Entrepreneur

The Ontario Entrepreneur stream is a business stream offered by the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) that targets senior business managers or experienced business owners who want to settle in Ontario.

Program Eligibility

Requirement
Express Entry Profile	–         Need not required to be registered under the Federal Express Entry program
Job Offer	–         Need not require a job offer to apply under this stream.
Level of Education	–         Need not require any specific education to apply under this stream.
Work Experience	–         Have at least 24 months of full-time business experience in the last 5 years. –         Control at least one-third of the equity in the proposed business –         Be actively participating in daily operations rather than acting as a passive investor. –         Maintain an active role with their proposed business
Language Proficiency	–        Demonstrate valid language test results that show English language ability at or above Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4. –        Not required to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) but required while officially applying to OINP.
Connection to Province	–         Need not require any specific connection to Ontario
Personal Net Worth	·         Information and Communications Technology (ICT) / Digital Communications Sector–         Min. $400,000 CAD ·         Within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) –         Have a minimum net worth of at least $800,000 CAD ·         Outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). –         Have a minimum net worth of at least $400,000 CAD
Investment Requirement	·         Within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) –         Invest a minimum personal investment of at least $600,000 CAD. –         Own at least one-third of the equity in the business ·         Outside of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). –         Invest a minimum personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD –         Own at least one-third of the equity in the business.   ·         Information and Communications Technology (ICT) / Digital Communications Sector (Regardless of location)   –         Have a net worth of at least $400,000 CAD. –         Invest a minimum personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD ·       Business Plan: Candidates must: –         Submit a business plan for the proposed business. –         Have their proposed business create at least 2 full-time, permanent employment opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. ·       Residency Requirement: Candidates must: –         Reside at least 75% of their time in Ontario to establish and operate their business. ·        Business Partner: Candidates may: –         Have one business partner but it must meet the minimum requirements. ·        Additional Requirements Purchasing an Existing Business: Candidates must: –         Make at least one business related visit to Ontario with 12 months from the date of registering an EOI. –         Have their business being purchased in continuous operation by the same owner for the last 5 years. –         Have their ownership be completely transfer to them (previous owner should not retain any share) –         Use minimum 10% of their personal investments to improve / expand the business. –         Keep all permanent, full time employees working in that business. –         Not have their business been previously owned for operated by OINP business stream nominees.
In-eligible Businesses	–         Proposed Business can’t be on the list of In-eligible businesses

 Ineligible Types of Businesses:

• automated car wash business

• holding companies

• laundromats

• pawnbrokers

• pay day loan and related businesses

• scrap metal recycling

• tire recycling

• producing / distributing / selling pornography / sexually explicit products / services / providing sexually oriented services

• previously owned / operated by / OINP Entrepreneur Stream nominee / nominee under the previous investor category of the Opportunities Ontario program

Ineligible businesses in the Greater Toronto Area:

• existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)

• gas stations

• bed and breakfasts

Application Procedure:

• Candidates who meet the minimum criteria for the Ontario Entrepreneur stream can create an ONe-key account with the OINP e-Filing Portal, establish a profile, and submit an EOI.

• After submitting the profile, candidates will be ranked and compared using the Ontario Entrepreneur Ranking system. The highest-ranking applicants will be invited to apply to the stream.

• Candidates who receive an invitation to apply have 90 days to submit all required documents, including a business plan and a verification of their personal net worth by an authorized third party.

• Each candidate must pay a $3,500 Canadian application fee for the Ontario Entrepreneur stream.

• Once the application is complete, the applicant must attend an in-person interview at the OINP offices in Ontario. The candidate is responsible for covering the costs of travel and lodging for the interview.

• If the application is accepted, the applicant will need to sign a Performance Agreement with the OINP.

• After the Performance Agreement is signed, the OINP will issue a letter of support for a work visa, allowing the applicant to enter Canada and work on setting up their business.

• The applicant may apply for a temporary work permit under a specific business immigration category, which exempts them from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement.

• The applicant has 20 months after coming to Canada to implement their business plan. Between 18 and 20 months, they must submit a final report to the OINP, which serves as a nomination request.

• If the OINP accepts the final report, the applicant will receive an official provincial nomination. They can then submit an application for Canadian permanent residency.

Ontario Entrepreneurs Ranking System

Factors	Maximum Points
Experience Factors	50
Investment Factors	100
Human Capital Factors	20
Total Points Available	170

Experience Total Duration	Max. Points
Business Owner
Less than 24 months	Not eligible
24 – 47 months	13
48 – 59 months	19
60 months	25
Senior Manager (Business Management)
Less than 24 months	Not eligible
48 – 59 months	19
60 months	25
Total Points Available	25

Past Specific Experience	Points
No	0
Yes: 1 past specific experience	15
Yes: 2 past specific experience	25
Yes: 3 past specific experience	35
Total Points Available	35

Personal Net Worth	Points
If your proposed business will be within the GTA
Less than $800,000	Not eligible
$800,000 to $2,499,999	5
$2,500,000 or more	10
If your proposed business will be outside the GTA OR If your proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of location)
Less than $400,000	Not eligible
$400,000 to $999,999	10
$1,000,000 or more	15
Total Points Available	15

Investment Amount	Points
If your proposed business will be within 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
If your proposed business will be outside the GTA OR if your proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (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	25

Job Creation	Points
1 for outside GTA or ICT/Digital Communications sector 2 for inside GTA	3
3-4 jobs	5
5 or more jobs	7
Total Points Available	7

Business-Related Visits to Ontario	Points
No	0
Yes	6
Total Points Available	6

Significant Economic Benefit and Key Sector	Points
Unsatisfactory/Unclear	0
Fair	5
Good	10
Total Points Available	10

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	10

Creation of N0C 0, A or B Jobs	Points
0 NOC 0, A or B job(s)	0
1 NOC 0, A or B job(s) 5	5
2 or more NOC 0, A or B job(s) 7	7
Total Points Available	7

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	10

Official Language Ability	Points
None or minimal (CLB 3 or below)	0
Basic understanding (CLB 4)	5
Intermediate and advanced (CLB 5 or higher)	10
Total Points Available	10

Recent Draws – Ontario Entrepreneur

Date	Number of Invitations	Minimum Score/Targeted Score Range
July 28, 2023	11	134 to 151
May 12, 2023	14	135-178
March 31, 2023	13	139-159
January 27, 2023	10	137-162
15 July 2022	33	146-174
4 March 2022	21	152-169
28 October 2021	20	147-174
26 August 2021	20	142-200
7 July 2021	21	146
15 December 2020	19	140

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