PEI is actively seeking experienced business owners and entrepreneurs who have the expertise to contribute to the provincial economy and create employment opportunities for Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
This stream currently has the following category, under which candidates willing to come to PEI on a work permit and operating a business for at least 1 year before receiving a nomination for permanent residency.
PEI Work Permit
Program Eligibility
| Factors | |
| 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. |
| Age | – Be between the ages of 21 and 59 years at the time of application |
| Level of Education | Have completed secondary school or its equivalent education. |
| Work Experience | Managerial skills and past employment or business ownership. – Have work experience that demonstrates managerial skills and past employment or experience of business ownership. |
| Language Proficiency | – Demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at a level equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 |
| Personal Net Worth | – Have a personal net worth of at least $600,000 CAD. |
| Investment Requirement | – Min. $150,000 CAD – Fin. Statements with Min. $75,000 CAD in eligible operating expenses. – Operate business for Min. 1 Year (have Min. presence – 274 Days of a Year) – Invest at least $150,000 CAD into the business within 1 year of landing in PEI.
– Reside in the province and actively manage the business (be present in PEI for minimum of 274 days of the year – applicable to spouse school – aged children also except dependent child is attending a post-secondary educational institutional outside the PEI).
– Submit financial statements with at least $75,000 CAD in eligible operating expenses. |
| Business Performance Agreement | – Submit the business plan |
| Connection to Province | – Need not required connection to the province. |
| Intention to Reside | – Demonstrate their intention to reside on Prince Edward Island.
|
| Performance Agreement: | – Sign a performance agreement with the province, outlining the terms under which the candidate would be nominated for permanent residency. |
Application Procedure
- Eligible candidates submit a profile into PEI’s candidate pool, operating under an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Profiles are evaluated and ranked using the PEI Business Impact Category Ranking System.
- The highest-ranking candidates from the pool are periodically invited to submit a comprehensive application during specific draws.
- If selected, candidates have 90 days to prepare and submit a complete application, including a business plan. There is a $10,000 CAD application fee for PEI Business Impact Category streams.
- Successful applicants are invited for an interview with PEI’s Office of Immigration to discuss their background, work experience, education, proposed business, and settlement plan.
- Upon approval of the business plan and application, candidates must obtain a legal opinion letter from a Canadian lawyer confirming compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
- After receiving the legal opinion letter, candidates are issued a letter of support for a work permit.
- Candidates must apply for a temporary work permit from IRCC. If approved, they receive a work permit allowing them to enter and work temporarily in Canada.
- Within 30 days of arriving in Canada as a temporary foreign worker, candidates must meet with a Settlement Officer to fulfill the performance agreement and remain eligible for nomination.
- Once all performance agreement conditions are met, candidates receive a provincial nomination from PEI. Once selected for nomination for the application fees is $10,000 CAD to pay with the application.
- After obtaining a provincial nomination, applicants have six months to submit a federal application for Canadian permanent residence. This involves a paper-based application sent by mail to the appropriate application center.
- Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence typically undergo processing within an 18-month timeframe.
Business Impact Ranking System
| Factor | Max Points |
| Age | 30 |
| Language | 50 |
| Education | 20 |
| Business ownership or senior management experience | 50 |
| Community endorsement | 15 |
| Adaptability | 35 |
| Maximum Points | 200 |
| Age (Years) | Points |
| 21-24 | 10 |
| 25-29 | 30 |
| 30-44 | 30 |
| 45-49 | 20 |
| 50-54 | 10 |
| Over 54 | 0 |
| Maximum | 20 |
Language Proficiency (English or French) | Points |
| CLB/NCLC 10 | 50 |
| CLB/NCLC 9 | 50 |
| CLB/NCLC 8 | 45 |
| CLB/NCLC 7 | 40 |
| CLB/NCLC 6 | 30 |
| CLB/NCLC 5 | 20 |
| CLB/NCLC 4 (Or post-sec. in English or French) | 0 |
| Maximum | 50 |
| Level of Education | Points (20 max) |
| Master’s or PhD. Level | 20 |
| Bachelor’s Degree of at least 3 years of full-time study | 17 |
| Post-secondary diploma in a trade that requires at least 2 years of full-time study | 12 |
| Secondary School (High school) | 0 |
| Maximum | 20 |
| Business Experience | Points | |
| Business Ownership Experience | ||
| Owner (more than 50%) and manager involved in the daily operations and have direct involvement in decision-making | At least 5 out of the last 7 years | 50 |
| At least 3 out of the last 5 years | 40 | |
| Owner (20-50%) and manager involved in the daily operations and have direct involvement in decision-making | At least 5 out of the last 7 years | 35 |
| At least 3 out of the last 5 years | 25 | |
| Senior Management Experience | ||
| Senior Manager involved in daily operations as a primary decision maker and supervising a staff of at least 3 employees and own less than 20% ownership of the company | At least 5 out of the last 7 years | 30 |
| At least 3 out of the last 5 years | 20 | |
| Maximum points | 50 | |
| Community Endorsement | Points |
| Written endorsement from a rural community | 15 |
| Written endorsement from a community within capital region | 10 |
| Maximum | 15 |
| Adaptability | Points |
| Dependent’s children have been enrolled in a PEI educational institution for a minimum of 6 continuous months | 10 |
| Spouse or common-law partner successfully graduated from a post-secondary institution in PEI. | 5 |
| Spouse or common-law partner and/or their dependent children have a language proficiency of CLB 6 or higher in English or French. | 10 |
| Spouse or common-law partner has at least 3 years of work experience in the last 5 years | 5 |
| Close relative that is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in PEI for at least 12 consecutive months | 10 |
| Experience in farming, transferrable farming skills and plan to operate a farm in PEI (where income was derived for a minimum of 3 out of last 5 years or 5 out of 7 years, while owning and actively managing business operations). | 10 |
| Maximum | 35 |
Recent Draws – PEI Business Impact (PEI Work Permit)
| Date | Number of Invitations | Minimum Score |
| 10/19/2023 | 2 | 80 |
| 09/21/2023 | 4 | 80 |
| 08/17/2023 | 4 | 102 |
| 07/20/2023 | 9 | 80 |
| 06/15/2023 | 4 | 82 |
| 05/18/2023 | 3 | 65 |
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