Entrepreneurial Stream
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
The New Brunswick Entrepreneur stream is one program that targets experienced business owners or senior managers who want to live in the province. It’s an excellent way for those looking into immigrating and settling down here, with its low cost of living combined with great opportunities!
Successful applicants are needed to start a new or buy an existing business in which they participate in day-to-day management duties. The province of New Brunswick organizes events overseas for foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada.
Eligibility Requirements for Applicants
In order to be eligible for the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream, individuals must:
- Be between 21 and 59 years of age.
- Have a minimum of a two-year post-secondary education after high school.
- Have a minimum level of Canadian language benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or French.
- Demonstrate an intention to live and operate a business in New Brunswick.
- The applicant must assume a day-to-day management role in the business.
- Provide a business plan, approved by a New Brunswick government official, that will show how the business will benefit New Brunswick.
- Have a personal net worth of at least $600,000 cad of which $300,000 must be unaffected by debts or other obligations.
- Have at least three out of five years of experience in managing and owning a business (of at least 33.3%) or have five years out of five of experience in a senior business management role or more, and be responsible for supervising at least two employees.
- Have the desire to live permanently in New Brunswick, while owning and managing a local business.
- Present a business concept that demonstrates the potential to provide significant economic benefit to the province.
- Score at least 65 points on New Brunswick’s unique selection grid.
Minimum Requirements for Applicants
| Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Job Offer | No |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 5 |
| Connection to Province | Yes |
| Level of Education | Post-secondary |
| Work Experience | The business ownership and management for three years |
| Investment Requirement | The investment of 250,000 CAD The personal Net Worth of 600,000 CAD |
The New Brunswick Entrepreneurial stream is accepting expressions of interest from eligible candidates. Candidates must have either visited the province for at least five business days within a year or attended an information session on this program and been current with its activities since then to apply!
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Selection Factors and Points
If all other eligibility criteria (outlined above) are met and the business plan is approved, applicants will be assessed and assigned a score out of 100 based on the following selection factors. An individual must score at least 65 points to be considered eligible.
Factor 1: Age
| Age | Points |
|---|---|
| 21-29 | 5 |
| 30-49 | 10 |
| 50-59 | 5 |
Factor 2: Language
To ensure that you can communicate with your Canadian partners, all applicants must meet the minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in English or French in all four language abilities: reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Applicants must provide valid test results from one of the following designated third-party language test providers:
- The International English Language Testing System — General.
- The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program — General.
- Test D’Evaluation De Français.
Factor 3: Education
To be eligible for this position, you must have an academic degree from a college or university that requires three years of full-time study and complete your diploma in one specific trade.
Applicants may be awarded a maximum of 25 points for education and must have a minimum of two years of post-secondary education after high school.
| Level Completed | Requirements | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Post-graduate education (master’s degree or Ph.D.) | Master’s or Doctorate degree awarded by a graduate school of a college or university, after completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree | 25 |
| Post-secondary education (academic degree) | Academic degree awarded by a college or university to those who complete an undergraduate curriculum that required at least three years of full-time study | 20 |
| Post-secondary education (diploma) | Diploma completed in a specific trade that required at least two years of full-time study after high school | 15 |
Foreign educational credentials must be supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) that dates back no later than five years prior to the date an application is registered by the Department.
Factor 4: Personal Net Worth
Applicants must have a verifiable personal net worth of at least $600,000 CAD of which $300,000 CAD must be liquid and unencumbered by debts and/or other obligations.
Even though there are no points awarded for meeting the requirements for personal net worth, applicants must be able to answer “yes” to the following two questions:
- Does the applicant have CAD 600,000, or greater, in total personal net worth?
- Does the applicant have at least CAD 300,000 of personal net worth readily transferable and completely unaffected by debts and/or other obligations?
Factor 5: Points Assessment Grid
Candidates who are applying to be a part of this program must score at least 65 points on New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Assessment Grid.
Factor 6: Business Ownership and /or Senior Management Experience
Applicants are assessed based on the number of years they have owned a business or worked as a senior manager in a business as well as based on the type of management experience. Applicants may be awarded a maximum of 20 points based on business ownership and/or senior management experience.
Business owners must have had a third of the business equity for three of the five years prior to submitting an application in a business with at least two employees.
To claim points for senior management experience, applicants must demonstrate five years of experience as a senior manager in a private sector, or a for-profit business within the past five years. As a senior manager, the applicant must have been:
- Responsible for supervising at least two employees.
- The person responsible for hiring and firing, or able to recommend these and other personnel actions, such as promotion and leave authorization.
