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 Experience | Minimum 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 ability | Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 |
| Education | Minimum Canadian high school certificate equivalent |
| Age | No minimum or maximum age; however, ranking points are allocated to candidates 25 to 49 years of age. |
| Business Investment | Minimum 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 Visit | A 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. |
| Adaptability | Points 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 Worth | Minimum 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 Agreement | After 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. |
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