The Entrepreneur Stream is designed to attract individuals who wish to start or acquire a business and settle permanently in Nova Scotia.

Applicants must meet The Minimum Eligibility criteria:

1. Have a minimum $600,000 CAD in Net Business and Personal Assets
2. Have a minimum of three years of business ownership experience including 33.33% ownership; or
3. Greater than five years of experience in a senior business manager role in the last 10 years
4. Make a minimum capital investment of $150,000 CAD in Nova Scotia
5. Have Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in either English or French
6. Have a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent
7. Demonstrate accumulation of claimed net worth through legal means
8. Have a Business Establishment Plan
9. Agree to reside in Nova Scotia

In order to qualify as an eligible business under the Entrepreneur program, several criteria must be met:

• Own at least one third (33.33%) of the equity of the business
• Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business
• The business must be a for-profit entity
• The business must be considered a “permanent establishment”
• The business is liable to pay income tax
• The business must have potential to create an economic benefit to Nova Scotia

If starting a business, the applicant must also create a minimum of one full time opportunity for a Canadian or Permanent Resident in Nova Scotia This position(s) must:

• Be over and above any position filled by the approved applicant
• Be relevant and directly related to the applicant’s business
• Meet the prevailing wage levels

If purchasing a previously existing Nova Scotia business:

• The business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five (5) years
• All applicants must complete an exploratory visit to meet the current owner(s)
• Applicants must provide evidence that reasonable efforts were taken to establish a fair market value for the business
• The business must be actively in operation and not in receivership
• The succession buy-out must result in a complete change in ownership where the applicant will assume full control of the business
• Applicants must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms

When candidates submit their Expression of Interest, a point matrix will be used to select the strongest applicants who best align with Nova Scotia’s business and economic priorities based on 8 factors:

• Language
• Education
• Business Ownership or Management Experience
• Level of Investment in the Business
• Net Worth,
• Age,
• Adaptability, and
• Nova Scotia priorities

There are five steps to the nomination process:

Step #1 - Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Province of Nova Scotia
Step #2 - Invitation to Apply
Step #3 - Temporary Work Permit and Business Establishment in Nova Scotia
Step #4 - Request for Nomination
Step #5 - Apply for Permanent Residence

Nova Scotia’s universities and colleges are educating over 7,000 international students, many of whom wish to stay in Nova Scotia permanently. International graduates form an attractive pool of potential immigrants. The International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream is open to graduates who have completed at least two years of full-time study from a recognized Nova Scotia university or Nova Scotia Community College, have operated their own business in Nova Scotia for at least one year, and intend to settle permanently in Nova Scotia.

Applicants must meet The Minimum Eligibility Criteria:

Human Capital Criteria:

• Have completed a full-time Nova Scotia post-secondary diploma or degree of at least two years
• Have resided in Nova Scotia full-time during the academic program
• Demonstrate proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages by achieving a test result demonstrating Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four language abilities
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Reside in Nova Scotia while they establish their eligible business

Business and Financial Criteria:

• Demonstrate intention to settle in Nova Scotia, and own and operate a business in Nova Scotia for at least one continuous year prior to the date of EOI submission
• Applicants must own 100% of the equity
• Must demonstrate that they are receiving compensation in the form of salary from the business, which must, at minimum, meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) as defined by Statistics Canada
• Audited financial statements from an NSOI approved professional third party will be required to assess the financial health of the business

Starting a Business:

If starting a business the applicant must create a minimum of one full-time (or equivalent) employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident in Nova Scotia (non-relative worker). This position(s) must:

• Be over and above any position filled by the approved applicant
• Be relevant and directly related to the applicant’s business
• Meet the prevailing wage levels

Business Succession:

• The Nova Scotia based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the previous five (5) years
• Provide evidence that reasonable efforts were taken to establish a fair market value for the business
• The business must be in active operation and not in receivership
• The succession buy-out must result in a complete change in ownership where the applicant will assume full control of the business
• Must offer employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms

• The business must be initiated or operated for the purpose of making a profit
• Businesses must meet the legal requirements of the community
• The business must be a for-profit entity
• The business must be considered a “permanent establishment”
• The business is liable to pay income tax on taxable income earned as a result of a “permanent establishment” in Nova Scotia
• You are required to reside in Nova Scotia and operate your business and be involved in its day to day management

A point’s matrix will be used to select the strongest applicants who best align with Nova Scotia’s business and economic priorities. Points will be awarded in the following categories:

• language
• education
• work experience
• adaptability
• age, and
• Nova Scotia priorities