- Personally involved in the day-to-day operations as a primary decision-maker.
| Business concept elements | Points |
|---|---|
| The candidate will transfer 10 years of business ownership or senior management experience to the same industry and sector in New Brunswick. | 3 |
| The candidate will establish or purchase a business is a key industry sector. | 3 |
| Business is located outside of Fredericton, Saint John, and Moncton. | 3 |
| Eligible expenses are greater than $500,000 CAD, or | 4 |
| Eligible expenses are between $351,000 CAD and $499,000 CAD, or | 3 |
| Eligible expenses are between CAD $250,000 and CAD $350,000 | 2 |
| Candidate has identified target market(s) for the New Brunswick-based business, Candidate has knowledge of statutes, regulations, and bylaws, and Candidate has identified relevant business resources. | 2* |
| Businesses will increase research, development, and technology commercialization | 2* |
| The business will transfer specialized knowledge and expertise to New Brunswick | |
| The business will attract new business activities to New Brunswick. | |
| The business will link New Brunswick to global markets and value chains. | |
| Maximum points: 15 |
* Candidates must meet at least two conditions to claim total points
Factor 7: Adaptability Points for Spouse or Common-Law Partner
A candidate may be awarded a maximum of 5 points if his or her spouse/common-law partner has studied or worked in New Brunswick and meets the minimum language requirements.
| Spouse/Common-law partner adaptability | Points |
|---|---|
| Completed a program of full-time study of at least one year at a recognized post-secondary institution in New Brunswick after the age of 17 years and with a valid study permit, or | 5 |
| Completed at least six months of continuous full-time employment in New Brunswick. | |
| Meets the minimum level CLB 5 in English or French in all four language abilities | 5 |
| Maximum points: 5 |
Eligibility Requirements for the New Brunswick Business
To be considered eligible, the business must be:
- Of significant economic benefit to New Brunswick.
- Established as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation; (In the case of a Partnership, the other partner(s) must be a permanent resident or Canadian citizen).
- The Continued operation of an existing business or the establishment of a New Business.
- A private-sector, for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services, and
- Considered a “Permanent Establishment” as defined under subsection 400(2) Of The Canadian income tax regulations, 1985.
Business Investment and Acquisition/Ownership
Applicants must be prepared to make a minimum business investment of CAD $250,000 in New Brunswick. In addition, the applicant must have 33.33 percent ownership and assume an active senior management role in the daily operations of the business.
Purchasing an Established New Brunswick Business
If an entrepreneur intends to purchase a pre-existing business, he or she must prove that the business:
- Has been in continuous operation by the same owner for the three years prior to the purchase date, and the owner is a permanent resident or citizen of Canada.
- Will be purchased at a proven fair market value.
- Has achieved a proven net profit for at least two of the previous three years as demonstrated by audited financial statements.
- Will provide for the continued employment of existing staff on similar terms and conditions.
- Is not in receivership and/or has not filed for bankruptcy for the three years prior to the date of purchase.
Operating The Business and Providing Active Management
When operating the business, the applicant must ensure the business:
- Has all the necessary licenses and permits from the applicable municipal, provincial, and/or federal authorities.
- Pays income taxes on taxable income earned in the province, regardless of income or other taxes that may also be payable in other jurisdictions as a result of income earned or other business activities.
- Complies with all legislation in the province including, but not limited to, the employment standards act, Human Rights Act, and Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Follows all Canadian laws in establishing, purchasing, and maintaining the business.
- Be in operation for two years from the date of the refund and release of the deposit of CAD $100,000 to the applicant.
The applicant Must Assume Active Management of The Business by:
- Assuming risks and determining the direction of the business.
- Providing ongoing and active management to the business from within New Brunswick.
- Being present at the business premises on a daily basis.
Creating Jobs in New Brunswick
The business must create at least two full-time jobs for permanent residents or citizens of Canada living in New Brunswick. The two full-time jobs cannot be for the applicant, his or her spouse/common-law partner dependent children, and/or other family members.
Participating in Site Visits
The NBPNP may organize two site visits to the business grounds to ensure the applicant is in compliance with the terms and conditions outlined in the Business Performance Agreement. Provincial representatives may require an applicant to provide additional information and/or documents including but not limited to: proof of business registration and incorporation; business permits and licenses; bank statements; invoices showing proof of eligible investment; financial statements prepared by a certified or chartered accountant; business income tax assessments; and payroll documents.
The site visit may take place on:
- The start of the business commencement date.
- 12 months after the business commencement date.
- The date the department receives your written request for the refund of the deposit of CAD $100,000, without interest.
New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream Application Process
The application process can be discussed in the following steps:
Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)
The first step toward permanent residence in New Brunswick under the Entrepreneurial Stream is the submission of an EOI to apply for the program. Before submitting an EOI, individuals must demonstrate at least one of the following connections:
- A visit to New Brunswick that lasted at least five business days within the 24 months prior to submitting an EOI.
- Participation in an entrepreneurial stream information session conducted by an official representative from the government of New Brunswick within the 24 months prior to submitting an EOI.
- The applicant and/or the spouse/common-law partner have a diploma or certificate that required at least two years of full-time study at a New Brunswick post-secondary institution (after completion of high school).
- The applicant and/or the spouse/common-law partner has experience in a high-skilled occupation (NOC A, B, or 0) for a New Brunswick company for at least 12 consecutive months (30 hours per week).
