Federal & Provincial Business / Entrepreneur Immigration Programs: What you need to know to come to Canada as a Business Immigrant

January 19, 2019
By: Admin

Federal & Provincial Business / Entrepreneur Immigration Programs: What you need to know to come to Canada as a Business Immigrant

The Canadian government selects business class immigrants based on their ability to become economically established and support the development of the Canadian economy. Business immigrants are people who can invest in or start businesses in Canada and are expected to support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy.

Canadian Business Failure Statistics Survey show that about 96 percent of small businesses that enter the marketplace survive for one full year, 85 percent survive for three years and 70 percent survive for five years. Approximately 7000 businesses go bankrupt every year in Canada and this figure is not small in Canadian context. You may get attracted or be seduced by someone to the proposition of immigrating to Canada as a entrepreneur but the path is not so easy. If you have been a salary employee most of your adult life, the knack of running a business do not come easy. If you do not have pervious business experience avoid taking a plunge because your hard-earned money will disappear without a trace even before you realize. Prior business experience is the basic criteria for most of the programs listed below. One has to prove that the money which s/he is investing in Canada is earned / obtained through leagal means.

The information on these programs on the IRCC web site is so voluminous that its very difficult to surf through and understand. I have tried to tabulate the highlights of all provincial and Federal programs currently in vouge. All amounts are in Canadian dollars. To know more about any program click on the underlined link If you have any further questions / clarifications on any of the programs, contact us through: www.atlanticgroupimmigration.com

Federal Start-Up Visa Program

Minimum Net Worth	N/A
Minimum Investment	$200,000 if the investment comes from a designated Canadian venture capital fund or designated incubators OR $75,000 if it comes from a designated Canadian Angel Investor group
Experience	No specific requirement
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	None
Exploratory Visit	Not required
Interview	Upon request by IRCC
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	PR immediately
Additional Requirements	Have the support of a designated organization that will provide the applicant with a Letter of Support. Start-up visa applicants must give proof that they sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependants after they arrive in Canada. The amount required depends on the size of the family.

Federal Self-Employed Person Program

Minimum Net Worth	N/A
Minimum Investment	Not required
Experience	At least 2 years of relevant cultural or athletic experience in the past 5 years
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	None
Exploratory Visit	Not required
Interview	Upon request by IRCC
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	PR immediately
Additional Requirements	English/French ability and work experience in a designated occupation All self-employed persons must establish that they have enough funds to support themselves and their family members for at least one year after they arrive in Canada. Self-employed immigrants must obtain a minimum of 35 points out of 100 based on the five selection criteria and the program's unique point system.

Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream

Minimum Net Worth	$500,000
Minimum Investment	$500,000 in a primary production farming business
Experience	Farm management experience in an existing farm business
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	PR after obtaining provincial nomination certificate
Additional Requirements	Canadian financial institution must finance the proposed Alberta farming business

BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration

Minimum Net Worth	$600,000
Minimum Investment	$200,000 OR $400,000 if proposing a Key Staff Member
Experience	3 + years of business ownership or management experience OR 4 + years of senior management experience OR 1+ year of business ownership & management experience and 2+ years of senior management experience within the last 10 years.
EOI System	Yes (province publishes info on previous draws)
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	Upon request of BC PNP
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	2-year work period before Letter of Acceptance to apply for Permanent Residence (PR); PR contingent on implementation of the business proposal
Additional Requirements	Create at least one permanent, full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with the proposed business

BC PNP: Entrepreneur-Regional Pilot (BPNP - Regional Pilot)

Minimum Net Worth	CAD $300,000
Minimum Investment	CAD $100,000
Experience	3 + years of business ownership or management experience OR 4 + years of senior management experience OR 1+ year of business ownership & management experience and 2+ years of senior management experience within the last 10 years.
EOI System	Yes (province publishes info on previous draws)
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	Upon request of BC PNP
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	Minimum 12-month work permit period before nomination; PR contingent on implementation of business proposal
Additional Requirements	Create at least one permanent, full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

Manitoba PNP: Business Investor Stream (Business Investor Stream — Entrepreneur Pathway )

Minimum Net Worth	$500,000
Minimum Investment	$250,000 for businesses in the Manitoba Capital Region. OR $150,000 if a business is outside of the Manitoba Capital Region AND must be made in an eligible business AND must create or maintain at least one job for a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident in Manitoba (excluding owners of the business and/or their close relatives).
Experience	Business ownership and management experience or executive-level experience in 3 of the past 5 years. AND Business owners are given higher points in comparison to senior managers. AND Business owners must have at least 33 1/3% ownership to qualify for points.
EOI System	Yes
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Business research visit must be conducted no more than one year prior to the submission of an EOI.
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not Required
PR/Work permit	Temporary work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	Score 60+ points on assessment grid $100,000 refundable deposit is not a requirement anymore.

