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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