- The applicant and/or the spouse/common-law partner has family members (i.e., parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, who are Permanent Residents or Canadian citizens) residing in New Brunswick for at least 12 months, or dependent children studying in the province.
In order to be entered into the pool of potential candidates, individuals must first meet the minimum eligibility requirements, score at least 65 points across all selection factors, and present a business concept that outlines the business’s significance for economic growth in the province.
The NBPNP ranks candidates in the pool using a point-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System and candidates with higher scores are more likely to receive an invitation to apply to the Entrepreneurial Stream.
Step 2: Crafting Your Business Plan
Applicants must provide a good business plan, in which they identify what they want to do and how they intend to achieve it. As the business owner or operator, you have to be directly involved in developing your business plan. While you may hire a third party to prepare the business plan for you, you will be expected to be knowledgeable about the contents of that business plan and will be held responsible for the truthfulness of its contents. You must demonstrate knowledge about the specifics of your business plan if you are otherwise unable to support the information contained in your business plan, or else your application may be denied.
Step 3: Invitation to Apply
Candidates successfully selected from the pool obtain a written ITA letter to submit a full application to the NBPNP. Invited candidates have 90 days to submit a complete application along with the necessary supporting documents.
Step 4: Application to the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream
Along with signing all the required forms, and providing documents in the required format, applicants need to submit a more detailed Business plan with their application. Various New Brunswick government departments may review the detailed business plan submitted with the full application to:
- Evaluate the overall quality of the plan.
- Assess if the applicant has conducted sufficient research when preparing the plan.
- Determine the practical application of the business plan in New Brunswick.
- Review the likelihood of the business becoming economically established through the implementation of the plan.
- Consider any other factors as determined by the NBPNP.
It is important that all applicants undergo a professional net worth verification process. The service provider is required to provide a copy of the Net Worth Verification Report to the NBPNP following an assessment of the applicant’s total verifiable net worth, verifiable unencumbered funds, details on the legal accumulation of funds, and any financial concerns that may require further investigation.
Step 5: Interview
During the evaluation of an application, an applicant may be required to participate in an interview with NBPNP Program Officers. While participating in an interview is not a mandatory step in the application process, applicants that are required to participate will have to attend either an in-person or web-based video conference.
The objective of the interview will be to validate the information submitted in the application and confirm understanding and knowledge regarding the business plan and its implementation. Applicants may be refused as a result of the NBPNP Program Officer’s dissatisfaction with the applicant’s performance in an interview.
During an interview, applicants will be evaluated based on their:
- Previous management experience;
- Understanding of business in New Brunswick;
- Overall suitability to become economically established in New Brunswick;
- Business plan including details of location, products, market analysis, profits, etc.
- Other topics are relevant to the immigration application.
If an application is refused, a “letter of refusal” will be issued with no possibility to appeal.
If an application is approved, the NBPNP will send the applicant an instruction letter for submitting a signed and dated Business Performance Agreement, which details the terms and conditions that need to be met before a refund of the CAD 100,000 deposit is issued.
If nominated, the applicant will receive a provincial nomination certificate, which remains valid for six months from the date of issuance. Business applicants are required to submit a complete application for Canadian permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) during the six-month time period.
Applicants must meet the following conditions following their landing date in Canada:
- Within 30 days, report their landing to the NBPNP using the correct form.
- Within 60 days, attend an in-person meeting to:
- Provide copies of documents to confirm landing in Canada for the applicant and his or her dependents.
- Present proof of personal contact information in new Brunswick (i.e. mailing address, residential address, email address, and phone number).
- Submit a written report detailing steps to establish the business.
- Conduct a verbal presentation to the NBPNP summarizing the applicant’s settlement plan.
- Within 180 days, attend an in-person meeting to:
- Update the department with any contact information changes.
- Submit a written report with details on the steps taken to start the business in new Brunswick since the 60-day meeting.
- Show extensive knowledge of the business, explain actions and decisions taken in the establishment and/or operation of the business, and provide evidence of the economic benefits of the business to the province; and
- Conduct a verbal presentation to the NBPNP summarizing the applicant’s settlement plan with their family since the 60-day meeting.
- After two years, establish the business in accordance with the terms and conditions of the business performance agreement. failure to establish the business within the two-year period will result in the forfeiture of the deposit.
Who is not eligible to apply to the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream?
Candidates should not apply if they:
- Have an application in process under another immigration program in Canada.
- Are not lawfully residing in their country of residence at the time an application is received at the NBPNP office (Proof Of Lawful Residence Is Required).
- Have an unresolved humanitarian and compassionate claim in Canada.
- Are failed humanitarian and compassionate claimants living in Canada.
- Have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada.
- Are failed refugee claimants living in Canada.
- Are under a removal order in Canada.
- Are prohibited from entering Canada.
- Are engaged in full-time post-secondary education.
- Are live-in caregivers? OR
- Are seasonal workers.