Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) – Work Permit Stream
The PEIPNP Work Permit Stream is for entrepreneurs interested in relocating to PEI on a work permit. After operating a business for a minimum of one year, entrepreneurs can receive a nomination for permanent residency in Canada.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEIPNP) Overview
The Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEIPNP) is an entrepreneur immigration program in Canada, which was first introduced in 2001. The Business Work Permit stream of PEIPNP targets foreign nationals with business ownership or extensive management experience who would like to immigrate to the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island to start their business and eventually obtain permanent resident status in Canada. Successful applicants must first move to PEI on a work permit before eventually transitioning to permanent residence if certain business-related targets are satisfied.
Why Immigrate to Prince Edward Island?
The PEIPNP has a relatively lower investment and language requirement threshold compared to programs in other Canadian provinces. As a Federal-Provincial partnership between the Province of Prince Edward Island and the Government of Canada, the province was granted rights to set its own immigration selection criteria. Through PNP, the province can nominate qualified candidates to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada of the federal government to become permanent residents of Canada. Candidates must then operate a business in Prince Edward Island along with their applying spouse. They will be assessed for PR eligibility based on their English proficiency, age, education, business operation and management experience and so on.
Advantages of PEIPNP Business Work Permit Stream
- There is a relatively low education requirement.
- Applicants can move to Prince Edward Island on a work permit prior to making the investment, giving them time to settle, experience the day-to-day operation of the business they are investing in and gradually integrate into the local business environment.
- Upon meeting terms and conditions outlined in the Performance Agreement, nominated candidates can apply for permanent residency.
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Business Environment in Prince Edward Island
While industries such as agriculture, fishery and tourism are well established in Prince Edward Island and were considered the economic backbone of the province, innovative research and product development are the key focus for the future economy. These sectors include aerospace and defence, food development, renewable energy, advanced marine technology, ICT and finance and business services.
Additionally, Prince Edward Island was ranked as one of the lowest-cost locations for business in North America in the KPMG Competitive Alternative Study. The cheap operating costs, low corporate and property taxes combined with its strategic infrastructure, high-quality labour pool, easy access to major markets add to Prince Edward Island’s business-friendly environment. Innovation PEI, the province’s business attraction unit, offers a plethora of business support, funding programs and resources for business development, cultural development and global trade that entrepreneurs can take advantage of.
About Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is one of Canada’s three Maritime provinces located off the eastern coast of the country in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Also known as the Garden of the Gulf, PEI is famous for its gorgeous coastlines and beautiful surroundings. Although Prince Edward Island is the smallest province in Canada, its population density ranks at the top of the country. Charlottetown is the capital city of PEI and is the largest city of the province. With distinct seasons, the average temperature in summer is usually around 20 to 30℃, while winter temperature is typically around -3 to -11℃. The dominant industries of Prince Edward Island are agriculture and fishery. Thanks to the close-to-zero industrial pollution, the province is a shellfish haven abundant in lobsters, oysters, tuna and more.
Permanent residents of Prince Edward Island can enjoy free education up to Grade 12 under the public school system. Prince Edward Island’s elementary and secondary public school system consists of two school districts, offering education from kindergarten to Grade 12. The Public Schools Branch is the Anglophone (English-speaking) school district comprising 56 English public schools across Prince Edward Island, while La Commission scolaire de langue française is the Francophone (French-speaking) school district with 6 public schools. Among the 62 public schools, 30 of them offer French immersion programs, which is a great choice for parents who wish to let their children learn French as a way to welcome potential employment or education opportunities in the future. Parents can also choose to homeschool their children as long as the parents express their intention and submit their education plan to the Department of Education.
As for post-secondary education, University of Prince Edward Island, located in Charlottetown, is the province’s only public university. The university offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs and degrees, including Veterinary Medicine, Acadian Studies, Nursing, Sustainable Design Engineering and Education. Although tuition is not free, the university’s tuition fee is also among the cheapest in Canada. The province has three post-secondary institutions: Holland College, Maritime Christian College and Collège de l’Île.
