The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream can be the best option for you if you have a business idea or are in a position to buy an existing company in Ontario.
The immigration department of the most populous province in Canada, Ontario, invites qualified applicants to submit an application for a temporary work permit under the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream, which enables them to start their firm in Ontario. Successful applicants may then file for provincial nomination, which is the following stage on the road to becoming a permanent resident of Canada, if the conditions of a Performance Agreement are met.
Ontario Entrepreneur Stream requirements
People who want to apply to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream can do so either individually or together with a business partner. Candidates must fulfill the minimal standards for each of the factors listed below in order to be eligible. Both applicants, if submitting an application jointly with a business partner, must satisfy all requirements for each element.
| Factor | Criteria |
|---|---|
| Experience | A senior management or a business owner with at least 24 full-time months of business experience in the previous 60 months. |
| Net worth | $800,000 if the prospective company is situated in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). $400 000 if the planned company is situated outside of the GTA. Regardless of location, $400,000 if the prospective enterprise is in the ICT/Digital Communications industry. |
| Personal investment | If the proposed company is based in the GTA, the minimum equity ownership requirement is 33.3% plus C$600,000. $200,000 plus a minimum equity ownership of 33.3% if the proposed firm is located outside of the GTA. Regardless of location, the proposed business must have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3% and be in the ICT/Digital Communications industry. |
| Job creation | At least two full-time, permanent jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents, if the proposed business is situated in the GTA. If the planned business is in the ICT/Digital Communications industry or is located outside of the GTA: A minimum of one full-time, permanent job for Canadian citizens and permanent residents. |
| Exploratory visit | A minimum of one business-related trip to Ontario must have been made in the 12 months before the application was submitted by anyone who intends to buy an existing company. |
Read Also : Canada Express Entry Points for a Job Offer
Entrepreneur Stream Points System under OINP
A unique Ontario Entrepreneur Stream points system is used to rank and evaluate eligible candidates. The system offers up to 200 points and is divided into three main categories: company idea (up to 76 points), investment considerations (up to 46 points), and human capital elements (up to 80 points).
Both the applicant and any business partners must satisfy the relevant requirements/thresholds listed below.
Ontario Entrepreneur Human capital components
The human capital considerations component can receive up to 80 points in total
Experience in Business Management (25 points)
The candidate must select either the business owner experience or the senior managerial experience if they have both business ownership and senior management experience in 24 of the last 60 months.
| Experience level | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| Business owner | Less than 24 months | Not eligible |
| 24-47 months | 13 | |
| 48-59 months | 19 | |
| 60 months | 25 | |
| OR | ||
| Senior manager | Less than 24 months | Not eligible |
| 24-47 months | 13 | |
| 48-59 months | 19 | |
| 60 months | 25 | |
| Total points available for experience | 25 | |
Previous Particular Experience (35 points)
If the experience was acquired within the last 60 months, candidates with high growth company experience or export trade expertise may be awarded points under the specialized experience criteria.
Experience in a High Growth Business: Working for a company that saw two years of sales growth of at least 20%.
Experience in a business that exports at least 20% of its total goods or services is referred to as export trade business experience.
Direct experience and/or experience in relevant businesses during the five years prior to the date of EOI Registration are examples of transferable skills.
| Past Specific Experience | Points |
|---|---|
| None | 0 |
| Yes: one past specific experience | 15 |
| Yes: two past specific experiences | 25 |
| Yes: three past specific experiences | 35 |
| Total points available for specific experience | 35 |
Education Level (10 points) for Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
Although education level is not a requirement to be included in the candidate pool, it is nevertheless rewarded in the points system.
| Level of Education | Points |
|---|---|
| No post-secondary education | 0 |
| Post-secondary degree or diploma – two-year program | 5 |
| Post-secondary degree or diploma – three-year program or longer | 10 |
| Total points available for level of education | 10 |
Investment Elements
The investment factors section can receive up to 46 points in total.
(1 point) Personal Net Worth
Personal net worth includes all assets and those of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, if applicable, less any liabilities, including mortgages and personal debts.
| Net worth | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| If the proposed business is to be in the GTA | Less than $800,000 | Not eligible |
| $800,000 to $2,499,999 | 5 | |
| $2,500,000 or more | 10 | |
| OR | ||
| If the proposed business is to be outside the GTA OR If the proposed business will be in ICT/Digital (regardless of location) | Less than $400,000 | Not eligible |
| $400,000 to $999,999 | 10 | |
| $1,000,000 or more | 15 | |
| Total points available for net worth | 15 | |
Investment Amount (25 points)
The minimum investment amount must be derived from personal net worth.
| Investment amount | Points | |
|---|---|---|
| If the proposed business is to be in the 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 | |
| OR | ||
| If the proposed business is to be outside the GTA OR If the proposed business will be in ICT/Digital (regardless of location) | Less than $200,000 | Not eligible |
| $200,000 to $499,999 | 15 | |
| $500,000 to $799,999 | 20 | |
| $800,000 or more | 25 | |
| Total points available for investment amount | 25 | |
Visits for Business Purposes (6 points)
Only those who intend to buy an established business are required to visit Ontario on an exploratory basis. However, all applicants are eligible to receive points for this facto
| Job creation | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 job for outside GTA or ICT/Digital Communications sector 2 jobs for inside GTA | 3 |
| 3-4 jobs | 5 |
| 4 or more jobs | 7 |
| Total points available for job creation | 7 |
Business Idea for Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
The business concept section has a maximum possible score of 74 points. To qualify for the program, you must receive at least 37 out of a possible 74 points.
