Canada Citizenship by Investment for UK Citizens: Full Guide for 2025

With over 500,000 UK nationals living in Canada, the country remains one of the top places for citizens of the UK to immigrate to and gain a second passport.

UK citizens are drawn to Canada for its strong economy, high quality of life, and culturally diverse society. Canada promises a better work-life balance, natural beauty, and ease of integration with English being a shared language.

Canada does not have a direct citizenship by investment pathway. However, Canada actively welcomes skilled workers and investors through various immigration programs that can lead to permanent residency and, potentially, Canadian citizenship.

In this article, you will find all you need to know about pathways to Canada citizenship by investment for UK citizens. We’ll cover:

• The benefits of Canadian citizenship
• Pathways to Canada citizenship by investment for UK citizens
• Other ways to get Canadian citizenship
• Key considerations for UK nationals

Benefits of Canada Citizenship by Investment for UK Citizens

Holding a Canadian passport comes with a variety of benefits and legal rights, including access to the country’s advanced health and education systems, and the right to vote.

Based on our Global Passport Index, Canada ranks 14th with high investment potential, quality of life, and standard of living – all significant drawcards for citizenship.

The benefits that come with being a Canadian citizen include:

• Global mobility: A Canadian passport gives you access to the North American market and 177 Canada visa-free countries, which is excellent for visa free travel or business.
• High quality of life: Citizens benefit from well-paid jobs, reliable pensions, and a secure future, with major cities like Vancouver consistently ranking among the most livable in the world.
• World-class healthcare: The Canadian government provides extensive healthcare coverage for citizens and permanent residents.
• Advanced education system: According to our Global Education Report, Canada is among the top five best countries for higher education. Citizens have access to renowned schools for themselves and their family members.
• Family inclusion: Canada’s immigration programs allow for certain family members, such as spouses and children, to be included in the application.
• Dual citizenship: UK nationals can hold citizenship in Canada without renouncing their UK citizenship. Dual citizenship Canada increases mobility, job security, and economic opportunity.

Pathways to Canadian Citizenship by Investment for UK Nationals

Even though there is no classic Canada citizenship by investment program, it does offer investment-based business immigration programs that make you a permanent resident, like the Startup Visa or the Québec Immigration Investor Program.

Through these permanent residence programs, you can still become a Canadian citizen by investing in the country’s economy.

Canada Startup Visa Program

The Canada Startup Visa program is a business immigration program that enables innovative entrepreneurs to become permanent residents by opening and running a new business. Successful applicants can bring significant economic benefits to Canada.

The Canada Startup Visa requires you to:

• Provide a strong business plan that clearly indicates the venture’s scalability, potential for expansion, target market, and ability to create jobs.
• Obtain a letter of support from a designated business organization.
• Prove sufficient funds for settling in Canada.
• Receive permanent resident status in one to two years after receiving a letter of support for your Canadian business.
• Meet the requirements for obtaining Canadian citizenship after maintaining permanent residence.

The Canada Startup Visa does not require the applicant to make an investment themselves. Instead, applicants are required to seek backing from a designated business organization. Foreign entrepreneurs will need a minimum investment amount of CAD $200,000 from venture capital funds or CAD $75,000 from a Canadian angel investor group.

Canadian business incubators don’t require a capital investment; only that innovative entrepreneurs are accepted into the business incubator program.

Quebec Immigrant Investor Program

The Quebec Immigrant Investor program allows applicants to invest and settle in Quebec. This is a passive investment program for high-net-worth investors. There is also a Quebec Entrepreneur Program for applicants who prefer to open a business in Quebec instead.

The Quebec Immigrant Investor program requires the following minimum investment amount:

• A five-year investment of CAD $1,000,000 (interest-free). The investment needs to be guaranteed by the government of Québec.
• A non-refundable financial contribution of CAD $200,000 to Investissement Québec

Applicants must also meet the following requirements:

• Have at least two years of management experience, acquired within five years before submitting your application.
• Have a net worth of at least CAD $2,000,000
• Have a qualification equivalent to a secondary school diploma in Quebec
• Be proficient in spoken French at least to a level 7 according to Quebec’s French proficiency scale.

These investment options require significant financial investment and maintaining residency requirements. Successful applicants can receive Canadian permanent residency and sponsor family members to settle there and later apply for Canadian citizenship.

To keep permanent resident status, you must live in Canada for at least 730 days within every five-year period.

How to become a Canadian citizen after getting permanent residency?

Once you obtain permanent residency, you’ll need to fulfill specific requirements to become a citizen.