Residents of Prince Edward Island can have access to publicly-funded healthcare services with a PEI Health Card. The Card covers the cost of most necessary medical services, including a majority of physician and in-hospital services, palliative care, and mental health and addiction services.
Application Requirements
In January 2018, the government of PEI introduced the new PEIPNP where an Expression of Interest (EOI) system enables the government to select better-qualified applicants based on a points-based selection grid.
Applicants must ensure they meet the following requirements prior to submitting an EOI profile for this Prince Edward Island immigration program.
- Candidates must be at the age of 21 to 59 at the time of the EOI application.
- Candidates must possess a minimum education of secondary school or equivalent.
- Candidates must demonstrate a minimum verifiable net worth of CAD 600,000. Only a maximum of CAD 180,000 business assets can be counted towards the total net worth.
- Applicants must have a minimum of 3 out of 5 years of management experience with transferable management skills and/or business ownership experience. Senior managers must have supervised at least three full time employees under the position and business owners must have at least 20% ownership and an active role in daily operations in order to be eligible for the program.
- Applicants that have applied to another Provincial Nominee Program will not qualify for PEIPNP. All applications in processing at a Visa post must be withdrawn before PEI will accept your application.
Investment & Business Operation Requirements
PEIPNP candidates must meet the terms and conditions on their Performance Agreement in order to receive nomination for permanent residency. These requirements include, but not limited to, the following:
- Candidates are required to invest a minimum of CAD 150,000 to the business within 12 months of arriving on Prince Edward Island
- The business must have operated for a minimum of 12 consecutive months
- Candidates must actively manage the business from within Prince Edward Island
PEI PNP Application Procedure
- Online Expression of Interest (EOI) profile submission
- Invitation to Apply issuance
- PNP application submission
- Notice of Invitation
- Application processing by PEIPNP
- Interview in PEI and business plan submission to the Office of Immigration
- Signing of business Performance Agreement
- Work Permit Letter of Support issuance
- Work Permit application process
- Arrival in PEI – work permit landing meeting with PEIPNP
- Satisfying business performance agreement within 24 months
- Nomination Certificate issuance
4-Step Application Process
1
Book an appointment for a detailed assessment and consultation with our Immigration Specialist.
2
Based on the initial consultation and your profile, we will give you our reviews and advise you about the best option for your immigration needs.
3
Once you’re ready to proceed, we will prepare all necessary documents & complete the application and submit to Canada Immigration.
4
We follow up and reply to inquiries coming from Canada Immigration until the approval of the case. After approval, we deliver the visa to you.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Applicants must meet the minimum language proficiency requirement of CLB/NCLC 4 or equivalent (IELTS: Reading 3.5, Writing 4.0, Listening 4.5, Speaking 4.0).
Anticipated processing time from PNP application submission to the issuance of Work Permit Letter of Support is approximately 6 to 8 months. However, times may vary depending on both processing delays at PEI and preparation of documents by the applicants.
Yes, you may include your spouse and dependent children in the application.
Gifts, personal loans, ownership of properties with proofs other than property deeds and titles (i.e. contracts), joint ownership other than spouse and principal applicant, and business assets which the applicants have less than 70% ownership will not be considered towards the applicants’ net worth.
Applicants and their accompanying family members (which includes their spouse and school-aged children) must reside and be physically present in Prince Edward Island for at least 274 days of the year in which they are operating the business with the exception of any dependent child who is attending a post-secondary institution outside of PEI.
Simard & Associates has years of experience and extensive expertise in helping our clients to realize their dreams and aspirations in their chosen destinations. Our team of immigration lawyers and consultants are ready to answer any of your questions about immigration solutions in Canada, the United States and other European countries. Feel free to reach out to our team to learn more about the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program.
Read More: Requirements for Maintaining Permanent Resident Status in Canada
Read More: The Cost of Living in Canada: Facts, Figures and Forecasts
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If you are qualified for this program and want us to review your profile, please contact us below.
