The Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLNP) offers an opportunity for experienced business owners and senior managers to immigrate to Canada by establishing or purchasing a business in Newfoundland and Labrador. This program, known as the International Entrepreneur Stream, attracts individuals with the financial resources and management expertise to contribute to the province’s economic growth.
Eligibility Criteria for the International Entrepreneur Stream:
Who is eligible:
● Business-minded individuals: Applicants must be aged 21 to 59 and driven to establish and actively manage a business in the province.
● Investment commitment: Possess a minimum of CAD $600,000 in unencumbered net business and personal
assets transferable to Canada.
● Business creation: Invest at least CAD $200,000 in a new or existing business, maintaining at least 33.3% ownership. Alternatively, invest CAD $1 million in equity.
● Job creation: Create at least one full-time equivalent position for local permanent residents or citizens.
● For-profit focus: Demonstrate the business purpose is to generate profits through goods or services sales.
● Management experience: Possess at least two years of active business ownership (25% minimum) within the last five years or five years of senior business management experience in the last ten years.
● Language skills: Achieve a minimum score of 5 in English or French on the Canadian Language Benchmarks, assessed through approved tests.
● Expression of Interest: Submit an online Expression of Interest form.
● Invitation to Apply: Receive an invitation from the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism to proceed with a formal application.
Additional considerations:
● Prioritization: Applications aligned with regional economic development or high-demand industries may receive expedited review.
● Exploratory visit: Applicants residing outside of the province must undertake an initial visit before submitting a formal application.
Eligibility Criteria for
Starting or Purchasing a Business:
Stream Specific Requirements:
In addition to the general eligibility criteria, applicants must choose and fulfill requirements specific to their chosen stream:
Starting a New Business:
● Job creation: Establish at least one full-time equivalent position for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Newfoundland and Labrador.
○ Excludes positions filled by the applicant, dependents, or relatives.
○ Must be directly related to the business and meet prevailing wage levels.
Purchasing an Existing Business:
● Operational history: The business must have been operational for five years under the same ownership.
● Exploratory visit: Applicants residing outside Newfoundland must conduct an initial visit to meet the current owner(s).
● Fair market value: Provide evidence of efforts to establish a fair market value for the business.
● Business status: The business must be actively operating and not in receivership.
● Existing employees: Offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining current wages and benefits.
Ineligible Applicants:
● Individuals residing illegally in their home country.
● Individuals with a removal order from Canadian authorities.
● Individuals prohibited from entering Canada.
● Passive investors with minimal or no involvement in day-to-day management.
●
Individuals without valid immigration status.
Ineligible Business Activities:
The Newfoundland International Entrepreneur
Stream prioritizes businesses with the potential to contribute to the province’s economic growth and social well-being. As a result, the following business activities are not eligible for the program:
● Remote operations: Businesses primarily conducted outside Newfoundland and Labrador, including other Canadian provinces or countries.
● Passive investments: Activities focused solely on generating income through rentals, investments, or financial instruments like loans, cheques, or cash machines.
● Restricted industries: Businesses involved in real estate development/brokerage, insurance/business brokerage, payday loans, pawnbroking, taxi services, or the
production/distribution of pornography.
● Professional services: Businesses requiring professional licensing or accreditation, including self-employed individuals in such fields.
● Home-based operations: Businesses primarily operated from a private residence, unless demonstrating significant economic benefit to the province.
● Non-profit ventures: Businesses operating without the aim of generating profit or distributing it to owners.
● Commission-based businesses: Businesses compensating employees solely on commission, excluding scenarios approved on a case-by-case basis.
● Reputational risks: Businesses potentially harming the program’s reputation or the image of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Navigating the Newfoundland
Entrepreneur Application Process:
Expression of Interest:
● The first step is to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) during open intake periods. You can confirm current intake status through this link: https://apps.gov.nl.ca/immigration/home/home/status/?formType=IE.
● During open intake, complete the EOI form online.
Invitation to Apply:
● If your EOI meets initial criteria, you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
● Upon receiving the ITA, complete the formal application form and gather all required supporting documents.
Newfoundland Entrepreneur
Stream: Fees and Costs
Provincial Application Fee:
● A non-refundable application fee of CAD $1,000 applies to the principal applicant and each associated partner.
● This fee is subject to change without notice.
Additional Fees:
● Applicants may incur additional costs associated with obtaining and preparing required documents, such as:
○ Education credential assessments
○ Language testing
○ Translation services
○ Audited financial statements
Travel Expenses:
● Applicants are responsible for all travel costs associated with:
○ The mandatory exploratory visit to Newfoundland and Labrador
○ Any potential in-person interviews
Expression of Interest:
● Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) online through the official portal: https://apps.gov.nl.ca/immigration/form/form/Edit/?template_system_id=IE_EOI_PRIMARY