A conditional visa allows the applicant the luxury of close and detailed investigation of Canadian markets and business practices upon arrival before committing himself to a specific business. Outside Quebec, business proposals are no longer mandatory for applicants. Canadian Government officials accept that it is perhaps unrealistic to expect business people to produce a detailed strategy until after they are well established in Canada and have familiarised themselves with the nature of business in the country. However, immigration authorities, and particularly in the case of Quebec, may still request a business plan for the processing of applications for those applying for an unconditional visa. Business plans are used to convince government official of the seriousness of the applicant's desire to establish a business in Canada.
Location is another factor considered by government official ion the evaluation of an application.
Federal and provincial government immigration authorities are keen to disperse as many entrepreneurial immigrants as possible away from congested urban centres. Many potential business immigrants never bother applying for a visa to Canada, believing they don't have enough assets to be accepted. On the contrary, no specific amount of money is required. However, in practice, applicants should normally be in a position to transfer 250,000.00 Canadian dollars and to invest 100,000.00 Canadian in a business but there are cases where applicants with considerably less funds have been successful. Typical self-employed immigrants include farmers, skilled tradesmen, athletes, artists, musicians, and writers.