Status tracker, October 2026
"Open" below means that a current registration, expression of interest (EOI) or application route exists on the official site. It does not mean invitations are being issued, that nominations are available, or that an application will be approved. Check the linked official source before applying. To compare minimums side by side, use the entrepreneur streams comparison.
| Province or territory | Business programs | Status |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | Entrepreneur Immigration: Base, Regional and Strategic Projects | Open (registration and invitation) |
| Alberta | Rural Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur, Farm | Open (EOI); small 2026 allocation |
| Manitoba | Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway, Farm Investor Pathway | EOIs reviewed individually; no draws |
| Ontario | Former OINP Entrepreneur Stream | Closed |
| Saskatchewan | Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur, Farm Owner and Operator | Permanently closed (March 27, 2025) |
| Nova Scotia | Entrepreneur stream (includes international graduate entrepreneurs since February 18, 2026) | Open (EOI, by invitation) |
| New Brunswick | New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream | Open (EOI, by invitation) |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | International Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur | Open (EOI) |
| Prince Edward Island | Business Work Permit Stream | Listed; no business invitations in 2026 so far |
| Northwest Territories | NWT Nominee Program Business Stream | Open (first come, first served) |
| Yukon | Yukon Business Nominee Program | Application route listed (candidate pool) |
| Quebec | Investor, Entrepreneur, Self-employed worker (not a PNP) | Separate Quebec selection |
| Nunavut | No provincial nominee program | Not applicable |
How provincial entrepreneur programs usually work
Most provincial business streams ask you to prove performance in Canada before you are nominated. During the business period you are only a potential nominee, not a nominee.
- Confirm intakeCheck that the stream is accepting registrations, EOIs or applications. An online profile is not an invitation, and a high self-calculated score does not guarantee selection.
- Meet the minimumsCheck the province's net worth, investment, ownership, business or management experience, language, age, education and exploratory-visit rules.
- Prepare a credible business planTie the business to the local market, eligible sectors, job creation and your own experience. Passive investments and some sectors, such as property rental, are usually excluded.
- Apply after invitationComplete third-party net-worth verification where required, attend any interview and sign a performance agreement. The province then issues a work-permit support letter.
- Operate the businessApply to IRCC for a work permit (exemption code C60), move to the province and run the business while meeting the investment, ownership, job and reporting conditions. IRCC's officer instructions say this period usually lasts 2 years, or up to 3 years in Quebec, though some provinces allow a nomination request sooner.
- Request nomination, then apply for PROnce the performance conditions are met, request nomination, then apply to IRCC for permanent residence within the time your province allows. Keep meeting the agreement until PR is finalized.
British Columbia
BC's Entrepreneur Immigration has Base and Regional streams for individuals, and a Strategic Projects stream for foreign companies sending key staff. Base and Regional require registration and an invitation; you then have four months to apply. The figures below are from WelcomeBC's entrepreneur page, last updated September 10, 2025.
| Requirement | Base | Regional |
|---|---|---|
| Personal net worth | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Eligible investment | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| Owner-manager experience | 3 years in the last 10 | 3 years in the last 5 |
| New full-time jobs | 1 | 1 |
| Language | CLB 4 | CLB 4 |
| Community referral | Not required | Required |
| Exploratory visit | Recommended | Required |
Strategic Projects requires a $500,000 equity investment and 3 new jobs for each key staff member (up to 5). BC fees: registration $300, application $3,500 (plus $1,000 per additional key staff member), request for review $500.
After an invitation you have four months to apply (90 days for Strategic Projects). If the file is approved and you sign the performance agreement, BC issues a Letter of support. For Base and Regional you then submit the work permit application within 90 days, arrive in B.C. within 12 months of the work permit, implement the business plan within 20 months of arrival and submit the final report 18 to 20 months after arrival. Strategic Projects applicants must arrive within 6 months of the Letter of support and submit the final report 12 to 24 months after arrival. BC's 2026 entrepreneur rounds have been small, with 7 to 15 Base invitations and fewer than 5 to 5 Regional invitations per round, and minimum scores of 115 to 121 (Base) and 105 to 129 (Regional). See the BC entrepreneur score guide.
Both streams: for the owner-manager experience requirement, WelcomeBC says an eligible post-secondary degree may be considered instead, but confirm this with the BC PNP before relying on it. Some business types are excluded, such as bed and breakfasts, home-based businesses and real estate development. Registration places you in a pool for up to six months or until you are invited. Application fees are refunded only if you withdraw before the BC PNP begins assessing the file. The Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide sets out the exceptions.
Alberta
Alberta's Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) has four business streams: Rural Entrepreneur (start or buy a business in a rural community), Graduate Entrepreneur (graduates of approved Alberta post-secondary institutions), Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur (foreign degree holders working with a designated agency on a start-up or innovative business) and the Farm Stream. The three entrepreneur streams use an EOI. Alberta's 2026 allocation for all entrepreneur streams is only 60 nominations (36 issued as of October 7, 2026).
Rural Entrepreneur minimums: net worth $300,000, investment $100,000, at least 51% ownership of a new business (100% for a succession buy-out), CLB 4, and 3 years as an owner-manager or 4 years as a senior manager within the last 10 years. A community support letter is needed before the EOI, and an exploratory visit (in person or by video) is required. On August 12, 2026 Alberta clarified how it assesses the "economic establishment" requirement; eligibility criteria did not change.
Fees and timelines for Rural Entrepreneur: the EOI costs $200 (non-refundable). If you are invited, you have 90 days to submit the Business Application with a non-refundable $3,500 fee. After approval you sign the Business Performance Agreement within 14 days, apply to IRCC for the work permit within 3 months of receiving the support letter, and move to Alberta within 12 months of the approval letter. You submit an arrival report within 30 days of the work permit's issue date and a progress report every six months.
Graduate Entrepreneur
A post-graduation work permit valid when you submit the EOI; at least two years of full-time study leading to a degree or diploma at an Alberta publicly funded post-secondary institution; CLB 7 in each skill (results under 2 years old); ownership of at least 34%; you live in Alberta and manage the business day to day. There is no minimum net worth or investment, although a larger investment earns more points on the 125-point grid. An existing Alberta business must have operated for at least one year before the EOI.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur
A degree completed outside Canada within the last 10 years, with an educational credential assessment; investment of at least $100,000 in Edmonton or Calgary areas or $50,000 in a regional area; ownership of at least 34% (urban) or 51% (regional); CLB 5; at least 6 months of full-time business management or ownership (or equivalent incubator experience); a letter of recommendation from an AAIP-approved agency (Elite Global Group, Empowered Startups or Platform Calgary); a business plan and pitch deck; a business in a listed sector such as technology, aerospace, energy, agriculture, tourism or life sciences; and settlement funds based on family size.
Farm
Net worth of at least $500,000 (or access to a similar amount), at least $500,000 in equity invested in a primary production farm in Alberta (more may be required), proof of farm management skills and a business plan that Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation reviews for viability. You apply directly for nomination with a paper application mailed to Alberta and a non-refundable $3,500 fee (no online EOI). Alberta treats every application as an expression of interest and may not process applications in the order received.
Before you rely on a stream
Meeting the minimums does not guarantee selection. For the Farm Stream, the criteria must be met both when you apply and when Alberta assesses the file. Fraud or misrepresentation can lead to a ban of up to five years. AAIP charges fees for applications and services, so check the current amounts on each stream's page.
Manitoba
Manitoba's Business Investor Stream has an Entrepreneur Pathway (opening a business in Manitoba) and a Farm Investor Pathway (establishing and operating a farm in rural Manitoba). The renewed Entrepreneur Pathway replaced the earlier business stream, and the former $100,000 deposit is no longer required. Manitoba says EOI draws for this stream are not currently being held. Instead, every EOI is reviewed, with a target of four weeks, and the candidate receives either a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) or a feedback letter.
Entrepreneur Pathway: minimums
Net worth of at least $500,000, verified by a third party; a business investment of $250,000 in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region or $150,000 outside it; at least one job created or maintained for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (not an owner or close relative); 3 years of full-time experience in the last 5 as an active owner or senior manager; CLB 5; and at least Canadian high school equivalency. Ownership of at least 33 1/3% earns owner points. A business research visit is recommended, not required, and must be within one year before the EOI.
Farm Investor Pathway
Net worth of at least $500,000; at least $300,000 in tangible assets invested in Manitoba (control of at least 33.33% of the equity when buying into an existing farm, or an equity investment of $1 million); 3 years of full-time farm experience in the last 5; a farm research visit of at least five business days; a $75,000 refundable deposit for approved applicants; and a $2,500 non-refundable fee. The nomination application is due within 120 days of the LAA, and the deposit is held for two years from landing. These figures are from the 2024 guidelines kit; confirm that they are still current before filing.
