New Ontario Business Immigration Programs

OINP Business Streams

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)’s Investor Component has been replaced by the Corporate and Entrepreneur Streams, bringing Ontario in line with the provincial nominee programs available for entrepreneurs in other provinces such as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. As these programs are still very new, it is not clear what business sectors OINP will be targeting, but they will most likely target Ontario’s key sectors: aerospace, automotive, financial services, food and beverage manufacturing, IT, life sciences, mining, tourism investment, water technologies.

Corporate Stream

OINP’s new Corporate Stream is intended for established foreign corporations looking to expand their business into Ontario or buy an existing Ontario business. It may allow key managerial staff or staff with specialized knowledge staff that are essential to the business to obtain nominations from Ontario for Permanent Resident status.

The following requirements apply to applicants under this stream:

• The OINP Corporate Stream has a two-step application process
  • A foreign corporation must first apply to OINP with a business plan outlining how they will meet performance requirements. If nominated, successful applicants sign a performance agreement with OINP and can apply for 2-year temporary work permits from CIC for key staff to establish the business
  • Once the business is established and the conditions of the performance agreement are met within the specified timeframes, key staff can apply for nomination by Ontario for Permanent Resident status
  • The foreign corporation must be an established corporation with over 3 years of records
  • The foreign corporation must make an investment of at least $5,000,000
  • Up to 5 key staff of the corporation may be nominated
    • All key staff must have achieved an English language score of at least CLB 5 in the 2 years preceding both the time of the initial application for nomination and the second application once the conditions of the performance agreement have been met
    • Key staff must have at least 3 years of work experience in a NOC A or 0 occupation in the last 5 years
    • Key staff must work in Canada on a permanent full-time basis, be paid at least the prevailing wage, and must occupy a position in a senior executive, managerial, or specialized knowledge capacity
    • If key staff are working in a NOC A occupation, an LMIA is required
    • There must be no familial or financial relationship between key staff and corporation
    • The corporation must create 5 net new jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents per key staff member
    • OINP will assess the viability of the business plan
      • 3^rd party verification of business plan viability and source of funds may be conducted
      • OINP will conduct mandatory interviews with the foreign corporation’s CEO and key staff
      • Performance agreements must be provided to OINP outlining how investment and job creation commitments will be met within two years
      • Exploratory visits to Ontario are recommended

Entrepreneur Stream

OINP’s new Entrepreneur Stream is intended for individuals with high human capital looing to implement a new business idea or buy an existing business in Ontario. It may allow an Entrepreneur and up to one business partner to obtain nominations from Ontario for Permanent Resident status.

The following requirements apply to applicants under this stream:

• The OINP Entrepreneur Stream has a two-step application process
  • The entrepreneur (and business partner) must first apply to OINP with a business plan outlining how they will meet performance requirements. If nominated, successful applicants sign a performance agreement with OINP and can apply for 2-year temporary work permits from CIC to establish the business
  • Once the business is established and the conditions of the performance agreement are met within the specified timeframes, the entrepreneur (and business partner) can apply for nomination by Ontario for Permanent Resident status
  • Applicants must have 3 years of business owner/senior manager experience in the last 5 years
  • Both the entrepreneur and business partner must invest at least $1,000,000 if their business will be within the Greater Toronto Area, or at least $500,000 if their business will be outside of the Greater Toronto Area or in the information/communication technology or digital media sectors
    • If purchasing an existing Ontario business, their investment must control at least 33% of the equity in the business
    • Applicants must have a net worth of at least $1,500,000 if their business will be within the Greater Toronto Area, or at least $800,000 if their business will be outside of the Greater Toronto Area or in the information/communication technology or digital media sectors
    • Applicants must have achieved an English language score of at least CLB 5 in the 2 years preceding both the time of the initial application for nomination and the second application once the conditions of the performance agreement have been met
    • Applicants must be involved in active and ongoing management of the business
    • At least 2 net new jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents must be created
    • OINP will assess the viability of the business plan
      • 3^rd party verification of business plan viability, source of funds, and net worth may be conducted
      • OINP will conduct mandatory interviews with the entrepreneur and business partner
      • Performance agreements must be provided to OINP outlining how investment and job creation commitments will be met within two years
      • Exploratory visits to Ontario recommended