Ontario OINP Entrepreneur Stream

The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Entrepreneur Stream is designed for entrepreneurs from outside Canada who are interested in starting a new business or buying an existing business in Ontario. This stream operates on an Expression of Interest system where eligible candidates are invited to apply based on their score.

Program Overview

Key Features

Targeted at experienced entrepreneurs
Must establish business in Ontario
Active management required
Job creation for Ontarians
Pathway to permanent residence

Business Categories

The program targets businesses that will:

Create jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
Introduce new or innovative products/services
Increase exports
Increase research and development
Provide goods/services to underserved local or regional markets
Bring significant investment to Ontario

Eligibility Requirements

Business Experience

Minimum 24 months of full-time business ownership or senior management experience
Within the last 60 months
Must be documented

Personal Investment Requirements

Location	Minimum Net Worth	Minimum Investment
Greater Toronto Area (GTA)	$800,000 CAD	$600,000 CAD
Outside GTA	$400,000 CAD	$200,000 CAD
ICT/Digital Communications (any location)	$400,000 CAD	$200,000 CAD

Ownership Requirements

Minimum 33.3% ownership if starting new business
Or make minimum $1 million investment for ownership less than 33.3%
Must provide active and ongoing participation in management

Job Creation Requirements

Create at least 2 permanent full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
Must be paid at or above median wage for position
Jobs must be created within 20 months of nomination
Must be maintained for at least 10 consecutive months

Additional Requirements

Active Involvement:

Must be actively involved in daily management of business
Must be physically present in Ontario for at least 75% of the time spent establishing business

Purpose of Visit:

If applying from outside Canada, must demonstrate purpose of visit to Ontario is to establish business

Language Proficiency:

Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in English or French
Must provide official test results

Intention to Reside:

Must demonstrate intention to reside in Ontario

Ineligible Businesses

The following types of businesses are not eligible:

Existing businesses under OINP Entrepreneur Stream (unless you are buying to expand)
Businesses previously owned by OINP Entrepreneur Stream nominees
Existing franchise businesses (new franchises may be eligible)
Payday loan, cheque cashing, money exchange businesses
Pawnbrokers
Laundromats
Automated car wash operations
Scrap metal recycling
Businesses related to pornography or sexually explicit products/services
Pyrotechnics/fireworks businesses
Hair salons, barbershops, nail salons
Businesses that primarily derive income from passive investment
Bed and breakfasts

The Application Process

Phase 1: Expression of Interest

Step 1: Create Profile

Register on OINP e-Filing Portal
Complete Expression of Interest
Provide information about:
- Business experience
- Proposed business concept
- Investment amount
- Job creation plan
- Language proficiency
- Education
- Ontario business visit
- Other factors

Step 2: Receive Score

Points awarded based on various factors
Maximum 200 points available

Step 3: Enter Pool

Profile remains in pool for 12 months
Can be updated during this period

Phase 2: Application

Step 4: Receive Invitation to Apply

If score meets current threshold
Have 90 days to submit complete application

Step 5: Submit Application

Complete application package
Pay $3,500 CAD application fee
Provide all required documents including business plan

Step 6: Net Worth Review

Third-party verification of net worth
Review by authorized accounting firm

Step 7: Interview

Attend mandatory interview
Discuss business plan in detail
Demonstrate knowledge of Ontario market

Step 8: Performance Agreement

If approved, sign Performance Agreement
Outline specific business commitments

Phase 3: Temporary Work Permit

Step 9: Letter of Verification

Receive Letter of Verification from OINP

Step 10: Apply for Work Permit

Submit work permit application to IRCC
Processing time: approximately 2-4 months

Step 11: Establish Business

Move to Ontario
Establish business according to Performance Agreement
Active management required

Phase 4: Nomination and Permanent Residence

Step 12: Nomination Request

After meeting Performance Agreement requirements
Submit nomination request to OINP
Provide evidence of business establishment and job creation

Step 13: Provincial Nomination

Receive provincial nomination certificate
Apply for permanent residence to IRCC

Step 14: Permanent Residence

IRCC processing: approximately 12-18 months

Points System

The OINP uses a points-based system (maximum 200 points):

