Bring your business idea to Ontario

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 nearly 520 million people. The three countries generate a combined GDP of $34.5 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.

Ontario is the ‘elephant in the room’ in the Great Lakes and Midwest regions, with the largest GDP of any province or state in that region. Only a few U,S. states, and no other Canadian province, have an economy the size of Ontario.

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, especially if the current tariff regime persists, consider Ontario as as a partner. Working closely with the Canadian 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

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:

Bring your business idea to Ontario

Viable Business

Corporate Stream

Entrepreneur Stream

Still interested

Share this: