Invitation to apply, application and nomination

After you submit your EOI

Your Expression of Interest (EOI) will be placed in a pool and will be ranked against other candidates. Periodically we will draw the top scoring candidates from the pool and invite them to submit an application to OINP’s Entrepreneur Stream.

If you are invited to apply, you will receive an email with instructions on how to submit an online application through the OINP e-Filing Portal.

If you are selected, we will send you (or your representative) an email inviting you to apply to the Entrepreneur Stream.

The email will include:

• instructions on how to log into your online account
• your application deadline
• the Entrepreneur Stream Application Guide

You have 90 calendar days to submit your online application from the date of your invitation to apply.
If you are not selected within 12 months from the date of submitting your EOI, you will be removed from the selection pool. You have the option to submit a new EOI.

Review of personal net worth (third party verification report)

If you are invited to apply, you will need to hire a qualified vendor to review your personal net worth to support your claim that your personal net worth was lawfully obtained and is verifiable. The qualified vendor will produce a report of your personal net worth and its legal accumulation which you must submit as part of your application.

The following is the list of approved qualified vendors for the OINP Entrepreneur Stream:

Please note:

• You must have an OINP file number before you can engage a qualified vendor. You will receive a file number with your invitation to apply.
• Net worth verification reports completed before you have been issued an invitation to apply, or by someone other than the qualified vendors above, will not be accepted.
• The qualified vendors are required to complete a verification report within 60 days. Please ensure that you hire a vendor as soon as possible once you have been invited to apply in order to meet the 90 day submission deadline.

You will need to provide all supporting documentation identified in Appendix 4 to your chosen qualified vendor. This list of documents is not exhaustive and you may be required, at the vendor’s request, to submit additional documentation.

The cost of obtaining a verification report will depend on which qualified vendor you choose, and the amount of time it may take to evaluate your financial documentation. The price is set by the vendor. You are responsible for all costs associated with this service.

Use of the report by the OINP

The verification report will be used as part of the OINP application assessment process. Notwithstanding the conclusions of the net worth verification report, the OINP has the sole responsibility for assessing and evaluating your application including whether your reported personal net worth is verifiable and was lawfully obtained.

The OINP may request additional information, supporting documentation or clarification of details from you or the qualified vendor. As part of your online application, you will be required to provide your authorization to allow the OINP to contact the vendor in any case where further information, clarification or documentation is required.

Failure to provide satisfactory evidence that your personal net worth was lawfully obtained and is verifiable will result in the refusal of your application.

Supporting documents

You must provide documents to support the information in your EOI and your application and to prove you meet the eligibility criteria.

All supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded in your online application. Review the list of mandatory documents.

If a supporting document is not in English or French, you must provide a copy of the original document and a translation of the document. Please read Document Translation and Notarization  for more information.

Please note: If you do not upload all of the required documents, your application will be considered incomplete and will be returned and your fee refunded.

Cost to apply

The application fee is $3,500 for you and $3,500 for your business partner (if applicable). This fee covers the cost of processing your application.

We only accept:

• Visa
• Visa Debit
• Mastercard
• Mastercard Debit

Refunds

We will only refund the fee if we find your application is incomplete or you withdraw your application before we start to process it.

We will not refund the fee if your application is unsuccessful.

You can check the status of your application through your account in the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Submit an online application

• Before you start, make sure you meet all the mandatory requirements.
• Have your credit card ready (we only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit).
• Have your supporting documents (in English or French) scanned and ready to upload.
• Read the application instructions sent to you in the email inviting you to apply (important).
• You may complete the application yourself or have a representative complete it on your behalf.
• It will take about two hours to complete the application.
• You do not have to complete the application all at once, but you must submit your application within 90 calendar days of receiving your invitation to apply.

In your OINP e-Filing homepage, under My Application, click on the file number to open your online application (for example, BENT-*******).

Attend a mandatory interview

Once we have assessed your application, you will be notified by email whether your application is complete. If it is complete and appears to meet program criteria, you and your business partner (if applicable) will be required to attend a video conference interview.

The purpose of the interview is to get a better understanding of your business plan and your past experience.

After you apply

• If your stage 1 application is successful you will be asked to sign a Performance Agreement.
• If your stage 1 application is unsuccessful and you think we made an error in our decision that led to your application being refused, you may ask for an internal review.

Withdrawing your application

To withdraw your application, click on the “Withdraw” button next to your file number on your main page of the OINP e-Filing Portal.

Please note:

• We will only refund the application fee if you withdraw your application before we start processing it.
• To apply again, you will need to register a new EOI.

Changes in personal information

You must notify us if there are any changes to the information provided in your EOI or your application, including (but not limited to), changes in:

• Contact information
• Immigration status (expiration or change in work permit)
• Family composition due to:
  • marriage or common-law relationship
  • birth of a child
  • change of custody of a child
  • divorce/separation
  • death

You can make changes to your telephone number, email address and country of residence by logging into the OINP e-Filing Portal and clicking on “My Profile” on your main page. After the change has been made, click “Save”.

