Manitoba Business Investor Stream (BIS)

Step 2: Research the Business Concept and Explore Manitoba

The MPNP encourages entrepreneur applicants to visit Manitoba and attend business seminars held by the Business Consulting Unit (BCU) of the Immigration and Economic Opportunities Division. The potential applicant is required to complete and submit a business concept before receiving an invitation to apply for the Entrepreneur Pathway. In the business concept form, the entrepreneur required to:

• Describe the business opportunity identified in Manitoba
• Describe the research that helped him or her identify the business as a viable opportunity
• Describe how his or her background, training, and experience will help in developing this business opportunity.
• Describe the intended investment and his or her financial position (i.e. plans for financing, availability of liquid assets, etc.)
• Describe how the product and/or service will be marketed and identify the business's competitive advantage over other competitors
• Outline critical resource requirements, such as locations, specialized equipment, the involvement of suppliers, distributors, key personnel and technology
• Describe implementation timelines taking into consideration possibilities for early of relayed business establishment
• Describe critical risk factors and explain risk management strategies to overcome these risks
• Describe further research required to finalize the business plan; and
• Describe in detail how the business will help contribute to Manitoba's economic growth with the number of jobs the business is expected to create and maintain the first year of operation. 

It is important to note that the submission of a business concept is not an application to the MPNP.

Step 3: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI)

With complete market research, the prospective Entrepreneur Pathway applicant must submit the following forms to the MPNP.

• Business Concept Form;
• Self-Assessment Form; and
• Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives, if applicable.

The MPNP will respond to EOIs by email and individuals who do not meet the minimum eligibility criteria of the Entrepreneur Pathway will not have their business concept reviewed. 

Step 4: Submit a Complete Application

If the entrepreneur meets the minimum criteria and the Business Concept is approved, the MPNP will send an official Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA). 

It is necessary to follow the application instructions and provide all the documents listed in the Document Checklist. The entrepreneur candidate will be required to verify net worth and source of funds with one of two designated third-party service providers (listed at the end of this page in the Immigrate Manitoba website). 

The candidate has 120 days from LAA receipt to submit a complete electronic application package to the MPNP, including a non-refundable application processing fee of CAD $2,500. The MPNP will not accept paper applications. A complete application package includes all documents in the checklist, a copy of the Third Party Verification Report, and an extensive Business Plan. 

Step 5: Application Assessment 

The application assessment may include an invitation for an in-person interview. Before a refusal is issued, the MPNP will send the applicant, whose assessment raises concerns, a Procedural Fairness Letter (PFL). The PFL allows applicants to address the MPNP's concerns before an official refusal is issued.

As part of the approval process, the applicant will be asked to sign a Business Performance Agreement (BPA), which will serve as a contractual agreement between the applicant and the MPNP.

Once the BPA is signed, the MPNP issues the entrepreneur a Letter of Support. The Letter of Support must be included in the application for a Temporary Work Permit submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

Step 6: Operate a Business in Manitoba 

An entrepreneur will be required to provide regular updates on the business's performance and the MPNP may be involved in monitoring the business establishment activities in order to verify whether or not the terms and conditions of the BPA are honored, such as the timeline specified in the BPA, reporting conditions, etc. 

The entrepreneur applicant may schedule appointments with the BCU for assistance, feedback and guidance on establishing the business successfully and accessing business settlement support services as needed. 

Step 7: Receive a MPNP nomination

An entrepreneur applicant who has successfully completed the terms and conditions of the BP will obtain a provincial nomination certificate from the Government of Manitoba. With this nomination certificate, the entrepreneur may apply to IRCC for Canadian permanent resident status. 

Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway Interim Application Process

The Farm Investor Pathway (FIP) replaces the MPNP's previous Farm Strategic Initiative. Similar to entrepreneurs, farm investors must follow seven steps when applying to the program. However, the application process differs from that of the Entrepreneur Pathway. 

• have a minimum verifiable personal net worth of CAD $500,000;
• have a minimum of three years (3) farm ownership, as well as experience in managing farm operations supported by verifiable documents; and
• demonstrate adaptability, specifically relating to practical farming skills, technical knowledge, and experience in technological based farming practices that will transfer directly to Manitoba’s current primary farm production industry.

Step 1: Explore and Research Farm Business in Manitoba 

After reviewing Farm Investor Pathway eligibility criteria to determine whether or not requirements are met, the prospective applicant can begin the application process by conducting a Farm Research Visit to Manitoba. The Farm Research Visit is a mandatory step in the application process. The visit must be conducted no more than a year before the submission of an Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Concept to the MPNP.

A key feature of the Interest Guidelines is the proposed investment. A prospective applicant must intend to invest a minimum of $300,000 in rural Manitoba.

A farm research visit is expected to help a prospective applicant:

• Collect information and prepare a Farm Business Concept that includes details, such as farmland costs, crop or livestock cost of production, marketing farm production, farm machinery, and equipment, analyzing competition, or investigating customers and farm suppliers.
• Research information settlement in rural Manitoba, including recreational activities, newcomer services, cost of living and availability of schools for children.

The Farm Research Visit is documented as a report if a LAA is issued to the FIP applicant. Although the MPNP does not provide guidelines for the Farm Visit report, the applicant is required to describe the nature of the activities that took place during the entire visit, including airline tickets, contacts made, hotel receipts, places visited, etc. 

Step 2: Completion of Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Concept forms

Once a potential candidate completes the Farm Business Visit in Manitoba, the next steps are to complete and submit the Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Forms.

The Interest Guidelines form is where a potential applicant provides self-assessed details about their profile that include their past education, adaptability, farm business experience, language proficiency, and details on personal net worth. The Interest Guidelines form functions like an Expression of Interest (EOI) to apply to the Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway.

Step 3: Submission of Interest Guidelines and Farm Business Concept forms

At this stage, the potential applicant will also be required to submit a complete Farm Business Concept Form. The MPNP will require both forms to be submitted along with the Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives to be able to screen a prospective applicant's eligibility and potential for successful long-term contribution to rural Manitoba's economic growth. 

The completion and submission of the above-mentioned forms is not an application to the program. It is only candidates who obtain a LAA that can move the next step of submitting an application to the MPNP. 

Step 4: Submission of a Farm Investor Pathway application 

Individuals must submit a complete Farm Investor Pathway application 120 days following the receipt of a LAA. An applicant must provide all the required documentation and non-refundable application fee. The MPNP may require an applicant to provide a Third-Party Verification Report of the net worth and financial information provided in the EOI. As an applicant, it is important to review the Instructions and Document Checklist to ensure that the application is complete.

Step 5: Assessment of a Farm Investor Pathway application 

The assessment of a Farm Investor Pathway application may include an interview with a MPNP representative to discuss the Farm Business Plan. A letter of approval will contain a Deposit Agreement (contract) that details the requirements of the MPNP. The applicant is required to sign and date the Deposit Agreement and provide the MPNP with a $75,000 CAD deposit.

This deposit is refundable to the applicant once the requirements of the agreement are met. An MPNP representative may issue an applicant a Procedural Fairness letter, which will require the applicant to respond to the representative's concerns within 30 days of receiving the letter. 

Step 6: Obtain Canadian Permanent Residence 

When the MPNP receives an applicant's Deposit Agreement, a nomination certificate will be issued and the farm investor will be able to submit a Canadian permanent residence application to IRCC. 

The MPNP will consistently track the performance of the farm business in accordance with the terms and conditions signed in the Deposit Agreement. 

Step 7: Establish a Farm Business in Manitoba

The farm investor applicant will be required to provide the MPNP with progress reports that capture how the business has been established and that the investment requirements are met.

The farm investor may consult with a Manitoba Business Immigration Officer for information on farm operation and resources that may help in setting up the farm business. Once the MPNP verifies the farm business investment, the CAD $75,000 deposit will be returned to the applicant.

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