Frequently Asked Questions

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1. What is the Provincial Nominee Program for Business?
2. How much net worth must I have to qualify as a business immigrant under the PNP-B?
3. How much does the PNP-B require me to invest in Manitoba?
4. If I am invited for an exploratory visit, will I automatically be nominated by Manitoba?
5. Must I make an exploratory visit to Manitoba before submitting my application?
6. Do my documents have to be translated by a certified translator?
7. I do not understand English or French. How do I find an interpreter to help me with the Exploratory Visit?
8. If I obtain an invitation letter from your office, will I be guaranteed a Visitor's Visa to come to Canada?
9. I have never owned a business. Does this affect my chances of qualifying?
10. What kind of information should I include in my Business Intent?
11. Do I need to hire a lawyer, consultant, or representative to help me complete or advise me on my application?
12. What kind of businesses will not be considered?
13. Why is a Cash Deposit Agreement required?
14. When do I deposit the $75,000?
15. When is the $75,000 Deposit released?
16. If I am approved for the Provincial Nominee Program for Business, what is my next step?
17. How long will it take for me to receive my immigration visa and what are the factors that may delay processing my application?
18. May I change my plans for my business venture after I arrive in Manitoba?
19. What if I need more time than the two years after landing to establish my business?
20. What if I am unable to proceed with my business venture in Manitoba?
21. If my application is declined, can I appeal the decision, or if not, can I apply again?
22. If I already have applied for immigration under a Federal Government Program, or under any other Provincial Nominee program, can I still apply under the PNP-B?
23. What fees will I have to pay?
24. Who do I contact after I arrive in Manitoba?
25. Can I start to dispose of my assets before getting my permanent resident visa?
26. How are applications assessed to determine if it meets the program requirements?
27. Can I still apply if I have been refused under an immigration program of another province?
28. If I have dependants, relatives or friends living somewhere else in Canada will that cause my application to be automatically refused?
29. Does the Program assist Nominees to identify specific business opportunities in Manitoba? What is a good business to invest in?

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Q1. What is the Provincial Nominee Program for Business?

A.The Provincial Nominee Program for Business (PNP-B) is a component of an immigration program that was created through an agreement between the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba. The purpose of this program is to attract exceptional business persons who are able and willing to make an investment in and actively manage a new or existing business or farm in the Province of Manitoba. The PNP-B accelerates the immigration process for you by providing a Nomination Certificate to allow for faster processing by the Government of Canada of your immigration application.

How much net worth must I have to qualify as a business immigrant under the program?

A. Business immigrants are required to have a legally earned or obtained net worth of at least CDN$350,000 and be willing to invest at least CDN$150,000 of their net worth into a new or existing business or farm in which they will be actively involved.

Q3. How much does the program require me to invest in Manitoba?

A. The amount of investment you make in Manitoba will be dictated by the type of business you establish, what size it is, whether it will be a new business or an existing business or an existing business in which you become an active partner. Depending on the size of the business or farm the investment may be in the hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. However, the investment amount must not, under any circumstances, be lower than $150,000. This does not include the $75,000 deposit.

Q4. If I am invited for an exploratory visit, will I automatically be nominated by Manitoba?

A. Receiving an invitation for an exploratory visit does not guarantee that the program will issue a Nomination Certificate. The program bases its decision on many factors in addition to the minimum net worth and management experience criteria.

Q5. Must I make an exploratory visit to Manitoba before submitting my application?

A. Yes. Exploratory visits are mandatory for a minimum of seven (7) days. This visit will allow you to identify and assess potential business opportunities as well as experience Manitoba's quality of life. For more information on exploratory visits, contact the Business Immigration and Investment Branch at pnp-b@gov.mb.ca; phone (Canada 001) 204-945-1872; or fax (204) 948-2179,
or visit the "Guide to Applying for an Exploratory Visit to Manitoba."

Q6. Do my documents have to be translated by a certified translator?

A. All documents must be accurately translated into English or French. Education and employment documents that are translated must be certified to be correct if they are not prepared by a professional translator. Copies of the  documents written in the original language must also be included. If nominated, the Canada Visa Office may require all translations to be certified.

Q7. I do not understand English or French. Will you provide an interpreter to help me with the Exploratory Visit interview?

