Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream (NLE)
Selection
- P.N.P: Provincial Nominee Programs
- E.O.I: Expression of Interest
- P.S: Point System
Applicant
Visa
- Permanent Resident
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- Work
Status
- Open
GSB
NL-SB
SUMMARY
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
The Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream is for experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Newfoundland and Labrador. They must start a new business, buy an existing business or partner in a business in the province and must actively participate in the day-to-day management of the business.
You may partner with up to nine (9) foreign national, Canadian citizen or permanent resident businesspersons (associated partners). Your foreign national business partner(s) must also meet all the minimum requirements.
Approved applicants must operate a business in Newfoundland and Labrador on a Work Permit (WP) for at least one (1) year before being nominated for permanent resident status in Canada.
Application to this category is by invitation only. You should first complete the online Expression of Interest (EOI). Selected applicants will be invited to apply for the program based on the information they enter online. You cannot apply directly to this program unless you are invited to apply.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
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MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The following requirements must be met (by you and all foreign associated partners, if applicable) if you are applying to the Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream:
1- Age
You must be between 21 and 59 years of age.
2- Education
You must have a minimum of Canadian high school diploma or equivalent foreign credential.
3- Net Worth
You must have net worth (personal and business assets) of at least $600,000 CAD which has been accumulated through legal and legitimate sources.
4- Business Experience
You must have:
- at least two (2) years’ experience actively managing and owning a business (25 per cent minimum ownership) In the last five (5) years; OR
- five (5) or more years’ experience in a senior business management role in the last ten (10) years.
5- Language Ability
You must have taken within two (2) years prior to submission of EOI, an approved test results and have obtained a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark CLB 5 in all for abilities in English or French (➨Appendix 5).
6- Ineligibility
You are not eligible to apply under the Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream if you are a refugee claimant in Canada, a failed refugee claimant, had a removal order, are prohibited from entering or being in Canada, do not have status in Canada or are living illegally in your country of residence.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
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NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS
In order to qualify as an eligible business under the Entrepreneur program, you must have an intention to buy or establish a business in Newfoundland and Labrador that meets the following criteria:
1- Business Investment
You (and each foreign associated partner, if applicable) must invest a minimum of $200,000 CAD into starting or buying a business.
Investment amounts derived from loans or other forms of financing are not eligible.
2- Business Ownership
You (and each foreign associated partner if applicable), must own at least one third (33.33%) of the equity of a business in Newfoundland and Labrador. If you or any of your foreign associated partners will own less than 33.33% they must invest at least $1 million CAD.
If purchasing an existing business, the Newfoundland and Labrador based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner in the province for the previous five (5) years. It must also be actively in operation.
3- Type of Business
The business purpose must be to make a profit from active income through the sale of goods and/or services.
The following types of businesses are not eligible under Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream:
- Businesses that are conducted remotely
- Property rental, investment, and leasing activities
- Real estate construction/development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
- Any professional services or self-employed business operators requiring licensing or accreditation
- Pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines
- Pawnbrokers
- Taxi companies
- Home-based businesses
- Investments into a business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income
- Businesses involved in the production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services
- Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the NLPNP or the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador into disrepute
4- Job Creation
If starting a new business, you (and each foreign associated partner, if applicable) must create at least one (1) permanent full-time job for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
If purchasing an existing business, you must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.
5- Active Management
You (and each foreign associated partner, if applicable) must provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business at the business site.
CALCULATE YOUR SCORE
If you meet the above minimum requirement, then you must calculate your total score based on the following selection factors. You must achieve a score of 72 in the application assessment in order to qualify under the NLPNP International Entrepreneur category. The maximum score possible is 120.
Candidates will be ranked against each other and only top ranked candidates will be invited to apply. A draw will occur with only the top ranked candidates being selected and issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
The Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream EOI factors may be summarized as follows (➨immilib.com/NLE-Grid):
| Selection Factor | Maximum Points |
| Factor1: Language Ability | 32 |
| Factor 2: Education | 30 |
| Factor 3: Ownership and Management Experience | 24 |
| Factor 4: Economic Priorities | 12 |
| Factor 5: Age | 12 |
| Factor 6: Adaptability | 10 |
| Maximum Points Total | 120 |
| Selection Pass Mark | 72 |
Factor 1: Language Ability
To be awarded point for language, you must have taken an approved test results (➨Appendix 5).
