How to read the comparison
- Net worth is not investmentNet worth is your assets minus your debts, verified by an approved professional where the stream requires it. Investment is the money you put into the business. The two overlap: the investment is not an extra amount on top of net worth.
- Check the locationMany streams set lower minimums outside the main city (for example outside Halifax, Winnipeg or Yellowknife). The table shows both figures where they differ.
- Match the language scaleMost streams use the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB; NCLC in French). Yukon names IELTS and TEF Canada levels, and Quebec uses its own French scale, which is not the same as CLB.
- Treat minimums as a gate, not a scoreMeeting every minimum does not mean you will be invited or nominated. Experience, ownership, jobs, the business plan and lawful funds are also assessed.
Provincial and territorial streams
| Stream | Status | Net worth | Investment | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BC: Entrepreneur Immigration, Base | Open (registration, invitation) | $600,000 | $200,000 | CLB 4 |
| BC: Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional | Open (registration, invitation) | $300,000 | $100,000 | CLB 4 |
| Alberta: Rural Entrepreneur | Open (EOI); 60 nominations for 2026 | $300,000 | $100,000 | CLB 4 |
| Alberta: Graduate Entrepreneur | Open (EOI) | No minimum | No minimum (more investment earns points) | CLB 7 |
| Alberta: Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur | Open (EOI, agency letter) | No minimum | $100,000 (Edmonton or Calgary area); $50,000 (regional) | CLB 5 |
| Alberta: Farm | Open (application) | $500,000 | $500,000 equity in a farm | No fixed minimum published |
| Manitoba: Entrepreneur Pathway | EOIs reviewed individually; no draws | $500,000 | $250,000 (Winnipeg Metropolitan Region); $150,000 (elsewhere) | CLB 5 |
| Manitoba: Farm Investor Pathway | EOIs reviewed individually; no draws | $500,000 | $300,000 in tangible assets; $75,000 refundable deposit | No CLB minimum in the guidelines kit |
| Nova Scotia: Entrepreneur | Open (EOI, by invitation) | $600,000 (Halifax Regional Municipality); $400,000 (elsewhere) | $150,000 (Halifax); $100,000 (elsewhere) | CLB 5 |
| Nova Scotia: International Graduate Entrepreneur | Open (EOI, by invitation) | No minimum | No minimum | CLB 7 |
| New Brunswick: Business Immigration | Open (EOI, by invitation) | $500,000; $300,000 for agriculture | $150,000 | CLB 4 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador: International Entrepreneur | Open (EOI) | $600,000 in assets | About $200,000 (with 33.3% ownership) or $1 million in equity | CLB 5 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador: International Graduate Entrepreneur | Open (EOI) | No minimum | No minimum | CLB 7 |
| Prince Edward Island: Business Work Permit Stream | Listed; no business invitations in 2026 so far | $600,000 | See the Business Application Guide | CLB 4 |
| Northwest Territories: Business Stream | Open (first come, first served) | $500,000 (Yellowknife); $250,000 (elsewhere) | $200,000 (Yellowknife); $100,000 (elsewhere) | CLB 4 |
| Yukon: Business Nominee Program | Application route listed (candidate pool) | $500,000, with $300,000 in liquid assets | $300,000 within the first 2 years | IELTS 6 or TEF Canada 4 |
Quebec
Quebec selects business immigrants itself, outside the provincial nominee program. You need a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) before applying to IRCC for permanent residence.
| Program | Net worth | Investment or deposit | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor | $2,000,000 | $1,000,000 five-year investment plus a $200,000 contribution ($1.2 million in total) | Spoken French, Quebec level 7 |
| Entrepreneur: business start-up | $600,000 | Start-up and operating expenses of $300,000 (Montréal metropolitan area) or $150,000 (elsewhere) | Spoken French, Quebec level 7 |
| Entrepreneur: takeover | $600,000 (company being acquired) or $300,000 (company already acquired) | For a company being acquired: $300,000 (Montréal metropolitan area) or $150,000 (elsewhere) | Spoken French, Quebec level 7 |
| Self-employed worker | $100,000 | Start-up deposit of $25,000 (outside the Montréal metropolitan community) or $50,000 (inside it) | Spoken French, Quebec level 7 |
For the entrepreneur program's innovative-business stream, check the current conditions on quebec.ca. The $1 million investment is guaranteed by the Government of Québec and returned without interest at the end of the term. The $200,000 is a contribution, not an investment.
