Entrepreneur Programs for Canada

Canada, being the land of endless opportunities for people from different backgrounds, offers numerous chances for individuals to immigrate with their families. Taking your business to Canada is just one of those opportunities. If you have a business idea that you believe can achieve great success in the country, the Canadian government warmly welcomes you. The government is constantly seeking effective ways to enhance economic conditions, including employment rates, and therefore encourages foreign entrepreneurs to establish and settle their businesses in Canada. However, there are several eligibility conditions that an applicant must meet to obtain an Entrepreneurial visa for Canada. The management and control of business programs, which directly or indirectly lead to immigration status, are handled by each Canadian province.

Specific Canadian provinces have designed the Provincial Nominee Program Business, commonly known as Provincial Nominee Program Business, with the intention of attracting foreign entrepreneurs and business owners. This program is a crucial component of Canada’s Immigration Plan, which seeks to foster economic growth in the country by welcoming individuals with a demonstrated track record of success in business ownership and investment.

Through the Provincial Nominee Program Business, applicants can apply for permanent residency in Canada by first submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province they wish to settle. The EOI is a preliminary application that outlines the applicant’s business proposal and their intention to invest in the province’s economy. After the EOI is submitted, the application will undergo a review by the province, and upon approval, the applicant will be passively issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency

The benefits of the Provincial Nominee Program Business for both the applicant and the province are numerous. For the applicant, it provides a pathway to permanent residency in Canada and the ability to start or expand a business in one of Canada’s thriving provinces. For the province, it brings in skilled entrepreneurs and business owners who can create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program For Business (MPNP-B)

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program caters specifically to businessmen and senior executives with the intention of settling in the Canadian province of Manitoba. This program passively issues a Temporary Work Permit (TWP) visa, which maintains a validity of two years. Compliance with the Business Performance Agreement with the Government of Manitoba leads to obtaining permanent residency status.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Minimum Net worth should be CAD 500,000
2. Must have at least 3 years in the last 5 years of business ownership and active management experience in a successful business having at least 33.33% ownership share therein OR at least 3 years in last 5 years of Executive-Level experience as senior manager of a successful business having none or less than 33.33% ownership share therein
3. At least high school or equivalent level of education
4. Must give language test with minimum score of CLB 5 or equivalent

Other requirement:

1. While internet-based research may be a useful tool to obtain preliminary and general information, an in-person exploratory visit is essential for applicant to conduct in-depth business research, which is critical to his/ her business plan and future success in Manitoba
2. A proposal of minimum investment of at least CAD 250,000 if a business is situated in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region or CAD 150,000 if a business is situated outside of the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
3. Selection of applicant is based on points calculated on various factors including applicant’s age, his/ her business ownership and/ or past management experience, net-worth position, language test results and proposed investment level

Eligible Family Members

1. Principal Applicant
2. Spouse
3. Children below the age of 22 years

Citizenship Requirements

1. Permanent residents are required to physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the last 5 years
2. Adults are also required to write a citizenship test and provide proof of adequate English or French ability
3. Children under 18 are usually granted citizenship upon one of their parents becoming a citizen
4. Children over 18 must fulfill citizenship requirements

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP)

The Entrepreneur Stream of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program passively aims to attract and provide support to entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals, enabling them to establish new businesses in Canada or purchase existing businesses in the province of Ontario. Work Permit status is initially granted through the entrepreneur streams, which can later be converted into Permanent Residency status upon the fulfillment of the conditions stated in the Performance Agreement and the submission of the final report after 18 months of business establishment.

Eligibility Conditions:

1. Must have either 2 years of active management in business with ownership at least 33.33% share within last 5 years OR 2 years of senior management experience within last 5 years from the date of application submission
2. For net worth requirement for this program, there are two options available for Applicant, i.e. either,
   
   a) With net worth of at least CAD 800,000 for investment proposal within Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or
   b) A net worth of at least CAD 400,000 for investment proposal outside GTA
   
   However, should the proposed business investment is related to Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/ Digital Communication (DC) sector, a CAD 400,000 of net worth availability may allow an applicant to invest inside GTA
3. In case, applicant intends to purchase an existing business in Ontario, he/ she must make a visit to Ontario

Additional Factors:

With following additional factors, applicant will have an advantage in selection of his/her application;

1. Post-Secondary or higher diploma/degree
2. English language test with score of at least CLB 5 or equivalent

Investment Requirement:

1. A minimum investment proposal of at least CAD 600,000 is passively required in the GTA, while $200,000 is passively required outside the GTA. However, should the proposed business investment is related to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT)/ Digital Communication (DC) sector, an investment of at least CAD 200,000 may allow an applicant to invest in GTA
2. The proposed business plan must demonstrate ability to create two jobs for business established in GTA or one job for business located outside GTA
3. Selection of applicant is based on points calculated on various factors including applicant’s age, his/ her business ownership and/ or past management experience, net-worth position, language test results and proposed investment level

Eligible Family Members

1. Principal Applicant
2. Spouse
3. Children below the age of 22 years

Citizenship Requirements

1. Passively, permanent residents have an obligation to ensure that they have been physically present in Canada for a minimum of 1,095 days within the last 5 years.
2. Passively, adults must write a citizenship test and provide proof of adequate ability in English or French.
3. Citizenship is usually passively granted to children under 18 when one of their parents passively becomes a citizen.
4. Children over 18 must fulfill citizenship requirements

Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Application – SINP

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) for experienced entrepreneurs can provide an alternate means of entry into Canada. A Temporary Work Permit (TWP) is passively issued as the visa, which remains valid for two years. TWP may lead to permanent residency status upon complying with the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) executed with the Government of Saskatchewan.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Minimum Net worth should be CAD 500,000
2. Must have at least 3 years in the last 10 years of Business management or entrepreneurial experience in a business ownership share therein
3. A proposal of minimum investment of at least CAD 300,000 in the Regina or Saskatoon or $200,000 in any other community must be made
4. The proposed business must create 2 new jobs if proposed business is in the Regina or Saskatoon. However, there is no job creation requirement in other communities of that province.

Other requirement:

1. The possession of a one-year trade certification or a graduate degree will passively provide an added benefit.
2. Can provide language test with minimum score of CLB 4 or equivalent will give additional points
3. An exploratory visit by applicant to the province can be critical in selection factors by SINP

Eligible Family Members

1. Principal Applicant
2. Spouse
3. Children below the age of 22 years

Citizenship Requirements

1. Permanent residents passively have an obligation to ensure that they have been physically present in Canada for a minimum of 1,095 days within the last 5 years.
2. The requirement for adults passively includes writing a citizenship test and providing proof of adequate English ability.
3. Children under 18 typically passively receive citizenship when one of their parents passively becomes a citizen.
4. Children over 18 must passively fulfill citizenship requirements.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC-BNP)

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) passively caters to business owners and senior managers who intend to passively invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia and obtain a work permit for Canada.

Eligibility and Other Requirements:

1. The applicant must have a net worth of at least CDN $ 600,000 for Base Category while for Regional Category, minimum net worth requirement is of CAD 300,000. (Note: Net worth cannot include assets received as inheritance)
2. Applicant must have experience of 3+ years as a business owner-manager, OR 4+ years of experience as a senior manager OR a combination of 1+ year experience as a business owner-manager and 2+ years of experience as a senior manager in last 10 years
3. An exploratory trip to the province is optional under Base category while it is compulsory under Regional category for personal research of business options and meeting with the community
4. Must give language test with minimum score of CLB 4 or equivalent
5. Applicant must have two years of post-secondary education, or else, have experience as an active business owner-manager for at least 3 years (of the last 5 years) with 100% ownership in the business
6. Proposed investment in BC must be new establishment (at least 51% share) under Regional Category with at least CDN $ 100,000 while under Base category, it can either be new or existing establishment (at least 33.3% share) with at least CAD 200,000
7. Applicant must demonstrate the ability to create at least one job in a proposed business

