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Business Category (OINP)
The Business Category of the Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) is for entrepreneurs looking to start a new or buy an existing business in Ontario.
| Business Streams | ||
| Stream/Category | Job offer required? | Basic criteria |
| Entrepreneur | No (but must create jobs) | Business owner/managerial experience, high net worth (min. $800,000), personal investment funds (min. $500,000), create two or more jobs |
Permanently closed | n/a | Terminated in 2019 |
Business Category
In the fall of 2015, the Ontario investor program was officially closed and two new OINP categories were introduced – the Ontario entrepreneur program, and the Ontario business program for corporations. Ontario investor immigration applications received by October 29, 2015, will be processed normally, but no new investor category applications will be accepted by the OINP after this date. Consequently, people interested in business immigration to Ontario should consider the new OINP Entrepreneur Stream or Corporate Stream.
Entrepreneur Stream
The Entrepreneur stream is designed to help foreigners buy a business in the province or to help create a brand new Ontario company.
You must make a minimum personal investment of CAD $600,000 whether you buy or open a new business in the Greater Toronto area, or a CAD $200,000 investment outside that Greater Toronto Area. |
| When opening a new business in Ontario, or buying an existing business, the entrepreneur must own and control at least a 33.3% equity share in the endeavour in order to qualify under this OINP. |
| As part of the application process, the viability of the business plan will be assessed by officials of Immigration Ontario. |
| A performance agreement, outlining key investment and job creation commitments that need to be met within 2 years, will also be required in order for the OINP to proceed with a provincial nomination. |
| Note: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program considers businesses to be located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) if they are in the City of Toronto or in the Durham, Halton, Peel, or York regions. |
Note: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program considers businesses to be located in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) if they are in the City of Toronto or in the Durham, Halton, Peel, or York regions.
FAQ
There are three streams for you. International Master’s Graduate Stream (no job offer required); International PhD Students Stream (no job offer required); and the International Student Stream under EE (job offer required).
If you are a bachelor degree student, then you can only choose the last one. However, a NOC 0, A, B job offer is a must. And it is currently closed.
If you are graduate school student,with 2 year full time diploma/degree or 1 year post graduate certificate, you are qualified for International Master’s Graduate Stream (no job offer required). There is also a language requirement of CLB7 here. This stream is currently closed.
If you are a PhD student, then International PhD Students Stream (no job offer required) is your thing. You have to be graduated and completed at least two years’ study in Ontario. If you are still waiting to finish the program, then you have to wait. This stream is accepting applications now.
If you are an agricultural or construction worker, In-demand Skill Worker stream is your best option. These are the requirements: CLB 4, with high school diploma, at least a year of work experience in Ontario in the last three years.
If you have been doing some full time office work for at least a year, and you graduated with a bachelor degree or higher, then Human Capital Trades Priorities Stream is your choice. You need CLB7 in English or French.
Your choice is Foreign Worker Stream under Employer Job Offer Category. This stream has no requirements for English or French. All you need is at least 2 years of work experience accumulated within the five years before applied. And an offer for a full-time, permanent job listed in NOC 0, A or B.