Manitoba PNP: Business Investor Stream (Farm Investor Pathway)

Minimum Net Worth	$500,000
Minimum Investment	$300,000 tangible assets to establish a farming business in rural Manitoba AND investments in a farm business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income or speculative purposes are not eligible.
Experience	Minimum of three years of farm business management or farm ownership and operation experience supported by verifiable documents.
EOI System	Yes
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Farm Business Research Visit required.
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	$75,000
PR/Work permit	Temporary work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	$100,000 refundable deposit is no longer required.

Saskatchewan PNP: Entrepreneur Category (SINP-Entrepreneur Category)

Minimum Net Worth	$500,000
Minimum Investment	$300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon and at least 33.3% ownership OR $200,000 in any other Saskatchewan community and at least 33.3% ownership OR $1,000,000 investment or more
Experience	At least 3 years' experience as an entrepreneur or managing a business in the past 10 years
EOI System	Yes
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Required for business succession, joint ventures, and regional business opportunities
Interview	Upon request by SINP
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	2-year work permit; PR contingent upon meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	Sign a Performance Agreement Create 2+ employment opportunities if establishing a business in Regina or Saskatoon

Saskatchewan PNP - Farm Owner/Operator Category (SINP-Farm Owner/Operator Category)

Program
Minimum Net Worth	$500,000
Minimum Investment	N/A
Experience	Farming operation ownership experience using agricultural practices like those used in Saskatchewan-based farming
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Farm Establishment Plan (FEP) required
Exploratory Visit	Required
Interview	Upon request
Refundable Deposit	$75,000
PR/Work permit	PR after obtaining nomination certificate
Additional Requirements	Submit a Farm Establishment Plan Sign a Performance Agreement

Ontario PNP _ Corporate Stream

Minimum Net Worth	None
Minimum Investment	$5,000,000 OR $10,000,000 if the proposed business is a land development or a leasehold company
Experience	The international corporation must have been established for at least 36 months at the time of application
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Encouraged
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	Applicant & key staff first obtain work permits; PR contingent on meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	Create 5 new jobs for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident per key staff member seeking nomination

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) - Entrepreneur Stream

Minimum Net Worth	For businesses in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA): $1,500,000 OR for businesses outside the GTA: $800,000 OR for businesses in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of location): $800,000
Minimum Investment	In the GTA: $1,000,000 and ownership of 33.3% of the business OR Outside the GTA: $500,000 and ownership of 33.3% of the business OR In the ICT/Digital Communications sector: $500,000 and ownership of 33.3% of the business
Experience	At least 36 months of full-time business experience in the last five years as business owner or senior manager
EOI System	Yes (province publishes info on previous draws)
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Required for business succession only
Interview	Required upon request of OINP
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	Temporary work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	Sign a Performance Agreement with Ontario English/French minimum CLB 4 Create at least 2 permanent, full-time jobs for a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
New Brunswick PNP: -	NBPNP — Entrepreneurial Stream

Minimum Net Worth		$600,000
Minimum Investment		$250,000
Experience		3 out of 5 years or more in owning a business OR 5 out of 5 years or more in a senior business management role
EOI System		Yes
Managerial Role		Required
Business Plan		Required, must be of economic benefit to the province
Exploratory Visit		Required
Interview		Required
Refundable Deposit		$100,000
PR/Work permit		PR after obtaining provincial nomination certificate
Additional Requirements		22-55 years old CLB 5 in English or French in reading, writing, listening and speaking

NB PNP: NBPNP – PG Entrepreneurial Stream

Program
Minimum Net Worth	N/A
Minimum Investment	The applicant must have 100% ownership of the equity of the eligible business
Experience	6 or more years in the last 10 years in NOC O, A or B OR 1-5 years in the last 10 years in the NOC O, A or B
EOI System	Yes
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	May be requested (business must be of economic benefit to the province)
Exploratory Visit	Not specified
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not specified
PR/Work permit	PR after obtaining provincial nomination certificate
Additional Requirements	22-40 years old CLB 7 in English or French in reading, writing, listening and speaking Have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit

Prince Edward Island PNP - Work Permit Stream

Minimum Net Worth	$600,000
Minimum Investment	N/A
Experience	Management experience required
EOI System	Yes
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	$7,500 of $10,000 application fee is refunded if application is declined or withdrawn.
PR/Work permit	Letter of support from the province to apply for a work permit; Obtain nomination once all of the terms and conditions of Performance Agreement are met.
Additional Requirements	CLB 4 in English or French; minimum education of secondary school equivalent 21-59 years old

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP): International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream

Minimum Net Worth	N/A
Minimum Investment	100% ownership of the equity of the eligible business
Experience	At least 1 continuous year of business ownership experience in Nova Scotia prior to EOI submission Completed a degree of at least 2 years' duration at a university/college in Nova Scotia
EOI System	Yes (province may publish info on draws after future draws are made; EOI must be submitted while on valid work permit)
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	None
Exploratory Visit	Required
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	PR after obtaining provincial nomination certificate
Additional Requirements	The business must meet additional criteria English/French minimum CLB 7

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP): Entrepreneur Stream

Minimum Net Worth	$600,000
Minimum Investment	$150,000
Experience	At least 3 years of business ownership experience including 33.3% ownership in the last 10 years OR +5 years as senior manager in the last 10 years
EOI System	Yes (province publishes info on previous draws)
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Required for business succession only
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	Must operate business for at least 1 year on work permit following nomination; PR contingent on meeting program requirements

Yukon (YBNP): Business Nominee Program YBNP

Minimum Net Worth	$500,000 (including $300,000 in liquid assets)
Minimum Investment	$300,000 and at least 1/3 ownership with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident partner
Experience	Minimum of 3 years entrepreneurial/business management experience & minimum of 5 years relevant work experience
EOI System	Yes
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Recommended, applicants are awarded points for past visits
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	2-year work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	Business must be in a strategic sector, as identified by the territory Must score 65+ points on assessment grid

Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (Quebec Immigrant Investor Program)

Minimum Net Worth	$2,000,000
Minimum Investment	$1,200,000 risk-free through an approved financial intermediary or by financing that investment.
Experience	2 years of business management experience in the past 5 years prior to the submission of an application in a specific enterprise (agricultural, commercial, or industrial, OR management experience in a governmental or international organization) and in a position defined as full-time.
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	No active managerial role required to apply
Business Plan	None
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	May be required as part of the application review.
Refundable Deposit	Not required
PR/Work permit	PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Additional Requirements	Background check and medical examination

Quebec Entrepreneur Program (Quebec Entrepreneur Program)

Program	— A new application intake period began on August 15, 2018 and is scheduled to run until March 31, 2019.
Minimum Net Worth*	$900,000 of financial resources.
Business ownership/operation*	Holds and controls, alone or with the accompanying spouse or common-law partner at minimum 25% of the equity of the enterprise he or she creates or at least 51% of the equity of the enterprise he or she acquires.
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Project	Required
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	Required as a final step in the application process
Start-up deposit*	$300,000 for a business in the the metropolitan area of Montreal or $200,000 for a business outside the metropolitan area of Montreal.
PR/Work permit	PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Additional Requirements	Submit a contract to prove financial self-sufficiency and demonstrate a secondary school general diploma level of education. Provide a performance guarantee deposit of $200,000 that is refundable if certain conditions are met.*

* This requirement apply only to Component Two of the Entrepreneur program.

Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program (Quebec Self-Employed Worker Program)

Minimum Net Worth	$100,000
Minimum Investment	Not required
Experience	2 years of self-employed experience in the profession or trade the applicant intends to practice in Quebec
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	None
Exploratory Visit	Recommended
Interview	May be required as part of the application review
Start-up deposit	Register a start-up deposit of at least CAD $50,000 at a local financial institution if based in the metropolitan area of Montreal or at least CAD $25,000 if based outside of Montreal.
PR/Work permit	PR after first obtaining Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ)
Additional Requirements	Submit a contract to prove financial self-sufficiency and demonstrate a secondary school general diploma level of education.

Northwest Territories PNP: Entrepreneur Business Stream

Minimum Net Worth	For businesses in Yellowknife: $500,000 OR for businesses outside Yellowknife: $250,000
Minimum Investment	In Yellowknife: $300,000 & at least 33.3% ownership OR outside Yellowknife: $150,000 & at least 33.3% ownership OR $1,000,000 investment
Experience	Relevant business experience required
EOI System	No
Managerial Role	Required
Business Plan	Required
Exploratory Visit	Required
Interview	Required
Refundable Deposit	$75,000
PR/Work permit	2-year work permit; PR contingent on meeting program requirements
Additional Requirements	CLB 4 in English or French Business must generate significant benefits for the Northwest Territories, including jobs for local residents.