Ontario Provincial Nominee Program
If you are planning to start a business or purchase a business in Ontario, then Ontario Entrepreneur Stream could be the right immigration path for you.
Candidates who have registered for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream would be issued a work permit so that they can establish their business in Ontario. Once they have met the requirements as per the Performance Agreement, they would be nominated by Ontario, and could apply for Permanent Residence.
Candidates can submit an Expression of Interest to the OINP if they meet certain conditions, if they meet a threshold they receive an Invitation to Apply from the OINP. The invitations are issued on the basis of a points based system. Once invited, a comprehensive application process starts – if approved they execute a performance agreement and may come to Canada on work permit to establish or operate their proposed business.
What is the eligibility criteria for Ontario Entrepreneur Stream?
Candidates can apply individually or with a business partner. Both the partners must meet the eligibility criteria for the stream. The following factors will be considered:
Experience: The person should have at least 24 months of full time business experience as a business owner or a senior manager within the last 60 months.
Net worth: The person needs to have a net worth of at least $800,000 if investing within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The person needs to have a net worth of at least $400,000 if investing outside GTA.
If the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications then the person needs to have a net worth of at least $400,000, regardless of location in Ontario.
Personal Investment: The person needs to invest at least $600,000 if investing within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and have minimum equity ownership of 33.3%.
The person needs to invest at least $200,000 if investing outside GTA and have minimum equity ownership of 33.3%.
If the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications then the person needs to invest at least $200,000 and have minimum equity ownership of 33.3%, regardless of location in Ontario.
Job Opportunity: The person needs to create at least two full time job opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents if investing within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
The person needs to create at least one full time job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident if investing outside GTA or if the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications.
Exploratory visit: If the person is going to buy an existing business in Ontario then the person needs to come to Ontario at least once for a business related visit within the last 12 months before submitting an application.
How can I get points under the points based system of OINP Entrepreneur Stream?
Candidates can get a maximum of 200 points under the points based system. They can get up to 80 points for Human capital factors, up to 46 points for Investment factors and up to 76 points for Business concept.
Human Capital factors.
A person can get up to 80 points for Human Capital factors.
Business Management Experience (25 points)
A person should have at least 24 months of full time business experience as a business owner or a senior manager within the last 60 months. If the work experience is combined as a business owner and a senior manager then the person should select either one of them.
Experience level | Experience | Points |
Business owner/Senior manager | Less than 24 months | Not eligible |
24-47 months | 13 | |
48-59 months | 19 | |
60 months | 25 |
Past Specific Experience (35 points)
If the Candidate has experience working in a business that had a high growth business experience or export trade business experience within the last 60 months, then they can gain points for it.
A high growth business is a business that has increased its revenue by at least 20% in the last two years consecutively.
An export trade business is a business that exports at least 20% of its goods/services to a foreign market.
The experience obtained can be direct experience or in an industry that is related. The experience needs to be obtained within the last 5 years prior to application.
Past Specific Experience | Points |
None | 0 |
One past specific experience | 15 |
Two past specific experiences | 25 |
Three past specific experiences | 35 |
Level of Education (10 Points)
Level of education | Points |
No post secondary education | 0 |
Post secondary education – two years program. | 5 |
Post secondary education – three years program or more. | 10 |
Official language ability (10 points)
Language ability | Points |
None or minimal CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark 3 or less) | 0 |
CLB 4 | 5 |
CLB 5 or higher | 10 |
Investment factors
A person can get up to 46 points for Investment factors.
Personal Net Worth (15 points)
Personal net worth is the total assets, less liabilities of the applicant and his spouse/common law partner.
Net Worth | Points | |
If investing within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) | Less than $800,000 | Not eligible |
$800,000 to $2,499,999 | 5 | |
$2,500,000 or more | 10 | |
If investing outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or if the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications | Less than $400,000 | Not eligible |
$400,000 to $999,999 | 10 | |
$1,000,000 or more | 15 |
Investment Amount (25 points)
Investment Amount | Points | |
If investing within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) | Less than $600,000 | Not eligible |
$600,000 to $1,499,999 | 10 | |
$1,500,000 to $2,999,999 | 15 | |
$3,000,000 or more | 20 | |
If investing outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or if the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications | Less than $200,000 | Not eligible |
$200,000 to $499,999 | 15 | |
$500,000 to $799,999 | 20 | |
$800,000 or more | 25 |
Business visit to explore Ontario (6 points)
Candidates planning to buy an existing business in Ontario must make at least one business visit to Ontario.
Business Concept
A person can get up to 74 points for Business Concept.
Business Model (15 points)
The business model should be able to explain clearly how the business will generate revenue and be profitable. How the business would sustain itself and be successful under the candidate’s management.
Business Model | Points |
Unclear/unsatisfactory | 0 |
Fair | 7 |
Clear | 15 |
Market Research (15 points)
Market research should be done and a clear strategy needs to be made explaining how the business would enter the market and become successful in the future.
Market Research | Points |
Unclear/unsatisfactory | 0 |
Fair | 7 |
Clear | 15 |
Business is in a key sector or able to make significant economic benefit (10 points)
A candidate can gain points if they can show that their business would bring significant economic benefit to Ontario. Significant benefit means that the business is able to develop new products in technology, increase exports, develop new products or services, and be able to conduct research and develop new products.
It can also be a business in a key sector like Aerospace, Automotive, Chemical and biochemical, Cleantech, Financial Services, Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Forestry, Industrial Automation and Robotics, Information Technology, Life Sciences, Mining, Tourism.
Business is in a key sector or able to make significant economic benefit | Points |
Unclear/unsatisfactory | 0 |
Fair | 5 |
Clear | 10 |
Allocation of investment (10 points)
The Candidate needs to explain how they would be allocating their investment in order to grow and develop the business.
Allocation of investment | Points |
Unclear/unsatisfactory | 0 |
Fair | 5 |
Clear | 10 |
Business location (10 points)
Points are given as per the population in the proposed business area. The areas are divided into three broad categories as per population size using the data from Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA).
Business Location | Points |
With a population of 175,000 or more | 0 |
With a population greater than 100,000 but less than 175,000. | 5 |
With a population of 100,000 or below | 10 |
Creation of job opportunities (7 points)
The job opportunities created should be as per the prevailing wage rates for the job, be full time and the employee should work at least 1560 hours a year.
Job Opportunities | Points |
2 full time job opportunities within GTA. 1 full time job opportunity outside GTA or if the business is in Information and Communication Technology/Digital Communications | 3 |
3 – 4 full time job opportunities | 5 |
4 or more full time job opportunities | 7 |
Creation of job under NOC 0, A or B (7 points)
The job opportunities created should be skilled.
Creation of job under NOC 0, A or B | Points |
No jobs under NOC 0, A or B | 0 |
1 job under NOC 0, A or B | 5 |
2 jobs under NOC 0, A or B | 7 |
How can I participate in the OINP Entrepreneur Stream?
- The candidate needs to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI).
- They would then get an invitation to apply and submit their application to OINP.
- When their application is approved then they would need to sign a Performance Agreement.
- The candidate can now apply for a temporary work permit in order to establish their business in Ontario.
- After that the candidate needs to meet the requirements of the performance agreement.
- Then the candidate can apply for permanent residence within 6 months of being nominated by OINP.
Ontario is a great place to establish your business and immigrate to Canada. We at SAM Law are focussed on business immigration and can guide you through the process. Please give us a call for more details.