Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program
Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program
The Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program is a part of Manitoba’s Business Investor Stream (BIS) that allows qualified business investors and entrepreneurs from around the world to come to the province and start or purchase a business. In general, the Business Investor Stream program has two pathways known as the Entrepreneur Pathway for applicants seeking to open a business in Manitoba; and the Farm Investor Pathway for those intending to establish and operate a farm operation in rural areas of the province of Manitoba.
The Entrepreneur Pathway is a renewed program that substitutes the previous MPNP-B stream. The new Business Investor Stream program is developed by the Government of Manitoba to guarantee that all business nominees invest in businesses that create jobs for the province and contribute to the growth of the Manitoba economy and quality of life.
The Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program is developed for the recruitment and nomination of qualified business people from different countries of the world. If you want to move to Manitoba and:
- to establish a new business in the province;
- to purchase a business in the province;
- to become a partner in an existing business in Manitoba
you have to follow the steps of the program attentively and demonstrate that you qualify for it. Remember, you will be given a temporary work permit and two years (after the arrival to Canada) to do that.
According to the requirements of the renewed Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program, applicants do not have to submit a deposit of 100,000 CAD to the Manitoba Government.
If you want to apply for the Manitoba Entrepreneur Program, there are some mandatory requirements that must be met. First of all, your business experience. It is important to have at least three years of full-time work experience in the past five years either as an active business owner or in the position of a senior manager of a successful business. Also, it is worth mentioning, that within the Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program assessment procedure, business owners are given higher points in comparison to senior managers. To qualify for these points, business owners must demonstrate at least ⅓ ownership in the business they mention.Proof of language proficiency is important for applicants, too. You must demonstrate the minimum proficiency level of CLB or NCLC 5 in the official languages (in Manitoba these are English or French). The educational minimum must be equivalent to the Canadian high school certificate or higher. The Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program does not include any specific age requirements, so there is no minimum or maximum age, however, ranking points are allocated to candidates 25 to 49 years of age.
If you want to apply for the Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program, there is a business investment minimum that you must be ready to demonstrate. The investment minimum varies depending on the location of your future business, starting from 150,000 CAD for the business situated outside of the Manitoba Capital Region (the area surrounding Manitoba's capital and largest city, Winnipeg). If you plan to start or purchase a business situated in the Manitoba Capital Region you have to be ready to invest a minimum of 250,000 CAD. It is also worth mentioning, that your business investment must be made in an eligible business as defined by the Manitoba Immigration and Economic Opportunities (MPNP).
According to the requirements of the Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program, your future business must create or maintain at least one job for a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident in the province of Manitoba. This does not include owners of the proposed business or their close relatives.
The plan of your future business in Manitoba is a very important part of the application, that influences the assessment process greatly. The business plan is an integral part of the application that demands some research and analysis of Manitoba`s economy. A business research visit is a nice opportunity that allows applicants to conduct extensive research of their future business investment or proposal in the real environment. If you plan to apply for the Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program, you must conduct your business research no more than one year prior to the submission of your Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Government of the province.
Your adaptability is another aspect that will be evaluated during the application process. Additional points will be allocated to you if your spouse has CLB/NCLC 5 or higher or you or your spouse has CLB/NCLC 5 or higher in the second official language of the province of Manitoba. A close relative (of yours, your spouse, or your common-law partner) who is currently residing in Manitoba for more than one year is also a plus. The fact that your child is enrolled in an accredited Manitoba educational institution and is actively pursuing academic, professional, or vocational training on a full-time basis for at least six months prior to the date of submission of EOI guarantees you additional points.
Points for adaptability are also added if you or your spouse or partner have completed a program of full-time study for at least one year at a post-secondary institution in the province of Manitoba. It is important that you or your spouse or partner must have done this after you turned 17 years old and with a valid study permit to Canada. At least six months of continuous full-time employment in the province of Manitoba is also a plus, but you must provide a letter of reference from the employer and a copy of the work permit.
The applicants of the Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program must demonstrate their net worth, the acceptable minimum for the program is 500,000 CAD. Remember, that your personal net worth will be verified by a third-party supplier approved by the Manitoba Immigration and Economic Opportunities. You have to submit a verification report, along with your application, to the Manitoba Immigration and Economic Opportunities within 120 days (four months) of receiving your Letter of Advice to Apply.
When your application is checked and approved, you will be invited to sign the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) with the Government of Manitoba. After the Agreement is signed, the Manitoba Entrepreneur Pathway Program will issue you a letter of support for applying for a work permit.
Regards,
International Experience Club
