Table of Contents
What is the OINP Entrepreneur Stream?
This stream is primarily aimed at foreign nationals who wish to either purchase an existing business in Ontario or start a brand new business.
Once the business has been established and certain requirements have been met, the Ontario government will give you certificate of nomination. This nomination will give you privilege to submit application for Permanent residence with IRCC.
What is the breakdown of the process?
Generally, this stream involves multiple steps. We can broadly categorize the entire procedure into two phases.
Phase 1
-Preparation and Submission of Express of Interest online using the OINP portal
-If your profile is selected, you will receive an Invitation to apply. You will prepare the documents required and submit them to OINP.
-All documents will be uploaded online using the OINP portal.
-There is a fee of $3,500 which is non-refundable. The fee will be refunded if your application is incomplete.
-If your application is deemed complete, you will be required to attend a mandatory interview.
-You will sign a performance agreement affirming that you will make the intended investment and create jobs in Ontario.
-You will be given a support letter from the Ontario government which will enable you to apply for a temporary work permit.
-After arriving in Ontario, you have up to 20 months to establish your business as per the business plan.
-Upon meeting the requirements of the performance agreement, you will be eligible to apply for Permanent residence to IRCC.
Am I required to make a business visit?
Candidates are highly encourage to visit Ontario before submitting your EOI. This visit will give you the chance to assess the business viability in Ontario or establish contacts.
Which businesses are ineligible under this stream?
The Government of Ontario will NOT accept the following types of businesses. OINP primarily is looking for businesses which will give the province economic benefits in the long-run.
Ineligible Types of Businesses (In GTA- Greater Toronto Area)
• Existing Franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)
• Gas Stations
• Tire Recycling
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Pawnbrokers
• Bed and Breakfasts
• Holding Companies
• Laundromats
• Automated Car Wash Operations
• Pay Day Loan and related businesses
• A business that was ever previously owned or operated by a person who received a certificate of nomination in the entrepreneur category or under the investor component of the Opportunities Ontario program
• Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
Ineligible Types of Businesses (Outside of the Greater Toronto Area)
• Tire Recycling
• Scrap Metal Recycling
• Pawnbrokers
• Holding Companies
• Laundromats
• Automated Car Wash Operations
• Pay Day Loan and related businesses
• A business that was ever previously owned or operated by a person who received a certificate of nomination in the entrepreneur category or under the investor component of the Opportunities Ontario program
• Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
What is the eligibility criteria?
OINP entrepreneur stream ranks individuals using a unique point system. If you’ve a partner in your business, both must meet the requirements.
| Experience – 24 months in past 60 months as business owner or senior manager |
| Net Worth – $800,000 (GTA) and $400,000 (For Outside GTA or for ICT/Digital Communications sector) |
| Investment – $600,000 (GTA) and $200,000 (For Outside GTA or for ICT/Digital Communications sector) |
| Job creation – 2 jobs (GTA) and 1 job (For Outside GTA or for ICT/Digital Communications sector) |
| Business Visit – Required if purchasing an existing business |
| Partner – Can be foreign national or permanent resident/citizen of Canada |
| Language – CLB 4 |
How do I express my interest in this program?
Interested candidates will register for EOI using the OINP’s website and it is a self-declared points-based system. Your overall points will determine your eligibility to receive an invitation to apply under the Entrepreneur stream. There is no fee to apply for EOI.
Where can I find the breakdown of the point grid for this stream?
| Scoring sections | Points |
| Human capital factors | 80 |
| Investment factors | 46 |
| Business concept | 74 |
| Total points available | 200 |
| Human Capital Factor: Scoring for business ownership or senior management experience | |
| Scoring for business ownership experience | |
| Total experience | Points |
| Less than 24 months | Ineligible |
| 24 – 47 months | 13 |
| 48 – 59 months | 19 |
| 60 months or more | 25 |
| Total points available | 25 |
| Scoring for senior manager (business manager) experience | |
| Total experience | Points |
| Less than 24 months | Ineligible |
| 24 – 47 months | 13 |
| 48 – 59 months | 19 |
| 60 months or more | 25 |
| Total points available | 25 |
| Human Capital Factor: Scoring for past specific experience. | |
| These points are based on your past specific experience in one of the following: | |
| -High Growth Business – experience in a business which witnessed 20 percent increase in revenue in two consecutive years prior to the date of your EOI registration. | |
| Export-trade business experience – experience in a business exporting at least 20% of goods/services to a foreign market each year within the last 2 years prior to the date of your EOI registration | |
| Transferable skills – direct experience or experience in related industry in last 5 years prior to the date of your EOI registration. | |
| Scoring for past specific experience. | |
| Past specific experience | Points |
| No | 0 |
| Yes: One past specific experience | 15 |
| Yes: Two past specific experiences | 25 |
| Yes: Three past specific experiences | 35 |
| Total points available | 35 |
| Human Capital Factor: Education | |
| Any points claimed for education must be supported by Education Credential Assessment by designated organization. (WES, IQAS, ICAS) | |
| Scoring for levels of education. | |
| 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 |
| Human Capital Factor: Language Ability | |
| Interested candidates can receive additional points for language proficiency which can be demonstrated by giving IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada or TCF Canada tests. | |
| Scoring for official language ability | |
| 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 |
| Investment Factor: Net Worth | |
| The most important to consider is that your net worth must be lawfully acquired and must be verifiable. Your personal net worth can include cash, property, pensions, investments. | |
| Net Worth must be minimum for $800,000 (GTA) and $400,000 (For Outside GTA or for ICT/Digital Communications sector). | |
| If you’re invited to apply under this stream, third-party qualified government approved vendor must provide a net worth verification report. | |
| Scoring for personal net worth if your proposed business will be located within the GTA | |
| Personal net worth | Points |
| Less than $800,000 | Ineligible |
| $800,000 to $2,499,999 | 5 |
| $2,500,000 or more | 10 |
| Total Points Available | 10 |
| Scoring for personal net worth if your proposed business will be located outside the GTA or if it will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of location) | |
| Personal net worth | Points |
| Less than $400,000 | Ineligible |
| $400,000 to $999,9999 | 10 |
| $1,000,000 or more | 15 |
| Total Points Available | 15 |
| Investment Factor: Investment Amount | |
| The investment must come from your net worth for the proposed business. | |
| Minimum investment required is $600,000 (GTA) and $200,000 (For Outside GTA or for ICT/Digital Communications sector). You must control one-third of the equity in the business. Availing external financing is permitted if it is beyond the minimum investment amount. | |
| The amount must be invested in on eligible expenditures such as new equipment purchase, marketing costs, purchasing inventory, etc. | |
| Scoring for your investment amount if your proposed business will be located within the GTA | |
| Investment amount | Points |
| Less than $600,000 | Ineligible |
| $600,000 to $1,499,999 | 10 |
| $1,500,000 to $2,999,999 | 15 |
| $3,000,000 or more | 20 |
| Total Points Available | 20 |
| Scoring for your investment amount if your proposed business will be located outside the GTA or if it will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of location) | |
| Investment amount | Points |
| Less than $200,000 | Ineligible |
| $200,000 to $499,999 | 15 |
| $500,000 to $799,999 | 20 |
| $800,000 or more | 25 |
| Total Points Available | 25 |
| Investments made prior to application to the OINP | |
| OINP does not encourage applicants to make any investments prior to signing a performance agreement with the OINP and obtaining a valid temporary work permit from IRCC. | |
| Investment Factor: Business-Related Visit | |
| Business visit is only mandatory if you’re purchasing an existing business. | |
| Scoring for business-related visits to Ontario | |
| Business-related visits to Ontario | Points |
| No | 0 |
| Yes | 6 |
| Total Points Available | 6 |
| Business Concept Factor: Business-Related Visit | |
| You will receive points for your business model based on the following table: | |
| Business model | Points |
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 7 |
| Good | 15 |
| Total points | 15 |
| Business Concept Factor: Market Research | |
| You will receive points for your market and products/services based on the following table: | |
| Market research | Points |
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 7 |
| Good | 15 |
| Total points | 15 |
| Business Concept Factor: Economic benefit | |
| You will receive additional points if your business in the following sectors: | |
| These key sectors have been defined as economic priorities for Ontario: | |
| Aerospace | |
| Automotive | |
| Chemical and biochemical | |
| Cleantech | |
| Cybersecurity | |
| Financial Services | |
| Food and Beverage Manufacturing | |
| Forestry | |
| Industrial Automation and Robotics | |
| Information Technology | |
| Life Sciences | |
| Mining | |
| Tourism | |
| Significant economic benefit and key sector | Points |
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 5 |
| Good | 10 |
| Total points | 10 |
| Business Concept Factor: Investment Allocation | |
| You will receive points for the investment allocation based on the following table: | |
| Investment allocation | Points |
| Unsatisfactory/Unclear | 0 |
| Fair | 5 |
| Good | 10 |
| Total points | 10 |
| Business Concept Factor: Business Location | |
| You may claim points based on your proposed business location. | |
| You will receive points for the business location based on the following table: | |
| 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 |
| Business Concept Factor: Job Creation | |
| You will receive points for job creation based on the following table: | |
| Job creation | Points |
| 1 for outside GTA or ICT/Digital Communications sector | 3 |
| 2 for inside GTA | |
| 3-4 jobs | 5 |
| 5 or more jobs | 7 |
| Total points available | 7 |
| Creation of N0C 0, A or B Jobs | Points |
| 0 NOC 0, A or B jobs | 0 |
| 1 NOC 0, A or B job | 5 |
| 2 or more NOC 0, A or B jobs | 7 |
| Total points available | 7 |
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