Entrepreneur

The Ontario Entrepreneur stream is one of the Business Streams of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), operated by the province of Ontario. This stream is designed to target experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Ontario. Successful applicants must start a new business or buy an existing business in which they participate in the day-to-day management duties.

After operating an Ontario business for a minimum of 18 months, the entrepreneur may be nominated for permanent resident status. This program is by invitation only. Interested candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the OINP e-Filing Portal. After registering a profile the candidate will be assigned a score based on the Ontario Entrepreneur Ranking System. The candidates with the most competitive scores will be invited to submit an official application to the program.

Program Requirements

In order to qualify to submit an EOI for the Ontario Entrepreneur stream, a candidate must be able to prove they have the interest, ability, and financial resources to own and actively manage an Ontario business. For this reason, the program requires a high level of business management experience as well as a significant financial net worth.

Investment Requirement

This stream requires a significant net worth and investment on the part of the applicant. The exact amount varies depending on the location of the proposed business and the type of business:

1. Inside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) If the proposed business is located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) the applicant must have a minimum net worth of at least $800,000 CAD. As well, the applicant must make a minimum personal investment of at least $600,000 CAD and control at least one-third of the equity in the business.
2. Outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) If the proposed business is located outside of the GTA, the applicant must have a minimum net worth of at least $400,000 CAD and must invest at least $200,000 CAD and control at least one-third of the equity in the business.
3. In the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)/Digital Communications Sector If the proposed business is in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)/Digital Communications sector then the applicant must have a net worth of at least $400,000 CAD and must invest at least $200,000 CAD.

Additionally, the proposed business cannot be on the list of ineligible businesses.

Work Experience

In order to qualify, the applicant must have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months. This work must be in an active role, meaning that the applicant participated in day-to-day operations rather than as a passive business investor. The applicant will also have to maintain an active role with their proposed business in Ontario and must control at least one-third of the equity in the proposed business.

Business Plan

Interested applicants will have to provide an in-depth proposal for their business plan in Ontario. The proposed business must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Language Proficiency

Candidates for this stream must have valid language test scores showing proficiency equivalent to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 or higher in English. This is not required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) but is required as part of the official application to OINP.

Residency Requirement

While in Ontario, applicants will be required to reside in the province for at least 75% of the time establishing their business.

Business Partner

An applicant may be able to submit an application with a business partner, but both parties must meet all minimum requirements. Only one business partner is permitted.

Ineligible Types of Businesses

The following types of businesses are not eligible to apply for the Ontario Entrepreneur stream:  

Application Procedure

The Ontario Entrepreneur stream operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Candidates who meet the minimum stream requirements can register a profile and submit an EOI by creating a ONe-key account with the OINP e-Filing Portal. Once the profile has been submitted, candidates will be assigned a score and ranked against one another using the Ontario Entrepreneur Ranking system. The highest ranking candidates will be invited to apply to the stream.

Candidates who receive an invitation to apply have 90 days to submit all required information and documents, including a business plan and a review of personal net worth. This verification of personal net worth must be completed by a qualified third party. The Ontario Entrepreneur stream charges a $3,500 CAD application fee per applicant. Note that if an application is complete, the next stage of the application requires the applicant to attend a mandatory in-person interview at the OINP offices in Ontario. Travel and accommodations for this interview are at the applicant’s expense.

If the application is approved, the applicant will have to sign a Performance Agreement with the OINP. After this, the OINP will issue a work permit support letter, enabling the applicant to gain authorization to Canada. Select business categories of immigration allow foreign nationals to apply for temporary work permits allowing them to work in Canada while establishing their business practice. These work permits do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), meaning they are LMIA-exempt. To apply for such a work permit, an applicant must include a work permit support letter issued by the province and submit their applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Once arriving in Canada, the applicant has a maximum of 20 months to implement their business plan. Between 18 to 20 months, the applicant must submit a final report to OINP which acts as a request for nomination. If an applicant’s final report is approved by the OINP, they will receive an official provincial nomination.

With a provincial nomination in hand, the applicant may apply for Canadian permanent residence. Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.

Ontario Entrepreneur Ranking System

The Ontario Entrepreneur stream uses the following points-grid to rank candidates who have submitted EOIs. Only those candidates with the most competitive scores will be invited to apply to the program.

Overview of Factors

Ontario Entrepreneur - Recent Draws & Invitation History

Below is the information regarding recent Ontario Entrepreneur stream draws and the historic information about issuance of invitations to apply.

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