Skip to content

Advertisement

The Business Investor Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) provides a route to Canadian permanent resident status for investors and entrepreneurs who wish to purchase or start a business in Manitoba.

Two pathways target investors and entrepreneurs in specific categories: the Entrepreneur Pathway, and the Farm Investor Pathway.

Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway

The Entrepreneur Pathway targets business people who wish to establish themselves in Manitoba, either by purchasing, starting, or becoming partners in an existing business. Potential candidates arrive in Canada on a temporary resident permit, and must buy, start, or join a business within 24 months of arrival in order to obtain permanent resident status.
The current application system for the Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway is expected to change as further updates to the MPNP are rolled out. Initially, these updates were scheduled to take place in 2018, but the MPNP renewal project has been delayed by several years.
As part of the “soft launch” of the Entrepreneur Pathway of the Manitoba Business Investor Stream stream, the province has implemented an interim application process, as outlined below. This process allows potential candidates to express their interest in the pathways through the submission of required forms, but the province has stated that after the upcoming changes to the MPNP are fully implemented, the process will be online.

Step 1: Be eligible for the Entrepreneur Pathway

In addition to meeting the eligibility requirements outlined in the table below, potential applicants must complete a self-assessment form that assesses eligibility over four human capital factors (age, education, business experience, and language proficiency), four investment factors (net worth, business investment, economic priorities, and a business research visit to Manitoba), and one adaptability factor (assessing the potential applicant’s existing connection to Manitoba).

Manitoba BIS: Entrepreneur Pathway criteria

Minimum requirement
Business ExperienceMinimum of three years of full time work experience in the past five years either as an active business owner or working in a senior management role of a successful business.

Business owners are given higher points in comparison to senior managers.

Business owners must have at least 33 1/3% ownership to qualify for points.
Language abilityMinimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5
EducationMinimum Canadian high school certificate equivalent
AgeNo minimum or maximum age; however, ranking points are allocated to candidates 25 to 49 years of age.
Business InvestmentMinimum investment is $250,000 for businesses situated in the Manitoba Capital Region.

Minimum investment is $150,000 if a business is situated outside of the Manitoba Capital Region.

Business Investment must be made in an eligible business as defined by the MPNP.

The proposed business must create or maintain at least one job for a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident in Manitoba (excluding owners of the business and/or their close relatives).
Business Research VisitA Business Plan is required and is an integral part of the application.

A business research visit allows the applicant to conduct extensive research of their future business investment or proposal. The Business Research Visit must be conducted no more than one year prior to the submission of your EOI.
AdaptabilityPoints will be allocated to you if:

- Your spouse/partner has CLB/NCLC 5 or higher;
- You or your spouse/partner have CLB 5 or higher in the Second Official Language;
- You or your spouse/partner have a close relative currently residing in Manitoba for more than one year;
- Your child is enrolled in an accredited Manitoba educational institution and is actively pursuing academic, professional or vocational training on a full-time basis for at least six months prior to the date of submission of EOI; and/or
- You or your accompanying spouse/partner have completed a program of full-time study for at least one year at a post-secondary institution in Manitoba. You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner must have done this after you turned 17 years old and with a valid study permit;
OR
- You or your accompanying spouse/partner have completed at least six months of continuous full time employment in Manitoba. A letter of reference from the employer and a copy of the work permit must be provided.
Net WorthMinimum of $500,000

Your personal net worth will be verified by a third-party supplier approved by the MPNP. A verification report, along with the application, must be submitted to the MPNP within 120 days of receiving your LAA.
Business Performance AgreementAfter an application is approved, a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) must be signed prior to the MPNP issuing you a letter of support for applying for a work permit.

Step 2: Explore Manitoba

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway requires potential applicants to explore Manitoba and research opportunities in the proposed area of business. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to visit Manitoba and attend business seminars offered by the Business Consulting Unit (BCU) of the Immigration and Economic Opportunities Division. Potential applicants must also complete a Business Concept Form, which outlines business opportunities and research efforts.
While the exploratory visit is not required, if you are interested in setting up or purchasing a business in Manitoba it is a good idea to visit Manitoba first. Exploring various locations will give you a better idea of the opportunities available in the province, both for business and for lifestyle, and may strengthen your application.

Step 3: Submit your self-assessment and business concept forms to the MPNP

Applying through this stream is a two-step process. First, the initial forms need to be emailed to [email protected]. This includes the Self-assessment form, the Business Concept form, and the Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives (if you are using a representative). This submission does not represent an application to the MPNP; potential candidates who submit these forms will be told if they are eligible to submit a full application or not. The province states that if a potential candidate does not meet the minimum stream criteria requirements (outlined in the table in Step 1), their business concept will not be reviewed.

Step 4: Submit an application to the MPNP

During the interim process, potential candidates may receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) after their Self-assessment and Business Concept forms have been reviewed. The LAA contains further information about required documents and instructions for submitting a full application to the MPNP. This includes a net worth verification, which is conducted by an approved third-party supplier. All documents and fees need to be submitted within 120 days of receiving the LAA.

Step 5: Application assessment

The review and assessment of each application may include an interview. Successful applicants will receive an approval letter by email, and must sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA). After this, the MPNP will issue a letter of support for a work permit. Note that at this point, if you receive a letter of support you will not yet have Canadian permanent resident status – instead, you will be able to enter Canada and obtain a work permit.

Step 6: Operate a business in Manitoba

With this work permit, you can start or purchase your business, as outlined in your business plan. The BCU offers information, feedback, and guidance during this stage through the support of Business Consulting Officers.

Step 7: Receive a MPNP nomination and apply for permanent resident status

Once you have completed the terms and conditions outlined in the BPA you signed when your application was approved, the MPNP issues a certificate of nomination, with which you can apply to the Canadian government for permanent resident status.

This page will be updated if or when updates to the Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway occur.

Live PNP Tracker

The Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway is likely undergo further changes in the coming months as the MPNP reworks various streams and pathways. This could result in important changes to application procedure or eligibility requirements. Make sure to stay up to date with all the latest developments using the exclusive Moving2Canada PNP Live Tracker.

Citation "Manitoba Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway." Moving2Canada. . Copy for Citation