Not open to new applicants
| Program | Status |
|---|---|
| Federal Start-up Visa | Paused. The deadline for 2025 commitment holders was June 30, 2026. |
| Federal Self-Employed Persons | Paused until further notice (cultural and athletic experience). It is separate from Quebec's self-employed program. |
| Ontario: former Entrepreneur Stream | Closed. The stream is archived. |
| Saskatchewan: Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur, Farm | Permanently closed on March 27, 2025. |
Government fees
| Province or territory | Provincial fee |
|---|---|
| British Columbia | Registration $300; application $3,500; request for review $500 |
| Manitoba | $2,500 (Entrepreneur Pathway and Farm Investor Pathway), non-refundable |
| New Brunswick | EOI free; $2,000 application fee, non-refundable |
| Nova Scotia | $2,000, non-refundable, for Entrepreneur EOIs selected on or after September 1, 2026 |
| Prince Edward Island | EOI free; $10,000 application fee if invited, with partial refunds depending on when a file is declined or withdrawn |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | No application fee; you pay for documents, verification and travel |
| Quebec | From January 1, 2026: investor $18,241 for the principal applicant (nothing for family members); entrepreneur and self-employed worker $1,272 for the principal applicant and $201 for each accompanying family member |
| Alberta | Rural Entrepreneur: EOI $200 and Business Application $3,500, both non-refundable. Farm Stream: $3,500 application fee. Check the page of the other streams for their fees |
| Northwest Territories, Yukon | The program pages we checked do not list a fee; check the program guidelines |
IRCC charges separate fees. For permanent residence applications received on or after April 30, 2026, a provincial nominee pays $990 plus the $600 right of permanent residence fee ($1,590) as principal applicant, the same for a spouse or partner, and $270 for each dependent child. Quebec business applicants pay $1,895 plus $600 as principal applicant, $990 plus $600 for a spouse or partner and $270 for each child. The work permit fee is $155 per person.
What the comparison does not show
Ownership
Rules range from at least 33.3% (Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia graduates, Northwest Territories) to 34% (Alberta graduate), 51% (Alberta Rural Entrepreneur, New Brunswick experience) and 100% for some buy-outs. Read how each stream applies the percentage.
Experience
Most streams want years of business ownership or senior management, from 2 to 5 years in a recent window. Graduate streams usually replace this with study in the province.
Jobs and sectors
Several streams require at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Yukon limits eligible sectors, and many streams exclude passive investment and property rental.
Timing and process
Some streams need an exploratory visit, a community letter, a designated agency letter or a business plan assessment before you can apply. Many require a performance agreement and 1 to 3 years of operation before nomination.
Choosing where to start
Lower capital
Regional streams (BC Regional, Alberta Rural Entrepreneur, the Manitoba outside-Winnipeg investment, Northwest Territories outside Yellowknife) set lower minimums but expect you to run the business in a smaller community.
Recent Canadian graduates
Alberta Graduate, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador graduate streams set no fixed financial minimum but require a post-graduation work permit, a Canadian credential, CLB 7 and an existing or planned business.
Farm buyers
Alberta and Manitoba have farm-specific streams with higher capital and proven farm management experience.
High-net-worth investors
Quebec's investor program is built around a guaranteed investment and a contribution rather than running a business, and it requires spoken French at level 7.
Then read the full province-by-province rules, and use the assessment for a review of your own file.
Frequently asked questions
Which stream has the lowest minimums?
The graduate streams in Alberta, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have no fixed net worth or investment minimum, but they are only for graduates of designated institutions. Among general streams, the lowest published figures are in the Northwest Territories outside Yellowknife ($250,000 net worth, $100,000 investment), followed by BC Regional and Alberta Rural Entrepreneur ($300,000 and $100,000).
Is a stream that is "open" the same as one that is inviting candidates?
No. Prince Edward Island lists its business stream but has issued no business invitations in 2026 so far, and Manitoba has not held draws for its business stream. Check the current notices before you plan around a stream.
Can I use the same money for net worth and investment?
The investment comes out of the same wealth that makes up your net worth, so do not add the two figures together. Some streams also require separate funds to settle and support your family, so check each stream's rules.
Are these minimums enough to qualify?
No. They are the entry gate only. Provinces also assess experience, ownership, the business plan, language results, lawful source of funds and admissibility, and select among candidates who meet the minimums.
Official sources
- WelcomeBC: Entrepreneur Immigration
- Alberta: AAIP streams
- Alberta: Rural Entrepreneur Stream eligibility
- Alberta: Graduate Entrepreneur Stream eligibility
- Alberta: Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream eligibility
- Alberta: Farm Stream eligibility
- Manitoba: Entrepreneur Pathway eligibility
- Manitoba: Entrepreneur Pathway, how to apply
- Manitoba: Farm Investor Pathway guidelines kit (July 2024)
- Ontario: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
- Saskatchewan: March 27, 2025 SINP changes
- Nova Scotia: Entrepreneur stream
- New Brunswick: Business Immigration Stream
- Newfoundland and Labrador: International Entrepreneur eligibility
- Newfoundland and Labrador: International Graduate Entrepreneur eligibility
- Prince Edward Island: Business Work Permit Stream
- Prince Edward Island: EOI draws
- Northwest Territories: Business Stream
- Yukon: Business Nominee Program eligibility
- Quebec: Investor program, applying
- Quebec: Investor program, conditions
- Quebec: Self-employed worker, conditions
- Quebec: Entrepreneur program, business start-up conditions
- Quebec: Entrepreneur program, takeover conditions
- Quebec: Immigration fees from January 1, 2026
- Alberta: Rural Entrepreneur Stream, how to apply
- Alberta: Farm Stream, how to apply
- IRCC: Fee changes (permanent residence fees from April 30, 2026)
- IRCC: Start-up Visa
- IRCC: Self-Employed Persons Program
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.