THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (BC PNP) 

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The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Stream requires an applicant to have a minimum net worth of CA$600,000 obtained from legal sources with a minimum investment of CA$200,000 or CA$400,000 if proposing a Key Staff Member. The applicant must have 3 years of business ownership and management experience or 4 years of senior management experience or 1 year of business ownership and management experience and 2 years of senior management experience. A business plan is required, and the applicant can expect a 2-year work permit following nomination; Permanent residency is contingent on implementation of a business proposal, with the additional requirement that the proposal creates at least one permanent, full-time job for a Canadian or permanent resident.

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NEW BRUNSWICK PNP

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New Brunswick’s PNP has been replaced with the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream. This targets qualified foreign entrepreneurs who are interested in owning and actively managing a business that will contribute to New Brunswick’s economy. Applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of CA$600,000 obtained from legal sources, have at least three out of five years management or ownership experience, make a minimum CA$125,000 investment in an approved business, and want to live permanently in New Brunswick while owning and managing their business. Minimum language and educational standards are also required.  

Besides the national Entrepreneur Start-up Visa Program, several Canadian provinces run their own residency-by-investment, known as Provincial Nominee Programs or PNPs: 

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NOVA SCOTIA

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Nova Scotia’s PNP has an entrepreneur stream for business owners or senior business managers with at least 3 years of business ownership experience including 33.3 percent ownership in the last 10 years or 5 years as senior manager in the last 10 years who want to live in the province. They must launch a business or buy one and actively take part in running it. After a year, the entrepreneur may be nominated for permanent resident status. Applicants must have a net worth of at least CA$600,000 legally obtained and be able to invest at least CA$150,000.  

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ONTARIO IMMIGRANT NOMINEE PROGRAM

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Under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program’s Entrepreneur Stream, foreign nationals may launch or buy a business in the province to be nominated for permanent resident status once their business is successfully established.  They must have at least three years of experience as a business owner or senior manager in the previous 5 years. The required minimum net worth depends on where the business is located: CA$1,5 million in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), and CA$800,000 outside GTA OR in the ICT/Digital Communications sector, regardless of location. The required investment must be at least CA$1 million in the GTA and CA$500,000 and 33.3 percent ownership outside GTA, or in the ICT/Digital Communication sector CA$500,000 and 33.3 percent ownership of the business. Applicants will receive a temporary work permit with permanent residency contingent on meeting the program requirements. Additional requirements are the creation of 2 permanent full-time jobs for Canadians or permanent residents.  

The nation’s remaining Residency Program for entrepreneurs and investors is the Entrepreneur Start-up Visa Program which grants permanent residence to immigrant entrepreneurs while assisting them become established in Canada. The money for this doesn’t come from the applicant, but from a venture capital fund, angel group or business incubator approved to invest in start-ups. The applicant must have obtained evidence of support and all applications must be peer-reviewed; once approved, a minimum investment is required of at least CA$200,000 if coming from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, or CA$75,000 if coming from an angel investor group. Canada is now considering applicants with experience in cultural activities or athletics at a world-class level. 

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PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND PNP

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Prince Edward Island invites entrepreneurs to apply through the 100 percent Ownership Stream, as well as the Partial Ownership Stream. 100 percent ownership allows foreign nationals with business ownership or extensive management experience to own and operate a company in the province. Applicants must have a net worth of at least CA$600,000 obtained from legal sources and make a minimum investment of CA$100,000 in an approved business, meet language requirements, submit an approved business plan and a refundable deposit of CA$200,000, and intend to live and work in the province. The criteria is the same under the partial ownership program except that the applicant must make a minimum CA$150,000 investment for a minimum of one third of the ownership or a CA$1 million investment in an approved business. 

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SASKATCHEWAN

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Saskatchewan allows entrepreneurs to start, obtain or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and be actively involved in managing it as a path to permanent residency. The province redesigned the entrepreneurship category of its SINP Entrepreneur Program in 2015. Applicants must have at least CA$500,000 legally obtained in net business and personal assets; have at least three years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience within the previous 10 years; and intend to invest at least CA$300,000 in Regina and Saskatoon or at least CA$200,000 in another Saskatchewan community with at least 33.3 percent ownership or CA$1 million outright investment. A 2-year work permit is issued to the applicant, and permanent residency is contingent on meeting program requirements with the additional requirement that the new business creates 2+ employment opportunities in SK.