Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) – Business Impact Category: Work Permit Stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Stream Name	PEI PNP Work Permit Stream (Business Impact)
Stay Period	Minimum 1 year on work permit
Application Cost	$10,000 provincial application fee
Net Worth Requirement	Minimum $600,000 CAD verifiable personal net worth
Minimum Investment	$150,000 CAD within 12 months
Eligibility Age	21–59 years of age
Minimum Language	CLB/NCLC 4
Minimum Education	Secondary school equivalent
Work Rights	Active day-to-day business management in PEI
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Must reside in PEI 274 days/year
Family Sponsorship	Spouse and dependent children may accompany
Citizenship	Permanent residency pathway via IRCC nomination
Visa Record	Not stated in the source

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Purpose and Overview

The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) Work Permit Stream under the Business Impact Category allows foreign entrepreneurs to enter PEI on a temporary work permit, operate a business for at least one year, and obtain a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residency.

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Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Net Worth: Minimum verifiable personal net worth of $600,000 CAD obtained through legal, legitimate sources.
• Age: 21 to 59 years old at the time of application.
• Education: Minimum equivalent of a secondary school diploma.
• Experience: Transferable management skills and past employment or business ownership experience.
• Language: Minimum proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or NCLC 4 in English or French.
• Residency & Intent: Intend to live and work in PEI, actively managing the day-to-day operations of the PEI-based business.

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Expression of Interest (EOI) Points Grid

Candidate profiles in the EOI pool are scored out of a maximum of 200 points (plus a 10-point bilingual bonus):

Selection Factor	Maximum Points
Age (25–44 years receives maximum)	30
Language Ability (CLB/NCLC 9+ receives maximum; valid within 2 years)	50
Education (Master's/PhD receives maximum)	20
Business Ownership or Senior Management Experience	50
Community Endorsement (Rural: 15; Capital: 10)	15
Adaptability (Family in PEI, education, spouse language/work, farming)	35
Total Maximum Points	200

Note: A 10-point bonus is awarded for demonstrated proficiency in both official languages.

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Net Worth Assessment Rules

• Business Equity: For business value to count toward net worth, the applicant and/or spouse must own at least 70%. Only 30% of eligible equity can count, capped at a maximum of $180,000 CAD.
• Ineligible Assets: Private loans, gifted assets, and vehicles cannot be counted.
• Inherited Assets: Accepted only when supported by a copy of a death certificate and will.
• Designated Verifier: Applicants must engage an Office-designated verifier within 15 days of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Reports must be completed within 90 days of the ITA and remain valid for 12 months. All verification costs are the applicant's responsibility.

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Costs and Refund Policy

• Application Fee: $10,000 CAD payable to Island Investment Development Inc. via bank draft, certified cheque, or money order.
• Refund Schedule:
  • 100% ($10,000 CAD): If the file is not accepted.
  • Partial ($7,500 CAD): If the file is declined or withdrawn prior to the interview.
  • Non-refundable ($0 CAD): If declined or withdrawn after the interview has taken place.
• Federal Fees: Applicants must also pay federal employer compliance and work permit fees via IRCC.

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Application Steps

1. Assess Eligibility: Confirm you meet minimum education, age, language, net worth, and experience requirements.
2. Submit EOI Profile: Create a profile online. Profiles remain active for 6 months.
3. Receive Invitation to Apply (ITA): If invited, you have up to 60 days to submit the full application.
4. Net Worth Verification: Within 15 days of receiving an ITA, hire an approved personal net worth verifier.
5. Prepare Application: Complete federal/provincial forms and prepare a detailed Business Plan.
6. Submit Application: Submit unbound documentation and the $10,000 fee to the Office of Immigration in Charlottetown, PEI. Non-English/French documents require certified translations.
7. Attend Interview: Attend an interview in PEI to review the business plan and sign the Performance Agreement.
8. Work Permit Letter of Support: Once approved, receive the signed agreement and provincial support letter.
9. Apply for Work Permit: Pay the federal employer compliance fee and apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit.
10. Arrival in PEI: Report in person to the PEI Office of Immigration within 30 days of landing in Canada.
11. Meet Agreement Obligations & Permanent Residency: Fulfil performance terms to receive a provincial nomination, then apply to IRCC for permanent residency.

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Obligations for Permanent Residency Nomination

To qualify for a provincial nomination after operating on a work permit, the applicant must:

• Physical Presence: The principal applicant, spouse, and school-aged children must maintain residency and be physically present in PEI for at least 274 days per year (post-secondary dependents studying outside PEI are exempt).
• Investment: Invest at least $150,000 CAD into the business within 12 months of landing.
• Operation Duration: Operate the business continuously for a minimum of 12 consecutive months.
• Operating Expenses: Demonstrate at least $75,000 CAD in eligible business operating expenses via third-party prepared financial statements.
• Management: Provide active, ongoing day-to-day management from within PEI.
• Community Endorsement Compliance: If endorsement points were claimed, the business must be established in that specific endorsing community.

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Important Warnings

• An Expression of Interest is not an application and does not guarantee an invitation to apply.
• Failure to select a designated Personal Net Worth Verifier will result in refusal.
• Failure to prove legitimate accumulation of funds will result in application refusal.
• Any changes to applicant circumstances (marital status, family, employment) must be reported immediately to the Office of Immigration and IRCC.