Ontario Entrepreneur

The Ontario Entrepreneur Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed for individuals who are interested in starting or purchasing a business in Ontario. The program provides a pathway to permanent residency in Canada for entrepreneurs who can demonstrate their ability to invest in and manage a business in the province.

To be eligible for the Ontario Entrepreneur PNP, applicants must have a minimum net worth of CAD $800,000 and a minimum investment of CAD $600,000 in the business they plan to establish or purchase. They must also have at least 24 months in the last 60 months of business ownership or senior management experience within the past five years.

The Ontario Entrepreneur PNP has a two-stage application process. First, applicants must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Ontario government, which is scored based on several factors such as age, business experience, net worth, investment amount, and language proficiency. The highest-scoring candidates are invited to submit a full business plan and application, which is assessed by the Ontario government.

Successful applicants will receive a work permit to operate their business in Ontario, and after meeting the terms and conditions of their performance agreement, they can apply for permanent residency in Canada. The Ontario Entrepreneur PNP is a popular option for individuals who want to invest in and operate a business in Ontario while also gaining permanent residency status in Canada.

For entrepreneurs from outside Canada interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business in Ontario.

Stage 1

Register an expression of interest.
If invited, submit an online application.
You and your business partner (if applicable) attend a mandatory interview.
If your stage 1 application is successful, you must sign a performance agreement.

Stage 2

A temporary work permit support letter so that you can apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit.
Establish your business – you have 20 months from the date you arrive in Ontario to implement your business plan and submit a final report.
If your business meets all requirements, submit documentation to make sure you are eligible for nomination for permanent residence.

Candidate Requirements

Criterion	Minimum Requirement
Express Entry Profile	No
Connection to province	No
Job offer	No
Work experience	Business owner or senior manager (business management) for at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 60 months.
Education	No minimum
Language	CLB 4
Investment	Personal net worth Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $800,000 Canadian Outside of the Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $400,000 Canadian Investment Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $600,000 Canadian outside of the Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $200,000 Canadian
Residency	Must be physically living in Ontario for 75% of the time during which you are establishing your business. Must receive a temporary work permit and arrive in Ontario within 12 months of receiving approval at Stage 1 and inform the program of your arrival within seven days.
Active management	Must be actively involved in the day-to-day management activities of your business.

Candidate Requirements

1. Business experience – must have at least 24 months of full-time business experience as a business owner (owned at least one-third) or as a senior manager in the last 60 months.

2. Net worth (Spouse’s net worth not included)

Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $800,000 Canadian
outside of the Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $400,000 Canadian

3. Personal investment funds and minimum equity. (must control at least one-third of the equity in the business.)

Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $600,000 Canadian
outside of the Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $200,000 Canadian

4. Must be actively involved, on an ongoing basis, in the management of the business.

5. Capital investment purpose – to make profit (not be to derive interest, dividends or capital gains.)

Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $600,000 Canadian
outside of the Greater Toronto Area – minimum personal net worth of $200,000 Canadian

6. Job creation

Greater Toronto Area – create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
Outside of the Greater Toronto Area – create at least one permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
In the information and communications technology or digital communications sector (regardless of location) – create at least one permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

These jobs must:

be paid at the median wage level for the position.
be filled continuously for at least 10 months prior to submitting the final report.
continue to exist at the time of final report and nomination.

Additional requirements if purchasing an existing business

You 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 previous owner(s) cannot retain any shares of the business
You must use at least 10% of your personal investment towards improving or expanding the business in Ontario
You must keep all permanent, full-time jobs in the business prior to the transfer of ownership
the proposed business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees, including anyone who has received a certificate of nomination under the Entrepreneur Stream or the Opportunities Ontario Investor Component

General business requirements

Criterion	Minimum Requirement
Business purpose	To make a profit from active income through the sale of goods and/or services.
Canadian and Ontario legal requirements	Comply with all regulations
Permanent business	Must operate on a permanent basis in Ontario. Project-based and seasonal businesses are ineligible.
Business premises in Ontario	Must be in Ontario
Qualifying third-party investors	Any third-party investors must be a Schedule I or Schedule II bank or an institutional investor.
Ineligible types of business	automated car wash business holding companies laundromats pawnbrokers pay day loan and related businesses. scrap metal recycling tire recycling a business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services. businesses which have been previously owned or operated by a current or former OINP Entrepreneur Stream nominee or a nominee under the former investor component of the Opportunities Ontario program. If in Greater Ontario – existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted) gas stations bed and breakfasts