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OINP - Ontario PNP - Entrepreneur Stream

The only PNP stream of Ontario targeted at entrepreneurs with enough funds to invest in the province

Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) > OINP - Entrepreneur Stream

The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Ontario's Provincial Nominee Program (OINP), the Entrepreneur stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.

1. Overview of the Ontario PNP stream

2. Eligibility requirements

3. Application process summary

4. Required supporting documents

5. Application fees

6. Processing times

7. Draw history

8. Do I have to stay in the province?

Overview of the Entrepreneur stream

Photo of an entrepreneur working in Toronto, Ontario

The Entrepreneur stream is the only PNP stream in Ontario that is dedicated to international entrepreneurs residing outside Canada who wish to invest their money in Ontario.

When receiving a nomination under the Entrepreneur stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada.

This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.

The Entrepreneur stream has minimum eligibility requirements, however, Ontario does not send Notifications of Interest (invitations to apply) to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 200) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, Ontario conducts periodic Entrepreneur draws, and each draw has its minimum threshold score, and all candidates with scores above or equal to that draw's threshold are invited to apply. More information is available in the Draw History section of this guide.

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the Entrepreneur stream, the proposed business investment must satisfy to the following general eligibility requirements:

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.
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.
The proposed business must be considered a permanent business in Ontario. Project-based/seasonal businesses are not eligible.
The proposed business must at all times have a place of business in Ontario.
Third party investors must be a Schedule I or Schedule II bank or an institutional investor.

In addition to the general requirements above, other requirements apply to applicants who have purchased or will purchase an existing business:

An existing business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner or group of owners for the last 5 years before you buy the business.
The purchase must completely (100 per cent) transfer ownership from the previous owner(s) to you, your business partner(s) (if applicable) and/or your third-party investor(s) (if applicable). This means that the previous owner(s) cannot retain any shares of the business.
The proposed business must not have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees. This includes anyone who has received a certificate of nomination under the Entrepreneur Stream or the Opportunities Ontario Investor Component.

Some types of businesses are not eligible for the Entrepreneur stream:

The following are not eligible businesses outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA):
- Tire Recycling
- Scrap Metal Recycling
- Pawnbrokers
- Holding Companies
- Laundromats
- Automated Car Wash Operations
- Pay Day Loan and related businesses
- Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
In addition to the list above, the following are also not eligible inside the GTA:
- Existing Franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)
- Gas Stations
- Bed and Breakfasts

Business Partner
You may partner with a foreign national businessperson, a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident businessperson. Under the Entrepreneur Stream, only one foreign national business partner is permitted. Your foreign national business partner must also meet all the minimum requirements, as they also need to separately submit an Expression of Interest, apply to the stream and pay the fees.

Minimum eligibility requirements and the 200-Point Grid
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive a Notification of Interest from the OINP. Each draw has a minimum threshold score, and you need to have a score above or equal to the threshold to receive an invitation to apply.

There are 3 categories under which you can score points and each category has point factors that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.

Category	Maximum points
Total Human capital (A)	80
Business experience	25
Past specific experience	35
Level of education	10
Language ability	10
Total Investment factors (B)	46
Net worth	15
Investment amount	25
Business related visits	6
Total Business concept (C)	74
Business model	50
Business location	10
Job creation	14
Total (A) + (B) + (C)	200

A. Human Capital category

A. 1. Business Experience
The number of points is based either on your (i) Business Ownership Experience OR (ii) Senior Management Experience in the last 5 years.

There is a minimum 2-year business experience requirement to be eligible for the Entrepreneur Stream. This requirement also applies to your business partner, if you have one. You cannot cumulate both business experience (i) and (ii) to reach the minimum 2-year eligibility requirement.

