Prince Edward Entrepreneur Program
Prince Edward Entrepreneur Program
Foreign nationals with business ownership or extensive management experience have an opportunity to move to Prince Edward Island and start their business there through the Work Permit Stream of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Entrepreneur Program (PEI PNP). Following all the requirements of the program, they can eventually become permanent residents.
You may be eligible for a nomination for permanent residency if you are interested in immigrating to Prince Edward Island and would like to invest in and run a business in the province. There is also an online platform that connects people who would like to buy or sell a PEI business. Before the start of your application process, please check if you are eligible for nomination through the Work Permit Stream. The mandatory requirements of the program include:
- you must possess a minimum verifiable personal net worth of at least 600,000 CAD. You must demonstrate that you have accumulated it through legal and legitimate sources in your own right;
- the minimum level of your education must be equivalent to secondary school;
- at the time of application your age must be between 21 and 59 years;
- you must show that your management skills are transferable and your past employment or business ownership experience can be useful in Prince Edward Entrepreneur Program;
- you are obliged to meet minimum language requirements that are equivalent to a CLB/NCLC 4;
- your intention to live and work in PEI is necessary;
- and your day-to-day active and ongoing management of your PEI-based company is also obligatory;
- you have to be ready to attend an interview with staff from the Office of Immigration in the province of Prince Edward Island;
- it is obligatory to meet the terms and conditions of the Performance Agreement signed with the Office of Immigration.
After you have checked that you meet all the mandatory criteria listed above, you have to read the Business Application Guide of the Prince Edward Island Entrepreneur Provincial Nominee Program. The next step demands you or your representative to create a profile in the Prince Edward Island Expression of Interest System. During the creation of the profile, you will need to submit your active email address, some identification information, and your valid passport details. After your account has been verified by the System, you will be able to proceed and complete your profile. Remember, that applicants are allowed to have only one active profile at any time.
The applicant`s profile remains active in the System for the period of six months. During this time, you must ensure the information you provided in the profile is accurate and verifiable. Sometimes, your situation changes prior to being invited to apply, then you are obliged to update your profile. If your situation changes after being invited to apply, you are obliged to contact the Office of Immigration with the new information. Remember, this may impact the ultimate decision on your file. It is worth mentioning, that additional information on the EOI points grid can be found in the Business Application Guide.
It is worth mentioning, that Expression of Interest is not an application. Your EOI is an indication of your interest in being considered to apply to the Prince Edward Entrepreneur Program (Business Impact Category). The Office of Immigration always reserves the right to limit intake or make exclusions from EOI draws.
After you are invited to apply you will receive an email notification from the Office. This email will include your file and instructions for submission of your file. You have to complete the application forms according to these instructions.
One of the most important requirements is that your information, provided in the Expression of Interest Profile, must be valid and verifiable. First, the Office of Immigration will compare the information provided in the application with the Expression of Interest Profile. Any discrepancy in it may affect your ability to apply for the Prince Edward Entrepreneur Program.
Your complete application package, all the supporting documentation, and the 10,000 CAD application fee must be submitted to the Office of Immigration. There are two ways to do this: in-person or with the help of a courier or as a mail package.
It is worth mentioning, that to create your Expression of Interest you do not need to pay a fee. Only after you are selected for nomination by the province of Prince Edward Island, you have to pay the application fee - 10,000 CAD fee must be submitted with your application. A number of acceptable forms of payment are available, including a certified cheque, a bank draft, or a money order made payable to Island Investment Development, Inc.
Remember, that if your file is not accepted by the Prince Edward Entrepreneur Program PNP, you will be refunded the entire fee. In the case when your file is declined or withdrawn prior to the interview by the Office of Immigration, you will be refunded the sum of 7,500 CAD. In case when your file is declined or withdrawn after you had the interview with the Office, the entire fee is non-refundable at all. You must complete all applicable federal and PEI provincial forms after you receive the invitation to apply. These forms include B-3: Application Form; B-5: Consent to Validate Information, and B-6: Information Release, and the Federal Application Package for Provincial Nominees. You do not need to use an immigration consultant or a lawyer if you can complete all the application forms on your own and represent yourself to the Office. If you do not want to use a representative, all communications with and submissions to the Office of Immigration must come directly from you. The interview must also be conducted without the help of an interpreter. A list of approved Island Agents is available for those applicants, who require assistance in preparing their application.
If your application is successful and you are approved, you will receive a letter of support for a work permit from the province of Prince Edward Island. Then, you have to submit your application for a work permit to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada together with your letter of support. It is important to move to Prince Edward Island and start your business, as soon as you are approved for a work permit. When all the terms and conditions of your Performance Agreement with PEI are satisfied, you will be issued a nomination certificate. Then you can file your Application for Permanent Residency with IRCC and they will assess it for admissibility factors.
Regards,
International Experience Club
