International entrepreneurs wishing to start or acquire a business in Canada may get permanent residency in this country under one of the provincial or territorial programs for businessmen/women.
Many provinces and territories of Canada have entrepreneur streams that are part of their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). An additional business immigration program is offered by Quebec which has its own immigration system.
The majority of entrepreneur streams require to have a significant net worth, make an investment in a new or established business that will bring economic benefits to the region, and create jobs for permanent residents or citizens of Canada.
The minimum requirements for applicants under provincial entrepreneur programs
| Net worth, thousand CAD | Investment, thousand CAD | Jobs creation* | CLB** | |
| British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration — Base Category | 600 | 200 | 1 | – |
| British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration — Regional Pilot | 300 | 100 | 1 | 4 |
| British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration — Strategic Projects | – | 500 | 3 | – |
| Manitoba Business Investor — Entrepreneur | 500 | 150 | 1 | 5 |
| New Brunswick Entrepreneurial | 600 | 250 | 2 | 5 |
| New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial | – | – | 1 | 7 |
| Northwest Territories Business | 250 | 150 | – | 4 |
| Nova Scotia Entrepreneur | 600 | 150 | – | 5 |
| Nova Scotia International Graduate Entrepreneur | – | – | – | 7 |
| Ontario Entrepreneur | 800 | 500 | 2 | 4 |
| Prince Edward Island Work Permit | 600 | – | – | 4 |
| Quebec Entrepreneur Program | 900 | 200 | – | 5 |
| Saskatchewan Entrepreneur | 500 | 200 | 2 | – |
| Yukon Business Nominee | 500 | 300 | 3 | – |
* For Canadian permanent residents or citizens
** Canadian Language Benchmark
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration — Base Category
The applicant should invest in the creation or purchase an existing business in British Columbia. Brokerage, automated, coin-operated, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$600,000
- Investment: C$200,000
- Other costs: C$3,500 for application, C$300 for registration, and C$1,000 for key staff application
- Business ownership: 33.33%
- Jobs creation: 1 job
- Experience: 3 years as a business owner-manager or 4 years as a senior manager or a combination of 1 year as a business owner-manager and 2 years as a senior manager
- Education: higher education (or experience as an active business owner-manager for at least 3 of the last 5 years with 100% ownership in the business)
- CLB: –
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration — Regional Pilot
The applicant should invest in a new business in the eligible communities participating in this program. Brokerage, automated, coin-operated, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$300,000
- Investment: C$100,000
- Other costs: C$3,500 for application and C$300 for registration
- Business ownership: 51%
- Jobs creation: 1 job
- Experience: 3 years as a business owner-manager or 4 years as a senior manager or a combination of 1 year as a business owner-manager and 2 years as a senior manager
- Education: higher education (or experience as an active business owner-manager for at least 3 of the last 5 years with 100% ownership in the business)
- CLB: 4
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration — Strategic Projects
Foreign corporations should invest in purchasing a new business or expanding the corporation’s operations in British Columbia. They can transfer up to 5 key employees who can obtain a permanent residence permit. Brokerage, automated, coin-operated, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: –
- Investment: C$500,000
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: –
- Jobs creation: 3 jobs per each key staff member
- Experience: the key staff members should have the qualifications and experience that are essential to operate the business
- Education: –
- CLB:
Manitoba Business Investor — Entrepreneur
The applicant should invest in the creation or purchase an existing business in Manitoba.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$500,000
- Investment: C$250,000 in the Manitoba Capital Region or C$150,000 in other Manitoba locations
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: –
- Jobs creation: 1 job
- Experience: 3 years in the past 5 years as an active business owner (owning at least 33.33% of the business) or as a senior manager
- Education: high school
- CLB: 5
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial
The applicant should invest in the creation or purchase an existing business in New Brunswick. Brokerage, automated, coin-operated, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: 22–55
- Net worth: C$600,000
- Investment: C$250,000
- Other costs: C$100,000 (a refundable deposit)
- Business ownership: 33.33%
- Jobs creation: 2 jobs
- Experience: 3 years in the last 5 years as a business owner (33.33% ownership) supervising at least 2 employees or of at least 3 years in the last 5 years as a senior manager
- Education: higher education (a two-year academic program)
- CLB: 5
New Brunswick Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial
The applicant should graduate from a university in New Brunswick, own and manage a business in New Brunswick, as well as score at least 65 of 100 points in the assessment table. Brokerage, automated, coin-operated, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: 22–40
- Net worth: –
- Investment: –
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: 100%
- Jobs creation: 1 job
- Experience: –
- Education: higher education (a two-year academic program in New Brunswick)
- CLB: 7
Northwest Territories Business
The applicant should demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the Northwest Territories and its economy, make one business trip, and create or purchase a business in the Northwest Territories.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$500,000(in Yellowknife) or 250,000 (in other locations of the Northwest Territories)
- Investment: C$300,000 (in Yellowknife) or C$150,000 (in other locations of the Northwest Territories)
- Other costs: C$75,000 (a refundable deposit)
- Business ownership: 33.33%
- Jobs creation: –
- Experience: sufficient to implement the business plan
- Education: sufficient to implement the business plan
- CLB: 4
Nova Scotia Entrepreneur
The applicant should complete an Expression of Interest, receive an Invitation to Apply, and invest in the creation or purchase an existing business in Nova Scotia.
Requirements:
- Age: 21 or older
- Net worth: C$600,000
- Investment: C$150,000
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: 33.33%
- Jobs creation: –
- Experience: 3 years as an active managing business owner or more than 5 years as a senior business manager
- Education: –
- CLB: 5
Nova Scotia International Graduate Entrepreneur
The applicant should graduate from a university in Nova Scotia, complete an Expression of Interest, receive an Invitation to Apply, and invest in the creation or purchase an existing business in Nova Scotia.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: –
- Investment: –
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: –
- Jobs creation: –
- Experience: 1 year of actively managing and owning the current Nova Scotia business (100% ownership minimum)
- Education: higher education (a two-year university or college program in Nova Scotia)
- CLB: 7
Ontario Entrepreneur
The applicant should make a business visit to Ontario, invest in the creation or purchase an existing business in Ontario. Recycling, automated, coin-operated, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$1.5 million (or C$800,000, if the business is located outside the Greater Toronto Area or is related to IT)
- Investment: C$1 million (or C$500,000, if the business is located outside the Greater Toronto Area or is related to IT)
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: –
- Jobs creation: 2 jobs
- Experience: 36 months in the last 60 months as a business owner or senior manager
- Education: –
- CLB: 4
Prince Edward Island Work Permit
The applicant should create or purchase a business in Prince Edward Island and attend an interview with staff from the Office of Immigration.
Requirements:
- Age: 21–59
- Net worth: C$600,000
- Investment: –
- Other costs: C$10,000 (processing fee)
- Business ownership: %
- Jobs creation: –
- Experience: management skills and past employment or business ownership experience
- Education: high school
- CLB: 4
Quebec Entrepreneur Program (Stream 1)
To immigrate to Quebec through this stream, the candidate needs to:
- Intend to live in Quebec, start a business there and manage it
- Receive and submit a service offer from a business accelerator, incubator or a university entrepreneurship centre
- Submit a business plan
A maximum of 4 people involved in the business can apply.
Quebec Entrepreneur Program (Stream 2)
The applicant should create or purchase a business in Quebec. Brokerage, payday loans, pawnshops, and some other types of businesses are not eligible.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$900,000
- Investment: C$300,000 in Montreal or C$200,000 in other locations (the startup deposit)
- Other costs: C$200,000 (the security deposit)
- Business ownership: 25% (when starting a new business) or 51% (when purchasing an existing business)
- Jobs creation: –
- Experience: –
- Education: –
- CLB: 5 in English (and B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) in French)
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur
The applicant should create or purchase a business in Saskatchewan.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$500,000
- Investment: C$300,000 (in Regina or Saskatoon) or C$200,000 (in other Saskatchewan locations)
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: 33.33%
- Jobs creation: 2 jobs
- Experience: business management or entrepreneurship experience of at least 3 years in the past 10 years
- Education: –
- CLB: –
Yukon Business Nominee
The entrepreneur can establish a new business or acquire an existing business in Yukon. The business should belong to one of the eligible sectors (agriculture, cultural industries, energy, film and video production, forestry, information technology, manufacturing, mining or mineral development, tourism products, attractions, services and facilities, value-added processing). Brokerage, real estate, retail, professional services, and some other types of businesses are not eligible. The applicant should also score at least 65 points in the assessment grid.
Requirements:
- Age: –
- Net worth: C$500,000 (and liquid assets costing at least C$300,000 in the form of cash, bonds or cash derivatives)
- Investment: C$300,000 (in the first 2 years)
- Other costs: –
- Business ownership: %
- Jobs creation: –
- Experience: 3 years of entrepreneurial or business management experience and 5 years of work experience related to the proposed business
- Education: high school
- CLB: –
Find out about other business immigration options in the article “Business Immigration”.