(i) Business Ownership Experience: You must have owned at least 1/3 of the business. You must demonstrate that your role was an active role, meaning that you were personally involved in the day-to-day operations of the business and had direct involvement in decision-making.
(ii) Senior Management Experience: Your role must have included senior decision-making responsibilities in areas such as Operations, Sales, Finance, Marketing, Distribution, Human Resources, Research and Development, etc. and you must have managed the day-to-day operations of the business in whole or in part.

A.1. Business Experience	Points
Less than 2 years	Not eligible
2 to 4 years	13
4 to 5 years	19
More than 5 years	25

A.2. Past Specific Experience
You may claim additional points based on your past specific experience within the last 5 years (this factor is not mandatory to be eligible). The maximum number of points for this factor is 35 points.

There are three types of past specific experiences:
(i) High Growth Business Experience: Experience in a business that experienced a minimum of a 20% increase in revenue in the last two consecutive years.
(ii) Export-Trade Business Experience: Experience in a business exporting at least 20% of total goods/services to a foreign market within the last two years.
(iii) Transferable Skills: Direct experience (in the same industry and sector corresponding to the first three digits of the proposed NAICS
code) and/or experience in related industries (similar industry operating in a related business line as the proposed business based on the proposed NAICS code) within the last 5 years.

A.2. Past Specific Experience	Points
0 Past Specific Experience	0
1 Past Specific Experience	15
2 Past Specific Experiences	25
3 Past Specific Experiences	35

A.3. Level of Education
You may claim additional points based on your highest level of education completed (this factor is not mandatory to be eligible). The maximum number of points for this factor is 10 points.

If your credential is not Canadian, you need to have it assessed by an authorized ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) service provider.

A.3. Level of Education	Points
No post-secondary credential	0
Post-secondary credential of 2 years	5
Post-secondary credential of 3 years or more	10

A.4. Language Ability
You may claim additional points based on your language ability in French or English. The maximum number of points for this factor is 10 points.

This factor is not mandatory when you apply, however, you and your business partner (if applicable) need to score at least a CLB4 in each of the 4 language competencies (reading, listening, writing, and speaking) at the time of nomination (more information in the Application Process section).

You can learn more about CLB (Canadian Language Benchmarks) and approved testing providers here.

A.4. Language Ability	Points
CLB3 or less	0
CLB4	5
CLB5 or more	10

B. Investment Factors

B.1. Net Worth
You may claim points based on your total net worth. The maximum number of points for this factor is 15 points.

There is a minimum net worth to be eligible to the Entrepreneur stream. You, and your business partner (if applicable), each need to have a total net worth above the minimum required (see table below for the numbers). The minimum required depends on whether the proposed business investment will be inside or outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (inside or outside the GTA).

Your personal net worth must be lawfully obtained and verifiable (e.g. proof of title to any real estate holdings and business ownership). Your personal net worth includes all of your assets and those of your spouse or common-law partner, minus any liabilities including mortgages and personal debts.

If invited, you, and your business partner (if applicable), will be required to provide evidence of your stated net worth as well as the legal accumulation of funds using a qualified vendor (at your own expenses).

B.1. Net Worth	Amount	Points
Investment inside the GTA	Less than 800,000 CAD	Not eligible
		800,000 to 2,499,999 CAD	5
		More than 2,500,000 CAD	10
Investment outside the GTA OR in the ICT/Digital Communications sector	Less than 400,000 CAD	Not eligible
		400,000 to 999,999 CAD	10
		More than 1,000,000 CAD	15

B.2. Investment Amount
You may claim points based on the total personal investment amount that will be made into your proposed business. The minimum eligible personal investment must be derived from your personal net worth. The maximum number of points for this factor is 25 points.

There is a minimum investment amount to be eligible to the Entrepreneur stream. You, and your business partner (if applicable), each need to invest an amount above the minimum required (see table below for the numbers). The minimum required depends on whether the proposed business investment will be inside or outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) or in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (inside or outside the GTA).

You must control at least 1/3 of the equity in the business. If you have a business partner, they are also required to control at least 1/3 of the equity in the business.

