NL International Entrepreneur Category
Newfoundland and Labrador's route for experienced owners and senior managers who intend to settle permanently in the province.
Newfoundland and Labrador’s International Entrepreneur category is for experienced owners and senior managers who intend to settle permanently in the province. You start or buy a business, manage it every day, and run it for at least one full year before nomination.
The category charges no provincial application fee, which is unusual, and priority goes to applicants focused on regional development or the province’s high-demand sectors: agriculture, aquaculture, technology, and natural resources.
Core requirements
| Requirement | Threshold |
|---|---|
| Age | Between 21 and 59. |
| Personal assets | CAD $600,000 minimum in personal and business assets transferable to Canada, verified through a Net Worth Verification Report by a designated verifier. |
| Investment | CAD $200,000 with at least 33.3% ownership, or an equity investment of CAD $1 million or more, in which case the ownership requirement does not apply. |
| Business experience | Either two years of business ownership and management with 25% or more ownership within the last five years, or five years in a senior management role within the last ten. |
| Education | A Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent, verified by an Educational Credential Assessment completed within the last five years. |
| Language | CLB 5 or higher. Note this is higher than British Columbia’s CLB 4. |
| Exploratory visit | Mandatory if applying from outside the province, and completed before the official application. If buying an existing business, you must meet the current owner during the visit. |
Starting versus purchasing
Starting a new business requires creating at least one full-time job directly related to the business for a local resident who is not a relative. Purchasing brings succession-integrity conditions instead, including retaining existing staff on the same wages and conditions.
How selection works
The category runs on an Expression of Interest model. You submit an EOI, receive a score, and the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism periodically issues Invitations to Apply. Scoring covers language, education, business ownership or management experience, alignment with provincial economic priorities, age, and adaptability, which can include relatives in the province or prior work experience there. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee an invitation.
Successful applicants operate under a Business Performance Agreement on a temporary work permit, and nomination follows once its terms are met. The full cycle from EOI to permanent residence typically spans two to four years.
Who cannot apply
- Persons living illegally in their country of residence, or without legal immigration status until it is restored
- Persons subject to a removal order issued by IRCC or the Canada Border Services Agency
- Persons otherwise inadmissible to Canada
- Passive investors who will not be involved in daily operations
Not sure which program fits your situation?
Every program rewards a different profile. Net worth, experience, sector, and where you want to live all shape the right strategy. Book a consultation and we will assess your options across all of them.