Ontario issued 26 invitations to apply (ITAs) under the Entrepreneur Stream

Ontario invited 26 entrepreneurs in new immigration draw under entrepreneur stream. Candidates with scores of at least 132 were invited in draw conducted on April 22, 2020. Candidates with Expressions of Interest (EOI) received by the OINP between 22 November 2019 and 17 April 2020 were eligible. This is the fourth draw since the minimum eligibility requirements for the program underwent significant change.

The required net worth for the proposed business within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) was lowered from $1.5 million CAD to $800,000 CAD and outside the GTA from $800,000 CAD to $400,000 CAD. The minimum investment for the proposed business in the GTA was lowered from $1 million CAD to $600,000 CAD and outside the GTA from $500,000 CAD to $200,000 CAD. The required business experience of a candidate as an Owner or a Senior Manager had also changed. It is now required that a candidate has 24 months of experience within the last 60 months. Previously, a candidate was required to have 36 months of experience within the same time frame.

Entrepreneur Stream 

The Entrepreneur Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This stream is for entrepreneurs from outside of Canada interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business in Ontario. It gives an entrepreneur (and up to one foreign national business partner) the opportunity to be nominated for permanent residence once their business has been established in Ontario.

The Entrepreneur Stream application is a two-stage process: 

Stage 1

  1. Registration: Register an expression of interest with OINP by email
  2. Application Submission: If invited, submit an online application
  3. Personal Interview: Entrepreneur and the business partner (if applicable) attend a mandatory in-person interview at the OINP office in Toronto. The purpose of the interview is to get a better understanding of the business plan and past experience.
  4. Performance Agreement: If stage 1 of the application (including the interview) is successful, the entrepreneur is asked to sign a performance agreement with the Government of Ontario. The performance agreement will outline the commitments that must be met in order to be nominated for permanent residence. The document will include, but may not be limited to:
    • a description of the business
    • investment amounts and timelines
    • number and types of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
    • mandatory business milestones and achievements
    • time frames for commitments

Stage 2

  1. Work Permit: After signing performance agreement, the OINP office issues a temporary work permit support letter (WPSL) so that applicant and business partner (if applicable) can apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit
  2. Business Establishment: The entrepreneur has 20 months from the arrival date in Ontario to implement the business plan and meet all commitments under the performance agreement. OINP officers monitor the business to make sure the applicant stay on track to meeting the obligations under performance agreement. The applicant is also required to provide quarterly reports and a final report to OINP.
  3. Provincial Nomination: Based on final report, the OINP office confirm that the new business has met the commitments outlined in the performance agreement. Post confirmation, OINP office will ask for supporting documents to ensure that applicant and business partner (if applicable) meet the nomination requirements
    • Language: The applicant must be able to listen, read, write and speak English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4.
    • Residency: The applicant must be physically living in Ontario for 75 per cent of the time during which they are establishing their business.
    • Active Management: The applicant must be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.
  4. Permanent Residency: The applicant can submit permanent residency (PR) application with IRCC within six months of nomination. The OINP performs post-nomination monitoring for a period of 36 months following the issuance of permanent resident status.

Program Requirements

To qualify under the Entrepreneur Stream, the applicant must have a viable business that is likely to provide material economic benefit to the economy of Ontario as a whole or to the local Ontario economy where the business will be located. The applicant and one business partner (if applicable) must both meet the eligibility requirements.

Business experience

The applicant must have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months. The experience must be as a business owner or as a senior manager (business management). As a business owner the applicant must have had an active role in the business and owned at least one-third of the business. As a senior manager the applicant must have had senior decision-making responsibilities in the business.

Net Worth

  • $800,000 CAD  – if the proposed business will be located within the GTA
  • $400,000 CAD  – if the proposed business will be located outside the GTA
  • $400,000 CAD – if the proposed business will be in the Information and Communications Technology (ICT)/Digital Communications sector (regardless of the proposed business location)

Personal investment funds and minimum equity

  • Within the Greater Toronto Area – The applicant must make a minimum personal investment of $600,000 CAD and control at least one-third of the equity in the business
  • Outside of the Greater Toronto Area – The applicant must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000 CAD and control at least one-third of the equity in the business
  • If the proposed business is in the information and communications technology/digital communications sector then regardless of location, the applicant must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000 CAD and control at least of one-third of the equity in the business.

Active involvement

The entrepreneur must be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.

Capital investment purpose

The primary purpose of investing capital in the business must be to make a profit. It must not be to derive interest, dividends or capital gains.