In order to be considered an eligible investment, the expenditure must be essential to the establishment and operation of a new business or to purchase, improve and operate an existing business.

Examples of eligible investment expenditures include:

Purchase of existing business assets (including inventory) or equity,
New equipment purchases,
Start-up or new inventory related to an improvement/expansion plan,
Leasehold improvements, and
New marketing costs.

Cash, cash equivalents, working capital, or wage payments made to yourself or to your family members are not considered eligible investments.

In addition, if you are purchasing an existing business:

You must allocate at least 10% of your investment towards the improvement/expansion of the business.
Improvement/expansion does not include regular operating expenses such as recurring inventory, wages, rent, utilities, or maintaining the same levels of marketing or advertising expenses, legal or professional fees, business licenses, etc.

If you already made an investment in Ontario in the last year, the OINP may consider it as part of your application to the Entrepreneur stream. However, there is no guarantee that your application will be approved.

B.2. Investment Amount	Amount	Points
Investment inside the GTA	Less than 600,000 CAD	Not eligible
		600,000 to 1,499,999 CAD	10
		1,500,000 to 2,999,999 CAD	15
		More than 3,000,000 CAD	20
Investment outside the GTA OR in the ICT/Digital Communications sector	Less than 200,000 CAD	Not eligible
		200,000 to 599,999 CAD	15
		500,000 to 799,999 CAD	20
		More than 800,000 CAD	25

B.3. Business Related Visits
You may claim points based on any business-related visits to Ontario within the last year. The maximum number of points for this factor is 6 points.

This factor is not an eligibility requirement to be eligible to the Entrepreneur stream, except if you have purchased or are purchasing an existing business. You must have made a business-related visit to be considered.

B.3. Business-related visit to Ontario	Points
No	0
Yes	6

C. Business Concept category
You need to score at least 37 points out of the maximum 74 points of this category to be eligible to receive an invitation to apply.

C.1. Business plan
There are four sub-factors in which you can claim points : (i) description of proposed business, (ii) market research, (iii) key sector and economic benefit, and (iv) investment allocation.

C.1.(i). Description of Proposed Business
You must describe how your proposed business will generate revenue and profit, and how the business will be viable and have the potential for sustained commercial success under your management. You can claim up to 15 points.

C.1.(i). Description of Porposed Business	Points
Unsatisfactory/Unclear	0
Fair	7
Good	15

An unsatisfactory/unclear business model will be determined if any of the following are identified:

Business model does not clearly identify and/or describe the business operation,
Business model does not clearly identify the products and/or services being offered, or
Business model does not provide details of applicant’s role.
If purchasing an existing business: a description of the existing business and proposed expansion is not provided or is vague and unclear.

A fair business model will be determined if all of the following are met:

Business model is clearly identified and describes the business operation from start to finish,
Business model clearly identifies the products and/or services being offered, and
Business model clearly identifies the applicant’s role.
If purchasing an existing business: A description of the existing business and proposed expansion is clear.

A good business model will be determined if all of the following are met:

Applicant’s proposed duties with the business are consistent with applicant’s experience,
Business model identifies a clear strategy to become viable in Ontario, and
Proposed scale of business is consistent with industry/regional norms.
If purchasing an existing business: A description of the existing business and proposed expansion is clear.

C.1.(ii). Market Research
You must provide an effective market entry strategy to show how your proposed business will be successful in Ontario. If you are planning to purchase an existing business, you must be able to demonstrate how the business will grow and expand under your management. You can claim up to 15 points.

C.1.(ii). Market Research	Points
Unsatisfactory/Unclear	0
Fair	7
Good	15

An unsatisfactory/unclear market research analysis will be determined if any of the following are identified:

Applicant has not conducted any research activities,
Does not provide a description of how market factors impacting the proposed business would be addressed, or
Does not provide an understanding of the target market and does not clearly support ideas with research sources.

A fair market research analysis will be determined if all of the following are met:

Marginal research activities conducted, but may not be linked to the proposed business or are unclear,
Marginal explanation of target market provided, with minimal support for ideas from credible research sources, and
Marginal description of critical market factors and how they will be addressed.

A good market research analysis will be determined if all of the following are met:

Provides a clear and reasonable explanation of research activities and can link market research to the proposed business,
Demonstrates clear understanding of target market and can support ideas with credible research sources, and
Provides a clear summary of critical market factors and how they will be addressed.

C.1.(iii). Significant Economic Benefit and Key Sector
Explain how your business will generate significant economic benefit to Ontario and whether your business is in a targeted key sector determined by the Ontario government. You can claim up to 10 points.

C.1.(iii). Significant Economic Benefit and Key Sector	Points
Unsatisfactory/Unclear	0
Fair	5
Good	10

An unsatisfactory/unclear significant economic benefit and key sector analysis will be determined if the following is identified:

Business concept does not identify or substantiate any key sectors or any significant economic benefits.

A fair significant economic benefit and key sector analysis will be determined if the following is met:

At least 1 key sector or at least 1 economic benefit is substantiated.

A good economic benefit and key sector analysis will be determined if the following is met:

At least 1 key sector and at least 1 economic benefit are substantiated.

Examples of significant economic benefit include:

Adopting new technology: the new technology must not already be in regular use in similar businesses.
Developing new products and services.
Transferring or establishing intellectual property or proprietary technology/business process in Ontario.
Developing innovative approaches to traditional businesses: innovative approaches are considered high-value and not already in regular use by similar businesses.
Increasing exports: primary businesses that will/may increase exports. This does not include businesses that facilitate exports/trade such as trading companies or agencies.
Increasing research and development, and technology commercialization.
Providing products or services to an under-served local or regional market.
Transferring technology and specialized knowledge: facilitates and/or supports the high technology industry, and/or provides opportunities to develop technology products/services.

The following key sectors have been defined as economic priorities for Ontario:

Aerospace
Automotive
Chemical and biochemical
Cleantech
Financial Services
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Forestry
Industrial Automation and Robotics
Information Technology
Life Sciences
Mining
Tourism

C.1.(iv). Investment Allocation
Provide a breakdown of how you intend to allocate your capital investment to grow and expand the proposed business. You can claim up to 10 points.

C.1.(iv). Investment Allocation	Points
Unsatisfactory/Unclear	0
Fair	5
Good	10

An unsatisfactory/unclear investment allocation analysis will be determined if any of the following are identified:

No breakdown provided,
Little to no information on how to grow the business, or
Ineligible expenses listed in breakdown.

A fair investment allocation analysis will be determined if all of the following are met:

Limited breakdown provided, lacking clarity, and
Limited information on plan to grow/expand the proposed business.

A good investment allocation analysis will be determined if all of the following are met:

Full investment breakdown provided; and
Thorough explanation of plan to grow/expand the proposed business.

C.2. Business Location
You may claim points based on your proposed business location. You can claim up to 10 points.

The OINP uses Statistics Canada’s Census Metropolitan Area (CMA) and Census Agglomeration (CA) data to divide business locations into three categories based on population size:

C.2.Business Location	Points
CMA with population at 175,000 or above	0
CMA or CA with population above 100,000 and below 175,000	5
Location with population at 100,000 or below	10

C.3. Job Creation
There are two sub-factors in which you can claim points : (i) local job creation/retention, and (ii) high value jobs.

C.3.(i). Local Job Creation/Retention
You may claim points based on the total number of permanent full-time jobs you will create for Canadian citizens or permanent residents within the first 20 months of establishing your business. These jobs must also be paid at the median wage level. You can claim up to 7 points.

There is a minimum requirement for this factor to be eligible for the Entrepreneur Stream:

If your proposed business will be located within the GTA (Greater Toronto Area), you have to create 2 permanent full-time jobs, or
If your proposed business will be located outside the GTA or in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (inside or outside the GTA), you have to create 1 permanent full-time jobs.

