Provincial Nominee Program: Business Immigrants

Investment in the Business

1. If you are buying the shares of an existing operating business no more than two thirds of the applicable minimum personal investment can apply to the purchase of shares, and you must acquire ownership and control of at least one third of the business. The shares you buy to purchase the business must be common full-voting shares and must not have a redemption option.
   
   
2. If you are buying the assets of an existing business no more than two thirds of the applicable personal investment can be applied to the purchase of these assets.
   
   
3. The applicable minimum personal investment can not be applied to the purchase of real estate unless you can show that it is essential to the business, in which case no more than two thirds of this investment can be applied for this purpose
   
   The applicable minimum personal investment can be applied to the following types of business costs, provided that the amounts are reasonable for the business involved:
   • machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures
   • leasehold improvements
   • inventory
   • patents and licenses
   • franchise purchase fees
   • allowable real estate and franchises
   • Initial promotion and marketing
   • other start-up expenses, such as incorporation and permit fees, legal and other professional fees

   If, because of the nature of your business, you are unable to apply the full amount of the minimum required personal equity investment to these types of expenditures, you may apply the balance to wages, building rent and other normal operating expenses (excluding any payments to yourself or family members) during the first six months of operations if you are establishing a new business, or three months if you are buying a franchise or an existing business.