For all other changes, or to correct a data entry error (for example, you misspelled your name):

• Complete and save a Change of Personal Information form .
• Send the completed form by email as an attachment to business.immigration@ontario.ca.
• Use the subject line “Application Change Notice – [File number]”.
• If you are requesting a correction to your name or date of birth, please also include a copy of the personal details page of your passport to validate your request.

Please note: We will not accept requests to completely change a name or date of birth.

If you do not notify us of changes to your personal information it could impact the outcome of your application.

Sign a performance agreement

If your stage 1 application (including your interview) is successful, you will be asked to enter into a Performance Agreement with the Government of Ontario that will include mandatory criteria and EOI commitments.

The Performance Agreement will outline the commitments that must be met in order to be nominated for permanent residence. The document will include, but may not be limited to:

• a description of your business
• investment amounts and timelines
• number and types of jobs to be created for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
• mandatory business milestones and achievements
• timeframes for commitments

You should carefully consider your Performance Agreement commitments before finalizing and signing the Performance Agreement as you will be required to meet them in order for your application to be approved.

If your stage 1 application is unsuccessful

If your application is unsuccessful, we will let you know by email. If you think we made an error in our decision that led to your application being refused, you may ask for an internal review.

Internal review

Under the act, you are entitled to request an internal review of the director’s decision. In order to exercise this right, you must give written notice of the request to the director by completing a Notice of Request for Internal Review Form (0238E- 2020/05) and email it to internalreview-revisioninterne@ontario.ca. This must be done within 30 calendar days after receiving your Notice of Refusal.

Carefully follow the instructions provided in the Notice of Request for Internal Review Form (particularly the appendix) and ensure that the form is properly completed and the relevant documents attached, before you submit it.

Internal review requests must be sent by email. We will not accept requests by mail, fax or in-person.

Get a temporary work permit

After you sign the Performance Agreement, we will issue a letter of confirmation enabling you and your business partner (if applicable) to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a temporary work permit. This letter constitutes Ontario’s support for you and your family to move to Ontario to start the business.

IRCC is responsible for issuing all work permits in Canada.

Establish your business

During the time you are establishing your business you must check in with us on a regular basis.

Arrive in Ontario

You must arrive in Ontario with your valid temporary work permit within 12 months from the date you received your letter of confirmation from the OINP.

You must tell us you have arrived in Ontario within seven days of getting here.

Build your business

Once you get to Ontario, you have 20 months from the date you arrive to implement your business and meet all commitments under your Performance Agreement.

You must ensure that the required permanent full-time jobs are continuously filled for at least 10 months, up to the day you submit your final report.

OINP officers will monitor your business to make sure you stay on track in meeting your obligations under your Performance Agreement. You will also be required to provide progress reports every 6 months and a final report to OINP.

Submit a final report

You must submit your final report to us between 18 and 20 months (no later) after you arrive in Ontario.

Get nominated for permanent residence

After we confirm that your new business has met the commitments outlined in the Performance Agreement, we will ask you for supporting documentation to ensure you (and your business partner) meet the nomination requirements listed below.

Language

You must be able to listen, read, write and speak English or French at a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4.

For English tests, the OINP accepts:

• International English Language Testing (IELTS) (General Training test only)
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) (General test only)

For French tests, the OINP accepts:

• Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Learn more about the English and French language tests 

Residency

You must be physically living in Ontario for 75% of the time during which you are establishing your business.

Active management

You must be actively involved in the day-to-day management activities of your business.

Meet the commitments in your Performance Agreement

You must meet all the commitments agreed to in your Performance Agreement, which are based on information provided in your EOI and business plan. 

If your application is approved

If your application for nomination is successful you will receive a Letter of Nomination and an OINP Certificate of Nomination.

Your next step is to apply within six months for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

You will need to include your Letter of Nomination and the OINP Certificate of Nomination.

If your application is refused

If we determine that you have not met all requirements necessary for your application to be approved, we will issue a Notice of Intent to Refuse Application (NOIR) that you will be able to respond to. If notwithstanding any response to the NOIR your application is still refused and you think we made an error in our decision, you may ask for an internal review in accordance with the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.

Monitoring after nomination

Post-nomination monitoring will continue if your application is approved and you are nominated. This monitoring is to ensure that nominees are meeting the Entrepreneur Stream criteria up until the granting of permanent residence.

After permanent residence has been granted, monitoring will continue to collect valuable information from former nominees to assist with the evaluation of the Entrepreneur Stream.

Technical problems

If you are experiencing technical issues with applying online, send us an email at business.immigration@ontario.ca and include as much detail as possible about the issue.
OINP staff will review your email and respond to you as soon as possible.