Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) – Business Investor Stream – Entrepreneur Pathway

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Program Name	MPNP – Business Investor Stream: Entrepreneur Pathway
Stay / Permit Duration	24-month Temporary Work Permit; leads to PR nomination
MPNP Application Cost	$2,500 CAD non-refundable processing fee
Minimum Net Worth	$500,000 CAD (verified by third party)
Minimum Investment	$250,000 CAD (Winnipeg); $150,000 CAD (outside Winnipeg)
Work Rights	Granted via federal Temporary Work Permit
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare / Healthcare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Valid visa required for exploratory visits
Citizenship Path	Permanent Residence nomination leads to federal PR
Family Sponsorship	Spouse and dependent children may accompany candidate
Visa Record / Form	Temporary Work Permit / Confirmation of Nomination
Language Requirement	Minimum CLB / NCLC 5
Business Experience	3 years full-time within last 5 years
Education Requirement	Canadian high school equivalent minimum

---

Purpose

The MPNP Entrepreneur Pathway allows the Province of Manitoba to recruit and nominate qualified international business owners and senior managers who intend to move to Manitoba, establish or purchase a business, and actively manage it under a Temporary Work Permit before being nominated for Permanent Residence.

---

Eligibility Criteria

Core Requirements

• Business Experience: At least 3 years of full-time work experience in the past 5 years as an active business owner (minimum 33⅓% equity ownership) or in a senior management role of a successful business.
• Net Worth: Minimum $500,000 CAD in legally acquired personal net worth, verified by an MPNP-approved third-party service provider.
• Language Proficiency: Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5.
• Education: Minimum equivalent of a Canadian high school certificate.
• Business Investment:
  • Minimum $250,000 CAD in tangible assets/eligible expenditures within the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
  • Minimum $150,000 CAD outside the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region.
  • Must hold at least 33⅓% equity ownership, or invest a minimum of $1,000,000 CAD in equity.
• Job Creation: Must create or maintain at least 1 full-time equivalent (FTE) job (minimum 30 hours/week or 1,560 hours/year) for a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident living in Manitoba (excluding the applicant and immediate family), continuously staffed for at least 6 months prior to the Final Report.

Ineligibility

You cannot apply if you:

• Are under 18 years of age.
• Are a refugee claimant in Canada, lack legal status, or are in removal/appeal proceedings.
• Are prohibited from entering Canada.
• Are a live-in caregiver or a temporary foreign worker living/working in another Canadian province.
• Are the spouse/partner of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident residing in Canada.
• Have an active MPNP application, a pending application with another provincial nominee program, or a pending permanent residence application with IRCC.
• Were refused by the MPNP within the last 12 months (or 6 months under updated web guidance) without addressing refusal reasons.
• Had an MPNP application refused for fraud, concealment, or misrepresentation within the last 24 months.
• Intend to establish a primary production farming operation (must apply under the Farm Investor Pathway).

---

Business Investment Rules

Eligible Expenditures

• Purchase of an existing operating business or franchise in Manitoba via asset or share purchase.
• Tangible physical assets (machinery, equipment, tools, fixtures, office furniture).
• Services for leasehold improvements, licenses, and legal start-up fees.
• Goodwill: Limited to a maximum of 30% of total investment; requires a valuation report from a Canadian chartered accountant or chartered business valuator.
• Inventory: Maximum 6 months’ worth for new businesses; maximum 3 months’ worth for existing businesses.
• Motor Vehicles: Must be essential; eligible amount capped at the lesser of purchase price or $30,000 CAD.
• Real Estate: Must be essential; eligible amount capped at the lesser of purchase price or $75,000 CAD.
• Operating Expenses: Maximum 3 months of paid operational expenses.

Ineligible Businesses and Investments

• Passive investment businesses deriving income from rent, interest, dividends, or capital gains.
• Immigration-linked investment schemes or businesses with share buy-back options.
• Businesses established or purchased by another MPNP applicant/nominee within the previous 7 years.
• Home-based, project-based, or seasonal businesses.
• Real estate development, property investment, or property management.
• Rental/leasing businesses (including vehicles), coin-operated machines, lottery kiosks, Bed & Breakfasts.
• Payday lending, cheque cashing, money changing, mortgage brokerages, or financial intermediation.
• Pass-through import/export operations.
• Self-employed professional services, consulting, sole-trucker/single-vehicle transport, or transport businesses lacking dedicated dispatch/storage facilities.
• Hobby farms or any business bringing the Program into disrepute.

