ONTARIO (ON)
Ontario offers one permanent residency program for entrepreneurs, the OINP Entrepreneur Stream. To be eligible, the following requirements must be met:
- Minimum individual net worth of $800,000 if your business will be located in the greater Toronto area, and $400,000 if in other areas in Ontario.
- Minimum investment of $600,000 in the business if in the greater Toronto area, and $200,000 in other areas or if the business is in the IT sector.
- Own at least 1/3 of the business’s equity and actively manage the business.
- Create at least 2 permanent full-time Canadian jobs if in the greater Toronto area, and 1 job in other areas or if the business is in the IT sector.
- You must have over 2 years of full-time business management experience in the last 5 years.
Interested individuals may register an expression of interest to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program for candidacy and, if selected, can apply for a work permit to come to Canada to develop their business. After 20 months of arrival, provided all requirements are met, the applicant will obtain a nomination from Ontario for permanent residence. Based on this nomination, the applicant can apply for permanent residency to the IRCC.
BRITISH COLUMBIA (BC)
BC offers three categories for permanent residency programs for entrepreneurs. The table below compares the requirements for each. For all categories the individual applicant must meet language proficiency requirements in English or French (CLB 4).
| Base Category | Regional Pilot | Strategic Projects |
| Individual net worth must exceed $600,000, and must personally invest at least $200,000 to establish a new business or buy and improve an existing business anywhere in BC.
Applicant must own at least 1/3 of the business and create at least 1+ full-time Canadian job.
Must have a post-secondary degree or 3 years of experience of being a 100% owner-manager of a business within the past 5 years.
|
Individual net worth must exceed $300,000, and must personally invest at least $100,000 in a new business aligned with the needs of a designated regional community in BC.
Applicant must own at least 51% of the business and create at least 1+ full-time Canadian job.
Must have a post-secondary degree or 3 years of experience of being a 100% owner-manager of a business within the past 5 years.
Applicant must meet language proficiency requirements (CLB 4).
Applicant must engage and visit the applicable regional community and obtain their referral before applying. |
Well-established foreign corporations can support permanent residence for up to 5 senior executives, senior managers, or specialized knowledge employees who will support their expansion in BC.
The foreign corporation must invest more than $500,000 to to either start a new business or purchase and expand a business in BC.
Must create 3+ Canadian jobs for each foreign executive/manager/employee supported.
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For each category, the applicant will first apply to the BC Provincial Nominee Program and receive an invitation to apply. Upon approval, the entrepreneur/applicant will be eligible for a work permit, with which they can arrive in Canada to establish and start operating their business. Each applicant is given 20 months to implement their business plan, and if all requirements are met, the applicant gains provincial nomination with which they are eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency to the IRCC.
ALBERTA (AB)
Alberta offers four permanent residency programs for entrepreneurs. Find below a table comparing the requirements for each.
| Rural Entrepreneur Stream | Graduate Entrepreneur Stream | Farm Stream | Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream |
| Individual net worth must exceed $300,000. A minimum investment of $200,000 into a business (existing or new) in a designated rural community (population less than 100,000). The applicant must own 51% or more if a new business; 100% if buying an existing business.
New businesses must create 1+ full-time job to Canadians.
Applicant must meet minimum language requirements (CLB 4).
Candidates must obtain a Support Letter from a designated Rural Community representative.
|
Graduates of a degree-granting program from a public Alberta university on a post-graduate work permit. Must own over 34% of an existing business or a new business with a physical place in Alberta and must live in Alberta to direct it (exclusions).
Must meet language proficiency requirements (CLB 7).
No minimum investment or job-creation amounts, but higher numbers increase likelihood of selection.
|
Individual must be able to invest $500,000 or more in a primary production farming business in Alberta.
Applicant must prove they have farm management skills through education, training, work experience, business plan, or support from Canadian financial institutions backing their project. |
Post-secondary degree holders with over 6 months of full-time business management experience who start a new business, and raise a minimum investment of $100,000 (urban areas) or $50,000 (rural areas) either from oneself or from a Canadian institutional investor.
Start-up must be connected to technology, aerospace, financial services, energy, agriculture, tourism, life sciences, or pharmaceuticals areas.
Must obtain a recommendation letter from a designated agency.
Must own 34% or more of a business in an urban area or 51% or more for businesses in regional areas.
Must meet language requirements (CLB 5). |
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