New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream
New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream
The Government of the province of New Brunswick can nominate individuals, who are able to become economically established in the province, for the New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream (NBPNP). It is administered by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour (PETL) and is a part of an economic immigration program. New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream is not intended for humanitarian or compassionate reasons, family reunification, or immigration of protected persons.
New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream is designed as an economic immigration pathway. The program is available for experienced entrepreneurs who are ready to establish and actively manage a business in New Brunswick. They must be ready to operate it, while permanently living in the province.
The New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream application process consists of four stages before the candidates are approved and they may obtain the Permanent Resident (PR) status. During Stage 1 you have to apply to the New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream for a Work Permit Letter of Support. To do so, first, you have to check if you meet all eligibility criteria and selection factors. Then you can apply to the NB Business Immigration stream by registering online and submitting your Expression Of Interest (EOI). The province of New Brunswick reviews EOIs and issues Invitations to Apply (ITA), but the processing time varies, depending on the time required for the verification of your documents and on the volume of applications received by the province. Remember, that in some cases you may be asked to attend an in-person interview. After you receive an Invitation to Apply you can submit a full application online. If your application result is successful, the Province of New Brunswick will issue a letter of support for your temporary Work Permit.
During Stage 2 you have to obtain your Work Permit from the Federal Government of Canada. You will have to apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a Work Permit. If IRCC approves it, the permit will be valid for two years. During this time you must start your new business in New Brunswick.
Stage 3 is designed for the establishment of your business in the province. Together with your valid Work Permit, you get the right to start working on establishing your business in New Brunswick. This business must be based on the approved business plan, location, and investment amount. It is worth mentioning, that your business plan and the proposed location cannot be changed after your application has been approved by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour. To be allowed to submit your request and receive a Provincial Nomination Certificate from PETL, your business in New Brunswick must be operational for a minimum of one year and the terms of your Business Performance Agreement (BPA) must be fulfilled.
New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream-Final Step
The final Stage 4 is the stage for applying to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for a PR visa. After the successful completion of Stages 1-3, you will receive a provincial nomination. Then you may apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for a PR visa and send your application to the IRCC Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Remember that you, your spouse, and all the dependents must meet statutory requirements for medical, security, and criminal admissibility. The final authority to issue a PR visa belongs to the IRCC, and there is no guarantee that it will approve your PR application even if you are nominated by the Government of New Brunswick.
It is worth mentioning, that all provincial immigration pathways are dependent upon federal immigration allocations, application volumes, and labor market needs. If you plan to apply to New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program, you must meet all minimum eligibility requirements and selection factors and have all the required documents on hand to support the application to the Government of New Brunswick and to the Government of Canada, too.
The minimum eligibility requirements for the New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream include the applicant`s age, education, language proficiency, personal net worth, the experience of business ownership or senior management, a valid business concept and they must score a minimum of 65 points in the selection factors to be considered for nomination by the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour of New Brunswick. It is important, that the eligibility requirements are met during all the stages of your application (at the time of the EOI, application, and nomination), but meeting eligibility requirements still does not guarantee that you will be nominated for the program.
PETL also reserves the right to consider only certain types of new businesses for the economic development of the province of New Brunswick. Its decisions are based on the current economic situation of the New Brunswick labor market, yearly nomination allocations distributed by IRCC, and some other factors determined by the Department.
Mandatory business requirements include the following criteria of the proposed business:
- it must bring the economic benefit to the province of New Brunswick;
- it must be established as a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation (with a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen);
- the continued operation of an existing business or the establishment of a new business is allowed by the NBPNP;
- its primary purpose must be earning profits through the sale of goods or services;
- it must be considered a “permanent establishment” as defined under the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985.
Your proposed business investment requirements include an eligible investment of not less than 150,000 CAD before tax., and control of at least 33.3% equity in this business. At least one full-time job for a permanent resident or citizen of Canada living in New Brunswick must be created, and it cannot include you or your family members. Your residence in New Brunswick must be at least 75% of the time of your Business Establishment Period and you must reside within 100 km of your place of business in the province.The list of the key eligible business for the New Brunswick Entrepreneur Stream includes (but is not limited to): information and communication technology, manufacturing, cybersecurity, digital health, value-added wood, aquaculture, agriculture, tourism, food, and beverage, contact, and call centers, aerospace and defense, and energy innovation.
Some seasonal businesses are eligible too, like agriculture business (with minimum operating time 9 out of 12 months in a calendar year, farm size of 100 hectares, and more); and tourism (with minimum operating time 9 out of 12 months, or 6 out of 12 months if eligible equity investment exceeds 1 million CAD).
Regards,
International Experience Club