You must physically reside in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) within the five years immediately before submitting your citizenship application.

You will also need to show proof of integrating into Canadian society. To integrate, most provinces in Canada require a language proficiency of level 4 or over based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB). Citizens often use English or French, the two official languages.

Other Ways to Get Citizenship in Canada for UK Nationals

If the routes to Canadian citizenship by investment for UK citizens do not suit your needs, there are other ways to get citizenship. These include some direct pathways, like citizenship by birth or descent, or pathways to permanent residency that could eventually lead to citizenship.

• By naturalization: This is the most common path. You must become a permanent resident first, for example, through the investment pathways described above, or via other programs like the Express Entry and Provincial Nominee programs (PNPs).
• By birth: If you are born in Canada, you automatically become a Canadian citizen.
• By descent: If you were born outside of Canada to a parent who was a Canadian citizen at the time of your birth, you may qualify for Canadian citizenship. This is limited to the first generation.
• Through marriage: Marrying a Canadian citizen does not give you automatic citizenship. Instead, your Canadian spouse can sponsor you for permanent residency. Once you are a permanent resident, you must then follow the standard naturalization process before you can apply for citizenship.

Canada Citizenship by Investment for UK Citizens: Key Considerations

Due to recent Canadian citizenship by investment changes and the increased global interest in Canada, it’s important to consider all key information before investing your time and money.

There is no direct citizenship by investment in Canada

Remember that because there is no direct citizenship by investment program in Canada, you’re not buying citizenship directly. The core of the residency by investment programs is to contribute to and make an investment in the Canadian economy. It takes time to go through the process of obtaining Canadian residence and then applying for citizenship.

Taxes for UK citizens in Canada

If you become a permanent resident by investment in Canada, there will be tax implications to consider, even before applying for citizenship.

Under the country’s tax laws, foreign permanent residents are treated the same as Canadian nationals. You’ll need to submit an income tax return and pay taxes to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Fortunately, a Canada-UK DTA (Double Tax Agreement) exists, ensuring UK citizens do not pay tax twice on the same income.

Seeking expert advice

The application process can be lengthy and complex, often taking several years. It’s crucial to seek professional guidance to navigate the various programs and requirements.

At Global Citizen Solutions, we provide expert help from start to finish. We are able to assess your needs to advise which program will suit you best and guide you through the process to ensure there are no delays or costly mistakes.

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Canada Citizenship by Investment for UK Citizens

Can an UK citizen get Canadian citizenship?

Yes. While there is no direct citizenship by investment for UK Citizens, they can become permanent residents through pathways like the Startup Visa, the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, or other immigration streams. After meeting residency requirements, they can apply for Canadian citizenship.

What is the Canada Citizenship by Investment program?

Canada does not have a direct citizenship by investment program. Instead, it offers business and investment immigration programs that grant permanent residency, such as the Startup Visa and Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, which can later lead to citizenship.

What investment options are available for UK citizens seeking Canadian citizenship?

The two main investment-based programs are the Start-up Visa program for innovative entrepreneurs who can get a letter of support from a designated business organization, and the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, a passive investment program for high-net-worth investors who want to settle in Quebec.

How much do UK citizens need to invest to qualify for Canadian permanent residency?

Through the Startup Visa, UK citizens do not invest their own funds directly but must secure at least CAD $200,000 from a venture capital fund or CAD $75,000 from an angel investor group. The Quebec Investor Program requires a CAD $1,000,000 investment for five years plus a CAD $200,000 contribution to Investissement Québec.

Can I get Canadian citizenship by buying property in Canada as a UK citizen?

No. Buying property in Canada does not grant residency or citizenship. To qualify, you must apply through one of Canada’s official immigration programs.

How long does it take for a UK investor to become a Canadian citizen?

Timelines vary, but permanent residency through investment programs typically takes one to three years. To apply for citizenship, you must then live in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) within five years before applying.

Can I include my spouse and children in my investment immigration application as a UK citizen?

Yes. Most Canadian immigration programs allow you to include your spouse or partner and dependent children under age 22.

How does dual citizenship work between the UK and Canada?

Both countries allow dual citizenship. UK nationals can hold Canadian citizenship without giving up their British passport, offering greater mobility and economic opportunities.

What is the difference between permanent residency and citizenship for UK investors in Canada?

Permanent residency gives you the right to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely, and you can access the country’s healthcare and education systems. Citizenship, however, provides additional legal rights such as the right to vote and access to a Canadian passport. Citizenship is the final legal status, typically applied for after meeting the residency requirements as a permanent resident.