The Manitoba Business Investor Stream has undergone significant changes. The $100,000 CAD investment deposit has been eliminated, and the previous 'direct-to-permanent-residency' model has been replaced with a work permit-based model similar to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), where applicants must first obtain a work permit, establish their business, and then transition to permanent residency.
Comparison of Old and New Manitoba Business Investor Immigration Policies
Requirements for the Business Owner Stream under the 2018 New Policy:
1. Management Experience: At least three years of management experience within the past five years. Both senior executives and business owners are eligible, but business owners will receive higher scores (defined here as business owners holding at least one-third of the company's equity).
2. Language Proficiency: CLB 5 or higher.
3. Education Requirements: High school diploma or higher.
4. Age: No maximum age limit, but points are only awarded to those between 25 and 49 years old.
5. Investment Amount: A minimum investment of $250,000 CAD is required for investments within the Manitoba Capital Region (MCR). For investments outside the MCR, a minimum of $150,000 CAD is required. There is a requirement to hire at least one local resident (business owners and their relatives are excluded). (Note: The MCR includes the following areas: City of Winnipeg, City of Selkirk, Town of Stonewall; and the rural municipalities of Cartier, East St. Paul, Headingley, Macdonald, Ritchot, Rockwood, Rosser, St. Andrews, St. Clements, St. François Xavier, Springfield, Taché, and West St. Paul.)
6. Business Exploratory Visit: The visit must take place within one year prior to submitting the EOI.
7. Business Plan: A business plan must be signed after the application is approved and before receiving the work permit support letter.
8. Net Worth Requirement: Minimum of $500,000 CAD (audited by a third-party accounting firm recognized by Manitoba; the report must be submitted within 120 days of receiving the LAA).
9. Adaptability Points:
1) Spouse's language proficiency reaches CLB 5 or higher.
2) Applicant or spouse has a second official language proficiency at CLB/NCLC 5 or higher.
3) Applicant or spouse has a close relative currently residing in Manitoba for more than one year.
4) Child has been studying full-time in Manitoba for at least six months prior to submitting the EOI.
5) Applicant or spouse has completed at least one year of full-time post-secondary study in Manitoba after the age of 17, or has at least six months of full-time work experience in Manitoba, supported by a letter of recommendation from the employer.
Worldway Immigration Analysis
A comparison of the old and new Manitoba investment immigration policies reveals that the threshold for the new policy, including requirements for the applicant's net worth, education, and language proficiency, has been raised.
In this regard, immigration experts note that while low language requirements have historically been an advantage of Manitoba's investment immigration, the demographic of applicants is shifting. As the overall English proficiency of applicants improves and the target audience transitions from the 1960s and 1970s generations to the 1980s generation, education and language are no longer significant barriers.
Furthermore, the shift of the Manitoba investment immigration model to align with provinces like Saskatchewan—transitioning to a work permit-to-permanent residency model—means that the lenient policy of 'investing after immigration' is now a thing of the past. However, for younger applicants, obtaining a work permit in advance allows their children to enter Canada earlier to enjoy the country's advanced education, healthcare, and related support services, which may be a positive development.