialized knowledge role | Investors: substantial capital committed and a controlling interest. U.S. or Mexican citizens must own at least 50% of the business | Control of at least 51% of the business and a significant economic, social or cultural benefit | The province’s own net worth, investment and job-creation rules |
| LMIA needed? | No | No | No | No |
| First permit | Up to 3 years; up to 1 year for a new Canadian office | Investors: up to 1 year, with extensions of up to 2 years | Normally up to 18 months, unless there is a plan to hand over the business | Set by the province’s process |
| Path to permanent residence | Possible later, for example through Express Entry after 1 year of skilled work in Canada | No direct path; a separate PR program is needed | Not designed for PR. Self-employment does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class | Yes, after the province nominates you |
Sources: IRCC program delivery instructions for intra-company transferees, CUSMA investors and C11 entrepreneurs; IRCC Canadian Experience Class page. Summaries only: each program has further requirements, and provincial rules change often.
Do Mexican citizens need a visa to come to Canada?
Most do. Since 11:30 p.m. ET on February 29, 2024, Mexican citizens need a visitor visa unless they qualify for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). This affects business trips, site visits before an investment, and how you apply for a work permit. Source: IRCC, changes to eTA and visitor visa requirements for Mexican citizens.
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eTA: air travel only, if you qualify
You can use an eTA only if you fly to Canada for a temporary stay and you either hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa or held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years. A past eTA does not count.
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Visitor visa: everyone else
If you do not qualify for an eTA, or you travel by land or sea, you need a visitor visa. IRCC lists the fee as CAN$100 plus CAN$85 for biometrics.
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Work permits: apply before you travel
If you are outside Canada, apply for your work permit online before you travel. IRCC says new work permit applications cannot be made at a Canadian airport.
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Business visits without a work permit
Meetings, negotiations and site visits can often be done as a business visitor. Read our guide to business travel to Canada before your first trip.
Can a Mexican company transfer an owner or manager to Canada?
Yes. If your company already operates in Mexico, an intra-company transfer work permit lets you send an executive, senior manager or specialized knowledge worker, including an owner who works in the business, to a related Canadian company. Mexican citizens can apply under CUSMA or under the general ICT rules. The core tests are the same. Sources: IRCC, CUSMA intra-company transferees and IRCC, intra-company transferees.
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A qualifying corporate relationship
The Mexican and Canadian companies must be a parent, branch, subsidiary or affiliate of each other. Contracts, licences and franchises do not count.
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1 year of full-time work in the last 3 years
The transferee must have worked full time for the Mexican company, in a similar role, for at least 1 year in the 3 years before applying. Part-time work cannot be added up.
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An eligible role
The job in Canada must be at the executive or senior manager level, or need specialized knowledge of the company’s products, services or processes.
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A real Canadian office
For a new office, the general ICT rules require physical premises, a business plan and the money to run it. The first permit is limited to 1 year.
Planning your timeline
Processing times depend on where you apply from. See how long an ICT work permit takes, and if you are choosing between a transfer and owning the Canadian business yourself, read C11 vs ICT.
What are the CUSMA investor and trader work permits?
These permits are open only to U.S. and Mexican citizens. They suit owners who will develop and direct a Canadian business they control, or who run a business that trades substantially between Mexico and Canada. Source: IRCC, Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement.
- Investors must have invested, or be actively investing, a substantial amount of capital in a real, operating Canadian business. IRCC sets no minimum dollar amount; the investment is judged against the total cost of the business. Only money already invested or irrevocably committed counts, and the investor needs a controlling interest. U.S. or Mexican citizens must own at least 50% of the business. Source: IRCC, CUSMA investors.
- Traders must carry on substantial trade in goods or services between Mexico (or the U.S.) and Canada, and work in a supervisory or executive role or one that needs essential skills.
- Professionals can enter to provide pre-arranged professional services in one of 63 listed occupations, if they hold the qualifications for that field.
For documents, fees and the 2026 CUSMA review, see our CUSMA work permit guide.
Can I buy or start a business in Canada with a C11 work permit?
Yes, if the business will bring a significant economic, social or cultural benefit to Canada and you control at least 51% of it. The C11 permit is meant for owners who plan a temporary stay. Source: IRCC, entrepreneurs or self-employed business owners (C11).
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Control of at least 51%
Owners with a smaller share who will work in the business need a different work permit category.
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A significant benefit
Officers look at job creation, wages, regional development, exports and innovation, backed by a concrete business plan. The same business can qualify in an underserved region and fail in a crowded city market.
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Separate funds
You must show money to support yourself and your family, kept separate from the money needed to run the business.
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A temporary stay
The work period normally should not exceed 18 months, unless you have a definite plan to hand over management.
