Federal Entrepreneur Program

Note: The Federal Government has temporarily stopped accepting applications for the Federal Entrepreneur Program. Only applications received before July 1, 2011, will be processed. This suspension will continue until further notice.

The Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract experienced business persons who will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that contribute to the economy and create jobs.

Eligibility Criteria for Federal Entrepreneur Program

An applicant must have:

1. Business Experience: Minimum 2 years of experience, consisting of 2 one-year periods of experience in the management of a qualifying business.
2. Net Worth: Minimum legally obtained net worth of CAD $300,000.

An entrepreneur who becomes a permanent resident must meet the following conditions:

1. Must control a percentage of the equity of a qualifying Canadian business equal to or greater than 33 1/3 per cent;
2. Must provide active and on-going management of the qualifying Canadian business; and
3. Must create at least one incremental full-time job equivalent in the qualifying Canadian business for Canadian citizens or permanent residents, other than the entrepreneur and their family members.