Model of the company (15 points)
You must explain how your planned company will make money, how it will be able to survive, and how it will be able to achieve long-term commercial success under your direction.
| Business Model | Points |
|---|---|
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 7 |
| Good | 15 |
| Total points available for business model | 15 |
Studying the market (15 points)
You must offer a successful market entry plan to demonstrate how your suggested
In Ontario, business will prosper.
| Market Research | Points |
|---|---|
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 7 |
| Good | 15 |
| Total points available for market research | 15 |
Key Sector and Significant Economic Benefit (10 points)
If you can demonstrate how your company will significantly assist Ontario’s economy, you can get points. The introduction of new technology, the creation of new goods or services, the expansion of exports, and the production of new research and development are some examples of economic benefits.
If your company falls inside a significant industry, you might also get points. Ontario’s economic priorities have been identified as the following significant sectors:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Chemical and biochemical
- Cleantech
- Financial Services
- Food and Beverage Manufacturing
- Forestry
- Industrial Automation and Robotics
- Information Technology
- Life Sciences
- Mining
- Tourism
| Significant economic benefit and key sector targeted | Points |
|---|---|
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 5 |
| Good | 10 |
| Total points available for key sector targeted | 10 |
Allocation of Investments (10 points)
A discussion of how you plan to distribute your capital investment to establish and expand the contemplated firm must be provided.
| Market Research | Points |
|---|---|
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 5 |
| Good | 10 |
| Total points available for investment allocation | 10 |
Location of the company (10 points)
On the basis of population size, business sites are divided into three general groups using Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA) data.
| Business location | Points |
|---|---|
| CMA with a population of 175,000 or more | 0 |
| CMA or CA with a population greater than 100,000 but less than 175,000 | 5 |
| Other location with a population of 100,000 or below | 10 |
| Total points available for business location | 10 |
Employment Growth (7 points)
Jobs created must be compensated at the going rate and have a bare minimum of 1,560 hours of yearly paid employment.
| Job creation | Points |
|---|---|
| 1 job for outside GTA or ICT/Digital Communications sector 2 jobs for inside GTA | 3 |
| 3-4 jobs | 5 |
| 4 or more jobs | 7 |
| Total points available for job creation | 7 |
TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 jobs are created (7 points)
Following are the benefits of job generation in skilled fields.
| Creation of TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 | Points |
|---|---|
| 0 TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs | 0 |
| 1 TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job | 5 |
| 2 or more TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs | 7 |
| Total points available for creation of TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs | 7 |
Application invitations for Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
People who want to apply to the OINP Entrepreneur Stream should be aware of the following:
- The stream uses a model of invitation to apply (ITA) and expression of interest (EOI). Being qualified to apply, therefore, does not ensure that you will receive an invitation to do so.
- Candidates with EOIs submitted are compared to one another.
- Based on their score, only the top candidates receive an ITA.
- The score is determined using the applicant’s lowest score if they intend to apply jointly with a business partner.
- There are draws about every four months.
- Candidates are removed from the pool if they are not invited within a year of submitting an EOI. They might then come back in.
- To learn more about the business plan and prior experience, invited candidates (and a business partner, if applicable) must attend a necessary in-person interview at the OINP offices.
Performance Agreement Before being nominated for permanent resident status, approved applicants (and their business partner, if relevant), are required to sign a Performance Agreement stating their obligations. To be applicable, the Performance Agreement must be particular.
Included in the Performance agreement are:
- a description of the company, mentioning its sector and location;
- the timing and quantity of investment;
- the volume and nature of employment to be produced for Canadians or permanent residents;
- mandatory business accomplishments and milestones (based on the particular business); and
- Timelines for all obligations.
The new business must establish the necessary number of full-time, permanent positions, and keep them open for at least 10 months before submitting the final report.
Applicants will not be eligible for nomination by Ontario and will not be allowed to apply for permanent residence status if they ultimately fail to meet the business obligations specified in the Performance Agreement.
In order for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to obtain a temporary work permit, Ontario will issue a Letter of Confirmation once the Performance Agreement has been signed by the applicant(s). In less than a year from the date of the Letter of Confirmation, applicants must fly into Ontario with their legitimate, IRCC-issued temporary work permit in hand.
Following their arrival in Ontario, applicants have up to 20 months to put their business plans into action and fulfill all of their Performance Agreement obligations. Then, between 18 and 20 months following arrival in Ontario, a Final Report is to be submitted to the OINP. The purpose of the Final Report is to demonstrate that all Performance Agreement goals have been met.
Changing a temporary situation into a permanent one
The applicants should be prepared to submit applications for provincial nomination and later for permanent residence once the Performance Agreement goals have been achieved. People must fulfill the following criteria in order to be nominated:
Participate actively in the day-to-day management of the company;
75% of the year (nine months) must be spent physically residing in Ontario in order to support the business during the term of the Performance Agreement;
Show linguistic proficiency at least equal to Canadian linguistic Benchmark (CLB) 4.
The federal government evaluates eligibility criteria after a nomination, including security and background investigations.
Unqualified enterprises for Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
If the planned business falls under one of the following categories, the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream will not accept applications.
- GTA firms that are ineligible
- Franchises already in operation in Ontario (but new foreign franchises expanding there are allowed)
- Petrol Stations
- recycling tires
- Metal Scrap Recycling
- Pawnbrokers
- Overnight accommodations
- Holding Businesses
- Laundromats
- Operations for Automated Car Washes
- Payday lenders and associated industries
Outside of the GTA, ineligible companies Tire Recycling
- Metal Scrap Recycling
- Pawnbrokers
- Holding Businesses
- Laundromats
- Operations for Automated Car Washes
- Payday lenders and associated industries
- Businesses that are currently or have previously been owned or controlled by Ontario Entrepreneur Stream business stream nominees
Find assistance with your application
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