Test must be taken no more than two (2) years prior to the date the EOI is submitted.
| First official language (English or French) | ||||
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| CLB 7 or Higher | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 |
| CLB 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Below CLB 5 | Not Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible | Not Eligible |
| Second official language (English or French) | ||||
| Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing | |
| CLB 5 or Higher | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| CLB 4 or Lower | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
To prove you language abilities you must take any of the following approved tests:
- English: IELTS General or CELPIP General or PTE Core
- French: TEF Canada or TCF Canada
Factor 2: Education
You can receive up to 30 points for your education.
| Level of Education | Points |
| Doctoral (PhD) level | 24 |
| Master's degree or equivalent | 20 |
| Two-year or more post-secondary credential | 15 |
| Secondary school/high school diploma | 12 |
You will be awarded points for your Canadian educational credential or foreign credential accompanied by Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report (➨Appendix 3).
The ECA Report must not be more than five (5) years old prior to the date the EOI is submitted.
You will receive additional points if you have completed a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma of two (2) years or longer:
| Canadian Education | Points |
| Two year or more post-secondary credential | 6 |
Factor 3: Business Ownership or Senior Management Experience
You may claim up to 24 points based on your business experience. The number of points is based on your past business ownership experience OR senior management experience.
| Experience | Points |
| 3 years of business ownership experience (minimum 1/4 ownership) | 15 |
| 2 to 3 years of business ownership experience (minimum 1/4 ownership) | 5 |
| Greater than 5 years of experience in a senior management role | 9 |
| No or Less than above management or business ownership experience | Not Eligible |
Factor 4: Newfoundland and Labrador Economic Priorities
You can get points if you have a job offer from a Canadian employer.
| Priorities | Points |
| Business in Technology, Agriculture, Aquaculture, or Natural Resources | 8 |
| Business in sector not listed as priority above | 4 |
| Business in Rural Area (Outside St. John’s CMA) | 4 |
Factor 5: Age
You’ll get points based on your age on the day you submit your EOI.
| Age | Points |
| Under 21 | Not Eligible |
| 21-30 | 10 |
| 31-40 | 12 |
| 41-50 | 8 |
| 51-59 | 4 |
| 60+ | Not Eligible |
Factor 6: Adaptability
You can get maximum of 10 points for any combination of the following factors:
| Adaptability | Points |
| Previous work experience in Newfoundland and Labrador of two (2) years or more | 4 |
| Previous work experience in Newfoundland and Labrador of one (1) to two (2) years | 2 |
| Yours or your spouse/common-law partner’s relatives in Canada (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew), living in Newfoundland and Labrador as permanent resident or citizen. | 6 |
| Your Total Score |
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WHAT STEPS SHOULD YOU TAKE?
If you meet all the requirements and if you believe you are likely to be invited based on your score, you can start the process to apply under Newfoundland and Labrador Entrepreneur Stream.
Step 1: Exploratory Visit
You are required to make a mandatory exploratory visit to Newfoundland and Labrador prior to starting a new business or purchasing an existing business. It’s also mandatory for all foreign associated partners applying under the program (if applicable).
You must prepare a detailed report of your whole exploratory visit. Your report on the visit must cover the entire length of your stay in Canada, including time spent in other provinces, if any. The information required must be submitted as part of your Business Establishment Plan, including any relevant documents.
Details must include:
- Length of your stay.
- The name of the professional business service providers or settlement organizations visited during your trip, including mailing addresses, telephone numbers, and emails.
- A description of the activity and/or meeting and how it relates to your business establishment or settlement.
- Copies of all airline tickets, boarding passes and hotel receipts during your entire stay in Canada.
- Copies of business cards collected from relevant contact and business service providers contacted during your visit.
- Details of visit to existing business location and meetings with current owners if you are planning to purchase an existing business. You should include the business name, location and the current owner’s names and contact details.
To find out how you can travel to Canada for a temporary visit, see (➨page).
Step 2: Submit an Online NLPNP Expression of Interest
Now that you meet all the requirements, you can register at NLPNP Online portal and complete Expression of Interest (EOI) (➨immilib.com/NLE-Apply) for yourself. There is no fee to submitting an EOI.
To complete the EOI, you’ll need information from some documents including passports, language test results, etc. But you don’t need to upload any documents.