- Send the EOI packageEmail the EOI, Business Concept Form, Self-Assessment Form and MPNP Code of Conduct to the Business Stream.
- Apply only after an LAAThe application includes a net worth and source-of-funds report from a designated verifier, due within 120 days of the LAA. The Entrepreneur Pathway fee is $2,500, paid by wire transfer and non-refundable.
- Interview and agreementBusiness immigration officers review the file and may invite you to an interview. If approved, you sign a Business Performance Agreement before Manitoba issues the work permit support letter.
- After arrivalReport to the MPNP in person within 30 days. Submit a first progress report within six months of arrival and a final report no later than 20 months after arrival, after operating the business for at least six months. If the agreement is met, Manitoba recommends nomination.
Ontario
The former OINP Entrepreneur Stream is closed. Its page now redirects to the Archives of Ontario, and no Entrepreneur invitation rounds were held in 2025. Since the 2026 redesign, the Ontario Workforce Priority stream, which requires an Ontario job offer (except for self-employed physicians), is the only open OINP stream. Do not use the old investment or points criteria as a current route.
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan permanently closed its Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm Owner and Operator categories on March 27, 2025. No new EOIs or applications are accepted; existing files are processed. They are listed here only so that they are not mistaken for open routes.
Nova Scotia
Since February 18, 2026, Nova Scotia's nominee program has four streams, and the Entrepreneur stream now includes international graduate entrepreneurs. Applications are by invitation only, from the EOI pool.
Entrepreneur
Age 21 or older; net worth at least $600,000 ($400,000 outside Halifax Regional Municipality); investment of at least $150,000 ($100,000 outside HRM); at least 3 years owning (at least one-third) and actively managing a business, or more than 5 years in senior management; CLB 5 in all four skills. You operate the business for 1 year before nomination.
International graduate entrepreneur
A degree or diploma from at least 2 academic years of full-time, in-person study at a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College; a valid post-graduation work permit; at least 1 year of continuous ownership (at least 33.33%) and active management of your current Nova Scotia business; CLB 7.
From September 1, 2026, Nova Scotia charges a non-refundable $2,000 fee for the Entrepreneur stream, for EOIs selected on or after that date. After receiving the nominee certificate, you have 12 months to apply to IRCC.
New Brunswick
The New Brunswick Business Immigration Stream replaced the former Entrepreneurial stream. Submitting an EOI is free; you must be invited before applying.
- Age 19 to 59; CLB 4 in all four skills; a Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent
- Net worth of at least $500,000 ($300,000 for agriculture-sector investments)
- 2 years of qualifying experience in the last 5: owning 51% or more of a private company, or senior management of a for-profit business, managing daily operations and supervising at least 2 employees
- A business plan with at least $150,000 in eligible investment and at least 1 full-time job
- At least 65 of 100 points on the selection grid; a non-refundable $2,000 application fee
- After arrival: report within 1 month, open the business within 9 months, and request nomination after 6 months of operation under the Business Performance Agreement
- Net worth verification: New Brunswick's notice says MDD Forensic Accountants no longer accepts new clients for this service and directs candidates to Doane Grant Thornton LLP or MNP LLP
Newfoundland and Labrador
Both categories state that their EOI system is open. There is no provincial application fee; you pay for documents such as language tests, credential assessments and translations, travel for the exploratory visit and interview, and the federal fees.
International Entrepreneur
For experienced business owners or senior managers who start or buy a business in the province and actively manage it for at least one full year. Age 21 to 59; a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent confirmed by an educational credential assessment less than 5 years old; at least $600,000 in personal and business assets that can be transferred to Canada, confirmed by a Net Worth Verification Report from a designated verifier; an investment of about $200,000 with at least 33.3% ownership, or $1 million in equity; 2 or more years owning (25% or more) and managing a business in the last 5 years, or 5 or more years in senior management in the last 10; CLB 5; and an exploratory visit before applying if you live outside the province.
International Graduate Entrepreneur
For graduates of Memorial University or the College of the North Atlantic. Age 21 or older; a degree or diploma from at least 2 years of full-time, in-person study, completed within the last 2 years; a current post-graduation work permit; CLB 7; ownership of at least 33.3% of a for-profit local business you have actively managed for at least one full year. A new business must employ at least one full-time, year-round Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is not a family member. An existing business must have had the same owner for the past 5 years. Review reports are prepared by a licensed Newfoundland and Labrador chartered professional accountant and sent directly to the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism.
