Provincial Entrepreneur Programs

British Columbia has 3 business lines:

• Business immigration.
• Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot.
• Business immigration – strategic projects.

Business immigration

Requirements

• Create a qualified new business or purchase and improve an existing business in British Columbia.
• An investment of at least $ 200,000 in a new or existing business.
• Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• A net worth not less than $600,000.
• Canadian language level 4: in English or French in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading and writing, by the time of nomination.
• Business and/or management experience.
• Being legally accepted in the country in which you are currently residing.
• Pay $300 registration fee, $3,500 application fee and $1,000 per application for key employees.

Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot

The British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration Program – Regional Pilot aims to attract entrepreneurs to the province’s rural areas.

Community requirements

• Population of less than 75,000 people.
• Located more than 30 km from a municipality of more than 75,000 inhabitants.
• Demonstrate the ability to support foreign entrepreneurs with a network of settlement and business support agencies.
• Immigration training must be completed by community representatives.

Candidate requirements

• Desire to start a business and settle in a British Columbia regional community.
• Complete an exploratory visit.
• A minimum of $100,000 in eligible business investments.
• Minimum personal net worth of CAD 30,000.
• 51% minimum ownership.
• Create at least one new job.
• Canadian Language – Level 4 – in English or French in each of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Business Immigration – strategic projects

This program helps foreign companies establish eligible businesses in British Columbia. With timely entry for foreign administrative, professional or technical personnel who intend to become permanent residents of Canada and settle in British Columbia.

Company requirements

• An investment of at least $500,000 to establish, or purchase and expand a qualified business activity in British Columbia.
• Provide at least 3 new jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for each proposed foreign principal (up to a maximum of 5 key employees).
• Establishing, or purchasing and expanding a company in British Columbia.

Immigration Stream for International Graduates in Alberta

The Alberta International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream program is aimed at international graduates from post-secondary institutions in Alberta who wish to establish or operate businesses in the province.

Candidates must initially establish or operate their business for at least 12 months while in Alberta under a work permit before they can be nominated by the Alberta Immigrant Placement Program for permanent residency once they fulfill the terms of the Business Performance Agreement.

Alberta Self-Employed Farmer Stream

The Alberta self-employed farmer stream is managed by AINP in association with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, and targets applicants with farm management skills and sufficient financial resources to invest in an Alberta agribusiness.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program has two main business categories: Entrepreneur Stream and International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream.

Entrepreneur Stream

Process

• Expression of interest
• Invitation to submit an application
• Nomination

An Expression of Interest must meet the following minimum entry requirements:

• A legally obtained net worth of at least $500,000.
• At least 3 years of experience in entrepreneurship or related managerial experience.
• An investment of at least $300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon, or $200,000 in any other region in Saskatchewan.

Candidates enter a pool where they obtain a score. Candidates with the highest scores are invited to apply.

Requests must include:

• A business establishment plan confirming an expression of interest, and including at least one-third of the ownership of a company in Saskatchewan, unless the investment is $ 1 million or more.
• Commitment to being active in the day-to-day running of business.
• Create two or more jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if the business is located in Regina or Saskatoon.

International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream:

Process

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI):

Candidates must submit an Expression of Interest (SINP) to the Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program.

2. Invitation to Apply

Candidates are scored based on their expression of interest, with invitations to apply to the highest scoring candidates.

Applicants who pass the SINP assessment stage sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) based on the submitted Business Establishment Plan (BEP).

3. Business Establishment

Accredited candidates actively establish and operate their businesses while in Saskatchewan under a valid work permit after graduation.

4. Nomination

Once the candidate fulfills the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement, he can apply to be nominated by SINP for permanent residency.

Applicants who close or sell their businesses upon obtaining a SINP nomination and prior to obtaining permanent residency will be revoked.

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream Program is aimed at qualified international business investors and entrepreneurs. Candidates are initially issued a temporary work permit and must have the intention and ability to start or purchase a business in Manitoba within two years of arrival. The current eliminates a previous requirement for a deposit of $100,000 with the Manitoba government.

There are two streams for entrepreneurs and for farmer investors:

1. A) Entrepreneur Stream

This stream is for applicants wishing to open a business in Manitoba. Candidates are issued a temporary work permit at the beginning. They are nominated for permanent residency after establishing a company that fulfills the terms of the business performance agreement. Priority is given to candidates who start their business outside of Winnipeg.

1. B) The farmer investor stream

For applicants wishing to open and operate a farm in rural Manitoba. Candidates are issued a temporary work permit at the beginning. They are nominated for permanent residency after establishing a company that fulfills the terms of the business performance agreement.

