The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream is designed to attract individuals who are looking to start a new business initiative or buy an existing business in Ontario. Successful applicants will obtain a temporary work permit support letter — based on a performance agreement — to establish the business in Ontario. If the investment and job creation conditions outlined in the performance agreement are adhered to, entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to be nominated by the OINP for Canadian permanent resident status. 

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream operates on an ‘Expression of Interest’ model, whereby eligible participants must be invited to apply before they may submit a complete application.

Step by Step process for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program Entrepreneur Stream 

Phase 1

1. Prepare to submit an online Expression of Interest (EOI).
2. Register an online EOI with the OINP.
3. Prepare an application to the Entrepreneur Stream (if invited to apply).
4. Submit a complete online OINP Entrepreneur Stream application, upload all the necessary supporting documents and pay the required application fee.
5. Attend a mandatory interview as part of the application assessment process. 
6. Sign a Performance Agreement outlining investment and job creation conditions with the OINP (if the application is approved). 

 Phase II:

1. Obtain a temporary work permit support letter to apply for a work permit with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) from OINP.
2. Arrive in Ontario on a temporary work permit to establish the business and carry out the business plan. Entrepreneurs will have 20 months to establish the business in Ontario.
3. Receive a nomination from the Government of Ontario if the conditions of the signed Performance Agreement are met.
4. Apply for Canadian permanent residence with IRCC within six (6) months of nomination. The OINP performs post-nomination monitoring for a period of 36 months following the issuance of permanent resident status.  

Minimum Eligibility Requirements Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program  Entrepreneur Stream

• Should have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months as a business owner or senior manager

• • The prospective applicant must have had an active role in the business and owned at least one-third of the business.
  • Have a minimum net worth, which varies depending on where the business will be located;
  • For businesses located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), applicants must have a minimum net worth of $800,000.
  • For businesses located outside the GTA, applicants must have a minimum net worth of $400,000.
  • For businesses in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of where it will be located), applicants must have a minimum net worth of $400,000.

• Provide a third-party verification report, prepared by an authorized service provider, in order to demonstrate their net worth. 

• Provide a third-party verification report, prepared by an authorized service provider, in order to demonstrate their net worth. 

• Make at least one business-related visit to Ontario in the 12 months prior to submitting the Expression of Interest, if purchasing an existing business.

• Be actively involved on an ongoing basis in the management of the proposed business.

• If the proposed business will be located within the GTA, applicants must make a minimum personal investment of $600,000.

• If the proposed business will be located outside the GTA, applicants must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000.

• If the proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of where it will be located), applicants must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000.

Minimum Requirements for Businesses

• The proposed business must meet the following general requirements to participate in the Entrepreneur Stream:
• The purpose of the proposed business must be to make profit through the sale of goods and/or services;
• Primary income sources must be from active (earned) income, not passive (unearned) income;
• The proposed business must comply with Canadian legal requirements and all regulatory industry and licensing requirements which govern its legitimate operation;
• The proposed business must comply with all Ontario labour laws, including but not limited to employment standards, health and safety and labour relations legislation;
• The proposed business must be considered a permanent business in Ontario; and
• Third-party investors must be a Schedule I* or Schedule II** bank or an institutional investor.
• The applicant must submit a business plan.

Minimum Requirements for Nominations from the province

Entrepreneurs must meet the following requirements in order to be nominated once they have established the business and met the performance agreement. Successfully obtaining a nomination certificate allows applicants to make an application for Canadian permanent residence. 

1. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate official language proficiency at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 level or equivalent;

• CLB 4 can be demonstrated through the following tests: International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Test Scores, Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) for English,

•   Listening: IELTS 4.5 | CELPIP 4 | TEF 145-180 | TCF 331-368
• Reading: IELTS 3.5 | CELPIP 4 | TEF 121-150 | TCF 342-374
• Writing: IELTS 4.0 | CELPIP 4 | TEF 181-225 | TCF 4-5
• Speaking: IELTS 4.0 | CELPIP 4 | TEF 181-225 | TCF 4-5

1. Applicants must be physically residing in Ontario for 75 percent (nine months out of the year) of the period in which they are establishing the business in Ontario (i.e. the performance agreement period)

Note: Nominees must also continue to meet the conditions of the Performance Agreement, including the information provided in the EOI and business plan, within 20 months of arriving in Ontario.  

Invitation History