A. You must advise our office at least three weeks prior to your arrival to Manitoba that you will require an interpreter. Our office will provide an interpreter to assist you during your interview with a Program Officer. However, if you require the services of an interpreter when conducting the rest of your exploratory visit, you may contact the Language Bank of the International Centre of Winnipeg at 204-943-9158, or after hours and weekends at 204-943-7954.

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Q8. If I obtain an invitation letter from your office, will I be guaranteed a Visitor's Visa to come to Canada?

A.Although the invitation letter is intended to assist interested potential applicants in their application for a visitor's visa to Canada, the granting of visitor visas is the sole responsibility of the Federal Government's Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The Provincial Nominee Program for Business will extend invitation letters to applicants meeting the basic requirements for a visit, but this does not guarantee a Visitor’s Visa.

Q9. I have never owned a business. Does this affect my chances of qualifying?

A. While the experience of owning and managing a successful business improves your chances of being selected, it is not essential. You must, however, be able to prove significant experience in actively managing any other business at a senior level for a minimum of three (3) years. This may include financial, marketing or operations/production management experience, or expertise in the field pertinent to the business you intend to establish in Manitoba.

Q10. What kind of information should I include in my Business Intent?

A. Please refer to "Guidelines for Preparation of Summary of Business Intent" for specific information on how to complete a business intent. The guide will provide you with some valuable information as to what factors your Business Intent document should take into account. You may include any other information to your Business Intent document that is not referred to in the Guide, but that you think will be helpful in strengthening your proposal.

Q11. Do I need to hire a lawyer, consultant, or representative to help me complete or advise me on my application?

A. Our Program does not require you to hire a lawyer, consultant or representative to assist you with your application. In some cases (for example, if you have difficulty understanding the forms) you may wish to hire someone to help you fill out the forms or give advice. However, if you hire someone, your application will not receive special attention, or be handled differently from other applications.

Q12. What kind of businesses will not be considered?

A. Please refer to the “Eligible Business Investments” section of our web site for specific information.

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Q13. Why is a Deposit Agreement required?

A. The Deposit Agreement is intended to ensure that the commitment expected by Manitoba from the participants in its PNP-B is respected, that their businesses or farms are operational and they are living and actively managing them in Manitoba.

Q14. When do I deposit the CDN$75,000?

A. After you have been nominated, you will be given detailed instructions regarding the deposit of the CDN$75,000 to the Province of Manitoba.

Q15. When is the CDN$75,000 Deposit released?

A. You have 2 years from the date of landing to fulfill the requirements of the Deposit Agreement. Once you have met the terms and conditions specified in your Deposit Agreement, your CDN$75,000 deposit will be returned to you in full. Deposits are released to the applicant only at their current address or may be wired to the applicant's account upon request. Any changes to the Deposit Agreement must be discussed and approved by the program’s Business Settlement Office before proceeding with any other business.

Q16. If I am approved for the Provincial Nominee Program for Business, what is my next step?

A. If you are approved as a Provincial Nominee, a Certificate of Nomination will be issued in your name (and your eligible dependents, if applicable) and you will receive a letter from the program which will provide detailed instructions about the deposit and the forwarding of Federal Immigration forms and Federal processing fees to the appropriate Canadian Visa Office that serves your area.

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Q17. What are the factors that may delay processing my application, and how long will it take for me to receive my immigration visa?

A. There are several factors that can delay processing of your application. These may include, but are not limited to: not having completed an exploratory visit; the need for an interview with the Canadian Embassy; incorrectly completed or unsigned application forms and/or cheques; missing documents; unclear photocopies; documents not accompanied by a certified English or French translation; failure to provide an accurate mailing address or change of address; verification of information and documents provided or a change in family situation; a medical condition which may require additional tests or consultations; and a criminal or security problem.

Application processing involves both federal and provincial jurisdictions.  While processing in Manitoba may take only a month to two, it is not possible to determine how long it will take a federal visa office to finalize the processing of the same application as their work load varies extensively.  Based on current experience, processing times at federal visa offices may range from 10 to 15 months.

Q18. May I change my plans for my business venture after I arrive in Manitoba?

A. You may do so only with the approval of the program’s Business Settlement Office. You will be required to contact the Business Settlement Office for counseling and guidance as soon as you think you may have difficulty fulfilling, and/or need to change, your business plans.

Q19. What if I need more time than the two years after landing to establish my business?

