#23: "Residence by Investment, Minus the Investment" - Slava Apel Explains The Canada Startup Visa on the Mobility Standard Podcast

Our guest this week on the Mobility Standard podcast was Slava Apel, CEO of Startup Visa Services, who came to talk about Canada's Startup Visa. The episode covers practically all facets of the program, including (but far from limited to):Is it true that the Canada SUV can be a passive-investment program if you plan the right way?"Residence by investment, minus the investment": With no minimum investment, no performance requirement, a direct path to PR and eventual citizenship, isn't the Canada Startup Visa program too good to be true?How is the Canada SUV different from the provincial entrepreneur visas? How does the SUV compare to Portugal's HQA, the US E2, or the UK's Startup and Innovator visasWhat are the precise steps of the application process, and what are the critical junctures?What is the real rejection rate of the Canada Startup Visa?What is the role of incubators, angel investor groups, and the "business institutions"?What kinds of people should apply for the Canada Startup Visa? Experienced entrepreneurs? Tech graduates? What about teachers or construction workers?Why doesn't Canada's Startup Visa require exhaustive source-of-funds documentation?What share of businesses originating in the Canada Startup Visa go on to become financially successful in the long run?What do agents, brokers, and introducers get paid when they help a client get the Canada Startup Visa?Slava also tells the story of what happened when he flew to Dubai and confronted the company engaged in false advertising of the program."Canada Startup Visa is the most profitable program for immigration firms," said Apel. "They typically make double what they make selling Portugal Golden Visa, EB-5, or Malta, or any other program."he also pointed out that "anyone can become [a Startup Visa permanent resident], as long as they have the drive to bring - or to do - something that's new in Canada. "I've seen housewives come up with great concepts and products; I've seen farmers come up with better processes and technologies; I've seen teachers come up with new software for e-learning; I have seen people come through this path from every walk of life and from every country." Listen to the full episode using the player below, or find the Mobility Standard on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and most other podcast platforms.