Factor	Maximum Points
Experience and Age	35
Proposed Business	55
Investment and Job Creation	40
Language Proficiency	10
Education	10
Ontario Business Visit	10
Business Location	10
Innovation	10
Job Creation in Target Community	10
Job Creation in Business Sector	10
Total	200

Points Breakdown

Experience and Age:

4+ years business ownership: 20 points
3 years: 18 points
2 years: 16 points
Senior management experience: Maximum 10 points

Age points:

21-29: 10 points
30-39: 8 points
40-44: 6 points
45-54: 4 points
55+: 0 points

Proposed Business:

Well-developed business concept: Up to 35 points
Market research quality: Up to 10 points
Key sector priority: Up to 10 points

Investment and Job Creation:

Investment amount: Up to 20 points
Number of jobs created: Up to 20 points

Language Proficiency:

CLB 7+: 10 points
CLB 6: 8 points
CLB 5: 6 points
CLB 4: 4 points

Education:

Master’s/PhD: 10 points
Bachelor’s degree: 8 points
College diploma: 6 points

Other Factors:

Ontario business visit: 5-10 points
Location outside GTA: 10 points
Innovation elements: Up to 10 points
Job creation in target community: 10 points
Job creation in priority sector: 10 points

Business Plan Requirements

Your business plan must be comprehensive and include:

Executive Summary:

Clear business concept
Products/services description
Target market
Competitive advantage

Business Structure:

Legal structure
Ownership details
Location analysis

Market Research:

Detailed market analysis
Competition assessment
Target customer identification
Marketing strategy

Operational Plan:

Day-to-day operations
Staffing plan
Suppliers and vendors
Quality control measures

Financial Projections:

Start-up costs
3-5 year revenue projections
Expense projections
Cash flow analysis
Source of funds verification

Job Creation Plan:

Number of jobs
Job descriptions
Wage levels
Hiring timeline
Training plans

Costs and Fees

Item	Cost (CAD)
Business Visit to Ontario	Variable
Business Plan Development	Variable
EOI Registration	No fee
OINP Application Fee	$3,500
Net Worth Verification	$3,000-$7,500
Work Permit Application	$155 + biometrics
Legal/Consulting Fees	Varies
Business Establishment	Varies

Processing Times

Stage	Timeline
EOI Registration	Immediate
Invitation to Apply	Varies based on score/draws
Application Processing	3-6 months
Interview	1-2 months after application review
Performance Agreement	Within 1 month of approval
Work Permit	2-4 months
Business Establishment	Up to 20 months
Nomination Request Review	2-3 months
Permanent Residence	12-18 months

Key Differences from Other Provincial Programs

Factor	OINP Entrepreneur	MPNP Business
Minimum Investment (GTA)	$600,000	$250,000
Minimum Investment (Other)	$200,000	$150,000
Net Worth (GTA)	$800,000	$500,000
Net Worth (Other)	$400,000	$500,000
Language Requirement	CLB 4	CLB 5
Jobs to Create	2	1
Refundable Deposit	No	Yes ($100,000)

How We Can Help

Our OINP Entrepreneur Stream services include:

✓ Eligibility Assessment - Evaluate your qualifications ✓ Points Calculation - Determine your potential score ✓ Business Concept Development - Develop viable business ideas ✓ Market Research - Ontario-specific market analysis ✓ Business Plan Writing - Professional business plan preparation ✓ EOI Submission - Register and submit Expression of Interest ✓ Application Package - Complete OINP application preparation ✓ Net Worth Verification - Coordinate with approved verifiers ✓ Interview Preparation - Mock interviews and coaching ✓ Work Permit Support - Assist with temporary work permit ✓ Business Establishment Guidance - Support during establishment phase ✓ Nomination Request - Prepare nomination request submission ✓ Permanent Residence Application - Federal PR application support

Success Tips

Conduct thorough market research - Understand Ontario’s business environment
Develop a realistic business plan - Ensure projections are achievable
Visit Ontario before applying - Gain firsthand knowledge of the market
Demonstrate sufficient funds - Ensure net worth is well-documented
Create a detailed job creation plan - Show commitment to hiring Canadians
Improve language skills - Higher CLB scores earn more points
Consider location carefully - Outside GTA offers advantages

Contact us to discuss your eligibility for the Ontario OINP Entrepreneur Stream and start your journey to establishing a business in Ontario!