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Provincial Nominee

Most provinces in Canada have an agreement with the Government of Canada that allows them to play a more direct role in selecting immigrants who wish to settle in that province. If you wish to immigrate to one of Canada's provinces as a Provincial Nominee, you must first apply to the province where you wish to settle. The province will consider your application based on their immigration needs and your genuine intention to settle there.

Before applying to immigrate to Canada, Provincial Nominees must complete the provincial nomination process.

Alberta

The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is designed to assist farm owner/operators with proven management skills and significant financial resources, to develop a sustainable growth orientated farming business in Alberta/Canada. Under the Alberta PNP Program, Alberta can nominate farm owner/operators who intend to immigrate, purchase and manage a farming business in Alberta.

Criteria for the Self Employed Farmer Stream (includes but is not limited to):

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British Columbia

The Business component of the BC PNP offers accelerated immigration for qualified entrepreneurs who wish to settle in British Columbia (BC) and become permanent residents of Canada.

The BC PNP selects and nominates for permanent residence potential business immigrants who have the ability to establish themselves successfully in BC and develop a business that will provide significant economic benefits to the province.

Applicants must meet the program's selection criteria, but should be aware that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee approval. The BC PNP establishes nomination targets for the program, and gives priority to candidates who demonstrate the greatest potential to create a successful business and contribute economic benefits to the province.

There are three separate business categories:

Business Skills

This category is intended to attract prospective applicants who have extensive resources and business experience, and who want to be actively involved in implementing a BC business undertaking that will make a significant contribution to the economy of the province.

Eligibility:

Applications in the Regional Business category are limited to principal applicants - there is no provision to include foreign key staff as co-applicants for nomination.

Applications will not be accepted from individuals who have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada, are in Canada illegally, are under a removal order in Canada, or are prohibited from entering Canada.

Regional Business

This category is intended to assist people from outside Canada, with proven skills and financial resources, to rapidly implement plans for business establishment or expansion contributing to the regional development of British Columbia.

Eligibility:

Applications in the Regional Business category are limited to principal applicants - there is no provision to include foreign key staff as co-applicants for nomination.

Applications will not be accepted from individuals who have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada, are in Canada illegally, are under a removal order in Canada, or are prohibited from entering Canada.

Strategic Projects

This category is designed to assist companies with the timely entry of skilled, key managers and key technical professionals essential to the success of a business expected to generate significant economic benefits to British Columbia. The Strategic Projects category assists foreign-controlled companies establishing an eligible business in BC with the timely entry of foreign key managerial, professional or technical staff, up to a maximum of 5 per company, who intend to become permanent residents of Canada and settle in BC.

Eligibility:

Provincial Nominee candidates receive expedited temporary work permits and can promptly settle in British Columbia with their immediate family members. After conditions on their Performance Agreement are met, they will be confirmed as Provincial Nominees and their immigration process (permanent resident status) will be expedited.

BC PNP Fast Track Nomination

The Fast Track option is designed for nominee candidates who are in a position to move quickly to implement their business proposal. It offers expedited nomination for permanent residence, in return for which you will make a conditionally refundable CDN$125,000 deposit with the Province of British Columbia.

Applicants in the Business Skills category should note that the Fast Track option is NOT available to foreign key staff included in their application.

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Manitoba

The Province of Manitoba and Government of Canada share responsibilities regarding business people immigrating to Canada through the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Immigration Program for Business. The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Immigration Program for Business allows Manitoba to recruit, select, and nominate qualified business people from around the world who have the intent and ability to move to Manitoba and establish, purchase a business or become partners in an existing business.

To qualify for the program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

Manitoba would like to accept all applicants who meet the program criteria for nomination, however Manitoba will select the applicants who best meet the qualifications and who have the potential to contribute to Manitoba's economic growth.

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New Brunswick

New Brunswick recognizes that immigration is a source of skills, entrepreneurship, expertise, international links, and capital, which create additional employment and investment. Through the Provincial Nominee Program, New Brunswick actively seeks qualified immigrants who will fill labour market shortages, or create employment and business opportunities here.

To be considered for nomination by New Brunswick, Business Plan Applicants must have an approved plan to do business in New Brunswick.

To qualify under this program, a client must:

The ability to speak English and/or French is critical to your success as an entrepreneur in New Brunswick. We expect you to have a basic knowledge of English and/or French and be able to understand and answer the questions during the interview with New Brunswick officials. If we are not satisfied that you have sufficient knowledge of the language to carry on a business in New Brunswick, you will be required to take intensive language training and to participate in a second interview prior to nomination.

As an applicant to the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must make a commitment to settle permanently in New Brunswick and are required to sign a declaration stating your intention to live and work in this province. Provincial Nominees are likely to see their application for immigration to Canada processed expeditiously.

To be considered under the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must obtain a minimum of 50 points. A New Brunswick Program Officer will review your preliminary evaluation and documentation. If you meet the requirements as a business applicant, you will be contacted with an interview date in New Brunswick. During the interview, you will be asked to demonstrate knowledge of the business sector you are interested in pursuing in New Brunswick.

Therefore, you should expect to spend at least five (5) full business days in New Brunswick prior to your scheduled interview to:

Applicants who need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to visit Canada will receive a Notice of Appointment letter from the Population Growth Secretariat. Following a positive interview, you will be required to submit a detailed business plan for approval by an official from the Province of New Brunswick . The business plan should provide details of the business idea(s) developed during your visit to New Brunswick and include such things as the type of business, description of business (start-up, purchase, partnership, etc.) products and/or services, customers, responsibilities, relevant experience, a market overview, competition, location of the business and related costs, etc.

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Nova Scotia

Please Note: The province is not accepting any new applications under the Economic stream until the stream is redesigned in spring of 2008.

The Economic stream targeted experienced business managers and entrepreneurs. Specifically, the stream provides each nominated candidate a six-month work experience contract with a Nova Scotia employer. This serves as a valuable orientation to basic business operations in the province - as well as a chance to assess your range of job opportunities and the best fit for your skills over the long term.

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Prince Edward Island

To qualify under this program, a client must:

The Immigrant Partners component of the PEI Nominee Program is among the fastest in the country in terms of issuing nomination certificates. After the initial application is submitted, PEI decides if they will interview the client within about a month. If an interview will be granted, PEI typically issues an open ended invitation letter, and then an interview would be set up once the client had their TRV. If the client is from an area that can travel to Canada without TRV this can be even faster. The interview can be set up within a couple of weeks from date of request, and is part of the required 3 day visit to PEI. The interview itself is relatively short, about 15 minutes, and essentially is just for the purpose of assessing the client's level of English.

If the client passes the interview, we then arrange for the required $200,000 investment in an eligible PEI company to be made, usually within about a month. During this time, we ask from the client to pulls together documentation and we submit to PEI their final applications and documentation.

We offer financing of $90,000 of the $200,000 investment, so the client pays $110,000. The client has no entitlement to return on his or her investment.

The $25,000 good faith deposit requirement is funded by the client separately and held in escrow by the PEI government. It is returned to the client with interest after one year from landing upon the client establishing that they have taken up residency in PEI.

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Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), is designed to help entrepreneurs establish their businesses in Saskatchewan.

There are two categories:

Entrepreneur

Saskatchewan's booming economy is creating opportunities for employment and investment in all sectors of the province. But province's most enticing feature is the rich quality of life Saskatchewan residents enjoy.

We have low housing costs and utility rates, which are complemented by the third lowest personal income tax rate in the country. People who move to Saskatchewan claim it is more than just a great place to work - it is an ideal place to call home.

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), is designed to help entrepreneurs establish their businesses in Saskatchewan.

Eligibility:

Farm Owner/Operator

This category is for individuals with proven experience in farming and substantial capital available to invest in a farming operation who intend to purchase and operate a farming operation in Saskatchewan.

Eligibility (all criteria must be met):

The farm owner/operator category is restricted to proprietary businesses that include primary agricultural production. Agri-business operations may qualify under the Entrepreneur category of the SINP.

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