A. An extension may be granted depending on your circumstances and what kinds of activities you had undertaken within the two-year period. Extensions are not automatically granted unless requested for with an adequate explanation as to why the extension should be granted.

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Q20. What if I am unable to proceed with my business venture in Manitoba?

A. If the business intent or project does not go ahead, or another approved project involving comparable levels of investment and employment is not undertaken, your CDN$75,000 deposit may be retained by the Province of Manitoba.

Q21. If my application is declined, can I appeal the decision, or if not, can I apply again?

A. The decision that the program makes is final. Such a decision will not prevent you from submitting another application at a later date. However, before submitting your next application, please ensure that all of the issues that caused your first application to be declined are fully addressed.

Q22. If I already have applied for immigration under a Federal Government Program, or under any other Provincial Nominee program, can I still apply under the program?

A. You may apply under the program only if your other application was filed with the Federal Government’s Immigration Program even if that application is still waiting for a decision. Your application under the program will not be accepted if you already have a pending application with any of the other provinces of Canada.

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Q23. What fees will I have to pay?

A. The Provincial Nominee Program for Business does not charge any processing fees. If you are nominated, you will be responsible for all federal immigration processing and the Right of Permanent Residency Fees. You will receive detailed instructions on payment of these fees after you are nominated.

Q24. Who do I contact after I arrive in Manitoba?

A. It is important that you meet with staff of the program’s Business Settlement Office, which is located on the 6th floor – 259 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, telephone: 204-945-1872, and bring your landing papers with you at that time. The Business Settlement Office provides advice and guidance to newcomer business entrepreneur immigrants in preparing for and going through the establishment of their proposed businesses.

Q25. Can I start to dispose of my assets before getting my permanent resident visa?

A. Do not quit your job or dispose of any assets until Citizenship and Immigration Canada has provided you with a Permanent Resident Visa.

Q26. How are applications assessed to determine if it meets the program requirements?

A. The program’s assessment system uses a multi-step process for reviewing applications for nomination. A preliminary assessment of the exploratory visit application is conducted by a Pre-Screening Officer to determine if the application appears to meet the net worth and business experience criteria. Once the full application is received subsequently, the file is comprehensively assessed by a Business Immigration Officer. The third step is for the recommendation of the officer to be reviewed by an Assessment Review Team comprised of senior management of the program. This three-step process ensures that the application is reviewed by multiple officers of the program so that each application is assessed fairly.

Q27. Can I still apply if I have been refused under an immigration program of another province?

A. Yes you can still apply. However, an applicant is required to advise the program if an application has been made previously to another Provincial or Federal immigration program. You are required to advise the program of the results of that application including providing copies of any correspondence such as a letter of refusal. The application should contain sufficient information to allow the program to evaluate why the reasons for refusal in the other Provincial or Federal programs may or may not apply to the application to Manitoba.

Q28. If I have dependants, relatives or friends living somewhere else in Canada will that cause my application to be automatically refused?

A. In the Declaration of Intent submitted as part of the application, an applicant declares that they understand that Manitoba only nominates individuals who intend to reside in Manitoba along with their dependent family members. The program strongly encourages applicants to demonstrate to the program that they will meet this requirement whether the applicant has or does not have relatives, dependants or friends in another province. If, for example, a dependant is studying in another province, an applicant might consider moving this dependant to an educational facility in Manitoba to demonstrate a commitment to the province. Having friends or relatives in another province does not automatically cause an application to be refused. However, the program must be convinced that the applicant will not come to Canada and reside in the province where those friends or relatives currently are. It is up to the applicant to convince the program of their sincerity to relocate to Manitoba.

Q29: Does the Program assist Nominees to identify specific business opportunities in Manitoba? What is a good business to invest in?

A: As a government entity, the Program does not endorse or advertise directly or indirectly any business opportunities. The program does not have a list of businesses for sale. However, through the counselling services by the Business Settlement Office, the program will provide landed nominees with necessary information and knowledge that will allow them to undertake independent research for business opportunities in Manitoba. Manitoba has a very diverse economy with business opportunities in a variety of economic sectors. We encourage applicants to conduct as much research as possible to identify opportunities across the broad spectrum of businesses operating in the Manitoba economy.

  Deposits & Deposit Agreements, Application kit or the Exploratory visit guide