After you submit the EOI, the system will calculate your score based upon the information you enter and your EOI will be placed in a pool for potential selection. Your score will be sent to you in a confirmation email.
EOIs will be ranked against each other and only top ranked candidates will be invited to apply. A draw will occur with only the top ranked EOIs being selected and issued an invitation to apply.
If your EOI is selected, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) letter. Selection is based on nominee program targets and an assessment of your EOI.
If you’re not invited to apply within twelve (12) months of submitting your EOI, it will automatically expire and removed from the system.
|
Recent Draws – NLPNP Entrepreneur |
|
| Date of Draw | No. of ITA |
| Feb 2022 | 2 |
| Jan 2022 | 4 |
| Dec 2021 | 5 |
| Nov 2021 | 3 |
| Oct 2021 | 7 |
| Sep 2021 | 4 |
| Aug 2021 | 11 |
| Jul 2021 | 4 |
| Jun 2021 | 7 |
| May 2021 | 4 |
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Updates and Complete list of previous Draws available at: Draws available at:immilib.com/NLE-Draws |
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You can still create a new EOI. If you are able to acquire additional points after submitting your EOI, you will need to submit a new EOI.
If you are proposing a NLPNP foreign associated partner, the total score of the lowest-scoring partner(s) will be applied to all applicants.
Step 3: Prepare Documents
In addition to the applications forms and supporting documents, before submission of complete application, you need to obtain a Business Establishment Plan and a Net Worth Verification Report.
Business Establishment Plan
You will need to submit a Business Plan as part of your application. You must submit a business plan that demonstrates that the business will be viable and likely to provide material economic benefit to the economy of Newfoundland and Labrador as a whole or to the local economy where the business will be located.
Your business plan will be reviewed to ensure that it meets program requirements and the commitments made in your EOI. Thus, this document should be drafted as an essential component of your application.
Net Worth Verification Report
As part of your application, you must provide a Net Worth Verification Report. This report must be prepared by one of designated Net Worth Verifiers. These verifiers are experts in assessing net worth and legal accumulation of net worth.
You must hire a vendor and notify office of immigration within 20 calendar days from the date of ITA letter and you will have 180 days to submit the Net Worth Verification Report.
| List of NLPNP Designated Net Worth Verifiers | |
|
Grant Thornton Suite 300, 15 International Place St. John’s, NL A1A 0L4 (709) 778-8815 |
MNP-LLP Westbrook Plaza, 860 Topsail Road St. John’s, NL A1N 3J7 (709) 383-1503 |
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BDO Canada 300 Kenmount Road St. John’s, NL A1B 3R2 (709) 763-5877 |
Deloitte Suite 1000, 5 Springdale Street St. John’s, NL A1E 0E4 (709) 758-5151 |
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KPMP LLP TD Place, Suite 1001, 140 Water St. St. John’s, NL AiC 6H6 (709) 733-5047 |
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Step 4: Submit Application to NLPNP
If you’ve received an ITA, you are expected to submit your application by providing the following:
- Application Forms;
- All supporting documentation;
- A Business Establishment Plan; and
- A Net Worth Verification Report
- Application Fee
You will have twenty (20) calendar days from the issuance date of the ITA letter to select a designated Net Worth Verifier and notify NLPNP of your chosen Net Worth Verifier on your online application.
You will have ninety (90) calendar days from the issuance date of the ITA letter to submit a complete application form, all required supporting documents and a Business Establishment Plan.
You will have 180 calendar days from the issuance date of the ITA letter to submit your Net Worth Verification Report.
If you submit a complete application, it will be assessed against the eligibility criteria and your EOI point’s assessment will be verified.
After assessment of the application is complete, if you appear to meet the Entrepreneur Eligibility Criteria you will be contacted to participate in an in-person interview. You will be required to travel to Newfoundland and Labrador to participate in this interview.
| NLPNP Application | |
| Submit application to: | |
|
Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour Government of Newfoundland and Labrador P.O. Box 8700, St. John’s, NL CANADA A1B 4J6 |
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| Official Program Guide: | |
| immilib.com/NLE-Guide | |
| NLPNP Application Fee: | |
| None | |
| Processing Time: | |
| Not Available | |
| Document Checklist: | |
|
(page 26) |
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| Contact: | |
| 709-729-6607 | |
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E-mail: pnp@gov.nl.ca |
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To find out how you can travel to Canada for a temporary visit, see (➨page).
Step 5: Business Performance Agreement
Upon completion of a successful in-person interview, you will be sent a Business Performance Agreement for your review and signature.
You must scan your signed and dated Business Performance Agreement and submit as instructed within fifteen (15) business days from the date the agreement was sent to you electronically by the Newfoundland and Labrador Office of Immigration.
Your Business Performance Agreement is your legal agreement with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It will state the amount you will invest in your business and the business sector where you will operate your business. The Business Performance Agreement will also list any other information relevant to your application including but not limited to: job creation, business succession, and business location. This is based upon the information you supplied in your Business Establishment Plan.
Step 6: Apply for Work permit
Upon receipt of your signed and dated Business Performance Agreement, Newfoundland and Labrador Office of Immigration will issue you with an Entrepreneur Approval Letter and instructions on how to apply for a Work Permit. A work permit allows you to settle in Newfoundland and Labrador and operate your business.
You must then provide the letter of support, your business plan and your signed Business Performance Agreement to the Government of Canada with an application for a temporary work permit (➨Page).
You must apply for your work permit within two (2) months of the date on the Entrepreneur Approval Letter.
Step 7: Business Establishment in Newfoundland and Labrador
If your application for a Work Permit is approved, you (and any associated partners, if applicable) will be expected to arrive in Newfoundland and Labrador within six (6) months of receiving your Entrepreneur Approval Letter.
All approved applicants are required to meet with staff of office of Immigration within thirty (30) calendar days of their Arrival Date. During the meeting an Officer will be available to answer questions related to fulfilling the terms of the Business Performance Agreement and also refer you to other service providers for relevant information and guidance related to the establishment of your business or settlement in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Upon arrival in Newfoundland and Labrador it is recommended that you start operating your business within six (6) months of your Arrival Date.
You must operate your business for a minimum of one (1) year before you are eligible for nomination.
Step 8: Request for Nomination
In order to be eligible for nomination you and your dependents must be living in Newfoundland and Labrador and you must have fulfilled the terms outlined in the Business Performance Agreement including transferring the required funds to Canada, and maintaining legal status in Canada.
Once you have fulfilled your Business Performance Agreement, you can request nomination. To do so, you should submit a formal request in writing to your business officer. You are required to submit a “Review Engagement and Special Purpose Report” prepared by one of the authorized verifiers listed earlier.
The Review Engagement will consist of a review of the financial statements of your business and include a conclusion (Review Report).
The Special Purpose Report will include an opinion regarding the following:
- The financial viability and sustainability of the business, discussing any relevant issues affecting the business’ ability to continue in the near future as a going concern;
- Recommendations for the business to improve its viability and sustainability;
- A determination of any issues, challenges or concerns pertaining to auditing the financial statements; and
- A business review which may for example include but not be limited to: market analysis, product analysis, competitive analysis, and financial analysis.
You must demonstrate that you have actively managed your business for a minimum of twelve (12) months in Newfoundland and Labrador and also satisfy the officer that you have been, and remain, a resident in the province. An officer will arrange a meeting with you to assess your request for nomination.
Step 9: Apply for Permanent Residence
If you are nominated by the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, then your next step is to submit a complete application for a permanent resident visa within six (6) months (➨Page).
You must submit your application using the IRCC Permanent Residence Portal (PR Portal) (➨ immilib.com/PR-Portal).
If your application is complete, you will receive a letter or an email confirming that your file has been received and accepted for processing. This letter is called the Acknowledge of Receipt (AOR) and will include your IRCC file number.
Once you have received your acknowledgement of receipt, you can create an online account and link your application to it. By creating an account, you will be able to receive email updates and a more detailed case status.
Step 10: Landing in Canada
If your application is approved, you will be asked to pay your right of permanent residence fee if you haven't already done so. You will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) and if you are from a country that requires a visa you will also be issued a permanent resident visa.
You will only become a Permanent Resident of Canada when you cross a Canadian port of entry. This is referred to as ‘landing in Canada' (➨Page).
You must land in Canada before the expiry date, which appears on your Canada Immigration Visa. Usually, the expiry date is one (1) year from the time medical examinations were completed. As this is not always the case, be sure to verify the expiry date as soon as the Canada Immigration Visa is received.
Ready to take the next step towards your Canadian immigration journey? Fill out the form below and embark on your path to new opportunities.
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WELCOME TO NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR!
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