C11 does not lead straight to permanent residence
IRCC’s instructions say applicants who intend to apply for permanent residence should not be assessed under C11, and self-employment does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. If you want to stay, plan for a provincial entrepreneur stream from the start. Buying an existing company? Read our guides to buying a business in Canada as a foreign investor and buying a franchise.
Which routes lead to permanent residence?
For most Mexican entrepreneurs, permanent residence comes through one of three doors:
- A provincial entrepreneur stream. You commit to invest in and run a business in one province. Once you meet the terms, the province nominates you for permanent residence. Each province sets its own net worth, investment and job-creation rules, and intake opens and closes often. Compare them in our Provincial Nominee Program guide or check your fit with the PNP entrepreneur streams calculator.
- Express Entry after skilled work in Canada. An ICT transferee who completes at least 1 year of skilled, paid work in Canada may qualify for the Canadian Experience Class. Senior managers should also read about Express Entry for senior managers.
- Express Entry from Mexico. Highly qualified professionals can sometimes qualify without Canadian work experience, depending on their score and the categories IRCC invites.
The Start-up Visa Program was paused on June 30, 2026 and is not accepting new applications. If you are a founder, see options for start-ups after the Start-up Visa.
How do you build a strong business immigration application from Mexico?
In our files from Mexico, the two most common refusal reasons are not enough funds and doubts that the business will succeed in Canada. These five steps address both.
The route decides how you structure the Canadian company, who owns what, and whether you can stay permanently. Confirm it before you sign a lease or buy a business.
Officers want to see that you can fund the business and support your family. Provide personal and corporate bank statements, investment and savings statements, tax returns, and proof of where the money came from. Keep business money and personal support money clearly separate.
Show that your background fits the Canadian business: proof of business ownership, management experience, education, training certificates and reference letters. Officers review your personal history as well as the business.
The plan should explain your market, location, suppliers, staffing, wages and financial projections in Canada, not in Mexico. Our immigration business plan guide explains what officers look for.
Registering a company is not enough. Concrete steps such as a commercial lease, equipment purchases, hiring plans or funds already invested show that the business is real. Match each step to the requirements of your route so you do not commit money too early. If you were refused before, read how to reapply after a refusal.
What kinds of businesses do Mexican entrepreneurs start in Canada?
Your business should match your experience. These are the business types we see most often from Mexican clients. For structures and setup steps, see how to start a business in Canada as a foreigner.
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Automotive
Sales, repairs, and import and export of vehicles and parts.
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Franchises
Retail, food service, marketing and professional services franchises.
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Trade and distribution
Import and export of goods such as furniture, textiles, food products and medical supplies.
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Food industry
Restaurants, specialty food production and distribution.
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Technology services and consulting
Software, IT services and business consulting.
How strong are business ties between Canada and Mexico?
Strong, and growing. According to Global Affairs Canada (February 2026):
- Bilateral merchandise trade reached more than $56 billion in 2024, about 12 times its level when NAFTA took effect in 1994.
- Mexico is Canada’s third-largest single-country trading partner for goods, after the United States and China.
- Canadian direct investment in Mexico stood at $46.3 billion in 2024.
CUSMA, which replaced NAFTA, remains in force until 2036 and can be renewed. Canada, the U.S. and Mexico have begun the agreement’s joint review, and Canada has stated that it supports renewal. Source: Global Affairs Canada statement, July 1, 2026.
Where can Mexican entrepreneurs find support in Canada?
- Mexican Business Association of Canada (MEXBAC): a Vancouver-based association that offers networking events, a business directory, workshops, and mentorship for Mexican-Canadian business owners.
- Embassy of Mexico in Canada: the official site of Mexico’s embassy in Ottawa, with consular information for Mexican citizens living in Canada.
Questions about moving a business from Mexico to Canada
No. Since February 29, 2024, IRCC says new work permit applications from Mexican citizens outside Canada must be made before travel, not at a Canadian airport. Apply from outside Canada and wait for a decision before you travel. Source: IRCC.
Four categories: traders, investors, professionals and intra-company transferees. None needs an LMIA. Business visitors under CUSMA do not need a work permit at all, but still need a visitor visa or eTA. See our CUSMA work permit guide.
Not directly. C11 is for owners planning a temporary stay, and self-employment does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class. Owners who want to stay usually apply through a provincial entrepreneur stream instead.
IRCC sets no fixed minimum for a CUSMA investor permit: the investment must be substantial compared with the total cost of the business. The C11 instructions also set no fixed amount. Provincial entrepreneur streams set their own minimum investment and net worth.
No, not for new applicants. IRCC paused the Start-up Visa Program on June 30, 2026 and is not accepting new applications. See options for start-up founders.
