There are factors that may enhance an applicant’s chances of acceptance. These includes, if an applicant:

• Has experience dealing with exports
• Has experience dealing with a high growth business
• Will be investing in a business that falls within a key sector of Ontario’s economic priorities

The above points can help an applicant gain extra points in their expression of interest (EOI) application.

However, there is list of business types that are ineligible for this program. 

To qualify, the applicant must meet the minimum requirements below:

• Past business experience that is verifiable
• Investing in a profitable eligible business
• Completed business plan
• Two full-time employees
• Plans to actively manage the business
• Proficient in English or French
• Exploratory visit if buying an existing business

Investing within the GTA

• Need to invest a minimum of $600,000
• Need to have a minimum personal net worth of $800,000

If investing outside of the GTA

• Need to invest a minimum of $200,000
• Need to have a minimum personal net worth of $400,000

Important: If you are applying with a business partner, your partner must also meet all the minimum requirements for each factor.

1. Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to enter a pool of application proposals. Applicants are selected depending on the scoring system of this program.
2. If the applicant is selected from the draw, and therefore invited to apply, he/she can submit a complete application to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
3. If the OINP application is approved, the applicant will need to sign a Performance Agreement outlining the commitments the applicant has made to invest and create jobs in the province. The applicant will then be issued a temporary work permit support letter, which can be used to apply for a temporary work permit (hyperlink to that page). This work permit will enable the applicant to establish their business in Ontario, from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
4. If you meet the commitments of your Performance Agreement, you may be eligible to be nominated by Ontario for permanent resident status
5. Successful nominees must apply to IRCC for permanent resident status within six (6) months of being nominated by OINP.

When it comes to purchasing an existing business in Ontario, there are a few extra requirements that need to be met:

• Any existing business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner or group of owners for the last 60 months before the applicant buys the business. Proof of ownership and either a letter of intent to purchase the business or sale agreement will be required
• The purchase must completely transfer ownership from the previous owner(s) to the applicant, business partner(s), and/or third party investor(s), if applicable
• The proposed business must not have been previously owned / operated by a current or former OINP business stream nominees.
• The applicant must preserve all existing permanent full-time jobs and create two (2) additional permanent full-time jobs.
• The applicant must maintain, at a minimum, the current wage levels and employment terms of existing staff.

The proposed business plan must demonstrate that the applicant intends to grow the business. Buy and hold business plans with no intent to grow the business are not permitted in the Entrepreneur Stream.