Entrepreneurial Stream

Eligibility Requirements for Applicants

• Be between 22 and 55 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;
• Want 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; and
• Score at least 65 points on New Brunswick's unique selection grid.

Selection Factors and Points

Factor 1: Age

Factor 2: Language

Factor 2: Language

• The International English Language Testing System — General
• The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program — General
• 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;
• Test d’Evaluation de Français

Factor 3: Education

Factor 4: Personal net worth

• Does the applicant have $600,000 CAD, or greater, in total personal net worth?
• Does the applicant have at least $300,000 CAD of personal net worth readily transferable and completely unaffected by debts and/or other obligations?

Factor 5: Business ownership and /or Senior Management Experience

• 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; and
• personally involved in the day-to-day operations as a primary decision-maker.

Factor 6: Business Concept

Factor 7: Adaptability Points for Spouse or Common-Law Partner

Eligibility Requirements for the New Brunswick Business

• 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.

The significant economic benefit to New Brunswick

• increased value-added manufacturing or processing for New Brunswick exports;
• enhanced research and development;
• development of new products and/or services;
• development of innovative approaches to traditional businesses;
• development and/or enhancements of new technologies;
• the transfer of technology and specialized knowledge to New Brunswick;
• providing products and/or services to an under-served local or regional market; and
• other, as determined by the department.

Business Investment and acquisition/ownership

• Business premises, including building and/or land up to a maximum of 25 per cent of the total business investment or actual cost and/or property improvements or leasehold improvements that increase the value of the business premises to a maximum of 25 per cent of the total business investment or actual cost, whichever is lower;
• Equipment used by employees to enable them to perform their daily tasks;
• Equipment necessary for use in primary production and manufacturing of goods;
• An initial inventory to a maximum of 50 per cent of the total business investment or actual cost, whichever is lower. Initial inventory is considered to be inventory purchased up to the opening day of the business;
• Intangible investments including goodwill and/or intellectual property may not exceed 10 per cent of the net book value of the business;
• Professional services from North American companies, including marketing, promotions and services in connection with establishing the business to a maximum of 4 per cent of the total business investment or CAD $10,000, whichever is lower; and
• Vehicle to a maximum of 5 per cent of the total business investment up to a maximum of CAD $15,000, whichever is lower. The amount must be amortized to reflect actual business use and a log similar to that used for income tax purposes is required.

Purchasing an established New Brunswick business

• has been in continuous operation by the same owner for the three years prior to the purchase date; and that 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 to existing staff on similar terms and conditions; and
• 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

• 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; and
• 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; and
• being present at the business premises on a daily basis.

Creating jobs in New Brunswick

Participating in site visits

• 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

Step 1: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

• 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 has 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 of 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.

Step 2: Exploratory visit

• length of stay in New Brunswick, including time spent in other Canadian jurisdictions, copies of all airline tickets, boarding passes and hotel receipts during your stay in Canada; and
• a record of meetings held in New Brunswick with business service providers and settlement organizations, including the name, contact information and business card for individuals participating in the meetings, date and location, how the meetings relate to the applicant's business and/ or settlement in New Brunswick; and
• a record of visits to existing business locations, including the name, contact information and business card for individuals participating in the meetings, date and location, how the meetings relate to the applicants business and/or settlement in New Brunswick.

Step 3: Invitation to apply

Step 4: Application to the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream

• evaluate the overall quality of the plan;
• assess if the applicant has conducted sufficient research when preparing the plan;
• determine the practical application the business plan in New Brunswick;
• review the likelihood of the business becoming economically established through the implementation of the plan; and
• consider any other factors as determined by the NBPNP.

Step 5: Interview

• 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; and
• Other topics are relevant to the immigration application.

Step 6: Nomination and Canadian Permanent Residence application

• 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; and
• 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.
• After three years (or one year after the business start date), the business owner will be able to apply for a refund of the CAD $100,000 deposit.

Who is not eligible to apply to the New Brunswick Entrepreneurial Stream

• Have an application in the 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.