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Business Immigration

Province of Northwest Territories

Minimum requirements

Entrepreneur

Experienced entrepreneurs want to invest and actively manage a business in the province

Business management experience
Experience in business management or relevant education in business operation
Net worth
$500,000 if located inside Yellowknife
$250,000 if elsewhere
Investment
$300,000 if located inside Yellowknife
$150,000 if elsewhere
Good-faith deposit
$75,000
Refundable after 1 year of business operation
Language
CLB 4
Exploratory Visit
Visit the province at least 4 days within 12 months prior to submission of EOI
Type of investment
Purchases or invest in a local business in the province with a 33.33% ownership unless the total investment is greater than $1,000,000
Job creation
1 full-time and 1 part-time position (not including family members) if the business is located inside Yellowknife, or
1 full-time or 2 part-time positions (not including family members) if the business is located outside Yellowknife

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee the applicant will receive the invitation. Please refer the application process.
Applicant must fulfill all terms set out in the Business Performance Agreement to be nominated for provincial nomination.

Application process

Process timeline of investing, selecting, reviewing and submitting for provincial nomination
between applicant with Provincial and Federal Government

Profile submission
Stage 1

Create an expression of interest profile on NTNP Online when all requirements are met.

Exploratory Visit
Stage 2

Visit the province for at least 4 business days to research, explore investment opportunities, and discuss with provincial officials about the business concept.

Provincial invitation
Stage 3

Based on the interview, applicant with a suitable business plan will be invited to submit a completed investment application.
Submit application within 6 months

Investment decision
Stage 4

Application approved, the investor signs the Business Performance Agreement with the province, committing to fulfill all requirements.

Work permit
Stage 5

The province provides a Letter of support for the applicant to complete their work permit application for business investment.

Business establishment
Stage 6

After arrival in the province, start the business plan and send a progress report every 6 months and final report on the 19th month 12 months in business operation

Decision of Nomination
Stage 7

After fulfilled all commitments, applicant receives Nomination Certificate to support the application for permanent residence to IRCC.
IRCC reviews in 15 - 19 months

Get PR Status
Stage 8

Application approved, the applicant gets Permanent Resident status after landing or confirming on IRCC Portal.Confirmation valid within 12 months

An invitation to apply does not guarantee the application will be approved or the applicant will be issued the Nomination Certificate or granted permanent resident status.

Success factors

Crucial elements affect the decision

Settlement fund
Net worth
Age
Language
French
Canadian work experience
Education
Work experience
Management experience
Admissible
Residential area
Letter from employer
Occupation in Canada
Liquid asset
Field study in Canada
Community referral letter
Farm experience
Job offer
Investment value
Business proposal
Education in Canada
Investment region
Residential area
Exploratory Visit

Entitlement

Benefits the applicant and their accompanying family members are entitled to when becoming permanent residents

Family-friendly
Family-friendly

The immigration application includes the applicant's spouse and children

Work and study
Work and study

Have legal status to operate the business under business immigration program

Medical
Medical

Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian

Education
Education

Free or lower tuition for children depends on the level of education

Benefits
Benefits

Access to social benefits as same as Canadian

Mobility right
Mobility right

Live and work anywhere under Permanent Resident status

Sponsorship
Sponsorship

Ability to sponsor relatives if the conditions are met

Naturalization
Naturalization

Ability to obtain citizenship if residency conditions are met

Specific requirements

Important requirements the applicant should note

Immigration Ineligibility

  • Have a pending application for provincial nomination inside or outside Northwest Territories
  • Have an unresolved refugee application
  • Are living in Canada illegally or in restoration of status
  • Are under removal order
  • Are inadmissible to Canada
  • Are a passive investor (rarely or not involved in day-to-day operations of the business)
  • Immigration-linked investment schemes as defined in S 87(9) of the Regulations

List of Ineligible Businesses

  • Restaurants proposed within the city limits of Yellowknife
  • Seasonal businesses operational for less than 6 months per year
  • Bed and Breakfasts
  • Property Management
  • Real Estate Development
  • Home-based businesses
  • Non-profit organizations and associations
  • Holding company
  • Payday loan, currency exchange, cash machine businesses
  • Pawnbrokers
  • Businesses previously owned or operated by a provincial nominee within the last 5 years
  • Any immigration-linked investment scheme as defined in section 87(5)(b) of the Regulations
  • Any business with a redemption option as defined in section 87(6)(d) of the Regulations
  • Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of the Northwest Territories into disrepute

Basic requirements

  • Networth of $500,000 CAD if the business is located inside Yellowknife, or $250,000 if elsewhere
  • Experience in business management, senior management or equivalent qualification
  • Intend to live permanently in Northwest Territories to own and operate the business and bring substantial economic benefits to the province

Language

Minimum CLB 4, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:

Investment requirements

  • Establish, purchase or invest in an existing business in the province
  • At least $300,00 CAD if the business is located in Yellowknife, or $150,000 if elsewhere
  • Have a 33.33% ownership unless the total investment is greater than $1,000,000
  • Make a good-faith cash deposit of $75,000, refundable after the business has been operated for 1 year

Purchasing the business

  • Have been operating by the same owner for the last 3 years
  • Are traded at a fair market value
  • Are in good financial health, not in bankrupt
  • Keep the same terms and working conditions for current employees

Business requirements

  • Create at least 1 full-time job and 1 part-time job if the business is located inside Yelllowknife, or 1 full-time or 2 part-time jobs if the business is located outside Yelllowknife (not including family members)
  • Reside within 100km of the business for at least 75% of the time while on a temporary work permit every year
  • Demonstrate the main purpose of business operation is generating profits
  • Fully comply with federal and provincial laws and regulations in employment, labor, immigration
  • Operate as permanent establishment organization as defined under the Income Tax Act