Canada Business Immigration:
The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
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What was the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream?
- The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream was designed for business owners and senior managers who wanted to invest in, start or buy a business in the province of Ontario.
- To qualify for Canadian permanent residence, investors had to run their Ontario business themselves.
- A spouse and children under 22 could be included in the application.
- Ontario is one of Canada's leading economic, political, cultural and service centers, home to major cities such as Toronto and Ottawa.
- The Ontario Entrepreneur Stream is closed to new applications. Ontario paused intake in December 2023 and formally closed the stream on November 4, 2024. This page is kept for reference; if Canada remains your goal, our advisors can walk you through the Canadian programs that may suit you better today.
Benefits of the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
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Your whole family could move to Ontario
The investor, spouse and dependent children could live, study and work in Ontario while the investor held a work permit.
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Education for your children in Canada
Children could attend public school free of charge through the end of high school. Once the family holds permanent residence, children can attend university at domestic tuition rates.
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A route to permanent residence
Once the investment and business commitments were met and the province's conditions satisfied, the family could apply for Canadian permanent residence.
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A pathway to Canadian citizenship
Once the family holds permanent residence and meets the residency, tax, language and background requirements, family members may be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Key advantages
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Basic education requirement
A high school diploma was the only education requirement.
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No industry-specific experience required
Investors did not need experience in the industry of the business they planned to run in Ontario.
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No English test at the time of application
No English language certificate was required when submitting the initial application.
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No age limit
The stream set no maximum age for applicants.
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No deposit required
Applicants were not required to make a deposit with the province to take part in the stream.
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No requirement to turn an immediate profit
The Ontario business did not have to be profitable in its early stages, but it had to be genuinely operating and create at least 1 job for a Canadian worker.
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A province with real economic pull
Ontario is one of Canada's most important economic, education and service centers, with strong trade links and a large consumer market.
Main applicant requirements
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Business owner or senior manager
- At least 2 years of management experience within the past 5 years.
- A minimum net worth of C$400,000.
- Satisfactory security background and medical checks.
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Investment requirements
- A minimum investment of C$200,000 in an Ontario business.
- A viable business plan delivering economic benefits to the province.
- Hands-on management of the business in Ontario.
- Creation of at least 1 job for a Canadian worker within 18 months.
The Ontario application process
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Eligibility assessment and file preparation
Assessment of the applicant's eligibility, net worth, management experience and fit with the stream.
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Exploratory visit to Ontario
The investor traveled to Ontario to assess the business environment and prepare an investment plan.
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Expression of Interest (EOI)
The investor submitted an Expression of Interest to the Government of Ontario.
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Invitation to Apply (ITA) and full application
Once invited, the investor completed and submitted the formal application to the province.
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Provincial interview
The investor attended an interview with the Government of Ontario.
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Work permit application
Once approved by the province, the investor applied to the federal government for a work permit.
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Moving to Canada to invest and run the business
With a work permit in hand, the investor moved to Ontario, made the investment and ran the business in person.
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Permanent residence application
After meeting the business and residency conditions, the investor applied for Canadian permanent residence.
Frequently asked questions about the Ontario Entrepreneur Stream
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