Applicants may be eligible for this program if they have a viable business activity that will bring significant economic benefit to Ontario. If approved, the applicant and his/her business partner (if applicable) may apply for a temporary work permit in order to establish the said business. Once the business is successfully established, the applicant and the business partner (if applicable) may be eligible for nomination under the OINP.

Program requirements:

To be eligible, applicants must satisfy the following six factors:

1. Experience

• At least two years of full-time business experience in the last five years.
• Experience must be as a business owner OR as a senior manager (business management).

2. Net Worth

• If the proposed business will be located within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA – includes the City of Toronto, Durham, Halton, York and Peel regions), applicant must have a minimum net worth of CD$800,000.
• If the proposed business will be located outside of the GTA, applicant must have a minimum net worth of CD$400,000.
• If the proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of the proposed business location), applicant must have a minimum net worth of CD$400,000. 

3. Personal Investment Funds

• If the proposed business will be located within the GTA, applicant must make a minimum personal investment of CD$600,000 and have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3%.
• If the proposed business will be located outside of the GTA, applicant must make a minimum personal investment of CD$200,000 and have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3%.
• If the proposed business will be in the ICT/Digital Communications sector (regardless of where the business will be set up), applicant must make a minimum personal investment of CD$200,000 and have a minimum equity ownership of 33.3%.

4. Job Creation 

• Applicant must create at least two permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens / permanent residents if business is located in the GTA area. If it is outside the GTA area, applicant must create one permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen / permanent resident.

5. Active Involvement and Capital Investment 

• Applicant must be actively involved on an on-going basis in the management of the business and the purpose of the business must be to make profit and not just to derive interest, dividend or capital gains. 

6. Business-Related Visit

• If applicant plans to purchase an existing business, he/she must undertake at least one business-related visit to Ontario in the year prior to the date of submitting the Expression of Interest (EOI).

Based on the applicant’s EOI score, he/she may be invited to apply under the Entrepreneur Stream. Applicants are required to pay processing fees of CD$3500 after receiving an invitation to apply.

The following businesses are not eligible:

Automated car wash business, holding companies, Laundromats, pawnbrokers, pay day loan and related businesses, scrap metal recycling, tire recycling, a business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services, businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees.

If your proposed business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area, the following types are also ineligible:

Existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted), gas stations, bed and breakfasts.