Job creation

If the business will be located inside the Greater Toronto Area, the applicant must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. If the business will be located outside the Greater Toronto Area or in the information and communications technology or digital communications sector, regardless of location, the applicant must create at least one permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Jobs must be created within the first 20 months of establishing or acquiring the business, must be filled continuously for at least 10 months and must be paid at the median wage level for the position.

Additional requirements for purchasing an existing business

  • the entrepreneur must make at least one business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months from the date of registering an Expression of Interest
  • the business being purchased must have been in continuous operation by the same owner(s) for the previous 60 months
  • ownership of the business must be completely transferred to the applicant or any business partner
  • the applicant must use at least 10% of the personal investment towards improving or expanding the business in Ontario
  • the applicant must keep all permanent full-time employees that worked in the business prior to the transfer of ownership

General business requirements

In addition to meeting the minimum requirements, the proposed business must also meet the general requirements to participate in the Entrepreneur Stream:

Business purpose

The purpose of the proposed business must be to make a profit from active (earned) income not passive (unearned) income through the sale of goods and/or services.

Canadian and Ontario legal requirements

The proposed business must comply with any applicable federal, provincial or municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation. This includes Ontario labour laws, including but not limited to employment standards, health and safety and labour relations legislation.

Permanent business

The proposed business must be considered a permanent business in Ontario. Project-based/seasonal businesses are considered ineligible.

Business in Ontario

The proposed business must at all times have a place of business in Ontario.

Ineligible types of businesses 

The entrepreneur need to ensure that the proposed business is not one of the ineligible types listed below.

automated car wash business  ǀ holding companies  ǀ laundromats  ǀ pawnbrokers  ǀ pay day loan and related businesses  ǀ scrap metal recycling  ǀ tire recycling  ǀ a business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services  ǀ businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees

If the proposed business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), the following types are also ineligible.

existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)  ǀ gas stations  ǀ bed and breakfasts

Expression of interest

An expression of interest (EOI) is the first step and, its not an application. There is no fee to register an EOI. The EOI is comprised of two components, for a maximum EOI score of 200 points:

  1. Self-Declared Score (126 points)
  2. Business Concept Score (74 points)

OINP will assess and score the Business Concept.  The business concept will need to score at least 37 of the available 74 points (50%) to be placed in the EOI selection pool. Whether the entrepreneur candidate will be issued an invitation to apply is based on the EOI rank in the selection pool. Only the top ranked candidates are invited to apply.

Expression of interest (EOI) registration 

  1. contact the OINP by email (business.immigration@ontario.ca) to express the interest in participating in the Entrepreneur stream and to request a copy of the EOI registration form
  2. once received, complete the EOI registration form
  3. submit the completed form by email to business.immigration@ontario.ca

The OINP will then assess and score the business concept. If the entrepreneur candidate do not meet the minimum stream criteria, the business concept will not be reviewed.

If the business concept is accepted, the EOI will be placed in a pool and will be ranked against other entrepreneur candidates. If entrepreneur candidate is invited to apply, he/she will receive an email with instructions on how to submit an online application through the OINP e-Filing Portal. The candidate has 90 calendar days to submit the online application from the date of invitation to apply.

Contact us for consultation and assessment.

COVID-19 affecting Canadian Labour Market can be positive for Canadian Experience Class Candidates

According to Statistics Canada there has been a dramatic decline in economic activity and employment rate in the country due to COVID-19 outbreak with more than one million jobs lost.

However, Canada’s Immigration policies have strengthened the country’s economic standing over the years as 75% of Canada’s population growth comes from immigration, mostly in economic category and about 6 in 10 immigrants bring positive economic impact. Economy can be grown by growth in labour force and second using the labour force productively.

Canada will accept applications for permanent residency and will continue to welcome candidates to submit their Express Entry profiles. Express Entry draws will be held and invitations to apply for permanent residence will be sent despite coronavirus outbreak.

April 09, 2020, IRCC issued a total of 3,294 invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence with 464 lowest CRS score. This was fourth consecutive program specific draw which is rare exceptions to the rules of Express Entry rounds of invitations.

 

The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. Having obtained work experience in Canada, these individuals have already settled into Canadian society and established important networks in their communities and their careers.

Minimum Requirements

To qualify under this program, the applicant must:

  • Have at least one year of skilled full-time or equivalent work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply.
  • Get a minimum language level of CLB 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs and, CLB 5 for NOC B jobs.

