Ontario immigration

OINP Entrepreneur Program

Information for entrepreneurs from outside Canada looking to start a new business or buy an existing business in Ontario. The Entrepreneur Stream is an immigration flow within the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). It was created under the Ontario Immigration Act of 2015 and its regulations.

This stream is for entrepreneurs from outside Canada who are interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business in Ontario.

It gives an entrepreneur (and up to one foreign business partner) the opportunity to nominate for permanent residency once their business is established in Ontario.

The Entrepreneur Stream app is a two-stage process. Here is an overview of the process.

Stage 1

• Register expressions of interest.
• If invited, submit a request.
• You and your business partner (if applicable) attend a mandatory interview.
• If your application is successful in the first stage, you must sign the Performance Agreement.

Stage 2

• We issue a letter of support for a temporary work permit so that you can apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit.
• Establish your business – You have 20 months from the date you arrive in Ontario to implement your business plan and submit the final report.
• If your business meets all the requirements, we ask you for documentation to ensure that you are eligible to be nominated for permanent residency.

Before you register as an expression of interest

• Make sure you meet the mandatory requirements.
• Check the list of ineligible company types.
• Understand the process of expressing interest.
• Read the registration instructions.

Conditions & Requirements

If you are invited to apply, you must provide supporting documentation to prove that you meet the eligibility requirements. This includes proving that you have the qualifications you claimed when registering your expression of interest.

• You must have at least 24 months of full-time business experience within the last 60 months.
• Within the Greater Toronto Area (City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Bell) areas you must have a minimum personal net worth of CAD 800,000
• Outside the Greater Toronto area, the minimum personal net worth must be CAD 400,000
• Personal investment funds and minimum capital within Toronto, minimum investment of CAD 600,000 outside Toronto CAD 200,000
• If the business is to take place within the Greater Toronto area, you must create at least two full-time permanent jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• Additional requirements in case of buying an existing business

If you plan to buy an existing business:

• You must make at least one business visit to Ontario within 12 months of the date of registering the expression of interest
• The purchased business must be in continuous operation by the same owner(s) within the previous 60 months (proof of ownership and letter of intent required to purchase the business or sales agreement)
• Ownership of the business must be fully transferred to the applicant or any business partner
• The previous owner(s) cannot hold any shares in the company
• You must use at least 10% of your personal investment to improve or expand your business in Ontario
• You must keep all full-time permanent positions in the company prior to the transfer of ownership
• The proposed business must not be previously owned/managed by current or former OINP Business Stream candidates, including anyone who has received a nomination certificate under the Entrepreneur or Opportunities Stream in Ontario Investor Component
  

  Program Benefits:

• You can get permanent residency (PR)
• You can travel to 187 countries without any prior visa after obtaining Canadian citizenship
• You and your family can live anywhere in Canada (other than the province of Quebec).
• World-class learning environment
• Free health insurance