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Ontario Entrepreneur Stream…

Ottawa Parliament Buildings

for entrepreneurs from outside of Canada looking to start a new business or buy an existing business in Ontario

 

The Entrepreneur Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). It gives an entrepreneur the opportunity to be nominated for permanent residence once their business has been established in Ontario.

The Entrepreneur Stream application is a two-stage process:

Stage 1

  1. Register an expression of interest by email

  2. If invited, submit an online application

  3. You attend a mandatory in-person interview at the OINP office in Toronto

  4. If your stage 1 application is successful, you must sign a performance agreement

Stage 2

  1. Ontario government issues a temporary work permit support letter so that you can apply to the Federal government for a temporary work permit

  2. Establish your business - you have 20 months to implement your business plan and submit a final report

  3. If your business meets all requirements, we will ask you for documentation to make sure you are eligible for nomination for permanent residence.

Mandatory requirements

  1. Business experience - You must have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months.

  2. Net worth - If your proposed business will be located:

    • within the Greater Toronto Area you must have a minimum net worth of 800,000 CDN.

    • outside of the Greater Toronto Area you must have a minimum net worth of $400,000 CDN.

  3. If your proposed business will be located:

    • within the Greater Toronto Area, you must make a minimum personal investment of $600,000 CDN and control at least one-third of the equity in the business

    • outside of the Greater Toronto Area, you must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000 CDN and control at least one-third of the equity in the business

  4. Active involvement - You must be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.

  5. Capital investment purpose - The primary purpose of investing capital in the business must be to make a profit. It must not be to derive interest, dividends or capital gains.

  6. Job creation - If the business will be located inside the Greater Toronto Area, you must create at least two permanent full-time jobs. If the business will be located outside the Greater Toronto Area, you must create at least one permanent full-time job.

General business requirements

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements listed before, you must also meet the general business requirements listed below.

  1. Business purpose - The business purpose must be to make a profit from active income through the sale of goods and/or services.

  2. Permanent business - Your business must be permanent. Project-based and seasonal businesses are not eligible.

  3. Business in Ontario - You must maintain a place of business in Ontario at all times.

  4. Ineligible types of businesses - Before you start the process of applying you need to ensure that your proposed business is not one of the ineligible types.