Read the province's application guide for the full requirements.
Prince Edward Island
The Business Work Permit Stream is for people with business ownership or extensive management experience who want to start a business in PEI. Requirements include a verifiable personal net worth of at least $600,000 confirmed by a designated verifier, secondary-school education, age 21 to 59, CLB 4, an interview and a performance agreement. EOI profiles are free and stay active for 6 months; an EOI is not an application. If invited, the application fee is $10,000, refunded in full if the file is not accepted, with $7,500 refunded if it is declined or withdrawn before the interview and nothing after the interview. After the agreement is met, PEI issues a nomination certificate. All of PEI's 2026 invitations to October 16 went to labour and Express Entry candidates; no business invitations were issued.
Northwest Territories
The NWT Nominee Program's Business Stream accepts applications on a first-come, first-served basis, separately from the Employer-Driven Stream draw schedule (confirmed in the territory's September 18, 2026 announcement). The program page sets an equity investment of at least $200,000 in Yellowknife or $100,000 elsewhere, a net worth of at least $500,000 or $250,000, and at least 33.3% ownership unless the investment is $1 million or more.
Language is CLB 4 (IELTS, CELPIP or TEF, results no more than two years old). Applicants must have no active application with another nominee program and must be ready to settle full-time in the territory. The process is a self-assessment, an exploratory visit and face-to-face interview, a pre-screening of your business concept, a formal application and business plan, a two-year Business Performance Agreement, an arrival report and an interim report, and then nomination after a final report. Decisions are final and there is no appeal. Check the program guidelines for fees and deposits.
Yukon
Under the Yukon Business Nominee Program, an eligible initial application with an approved business concept and at least 65 points on the assessment grid enters a candidate pool for 6 months. Being in the pool does not guarantee selection. Selected candidates submit verification documents and a business plan assessment and may be invited to an exploratory trip and in-person interview. If approved, Yukon supports a 2-year work permit, followed by nomination support if the requirements are met. Language: IELTS 6 or TEF Canada 4. Submit the complete, signed original application in person in Whitehorse or by mail. Yukon says it will contact you within 12 to 14 weeks, and longer when volume is high. The page does not say whether intake is currently open, so confirm with the Yukon government before preparing a file.
Personal requirements
Net worth of at least $500,000 and liquid assets of at least $300,000, both with a legal source verified by a Yukon accounting firm; a plan to invest at least $300,000 in the business within the first 2 years (investments made before acceptance and operating costs do not count); at least 3 years of business or management experience and 5 years of experience relevant to the business; a high school diploma; a TEER 0 or 1 role in the business; and the intention to live permanently in Yukon. You must also not be a refugee or have an active refugee claim, never have been denied immigration by the Government of Canada, and have no active application to another provincial or territorial nominee program.
Business requirements
You must not have bought or started the Yukon business before you apply. It must be a new business or the purchase of an existing Yukon business that you manage personally, in a listed sector: information technology, manufacturing, value-added processing, forestry, tourism, energy, mining, agriculture, cultural industries or film and video. Retail, wholesale, restaurants, financial services, most professional services, real estate, holding companies and gas stations are ineligible.
Quebec
Quebec runs its own business selection outside the PNP: investor, entrepreneur (innovative business, business startup and takeover streams) and self-employed worker. You need a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) before applying to IRCC.
- Investor: Quebec says applications can be submitted at any time, with no maximum number. The review fee for the principal applicant is $18,241 from January 1, 2026. Conditions include a net worth of at least $2,000,000, at least two years of management experience in the last five, a five-year investment of $1,000,000 (guaranteed by the Government of Québec and returned without interest) plus a $200,000 financial contribution, and spoken French at level 7. Spouses and children pay no review fee.
- Self-employed worker: applications at any time, with no maximum. Net worth of at least $100,000, a start-up deposit of $25,000 outside the Montréal metropolitan community or $50,000 within it, 2 years of self-employment in your profession in the last 5 years, and spoken French at level 7 or higher on the Quebec scale. The fee from January 1, 2026 is $1,272 for the principal applicant and $201 for each accompanying family member.
