The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program (NSNP), the International Graduate Entrepreneur (IGE) stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
NS International Graduate Entrepreneur – Overview
The International Graduate Entrepreneur (IGE) stream is one of Nova Scotia PNP streams that is dedicated to international graduate entrepreneurs who have already established a business in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the IGE stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada.
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The IGE stream has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the NSNP does not send Invitations to Apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 100 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the NSNP conducts periodic IGE draws, and each draw has its minimum threshold score, and all candidates with scores above or equal to that draw’s threshold are invited to apply. More information is available in the Draw History section of this guide.
NS International Graduate Entrepreneur – Eligibility
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the International Graduate Entrepreneur (IGE) stream, your proposed business must meet the following criteria:
- The business has to be have been started as a career objective. Businesses created solely for immigration purposes are ineligible.
- Businesses must meet the legal requirements of the community in which they operate.
- The business must be a for-profit entity with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services.
- The business must be considered a “permanent establishment” as defined under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985.
- The business is liable to pay income tax on taxable income earned as a result of a “permanent establishment” in Nova Scotia, irrespective of income or other taxes which may also be payable in other jurisdictions as a result of income earned or other business activity.
- The business must be actively managed by you from the place of business in Nova Scotia. The business must not be managed from another location in Nova Scotia or from another Canadian province or territory or another country.
- The business must have the potential to create significant economic benefit to Nova Scotia. For example:
- Increasing value added manufacturing or processing, exports, destination tourism, research and development, and technology commercialization,
- Developing innovative approaches to traditional businesses,
- Transferring technology and specialized knowledge to Nova Scotia, and/or
- Providing products or services to an under-served local or regional market.
Additional criteria apply if (i) starting a new business or (ii) when purchasing an existing business:
- (i) Starting a new business: You must have created a minimum of one full-time or equivalent part-time employment opportunity for a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident in Nova Scotia (non-relative worker).
- (ii) Purchasing an existing business:
- The Nova Scotia based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner in Nova Scotia for the previous 5 years, and
- You must have offered employment on similar terms and conditions to existing staff, including maintaining existing wages and employment terms.
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the IGE stream:
- Businesses that are conducted remotely (from another Canadian jurisdiction or from another country)
- Property rental, investment, and leasing activities.
- Real estate construction/development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage (unless the applicant can prove their business in one of these areas is of compelling benefit to the Province of Nova Scotia).
- Any self-employed business operators requiring licensing or accreditation.
- Pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines.
- Pawnbrokers.
- Credit unions.
- Home-based businesses (unless the applicant can prove their business will have a compelling benefit to the Province of Nova Scotia).
- Businesses involved in the production, distribution or sale of pornographic or sexually explicit products or services.
- Co-operatives.
- Investments into a business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income.
- Joint ventures between NSNP program applicants.
- Any other type of business that by association could would tend to bring NSOI, NSNP, or the Government of Nova Scotia into disrepute.
Minimum criteria and IGE 100-Point Grid
There are minimum criteria that have to be met in order to be eligible to the IGE stream. You have to:
- Own and operate a business in Nova Scotia for at least one continuous year,
- Own 33.33% of the equity of the eligible business and provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business,
- Demonstrate that you are receiving compensation in the form of a salary from the business, which must, at minimum, meet the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) as defined by Statistics Canada. The eligible business has to be in sound financial health. This means that it must be producing revenue and earning sufficient profits to allow you to become economically established in the province. An Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report from a designated Audit Verifier (list available in the Application Process Summary section) will be required to assess the financial health of the business.
- Have a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit at time of application.
- Demonstrate an intention to settle in Nova Scotia.
Other minimum criteria are explained in detail below in the selection factors 100-point grid.
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an invitation to apply from the NSNP. Each draw has a minimum threshold score, and you need to have a score above or equal to the threshold to receive an invitation to apply.
There are 6 factors under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
You must demonstrate you have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test score of 7 for each language skill, either in French or in English (which will get you 20 points). You can score more points if your CLB score is above 7, up to a maximum of 7 points per language skill, for a total of 28 points.
If you have test results for a second official language, you can get 7 additional points if you have a score of at least CLB5 in each of the four language skills.
You must submit a completed post-secondary educational credential of at least 2 years (15 hours of class per week) in length from a recognized university in Nova Scotia or the Nova Scotia Community College. You must have resided in Nova Scotia during the academic program (no distance-learning programs or compressed academic programs will be eligible).
You are considered ineligible to the stream if you have studied outside Nova Scotia or for a credential of less than 2 years in Nova Scotia.
In addition to operating the business for at least one continuous year in Nova Scotia, applicants can score points if they have work experience in an NOC TEER Category 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation in the last 10 years.
You can only earn a maximum of 10 points in this factor, even if you can score more than 10 points.
You must must be at least 21 years old to be eligible to the stream.
You may claim additional points based on three of Nova Scotia’s economic priorities:
- Export-oriented business: you must have noted an export oriented business within your business establishment plan.
- Proposed business located outside of Halifax County: your business establishment plan specifically states that you will run your business in a county other than Halifax.
- Purchasing an Existing Business: you have acquired 33.33% of an existing business in Nova Scotia. The Nova Scotia based business must have been in continuous operation in Nova Scotia by the same owner for the previous 5 years.
NS International Graduate Entrepreneur – Application Process
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the International Graduate Entrepreneur (IGE) stream:
- A candidate must register an Expression of Interest (EOI). This allows them to be included in the pool of candidates and be assigned a score out of 100 points based on their specific factors.
- If selected by the NSNP (see Draw History section for more information), the candidate must apply to the NSNP, meaning filling in forms, and uploading supporting documentation, which includes the Audit Opinion and Special Purpose Report prepared by a designated Audit Service Verifier (see list below). You will have:
- 20 calendar days to select one of the designated Audit Services Verifier, and notify the NSNP of your decision, and
- 90 calendar days to submit a full application to the NSNP, including all supporting documentation, filled forms, Audit Opinion, and Special Purpose Report.
- During the processing of the application, the candidate will need to attend an in-person interview in NSNP’s offices in Nova Scotia. The costs related to this interview are not paid by the NSNP, but by the candidate.
- If the interview of the candidate is successful, they will be issued a provincial nomination.
- The candidate must finally apply for permanent residence to IRCC within 6 months of receiving the nomination. The candidate needs to apply on paper to IRCC, and include documents received by the NSNP.
Designated Audit Services Verifiers
N.B. : An Audit Service verifier who assists an applicant with preparing a Business Establishment Plan cannot also prepare audit services.
Grant Thornton LLP
Nova Centre, North Tower Suite 1000
1675 Grafton Street
Halifax NS B3J 0E9
(902) 566-6324
NSPNPGrantThornton@ca.gt.com
MNP
200 – 100 Venture Run
Dartmouth NS B3B 0H9
(902) 493-5452
NSNP-MNP@mnp.ca
White Perkins
230 Main Street
Yarmouth, NS B5A 1C9
(902) 742-2333
info@wpacpa.ca