Important Points

  • Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as a co-op work term) doesn’t count under this program.
  • There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class. However, applicant will be awarded points in their Express Entry pool, if they have earned a Canadian educational or have Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for a foreign education.
  • Applicants can remain in Canada throughout the application process. However, the Canadian Experience Class is also open to individuals who are no longer in Canada, provided that they submit their application within three years of leaving their job in Canada.
  • The requirements of Canadian Experience Class are based on a pass or fail model. If the minimum requirements are met, the applicant is eligible to enter the Express Entry pool.
  • The applicant is not required to have at least 67 points based on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) immigration selection factors.
  • The applicants must plan to reside outside the province of Quebec. The province of Quebec selects its own skilled workers through a unique immigration system.

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Manitoba invited 181 candidates in latest expression of interest draw

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) sent out a total of 181 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) to candidates from the following streams:

  • Skilled Workers in Manitoba: The MPNP for Skilled Workers is locally driven and based on the needs of Manitoba employers. Province select internationally trained and experienced workers who have the skills needed in the local labour market, and nominate them to receive Canadian permanent resident visas to settle and work in Manitoba. The MPNP for Skilled Workers in Manitoba nominates applicants who have a strong connection to the province through ongoing employment and sufficient skills, education and training, work experience and official language proficiency to make an immediate and ongoing contribution to the Manitoba economy and the community at large. Candidates invited through the Skilled Worker in Manitoba Category must be working in Manitoba and have a full-time, permanent job offer from their employer, among other criteria.
  • Skilled Workers Overseas: The MPNP for Skilled Workers is locally driven and based on the needs of Manitoba employers. The province select internationally trained and experienced workers who have the skills needed in the local labour market, and nominate them to receive Canadian permanent resident visas to settle and work in Manitoba. The MPNP for Skilled Workers Overseas nominates applicants who demonstrate an established connection to Manitoba through:
    • the support of family members or friends;
    • through previous education or work experience in the province; or
    • through an Invitation to Apply received directly from the MPNP as part of a Strategic Recruitment Initiative.
  • International Education Stream: The International Education Stream (IES) for Manitoba graduates is dedicated to providing international students graduating in Manitoba and meeting the needs of industry faster pathways to nomination.

Candidates under skilled worker in Manitoba and skilled worker Overseas categories, need to register an Expression of Interest (EOI) with MPNP. An Expression of Interest (EOI) is an online profile that is ranked out of a score of 1,000. Points are awarded for a candidate’s education, work experience, connections to Manitoba and proficiency in English or French, among other factors.

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Changes to the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category

B.C. has made changes to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category. These changes are effective from January 29, 2020.

New language requirement: The PNP has introduced a minimum language requirement for Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) – Base Category candidates. This change supports the successful business establishment of immigrant entrepreneurs and helps their integration into B.C. communities, as well as meeting our agreement with the federal government. Entrepreneur candidates are now required to submit proof of language proficiency by nomination to demonstrate that their language ability meets a Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4. Research shows that proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages has a significant impact on the economic and social integration of immigrants into their new country. The timing of language requirement by nomination allows strong entrepreneur candidates an opportunity to improve their language ability once they arrive in B.C. to establish their business.

Elimination of Key Staff option: Applications to the EI – Base Category will no longer be able to include key staff. This option of the EI stream has continued to diminish since 2015. This change will allow the principal applicant to be more involved in the day-to-day operations of the business, increasing the interaction with suppliers and customers, which will help in improving language proficiency. Key staff will continue to be eligible under the Strategic Projects category. These changes are in effect for new applications and do not impact those who have already registered/applied to the BC PNP EI – Base category.

The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who want to actively manage a business in B.C. It is a points-based invitation system. Applicants must have the required personal and investment funds. The Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot is for entrepreneurs who want to start a new business in participating regional communities across B.C.

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BC PNP invited Skills Immigration and Express Entry candidates

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) issued 284 invitations to apply (ITA) for a provincial nomination to skills immigration and express entry candidates on January 28, 2020. A provincial nomination issued under the BC-PNP Express Entry BC category results in an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. The additional points will move Express Entry candidates to the front line for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent federal draw. Candidates nominated under BC-PNP Skills Immigration Stream can apply for Canadian permanent residency through paper-based application.

Candidates interested in applying for immigration to Canada through BC-PNP must first create an online profile using the BC-PNP’s online registration system (skills immigration registration system) and submit a completed form. Candidate profiles are assessed and assigned a score based on various factors (e.g. education, work experience, offered wage, regional district of employment, English proficiency etc.)

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

British Columbia (BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia is leading the country in economic growth and continues to rely on economic immigration to meet labour market demand. The BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the province’s only direct economic immigration program for bringing in new British Columbians. It provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly-skilled, in-demand workers and experienced entrepreneurs, so they can settle in BC and raise a family. The BC Provincial Nominee Program offers three ways to become a permanent resident in BC. Each pathway has different categories and eligibility criteria. These criteria are based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, income, work experience, skills or international student status

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