---

Rights and Obligations

Rights

• Work Permit Support: Approved applicants receive a Letter of Support from Manitoba to apply to IRCC for a 24-month temporary work permit.
• Nomination: Fulfilling the terms of the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) leads to a Certificate of Nomination for Canadian Permanent Residence.

Obligations

• Arrival Reporting: Attend an in-person arrival meeting with MPNP staff in Winnipeg within 30 days of entering Canada on a work permit.
• Residency: Reside within 100 km of the business and remain in Manitoba for at least 80% of the time following arrival.
• Management: Actively participate in the daily operations and ongoing management of the business on site.
• Reporting:
  • Submit the First Progress Report within 6 months of arrival.
  • Submit the Final Progress Report no later than 20 months after arrival.
  • Operate the business for at least 6 consecutive months immediately before submitting the Final Report.
• Monitoring: Allow MPNP officers to conduct announced or unannounced site visits and inspect accounting, payroll, and tax records.

---

Application Steps

1. Self-Assessment & Research: Verify eligibility using the Self-Assessment Form. Conduct business research (an in-person exploratory visit within 1 year prior to EOI is recommended) and draft a Business Concept.
2. Submit Expression of Interest (EOI): Email the Business Concept Form, Self-Assessment Form, and signed MPNP Code of Conduct to MPNP-BusinessStream@gov.mb.ca.
3. Receive LAA & Submit Application:
   • If approved, receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA).
   • Engage KPMG LLP or MNP LLP to obtain a Net Worth and Source of Funds Verification Report.
   • Pay the $2,500 CAD non-refundable fee via wire transfer.
   • Submit the complete application and verification report within 120 days of the LAA.
4. Assessment & BPA Signing:
   • Applications are assessed by at least two Business Immigration Officers (an interview may be required).
   • If approved in principle, sign and return the Business Performance Agreement (BPA) within 60 days.
   • Receive a Work Permit Support Letter (valid for 3 months) and apply to IRCC for a Temporary Work Permit.
5. Establish Business in Manitoba: Arrive in Manitoba within 12 months of support letter issuance. Report within 30 days, invest funds, establish the business, hire staff, and submit progress reports.
6. Nomination & Permanent Residence: Upon fulfilling the BPA, receive a Confirmation of Nomination. Apply to IRCC for Permanent Residence within 180 days.

---

Required Documents and Forms

Manitoba Forms

• BIS – Entrepreneur Stream Guidelines
• Entrepreneur Pathway Self-Assessment Form
• Entrepreneur Pathway Business Concept Form
• Entrepreneur Pathway Instructions and Document Checklist
• Entrepreneur Pathway Business Plan Guidelines
• Entrepreneur Pathway Generic Application Form
• Business Investor Stream Fee Payment Form
• Information Release Form & Consent to Collection Form
• MPNP Code of Conduct
• Business Establishment – Final Report Form

Designated Verifiers for Net Worth

• KPMG LLP: MBNPverification@kpmg.ca | www.kpmg.ca

• MNP LLP: MNP.MPNP@mnp.ca | www.mnp.ca

---

Important Warnings and Conditions

• Federal Final Authority: Manitoba issues letters of support and nominations, but IRCC retains sole authority to issue work permits and permanent resident visas.
• Procedural Fairness: If concerns arise during assessment, a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL) will allow 30 days to respond before a final decision is made.
• Changes to Business: Only one business change request will be considered, must be submitted within 12 months of arrival, and cannot decrease the committed investment amount.
• Extension Requests: Must be submitted at least 30 days prior to work permit expiry with proof of reasonable attempts to establish the business.
• Nomination Revocation: Manitoba may cancel a nomination prior to PR issuance if terms of the BPA are breached, fraudulent documents are discovered, or the applicant ceases to reside in and operate the business in Manitoba.
• Legal Fees Warning: Under Manitoba legislation, it is illegal for recruiters or representatives to charge foreign workers or immigrants for a job offer.