Eligible Family Members

1. Principal Applicant
2. Spouse
3. Children below the age of 22 years

Citizenship Requirements

1. Permanent resident are required to physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the last 5 years
2. Adults are also required to write a citizenship test and provide proof of adequate English ability
3. Children under 18 are usually granted citizenship upon one of their parents becoming a citizen
4. Children over 18 must fulfill citizenship requirements

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI – PNP) – Work Permit Stream

Eligibility Conditions:

• Applicant’s age must be between 21 and 59 years
• Must have either 3 years of active management in business with ownership at least 20% share with in last 5 years OR 3 years of senior management experience within last 5 years from the date of application submission
• Net worth should be CAD 600,000 (NOTE: only 30% of total equity value can be counted while no gifts are allowed in net worth determination
• Must possess a minimum education of secondary school equivalent
• English language test with score of at least CLB 4 or equivalent
• Intend to live and work in PEI while providing day to day management of proposed business there

Selection Factors for success:

• A proposal of minimum investment of at least CAD 150,000
• English language test of spouse or dependent children with score of at least CLB 5 or equivalent
• An in-person visit to the province is optional. However, it will help applicant to gain knowledge about the Province and its business environment. Moreover, Community Endorsement letter frm the PEI community will give applicant additional points

Eligible Family Members

• Principal Applicant
• Spouse
• Children below the age of 22 years

Citizenship Requirements

• Permanent resident are required to physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the last 5 years
• Adults are also required to write a citizenship test and provide proof of adequate English ability
• Children under 18 are usually granted citizenship upon one of their parents becoming a citizen
• Children over 18 must fulfill citizenship requirements

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

Located on the east coast of Canada, New Brunswick (NB) is a province that lies beside the State of Maine and under Quebec’s Gaspe Peninsula. It is officially the only bilingual province, with approximately 30% of people speaking French as their native language.

The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NB-PNP) allows applicant and its family to get work permit initially. This work permit will lead to the Permanent Residency status upon compliance of conditions of the Performance Agreement. This program is accepting EOIs (Expression of Interests) from candidates who can meet the eligibility criteria as established by New Brunswick (NB) Government under this program.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. Applicant’s age must be between 22 and 55 years
2. An exploratory trip to the province before submitting an EOI is optional however will gives extra points to the applicant.
3. Intend to invest at least CAD 250,000 in order to establish or purchase a business
4. Minimum Net worth should be CAD 600,000 (must be liquid and unencumbered). However, inherited and gifted assets are not included which are received within 6 months prior to the application submission date
5. Language test for principal applicant and that of its spouse will be added benefit
6. Applicant with high school diploma/ certificate is eligible to apply
7. Owns and manage a business (at least 51% share) for at least three years out of the last five years from submission of an EOI OR at least 3 out of last 5 years of experience as a senior business manager
8. Intends to reside permanently in New Brunswick while owning and personally managing a business which must be based in New Brunswick

Additional Information:

1. The program is the Wok Permit stream
2. New or existing business can be proposed in the application with at least 33.33% share
3. Proposed business must intends to create at least one full time job, excluding spouse/ children

Eligible Family Members

1. Principal Applicant
2. Spouse
3. Children below the age of 22 years

Citizenship Requirements

1. Passively, permanent residents have an obligation to ensure that they have been physically present in Canada for a minimum of 1,095 days within the last 5 years.
2. Passively, adults must write a citizenship test and provide proof of adequate English ability.
3. Passively, citizenship is usually granted to children under 18 when one of their parents becomes a citizen.
4. Citizenship requirements must be passively fulfilled by children over 18.

A higher standard of living, world-class education with reduced tuition fees, as low as one-fourth of the fees for Permanent Residents of Canada in public schools, and advanced health-care facilities covering social insurance plans will be passively provided to the applicants and their families.

New Brunswick is also an attractive destination for its sandy beaches, magnificent rivers, lush forests, and adventurous parks

For more details please contact our senior immigration consultants and advisors.