IN THIS GUIDE · Confirm nationality, real risk, and who actually directs the business before the deposit leaves Canada
Start with the E-2 eligibility and application overview
Funds must be committed, not merely available
The investment has to be placed at risk of loss with the object of generating a return. Money sitting in a Canadian account, or held in an escrow that returns it if the visa is refused, has not yet been invested; the accepted approach is an escrow that releases to the seller on visa issuance and only that condition. Loans secured against the investor's own assets can count as invested funds; loans secured against the assets of the business being bought generally do not. Read the purchase agreement and the financing terms for what happens if a condition fails.
Substantial is measured against the business, not a fixed figure
There is no statutory minimum. The test compares the amount invested with the total cost of buying or establishing this enterprise, and asks whether the amount is enough to ensure the investor's commitment to its success. Buying an electrical contractor with a service fleet, a shop lease and existing staff has a knowable cost, and the investor's share of that cost is the measure. A large deposit toward a much larger price, with the balance owed to the seller, may leave the committed proportion too low.
Marginality and control turn on the operating facts
The enterprise must have the present or near-term capacity to generate more than a minimal living for the investor and family, typically shown by employees or by financial projections a reviewer can test. The investor must develop and direct it, which ordinarily means at least fifty percent ownership or operational control through a managerial position. An electrician who buys forty percent and works on the tools under the majority owner's direction is an employee with shares, not an E-2 investor.
Family and the limits of the category
An E-2 spouse is employment-authorized incident to status; children under 21 may study and may not work. E-2 is renewable while the business continues to qualify but offers no direct path to permanent residence, and the investor must maintain an intent to depart when status ends. The decision is not solely about admission. An investor must be able to explain a credible departure plan if the enterprise no longer qualifies, even when future extensions are possible. Record who owns the business, who signs its contracts, and how the household will support itself during a slow opening period.
Sources reviewed 2026-09-07. This guide covers a preparation focus; it is not an individual eligibility assessment.