New research indicates that Canada’s startup visa policy is attracting immigrants and international students away from the United States, further emphasizing the attractiveness of Canada as a destination for entrepreneurs and foreign talent. The study conducted by Saerom Lee and Britta Glennon from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania reveals that Canada’s Startup Visa Program, introduced in 2013, has had a significant impact on the decision-making of immigrants based in the U.S.
Key findings from the research include:
- The introduction of Canada’s Startup Visa Program in 2013 increased the likelihood that U.S.-based immigrants would establish startups in Canada by 69%.
- Immigrants from Asian countries were the most likely to start a business in Canada in response to this policy.
- The research suggests that the presence of co-ethnic immigrant communities and immigration policy are factors that play a role in the decision-making process for immigrant founders.
This study underlines the growing significance of Canada’s immigration policies in attracting entrepreneurial talent and the impact of these policies on the location choices of immigrant founders. It further emphasizes that immigrant entrepreneurs play a vital role in the economy, with immigrants founding a significant percentage of billion-dollar startup companies in the U.S. Additionally, they are key contributors to industries like artificial intelligence, where they have founded many leading companies and represent a significant portion of full-time graduate students in AI-related fields.
