self-employment for a new PR (FSW)

[usthb]

Hello,

As new PR (federal skilled worker stream) who recently landed in Canada this year, I am looking at the prospect of starting as self-employed (technical consultancy firm) in Canada. I would like to manage the business while being most of the time abroad of Canada (more specifically do this from my home country). I could pay occasional visits to Canada, of course.

My question is, is this doable?
Do I need to have / keep a physical address in Canada to register and work as self-employed?
Is there a way to workaround physical address also, such as renting a PO box or alike?

Any insight will be highly appreciated

Thank you
Regards

 

[Bs65]

Not answering the specific self employed question but assume you have taken into account with these occasional visits back to Canada that you still need to meet your residency obligation and accumulate min 730 days in first 5 years. After that 730 days in a rolling 5 years that is reset each time you enter the country.

Not clear but if you were thinking setting up a company/consultancy in Canada and being abroad whilst working for that company would count for residency obligation then it will not.

 

[usthb]

The residency requirement will need to be maintained, irrespective of the self-employed question.
I also do not intend to claim any benefit towards residency on ground of self-employment.

 

[NetMecca]

To have a registered business / business number in Canada you are required to have a Canadian Address. Even designated foreign corporations in Canada must address in Canada and in particular in province where they are registered. It's about legal correspondence and the ability to serve such on your legal address.

Dont know if this is real but found this :
https://www.canadianaddress.ca/

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hello,

As new PR (federal skilled worker stream) who recently landed in Canada this year, I am looking at the prospect of starting as self-employed (technical consultancy firm) in Canada. I would like to manage the business while being most of the time abroad of Canada (more specifically do this from my home country). I could pay occasional visits to Canada, of course.

My question is, is this doable?
Do I need to have / keep a physical address in Canada to register and work as self-employed?
Is there a way to workaround physical address also, such as renting a PO box or alike?

Any insight will be highly appreciated

Thank you
Regards

1. Unlikely that you could maintain your PR obligations by " occasional visits to Canada, of course" you have to reside in Canada for 2 years in every 5 year period.
2. Your business would not help you maintain your PR status as it would fall under Section 61 and 62 of the Regulations

Canadian business
61 (1) Subject to subsection (2), for the purposes of subparagraphs
28(2)(a)(iii) and (iv) of the Act and of this
section, a Canadian business is
(a) a corporation that is incorporated under the laws
of Canada or of a province and that has an ongoing operation
in Canada;

Exclusion Exclusion
(2) For greater certainty, a Canadian business does not
include a business that serves primarily to allow a permanent
resident to comply with their residency obligation
while residing outside Canada.

 

[usthb]

I need to work as self employed for making a living. The question about residency obligation should not be brought please. I know the requirements and this is not the problem. Occasional visits can be within the time conceeded outside of Canada, if this is 3 years out of 5 then lets assume that. Some people try to use self employment to claim rights on residency in whatsoever way, and we not this waste of time. I am not interested in that anyway. PR is just a means for me not a final objective.
Should I have been given the descent conditions to operate a business effectively in my country of origin I would not have sought for PR and with all due respect to the opportunity....dont get me wrong there are no hard feelings... just fact of life.
So clearly now I am trying to understand what options do I have on the table in regard to that type of employment in Canada with presence as minimum as possible.
Appreciate your insights as always.
Thanks

 

[Bs65]

Maybe your solution is to consult a lawyer or a consultant familar with setting up a business in Canada who can advise on the challenges in operating that business from outside the country at times. Seems the advice on this public forum has been exhausted so professional advice possibly the only way forward

 

[usthb]

"Seems the advice on this public forum has been exhausted so professional advice possibly the only way forward"
What do you mean by exhausted?
So far I received 3 replies and most of them were essentially geared towards addressing residency matters in lieu of self-employment business operation aspects.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

"Seems the advice on this public forum has been exhausted so professional advice possibly the only way forward"
What do you mean by exhausted?
So far I received 3 replies and most of them were essentially geared towards addressing residency matters in lieu of self-employment business operation aspects.

You posted on an immigration forum and received immigration answers....

I would suggest you find a more relevant forum for your query or seek legal advice.

 

[usthb]

I don't see anything irrelevant posting in an immigration forum considering me being a PR migrant who recently landed, and now looking at the prospect of self-employment. It is paramount to seek and receive advice from people in similar conditions and learn from their experience.
You tend to prevent this from happening, so I am telling you I need to receive immigration answers and immigration answers do not boil down only to residency requirement. If there is anything unclear with that, let me know which part of my answer you did not understand.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I don't see anything irrelevant posting in an immigration forum considering me being a PR migrant who recently landed, and now looking at the prospect of self-employment. It is paramount to seek and receive advice from people in similar conditions and learn from their experience.
You tend to prevent this from happening, so I am telling you I need to receive immigration answers and immigration answers do not boil down only to residency requirement. If there is anything unclear with that, let me know which part of my answer you did not understand.

It is clear that you are seeking business advice, not immigration advice. You would be better off finding a more relevant forum or as mentioned by the poster before me, seeking actual professional advice.

 

[usthb]

If I would decide to develop a variant plan whereby I would engage my business with significant to full physical presence in Canada, I would like to know what are the programs available for coaching new immigrants, any subsidies, networking opportunities and any other counselling which could be available for free (whether it is taxes, reporting, etc.). As a matter of fact, I contacted here in BC the service office for new migrants and they told me that indeed for new migrants wishing to start self employment venture, there is a separate and dedicated support program. This is fully in the scope of immigration services. I am keeping the thread here, as I consider this is to be an immigration issue as well as a settlement issue.
I am also suspicious that your feedback is biased towards trying to win the argument more than offering tangible help.

Another question to others:
- As new PR, I could benefit from free review of resume, illegible for subsidies fees for training / education in the event I would go for skilled employment stream.
So what kind of (free) services are available for new comers wishing to start as self-employees ? for instance, when I needed to set up a business in Europe, I had to sort out administrative/financial aspects linked to my immigration status at that time, getting first orientation / support in this regard does help.

Edit: The main topic question remains open, any help appreciated. Thanks