OINP: Entrepreneur Stream Guide

Refer to the Entrepreneur Stream Application Guide for more detailed information.

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 business
• holding companies
• laundromats
• pawnbrokers
• pay day loan and related businesses
• scrap metal recycling
• tire recycling
• a business involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
• 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

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 your EOI and application and to act on your behalf with the OINP.

Learn more about representatives and how to appoint one.

Expression of interest

An expression of interest (EOI) is the first step. It is not an application. There is no fee to register an EOI.

The EOI is comprised of two components, for a maximum EOI score of 200 points:

1. Self-Declared Score (126 points)
2. Business Concept Score (74 points)

OINP will assess and score your Business Concept.  Your business concept will need to score at least 37 of the available 74 points (50%) to be placed in the EOI selection pool.

Whether you will be issued an invitation to apply is based on your EOI rank in the selection pool. Only the top ranked candidates are invited to apply.

Refer to the Entrepreneur Stream Application Guide to learn more about the different scoring categories and the corresponding points.

Please note:

• if you are selected, you will be invited to submit an application and you will be required to provide supporting documents to validate the information in your EOI
• if your stage 1 application is successful, the information you provide in your EOI will become part of your contractual obligations under the performance agreement.

Example: If you are selected to apply to the Entrepreneur Stream and your EOI indicates you will make a $2,000,000 investment, your application must indicate you will be making an investment of at least $2,000,000. This will then be included in your performance agreement as the minimum investment you must make in order to be eligible for nomination for permanent residence.

EOI registration instructions

To register your EOI, please follow the below steps:

1. contact the OINP by email (business.immigration@ontario.ca) to express your interest in participating in the Entrepreneur stream and to request a copy of the EOI registration form
2. once received, complete the EOI registration form
3. submit the completed form by email to business.immigration@ontario.ca

The OINP will then assess and score your business concept. If you do not meet the minimum stream criteria, your business concept will not be reviewed.

You will receive an email with your total EOI score (max score is 200).

After you submit your EOI

Your EOI will be placed in a pool and will be ranked against other candidates. Periodically we 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 and legal accumulation of funds. 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 a list of approved qualified vendors for the OINP Entrepreneur Stream: