IRCC UPDATES C11 POLICY 2025
New policy for business owners applying for a temporary work permit under C11 – International Mobility Program
📅 On May 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced major changes to the guidelines for C11 applications – for business owners/self-employed individuals seeking only temporary residence in Canada.
🆕 NEW CHANGES – #InternationalMobilityProgram
✅ Clearer terminology:
From: “Entrepreneurs or self-employed individuals seeking only temporary residence”
Changed to: “Business owners seeking only temporary residence”
→ Emphasizes actual management and control of a real business.
✅ New section with definitions: Business Owner vs. Self-Employed
- Business Owner: Manages the business and hires employees outside the family.
- Self-Employed: Runs a business on their own, rarely hires outside family members, and typically does not significantly impact the labor market.
📌 Note: Whether operating as a company or individual, if only family members are employed, it is still considered self-employed. The clarification helps avoid misinterpretation during application preparation.
✅ Financial proof requirements:
Applicants must provide evidence of both personal finances and business capital, sufficient to support both their living and business operations during temporary stay in Canada.
Applicants must show:
- Separate personal living expenses (at least 18 months, based on LICO standards)
- Separate business capital, not combined with living expenses
- Legitimate source of investment funds
✅ Must control at least 51% of the business:
Only applicants who own 51% or more of the business are eligible for a C11 work permit.
✅ Limited duration of stay:
Work permits under this stream are capped at 18 months. To extend, applicants must prove:
- Continued significant benefit to Canada
- Valid reasons (e.g., illness, unable to find a replacement manager, etc.)
✅ Not eligible under Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
Work experience gained under a C11 permit cannot be used to apply for permanent residence under the CEC stream.
✅ Higher standard for “Significant Benefit to Canada”:
IRCC now requires thorough evaluation to confirm the business truly contributes economic, cultural, or social value to Canada.
📄 STRICTER DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENTS
Applications under C11 must include clear, complete documentation with specific evidence:
✔️ A detailed business plan
✔️ Proof of investment and operating capital
✔️ Evidence that the business will create real benefits for Canada
✔️ Operational timeline – demonstrating it’s a temporary or seasonal business
✔️ Application submitted to the correct visa office, based on the applicant’s region
These updates show IRCC’s determination to raise standards and ensure the legitimacy of the program. Opportunities still exist for foreign entrepreneurs wishing to operate a temporary business in Canada – but the bar is now significantly higher.
From now on, C11 applicants must:
- Demonstrate measurable, real value to Canada’s economy or society
- Have a transparent, feasible business plan
- Be ready to prove financial capability and clearly show business ownership
This new policy marks a turning point in Canada’s approach to short-term foreign entrepreneurs: stricter screening, higher expectations, and a focus on real value to the country.
📞 Contact SICON today for a case assessment & strategy consultation to align with the new requirements!