If you have a business partner, they must also create 1 or 2 jobs (depending on same criteria above) for you to be eligible, so a total of 2 or 4 jobs for your proposed business.

If purchasing an existing business, you must maintain at a minimum the current wage levels and employment terms of existing staff in addition to creating the minimum 1 or 2 new jobs.

C.3.(i). Local Job Creation/Retention	Points
No jobs if outside GTA or in the ICT/Digital Communications sector Less than 2 jobs if within GTA	Not eligible
1 job if outside GTA or in the ICT/Digital Communications sector 2 jobs if within GTA	3
3 or 4 jobs	5
5 or more jobs	7

C.3.(ii). High Value Jobs
You may also claim additional points based on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Type/Level 0, A or B jobs your proposed business will create for Canadian citizens or permanent residents. There is no minimum requirement under this sub-factor to be eligible to the stream.You can claim up to 7 points.

C.3.(ii). High Value Jobs	Points
0 NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B job	0
1 NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B job	5
2 or more NOC Skill Type/Level 0, A or B job	7

Application Process Summary

For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the Entrepreneur stream. Obtaining the provincial nomination is a two-step process:

Step 1:

A candidate (and their business partner if applicable) must register an Expression of Interest (EOI). This allows them to be included in the pool of candidates and be assigned a score out of 200 based on their specific factors.
If selected by OINP (see Draw History section for more information), the candidate must apply online within 90 days, meaning filling in forms, uploading supporting documentation, and paying required fees.
During the processing of the application, the candidate (and their business partner, if applicable) will need to attend a video conference interview in OINP's offices in Toronto. This interview's goal is to better understand the candidate's business plan and past managing experience.
If the processing of the candidate's application is successful, they must sign a Performance Agreement whereby they commit to achieving their intended investment. The agreement usually contains (but is not limited to) (i) investment amounts and timelines for commitments, (ii) number and types of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, (iii) mandatory business milestones and achievements, etc.

Step 2:

The OINP will issue the candidate a support letter to apply for a Temporary Work Permit to the federal government (IRCC).
The candidate has 20 months to establish the business and submit their final report. They are also required to provide progress reports every 6 months.
If the candidate satisfies to all the requirements, they will be issued a provincial nomination. The following are the main requirements:
- Meet the commitments in the Performance Agreement,
- Reside in Ontario at least 75% of the time taken to establish the business (Performance Agreement period),
- Score at least CLB4 in English or French in an IRCC-approved test, and
- Be actively involved in the day-to-day management activities of the established business.
Apply for permanent residence to IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination. The candidate needs to apply on paper to IRCC, and include the Nomination Approval Letter and the Certificate of Nomination received from OINP.

Required Supporting Documents

After being selected by the OINP, you will have 90 calendar days to submit a full application, including supporting documentation.

All required documents must be uploaded online, and you will need to create a profile on the OINP e-Filing Portal to do so. Specific requirements for documents are explained in detail here.

Application Fees

The fee for this stream is quite expensive, the most expensive in all other Provincial Nominee Programs. It is set at 3,500 CAD (if you have a business partner, they also have to pay the 3,500 CAD). It can only be paid by a credit or debit card (Visa or MasterCard).

Application fees can only be refunded if the processing of the application has not started, either (i) if the applicant withdraws his/her application before processing starts, or (ii) if the application is refused as being incomplete by the OINP.

Processing Times

The processing time for the Expression of Interest (EOI) assessment is less than 30 days as of July 8, 2021.
The processing times for an Entrepreneur stream application can vary widely depending on the complexity of the application. This is why no approximate processing time for this stream is published by OINP.

Draw History

You can check out our awesome Live PNP Monitor to see the latest news and draw history on the Entrepreneur stream, as well as for all the other PNP streams.

Do I have to stay in the Province?

This is a tricky question and there are multiple situations that can happen. You can learn more about this subject on our dedicated article: Can I move to another province?

What's next?