- Entrepreneur: applications for the business start-up stream can be submitted at any time, with no maximum number. Conditions include a net worth of at least $600,000, start-up and operating expenses of at least $300,000 in the Montréal metropolitan area or $150,000 elsewhere, a personal contribution of at least 25% of the business's capital, at least two years of business management experience in the last five years, and spoken French at level 7. The fee from January 1, 2026 is $1,272 for the principal applicant and $201 for each accompanying family member. Check quebec.ca for the takeover and innovative-business streams.
See Quebec business immigration for the full guide.
IRCC permanent residence fees
These are federal fees, separate from each province's fee. For 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 $990 plus $600 for a spouse or partner, and $270 for each dependent child. Quebec business applicants pay the business rate: $1,895 plus $600 for the principal applicant, $990 plus $600 for a spouse or partner and $270 for each child. Biometrics are $85 per person, to a maximum of $170 per family. The $600 fee is paid at approval and refunded if the application is withdrawn or refused; dependent children do not pay it.
Business files depend on evidence
Ownership and control
Corporate registries, shareholder records, licences, contracts, tax filings and bank signing authority should prove ownership and management, not just a job title.
Net worth
List assets and liabilities consistently across countries and currencies. Valuations must be supportable and ownership must match civil and corporate records.
Source of funds
Trace employment income, dividends, retained earnings, sale proceeds, inheritances and gifts from origin to the current account. Large unexplained transfers create credibility and misrepresentation risks.
Business performance and plan
Financial statements, tax returns, payroll, invoices and contracts prove scale and active management. The plan's market, location, staffing, costs and milestones should be realistic for the chosen community.
Avoid guaranteed-program claims
- No consultant, incubator, fund, province or employer can guarantee a work permit, nomination or permanent residence.
- Check the stream and its intake on the government site before paying an agent, buying a business, transferring money or signing a lease.
- Get independent legal, tax, accounting and commercial advice. Immigration eligibility does not prove an investment is sound or recoverable.
- Disclose refusals, ownership, related parties, criminal or regulatory history and the true source of funds. Misrepresentation can lead to refusal and a five-year inadmissibility under IRPA section 40.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a business first and then apply?
Not safely. Yukon, for example, requires that you have not bought or started the business before you apply, and several streams require approval and a performance agreement before you operate. Confirm the stream's sequence before you buy anything.
Do I have to live in the province that nominates me?
Yes. These streams expect you to settle in the province or territory, run the business there and report on it during the performance period.
Does registering or submitting an EOI mean I will be invited?
No. Registration, an EOI and a high self-assessed score only place you in a pool or queue. Provinces choose candidates, and some are issuing few or no business invitations in 2026.
Can I count my savings twice, as net worth and as investment?
No. The investment is money you put into the business. Net worth is your total assets minus your debts, so the two overlap and the investment is not an extra amount on top of net worth.
Official sources
- WelcomeBC: Entrepreneur Immigration
- Alberta: AAIP streams
- Alberta: AAIP processing information and allocations
- Alberta: AAIP updates
- Manitoba: Business Investor Stream
- Manitoba: EOI draws (Business Investor Stream notice)
- 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
- Newfoundland and Labrador: International Graduate Entrepreneur
- Prince Edward Island: Business Work Permit Stream
- Prince Edward Island: EOI draws
- Northwest Territories: September 2026 nominee program update
- Northwest Territories: Business Stream
- Yukon: Business Nominee Program
- Quebec: Investor program, applying
- Quebec: Self-employed worker, conditions
- Manitoba: Entrepreneur Pathway eligibility
- Manitoba: Entrepreneur Pathway, how to apply
- Manitoba: Farm Investor Pathway guidelines kit (July 2024)
- Alberta: Graduate Entrepreneur Stream eligibility
- Alberta: Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream eligibility
- Alberta: Farm Stream eligibility
- Newfoundland and Labrador: International Entrepreneur eligibility
- Newfoundland and Labrador: International Graduate Entrepreneur eligibility
- Yukon: Business Nominee Program eligibility
- Quebec: Investor program, conditions
- IRCC: Provincial business candidates work permits (C60)
- WelcomeBC: Invitations to apply (entrepreneur rounds)
- Alberta: Rural Entrepreneur Stream, how to apply
- Alberta: Farm Stream, how to apply
- New Brunswick: Important notices
- Quebec: Entrepreneur program, business start-up conditions
- Quebec: Immigration fees from January 1, 2026
- IRCC: Fee changes (permanent residence fees from April 30, 2026)
- Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, section 40 (misrepresentation)
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.