Relocating

Bring your business idea to Ontario

O

ntario lies in the heart of the USMCA (U.S. – Mexico – Canada Agreement, formerly NAFTA, or North American Free Trade Agreement) trade area. The three trade agreement partners are Canada, the USA and Mexico. The agreement wraps its economic arms around more than 460 million people. It generates a combined GDP of $18 trillion. Ontario’s economy rests on a foundation of natural resources; advanced manufacturing; innovation in science and technology; burgeoning exports and a highly sophisticated service industry. Ontario generates 37 percent of Canada’s GDP, and provides a supportive and welcoming environment for high-tech and knowledge-based industries to flourish.

Viable Business

  • Must have a viable business activity that will bring significant economic benefit to Ontario;
  • If your business proposal is approved, your key staff may apply for a temporary work permit in order to establish your business.

If you have an established business anywhere in the world, and are planning to expand your global presence, consider Ontario as as a partner. Working closely with the federal government to implement an open and ambitious immigration plan, Ontario has developed initiatives that closely align with the province’s strategic direction, while responding decisively to industry and labour-related needs. The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) facilitates corporate business expansion and entrepreneurship through two streams, each of which can lead to permanent residency in Canada:

Corporate Stream

  • OINP helps and supports established international corporations looking to expand into Ontario or seeking to buy an existing business;
  • Once the expanded or purchased business has been successfully established, key staff become eligible to apply for provincial nomination;
  • Provincial nomination provides a pathway to possible permanent residency.

The corporation and identified key staff must meet all eligibility criteria in order to apply to the Corporate Stream, including:

  • The corporation must invest a minimum of $5 million Cdn in a new or existing business;
  • The corporation must create five full-time, permanent positions for Canadian citizens or permanent residents per key staff;
  • Key staff seeking nomination must be currently employed with the corporation and be essential to the establishment, continued operation and success of the business in Ontario;
  • Key staff must meet a minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB 5) level or equivalent in order to be nominated for permanent residence.

Entrepreneur Stream

If you have (considering Ontario’s criteria in this case):

  • A business activity that is viable;
  • And will bring significant economic benefit to Ontario;
  • At least three years (36 months) of business experience in the last five years (60 months);
  • And you want to make Ontario your home,

Then the entrepreneur stream of OINP may be your pathway. Both you and your business partner (if applicable) must meet five factors in order to be considered for this route. Depending on the type and location of your business you will be assessed on five eligibility factors:

Factor Business location in Greater Toronto Business location outside Greater Toronto ICT or Digital Communications Sector
Experience 36 months within the last 60 months as a business owner or a senior manager (managing business) 36 months within the last 60 months as a business owner or a senior manager (managing business) 36 months within the last 60 months as a business owner or a senior manager (managing business)
Net Worth (minimum) $1,500,000 CDN $800,000 CDN $800,000 CDN
Personal Investment Funds (minimum) $1,000,000 CDN and equity ownership of 33.3% (minimum) $500,000 CDN and equity ownership of 33.3% (minimum) $500,000 CDN and equity ownership of 33.3% (minimum)
Job Creation Two permanent full-time positions for Canadian citizens/permanent residents Two permanent full-time positions for Canadian citizens/permanent residents Two permanent full-time positions for Canadian citizens/permanent residents
Exploratory Visit (if planning to purchase an existing business) At least one visit in the last 12 months prior to application submission At least one visit in the last 12 months prior to application submission At least one visit in the last 12 months prior to application submission

Participation in this program requires several steps to be taken, the first of which is an online submission of an EOI (Expression of Interest). This submission enters a selection pool where entries are ranked by score. The Ministry draws from this pool on a periodic basis, and issues invitations to apply (ITA) to the Entrepreneur Stream. When an ITA is issued, then a full application is submitted along with processing fees. If the application is approved, then the following will occur:

  • you will sign a Performance Agreement outlining the commitments you have made in your EOI to invest and create jobs in Ontario;
  • You will be issued a temporary work permit support letter to apply for a temporary work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order to establish your business in Ontario;
  • If you meet the commitments of your Performance Agreement, you may be eligible to be nominated by the OINP for permanent resident status;
  • Successful nominees must then apply for permanent resident status within six months of being nominated by OINP.

Still interested

For more information on the above criteria and other conditions of this program, please contact us: