Overview

The Corporate Stream is an immigration stream under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP).

This stream is for international companies looking to expand into Ontario or buy an existing business in the province.

Once your business is successfully established and has met the obligations of a performance agreement, a maximum of five key staff may be eligible for nomination for permanent residence.

If they are nominated, the next step is to apply to the federal government through Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.

The Corporate Stream application is a two-stage process.

Stage 1

  • you (as the authorized signing officer) must complete an online application proving that the eligibility criteria are or will be satisfied and upload supporting corporate documents and supporting documents for each key staff applicant
  • you must attend an in-person interview at the OINP office in Toronto
  • if your stage 1 application is approved, you must sign a performance agreement outlining the commitments you made to invest and create jobs in Ontario

Stage 2

  • we issue temporary work permit support letters to key staff applicants so that they can apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit
  • after key staff arrive in Ontario they have 20 months to build the business and implement the business plan
  • if the performance agreement commitments are met, key staff applicants may be eligible for nomination for permanent residence

Before you apply

  • make sure the company and the key staff meet the mandatory requirements
  • have your supporting documents for the corporation and key staff ready
  • understand the online application process

Mandatory requirements

To qualify under the Corporate Stream, you must meet all the criteria in the four categories below.

Please refer section 14 of Ontario Regulation 422/17 and the Corporate Stream Application Guide for more details on each requirement.

1. Applicant business and investment requirements

As the applicant business, you must:

  • have been established outside of Canada for at least 36 months at the time you submit your application
  • have an eligible structure (public corporation, sole proprietorship or partnership)
  • make a minimum of $5 million CDN investment to expand into Ontario or purchase an existing business in the province
    • the source of investment funds must have been obtained through legal sources
    • the proposed investment activity must be of significant economic benefit to Ontario
    • not invest the capital in the proposed business for the primary purpose of getting interest, dividends or capital gain

2. Local job creation requirements

Your company must create five full-time, permanent positions for Canadian citizens or permanent residents per key staff position. This means, for example, that if you are proposing five key staff you must create 25 permanent and full-time jobs.

  • a permanent and full-time job means a position that consists of a minimum of 1,560 hours of paid employment over a 12-month period
  • the position must be continuously filled for at least 10 months prior to the submission of your final report (see Establish your business below)
  • all positions must be paid at or above the median wage level for that position

3. General business requirements

The proposed business must:

  • have a clear structural linkage between the parent company and the proposed new business in Ontario as a subsidiary, a branch or an affiliate of the company
  • intend to make a profit through the sale of goods and/or services
  • have its primary income sources from active (earned) income not passive (unearned) income
  • comply with all federal, provincial and municipal legal, regulatory or licensing requirements that govern its operation. This includes complying with all Ontario labour laws including, but not limited to, employment standards and health and safety and labour regulations
  • be considered a permanent business in Ontario (project based/seasonal businesses are not eligible)

There are additional eligibility criteria if you are looking to purchase an existing business or if the business you are establishing in Ontario is a land development or leasehold company. Refer to the Corporate Stream Application Guide for more information.

4. Key staff and position requirements

Your corporation may request up to five key staff (prospective nominees for permanent residence) to establish the business in Ontario.

All key staff must meet the following requirements at the time of application.

Note: Key staff will need to meet additional requirements to be nominated for permanent residence – see get nominated for permanent residence.

Key staff must:

  • be essential to establishing and operating the proposed business
  • be in a senior, executive, management or specialized knowledge capacity in your corporation’s existing business
    • refer to National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill level 0 or skill type A
    • only one key staff applicant can be in the NOC skill type A position, the remaining key staff must be in the NOC skill level 0
  • have at least 36 months of experience in the last 60 months with your company in the intended occupation
  • have been working continuously in that position in your company in the 12 months immediately prior to submitting the application
  • not have an immediate family relationship with any member of your corporation’s executive board or board of directors or shareholders with more than 10 per cent equity in your company
  • not hold or have held equity in your corporation, except in the case where that equity has been obtained as part of the remuneration package in their employee contract, in which case the equity must be less than 10 per cent of your corporation’s business
  • key staff positions in the proposed business in Ontario must be permanent and full-time jobs and meet prevailing wage levels

Ineligible types of businesses

Before you start the process of applying you need to ensure that your proposed business is not one of the ineligible types listed below:

  • automated car wash operations
  • holding companies
  • laundromats
  • pawnbrokers
  • pay day loan and related businesses
  • scrap metal recycling
  • tire recycling
  • businesses which have been previously owned/operated by current or former OINP business stream nominees

If your proposed business will be located in the Greater Toronto Area, the following types are also ineligible:

  • existing franchises in Ontario (new foreign franchises expanding into Ontario are permitted)
  • gas stations
  • bed and breakfasts

Supporting documents

You must provide supporting documents to validate the information in your application and to prove the company and key staff applicants meet the eligibility criteria.

All supporting documents must be scanned and uploaded in your online application. Refer to the Document checklists for Corporate Stream (applicant business documents and documents for key staff) for a list of mandatory documents.

You will need to obtain a completed, signed copy of the Key Staff Application Form from each key staff applicant, as well as all of their supporting documentation.

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.

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

Cost to apply

The application fee is $3,500 per key staff applicant and covers the cost of processing your application.

We only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and 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.

Application process

Please note:

  • you have to apply online through the OINP e-Filing Portal
  • it takes about three hours to complete the application
  • you do not have to complete the application in one session, you can save your work and return to it later
  • you can complete the application yourself or have a representative complete on your behalf
  • you have to pay $3,500 per key staff applicant
  • you have to pay by credit card, we only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit

Use a representative to apply

You may choose to appoint an authorized representative, such as an immigration consultant or lawyer, to provide advice or help with the application process and to act on your behalf with the OINP.

If you wish to appoint a representative, they must create an account in the OINP e-Filing Portal and then submit your application through the portal on your behalf.

Learn more about representatives and how to appoint one.

Stage 1: Submit an online application

  1. Before you start, make sure you meet all the company and key staff applicant requirements
  2. Have your credit card ready (we only accept Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard and Mastercard Debit)
  3. Have your supporting documents (in English or French) scanned and ready to upload
  4. Read the application instructions (important)

Application instructions

Once you click “Submit an application”:

  1. Choose whether you are a returning user or a new applicant
  2. Choose the Corporate Stream
  3. If you are a new applicant, you must pre-register with your name and date of birth (not required if you are already registered)
  4. Log into your ONe-key account. If you do not have one, click “Sign up now!”
  5. Once you’ve logged into your ONe-key account, you will be sent back to the OINP e-Filing Portal
  6. Create a profile in the OINP e-Filing Portal
  7. Once you’ve completed your profile, click “Finish” and you will be sent to your main page in the e-Filing Portal
  8. Click on the file number beside the Corporate Stream to begin your application

Please note:

It takes about three hours to complete your application. You don’t have to complete the application in one session, you can save your work and return to it later.

Submit an application

After you apply

After you (or your representative) submit your application, you will get an email to confirm that we have received it.

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

For regular updates on processing times, read the OINP Application processing times and nominations issued.

Attend a mandatory interview

Once we have assessed your application, you (or your representative) will be notified by email whether your application is complete. If it is complete and appears to meet program criteria, you will be required to attend an in-person interview at our office in Toronto.

The purpose of the interview is to get a better understanding of your business plan, the key staff’s past experience and other matters relevant to your application.

Your company is responsible for all transportation arrangements and costs associated with the interview. If you and/or any of your key staff are unable to attend the interview, your application may be returned and/or refused, and your processing fee will not be refunded.

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.

Remember, we will only refund the application fee if you withdraw your application before we start processing it.

Note: There is no substitution or replacement of key staff during stage 1 of the application. If a key staff applicant wishes to withdraw from the program while the application is being assessed, you (as the signing authority) must withdraw the application.

In stage 2, if a key staff wishes to withdraw from the program this will not affect the outcome of the other key staff applicants.

Changes in personal information

You must notify us if there are any changes to the information provided in your application.

Key staff changes including (but not limited to):

  • 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

Company changes including:

  • contact information
  • authorized signing officer status
  • other pertinent changes

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 (e.g., you misspelled your name):

  1. complete and save a Change of personal information form
  2. send the completed form by email as an attachment to business.immigration@ontario.ca
  3. use the subject line “Application Change Notice – [File number]”
  4. 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.

Sign a performance agreement

If your stage 1 application is successful, you (as the authorized signing officer) will be asked to sign a performance agreement with the Government of Ontario.

The performance agreement will outline the commitments that the new business must achieve in order for the key staff to be eligible for nomination for permanent residence.

The performance agreement will include, but is not limited to:

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

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.

To request an internal review:

  1. Send an email to internalreview-revisioninterne@ontario.ca. You must email us within:
    • 30 calendar days of receiving your notice of refusal if you live in Canada
    • 60 calendar days of receiving your notice of refusal if you live outside of Canada
  2. In your email, explain how:
    • on the date you submitted your application, you met all requirements
    • an error we made resulted in your application being unsuccessful

Do not include any new information that you did not include in your original application, unless that information was not reasonably available to you at the time you submitted your application.

New information that you did not include in your application because of an oversight will not be considered.

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

Stage 2: Get a temporary work permit

After you sign the performance agreement, we will issue a letter of confirmation enabling the key staff applicant(s) to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a temporary work permit. This letter constitutes Ontario’s support for the key applicant(s) and their family to move to Ontario to start the business.

IRCC is responsible for issuing all work permits in Canada.

Establish your business

1. Arrive in Ontario

Key staff must arrive in Ontario with their valid temporary work permit within 12 months from the date of their letter of confirmation from the OINP.

You must designate one of your key staff as the primary contact person for all OINP matters. The primary contact person must tell us of all key staff’s arrival in Ontario within seven days of their getting here.

2. Build your business

Once key staff get to Ontario, you have 20 months from the date you arrive to implement your business plan and meet all commitments under your performance agreement.

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

OINP officers will monitor your business to make sure you stay on track to meeting your obligations under your performance agreement. You will also be required to provide quarterly reports and a final report to OINP.

3. Submit a final report

The corporation must submit a final report to us between 18 and 20 months after the key staff arrives in Ontario.

Get nominated for permanent residence

After we have confirmed that the new business has met the commitments outlined in the performance agreement, key staff who meet the following requirements can apply for a nomination for permanent residence.

Notes:

  • after the new business has met the performance agreement, each key staff applicant is responsible for their own nomination eligibility
  • if one key staff does not meet the requirements, the others may still be eligible for nomination.

Key staff applicant requirements

Each applicant must meet the criteria in the three categories below.

1. Position requirements

You must be in the position approved by the OINP and you must be carrying out the approved job duties and be earning the median wage for the position.

2. 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, we accept:

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

For French tests, we accept:

  • 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

3. Residency

You must live in Ontario and have been physically present for at least 75 per cent of each year (nine months out of the year) during the time you are in Ontario on a temporary work permit.

Refer to the Corporate Stream Application Guide for more details on these requirements.

If you are nominated

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

Once we notify you, your next step is to apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) within six months.

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

If you are not nominated

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.

To request an internal review:

Send an email to internalreview-revisioninterne@ontario.ca. You must email us within:

  • 30 calendar days of receiving your notice of refusal if you live in Canada
  • 60 calendar days of receiving your notice of refusal if you live outside of Canada

In your email, explain how:

  • on the date you submitted your application, you met all requirements
  • an error we made resulted in your application being unsuccessful

Do not include any new information that you did not include in your original application, unless that information was not reasonably available to you at the time you submitted your application.

New information that you did not include in your application because of an oversight will not be considered.

Monitoring after nomination

Post-nomination monitoring will continue for a period of 36 months after the key staff applicant(s) have been nominated. This monitoring is to ensure that nominees are meeting the Corporate 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 Corporate Stream.

Contact us

Ask us a question by email at business.immigration@ontario.ca

Technical problems

If you are experiencing technical issues with applying online, send us an email at ontarionominee@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.

Corporate Stream – Business Checklist

Summary

When applying to the Corporate Stream of the OINP you must scan and upload with your application copies of your company documents and business succession documents (if purchasing an existing business) as listed below.

You must also scan and upload documents for each key staff applicant. Please refer to the key staff checklist for a complete list.

Important: All documents are mandatory unless otherwise stated.

Company documents

Business plan

You must scan and upload a copy of the business plan, including any additional documents to support the claims and intentions of the business plan.

Documents may include, but are not limited to:

  • financial and tax statements
  • sales forecasts
  • competitor analysis
  • industry statistics
  • market trend data
  • employee staffing and human resource plans
  • risk assessments
  • applications for licences or permits
  • industry association memberships

Financial analysis

You must scan and upload copies of the following documents to support the financial analysis in the business plan:

  • income statements: 4-year projected income statements including clear assumptions for all revenue and expenses
  • balance sheets: 4-year projected balance sheets including clear assumptions for all assets and liabilities
  • statements of cash flows: 4-year projected cash flow statements including clear assumptions

Organizational chart

You must scan and upload a copy of the organizational chart clearly showing the key staff roles in the company.

Registration with taxation authorities

You must scan and upload copies of the company’s registration documents with the taxation authorities.

Shareholder agreements

You must scan and upload copies of shareholder(s) agreements to show the relationship between the shareholders of the corporation, if applicable.

Corporate and legal structure documents

You must scan and upload copies of documents to show the current corporate and legal structure of the company, including:

  • authorized signing officers
  • shareholders
  • share capital
  • operating history

Financial statements and business bank statements

You must scan and upload copies of the company’s financial statements and business bank account statements for all the years in business. You must include a minimum of 36 months in the last 60 months.

Articles of incorporation

You must scan and upload the articles of incorporation for the parent corporation, if applicable.

Other documents

You may scan and upload copies of any other documents to support your application.

Business succession documents

If you are purchasing an existing business, you must also scan and upload copies of the following documents for the business being purchased:

  • Business licence/certificate
  • Tax registration certificate
  • Financial statements for the last three years
  • Articles of incorporation, if applicable
  • Shareholder agreements, if applicable
  • T4 Statements of Remuneration Paid for all employees (full-time and part-time) for the most recent tax year
  • Other documents, if applicable

Corporate Stream – Key Staff Checklist

Summary

When applying to the Corporate Stream of the OINP you need to scan and upload copies of the following mandatory documents for all key staff with your application:

  • key staff application form(s)
  • photograph(s)
  • passport(s)
  • family member passport(s)
  • status documents in Canada
  • documents to support work experience
  • resumé
  • other optional documents (if applicable)
Important: All documents are mandatory unless otherwise stated.

Key staff application form

A completed and signed Stage 1 Application: Ontario Corporate Stream Key Staff form for each key staff applicant must be scanned and uploaded with your application.

Photograph

You must scan and upload a copy of a photograph of each key staff applicant that meets passport or visa requirements.

Photographs that are not clear or are of low quality will not be accepted.

Passport

You must scan and upload a copy of the entire valid passport for each key staff applicant. This includes clear copies of all pages including:

  • personal details page
  • all blank pages
  • temporary resident visas
  • entry stamps
  • any other immigration stamps

If the current passport has been held for less than two years, include copies of all pages of the key staff applicant’s previous passport.

Family members’ passports

If any of the key applicants have dependent family members, you need to scan and upload copies of the personal details page from the passport of each dependent family member. A dependent family member can include a spouse or common law-partner, children under the age of 22 and their children.

Status documents in Canada

If applicable, you must scan and upload copies of current and previous status documents given to key staff applicant(s) by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Documents may include:

  • work permits
  • study permits
  • temporary resident visas
  • any other Canadian immigration document

Work experience

You must scan and upload copies of the following documents to support each key staff applicant’s work experience with the corporation.

  • employment contracts with the corporation (at least 36 months of full-time work within the last 60 months)
  • proof of compensation, for example:
    • pay slips
    • payroll records
    • bank statements showing salary deposits
    • income tax documents.

Resumé

You must scan and upload a copy of the most current resumé for each key staff applicant. The resumé should show the applicant’s work experience.

Other optional documents

You may also scan and upload any other documents (not captured in the rest of this checklist) to support your application.