The Nova Scotia Entrepreneur Stream targets candidates with business ownership or senior management experience. They must live in Nova Scotia, start a new business or purchase an existing company, and be actively involved in the day-to-day running of that business.

Under the business stream, candidates are first issued with a temporary work permit before applying for permanent residency after the company has been operating for a year. The current uses the Expression of Interest, in which candidates in the group are invited to present.

Business Entrepreneur Stream:

Candidate requirements

• You must be 21 years old or over.
• Intent to live permanently in Nova Scotia while actively owning and running a company in Nova Scotia.
• Minimum net worth of $60,000.
• The minimum investment is $150,000 to set up or buy a company in Nova Scotia.
• At least 3 years of experience in business management and actively owning it (33% of ownership as a minimum) or more than 5 years of experience in a senior business management role.
• Score at least 5 on the Canadian language test in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.

The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream (OES) is aimed at individuals from outside of Canada who wish to start a business or purchase a company already located in Ontario. Those who are approved for the program will be nominated for permanent residency in Canada. Once nominated, the candidate is eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Under OES, applicants must:

• Have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the past 60 months.
• Have experience as an owner or senior manager of the business.
  • Have a minimum net worth of $ 800,000 if your proposed business is in the Great Toronto Area (GTA).
  • If your proposed business is outside of the GTA, the minimum net worth requirement is $ 40,000.
  • If your proposed business will be involved in ICT or digital communications anywhere in the province, the minimum net worth requirement is $ 40,000.
• Be prepared to invest at least $ 600,000 in a company in Ontario or own at least 33% of stock ownership if working in the GTA.
  • If the business is outside the GTA, you should be prepared to invest at least $ 200,000 and own at least 33% of the equity.
  • If the company is going to participate in information communication technology or digital communications anywhere in the province, you must be prepared to invest at least $ 200,000 and own at least 33% of the equity.
• A commitment to create two full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents of the proposed company if the business is located within the GTA.
  • If the job is outside of the GTA, you must create at least one job for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
  • If the company is to be involved in information communications technology or digital communications anywhere in the province, you must create at least one job for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

The Provincial Nominee Program in New Brunswick runs an Entrepreneurship and Postgraduate Entrepreneurship Stream targeting professionals and alumni from institutions of New Brunswick.

Entrepreneurial stream requirements

• Have an eligible connection to New Brunswick.
• Age between 22 and 55 years old.
• Post-secondary education certificate or diploma, with a minimum of two years.
• Scoring at least level 5 in the standard Canadian language test for speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
• Complete at least two years of full-time post-secondary education.
• The personal net worth legally acquired of not less than $ 600,000, of which $ 300,000 must be available with non-burdensome liquidity.
• An investment of at least $ 250,000 in a company in New Brunswick, and purchase of at least 33% ownership.
• Signing a business performance agreement with the provincial government of New Brunswick and paying a deposit of $ 10,000.
• Businesses should create significant economic benefits for New Brunswick.
• Demonstrated work experience – either 3 years of ownership or 5 years of senior management experience in the past five years.
• Submit a business concept from 1000 to 1500 words.
• To make an exploratory visit to New Brunswick, or to participate in an information session offered by the New Brunswick provincial government.
• Intent to live permanently in New Brunswick.

Entrepreneurship track requirements post- graduation

• Age between 22 and 40 years old.
• Scoring at least level 7 in the Canadian language test for speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.
• Complete at least two years of full-time post-secondary education at a recognized university or community college in New Brunswick.
• You have lived in New Brunswick for the duration of the course (distance learning courses are not eligible).
• 100% owning and managing a business for a full year.
• Possess a valid postgraduate work permit.
• Intent to live permanently in New Brunswick.

The PEI Impact category grants permanent residency to entrepreneurs who have established businesses in the county.

The work permit process works in two phases:

1. Candidates come to Canada with a temporary work permit and start their own business.
2. Applicants are nominated for permanent residency once their businesses are established and the terms of the agreement are fulfilled.

Previously, the province ran direct permanent residence business streams, but it was closed in September 2018 due to immigration fraud concerns.

The Northwest Territories business stream is aimed at entrepreneurs with commercial experience and venture capital, who wish to purchase or start a business in the region.

Business Stream in the Northwest Territories:

Requirements Investment:

• A minimum of $ 300,000 in equity to start or purchase a business within the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT, or
• A minimum of $ 150,000 in equity to start or purchase a business outside the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT.

Personal net worth:

• A minimum of $ 500,000 if establishing or purchasing a company within the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT, or
• A minimum of $ 250,000 if establishing or purchasing a company outside the boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT.