OINP Frequently Asked Questions

Under the OINP Entrepreneur Stream process, successful immigration can be very straightforward and easy to accomplish however there is no guarantee that applicants will receive PR status.

There are many factors which go into consideration before PR status is granted such as the accuracy of documents submitted, the level of adherence to the performance agreement, and much more. Overall, applicant success greatly depends on the effort put in throughout the process.

The OINP process is a quick and secure way to achieve permanent residency status.

Applicants can apply for Canadian Permanent Residency with the IRCC within six (6) months of nomination. While other business immigration programs greatly limit the type of business an entrepreneur can pursue in Canada, the OINP allows for a variety of distinct business types which an entrepreneur can decide to take on, as long as the type of business isn’t on the eligible business list.

The OINP offers several advantages over the SUVP. The OINP has a lower language requirement at CLB 4 compared to the SUVP’s requirement of CLB 5. In addition, the OINP grants entrepreneurs the option to create a new business as well as purchase an existing business while the SUVP limits entrepreneurs to starting a new business only.

A $800,000 net worth is required if applying within the GTA and $400,000 if outside the GTA.

The application fee is $3,500.

The documents required at various stages of the process greatly depend on whether the applicant is a business owner or someone with senior manager experience. Review required documents below:

Documents Required of Business Owners:

• Identity documents such as passports, IDs, etc.
• Business income tax returns or receipts for business tax payments for all years that you were in business
• Proof of shareholding of each organization you owned in the last 60 months.
• Articles of Incorporation
• Educational Credential Assessment results and supporting documentation for post-secondary education
• Test results from International English Language Testing System
• Third Party Verification Report for Net Worth and Legal Accumulation of Funds
• Proof of Business Ownership (if applicable) including at least one of the following two supporting documents
• Business Plan (must align with points claimed in EOI for investment and job creation)
• Business Registration License
• Registration with Tax Authorities
• List of All Employees with Hourly and Weekly Wages
• Financial Statements and Bank Statements
• Transferable Skills Letter
• Business Related Visits (For Business Buyers)

Documents Required of Business Owners:

• Identity documents such as passports, IDs, etc.
• Organization Chart
• Reference Letter Regarding Impact on Activities
• General Reference Letter
• Business Plan (must align with points claimed in EOI for investment and job creation)
• Third Party Verification Report for Net Worth and Legal Accumulation of Funds
• Test results from International English Language Testing System
• Educational Credential Assessment results and supporting documentation for post-secondary education
• CV/Resume
• Employment contracts for the last 60 months.
• Last two pay stubs or payroll records from your current employer

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 either:

• 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 either:

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

Yes, business partners are eligible and must also apply to the program alongside you.

One of the wonderful aspects of the OINP Entrepreneur Stream is that whether your business succeeds or fails, you get to retain PR status, as long as the performance agreement conditions are met, the monitoring period raises no concerns, and if provable effort was made on your part.

6 Degrees Consulting will help applicants with the following:

• Creating Financial Forecast Statements
• Comprehensive Business Presentations
• Market Research and Business Ideation
• Coaching Sessions to Help Practice for the Immigration Interview
• Connecting with Business Suppliers, Partners, Associations, etc.

The OINP lets entrepreneurs decide which route best suits their desires. While there is no guarantee that purchasing a business may prove to be more fruitful than creating a business or vice versa, success greatly depends on how entrepreneurs manage their new business.

Fortunately, there is no mandatory minimum education requirement to be considered for the OINP Entrepreneur Stream.

However, if you would like to claim points for your language ability during the EOI registration process, then you must submit proof of education at the time of registration.

You are only required to make a business-related visit to Ontario if you are purchasing an existing business. Otherwise, you may claim points for making a business-related visit to Ontario within 12 months of registering your EOI; however, it is not required.

If you are invited to apply to the Entrepreneur Stream and you have indicated in your EOI that you have made business-related visits to Ontario, you will be required to provide evidence of your previous visits to Ontario, including cities/municipalities visited and the dates when you entered and exited Ontario, by submitting at least three of the following examples:

• Flight itinerary and boarding passes;
• Accommodation receipts;
• Summary of meetings including the itinerary;
• Email correspondence with any business contacts in Ontario;
• Photographs or meeting notes from the business trip;
• Business cards or contact information from business interactions.

The Entrepreneur Stream is for businesspeople who are looking to start a business in Ontario or purchase an existing business in Ontario. This stream is designed for those who can prove their business ownership or managerial experience and can demonstrate an entrepreneurial orientation. If you are a student, skilled worker, or have a job offer from a Canadian employer, another stream may best fit your needs.

Yes, each applicant can include dependents in his or her application. Dependents are:

• Spouse or Common Law Partner
• Dependent children who are:
  • Younger than 22 and do not have a spouse or common law partner OR
  • Older than 22 and are dependent on parents due to physical or mental illness.
• Dependent children of dependent children.

6DC will work with clients to appoint a lawyer to them using our extensive network of legal representatives when it comes time to submit an Expression of Interest on behalf of the client.

The OINP E-filing portal is how you apply to the OINP and this is an online application portal.

You must control at least one-third of the equity in the business.

Third parties are permitted to provide external financing (i.e. loans and/or own shares of your business) beyond the minimum investment amount. However, the third party must be a Schedule I or Schedule II bank or an institutional investor.

The business plan you will have to create alongside 6DC will consist of a variety of factors. Some aspects of the plan include marketing strategies, pricing plans, risk mitigation strategy, and more. For a detailed list of what is required in your business plan please refer to the Business plan sample questions section of the OINP Entrepreneur Stream guide here.

Applicants are eligible to apply for an Internal Review if they believe their application was reviewed erroneously. You have 30 days to apply for an internal review from the day you receive your notice of refusal if you’re a resident in Canada and 60 days to apply if you’re not a resident of Canada. You will have to 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.

Yes, you can reapply.

The following are examples of eligible investments:

• Purchase of existing business assets (including inventory) or equity;
• New equipment purchases;
• Start-up or new inventory related to an improvement/expansion plan;
• Leasehold improvements; and
• New marketing costs.

An eligible investment is an expenditure that is essential to the establishment and operation of a new business or to purchase, improve and operate a business which already exists.