PEI Work Permit

The PEI Work Permit is a dedicated stream for the foreign entrepreneurs who want to live, invest and run a business in PEI.

The PEI Work Permit is one of the streams of the Business Impact Category of several immigration streams of the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) operated by the province of Prince Edward Island. The PEI Work Permit is a dedicated stream for foreign nationals with business ownership or extensive management experience interested in owning or running a business in Prince Edward Island and become a permanent resident. Successful applicants will obtain a temporary work permit from IRCC to establish their business in PEI. If the applicant meets with the conditions of Performance Agreement which is signed with the Government of PEI, the applicant may apply for the Canadian Permanent Residency Status.

The candidate must demonstrate intent to live and work in Prince Edward Island while day-to-day active and ongoing management of the proposed business in the PEI. Also, the candidate must attend an interview with the Office of Immigration staff.

Eligibility Requirement

Express Entry Profile No
Connection to Province No
Job Offer No
Language Proficiency CLB 4
Level of Education High school
Work Experience Business ownership and management
Investment Requirement Investment: $150,000 CAD
Personal Net Worth: $600,000 CAD

Language Proficiency

Candidate must also demonstrate that they have sufficient language proficiency in English and/or French through an official language test approved by the IRCC performed with in the last 2 years with a minimum CLB level of 4.

Level of Education

To be eligible for this stream, the candidate must have completed secondary school education.

Work Experience

The candidate must have past employment or business ownership experience and have transferable management skills.

Investment Requirement

To be eligible for the work permit stream, the candidate must have a verifiable net worth of $600,000 CAD which can be accumulated through the legal and legitimate sources. The candidate must also demonstrate the investment of $150,000 CAD in the business. After operating a business for at least 12 consecutive months, the applicant must provide the financial statements that include the details of eligible operating expenses of at least $75,000 CAD.

Business Eligibility Requirement

The business considered to be eligible under the Work Permit of Business Impact category, if the business meets the following requirements:

  • the business must be for a profit corporation which is incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act or the Companies Act of PEI
  • the business must be operated with the primary purpose of earning profits from an income by providing or supplying the products/services.
  • it must be in good standing with the province
  • must maintain a corporate headquarters in Prince Edward Island
  • must be liable to pay an income tax on a taxable income
  • As defined under the Income Tax Act by regulations 400 (2), it must maintain a permanent establishment in Prince Edward Island.
  • Business must meet all the terms and conditions listed in the Business Performance Agreement
  • The business must have the potential to create a noteworthy economic advantage to the PEI.
  • The business must have a great potential for sustained commercial viability
  • The applicant must be agree to participate in the evaluation process performed by the PEI PNP. Under which the business will required to report to the Office of Immigration on an annual basis for up to 5 years.

Ineligible Businesses

Applications for the following businesses will be considered ineligible for the Work Permit stream of Business Impact Category:

  • Any of the associated or related group of companies or business that has received an investment through PNP within the past 48 months.
  • Home-based businesses related to Bed and breakfast or hobby farms.
  • Pay-day loans, cash machines, money changing or cheque cashing
  • If the business is a Boutique or Inn Hotel, it must be satisfied with the following conditions:
    • have at least a revenue of $100,000 in the last operating year which is supported by the financial statements or a tax return,
    • have at least five rental units with each of them having at least a three-piece bath,
    • have eligible operating expenses for at $75,000 CAD in the last operating year which is supported by the tax return or financial statements.
  • Pawnbrokers
  • Sale of used goods excluding the collectibles or the businesses that provide value-added services like repairs, recycling or refurbishing.
  • Businesses of construction/renovation must meet the following:
    • construct/rent a space which is outside of their residence to conduct a business from
    • demonstrating 5 years of experience in the proposed business or a relevant education
    • must have at least 3 arms-length staff which is employed full-time for at least six months of the year meeting the terms and conditions of the Business Performance Agreement.
  • Professional practices
  • Financial services
  • Consulting services
  • The business brokerage or insurance
  • Real estate (unless it provides a significant economic benefit to the Prince Edward Island economy.)
  • A non-issuing share entity.
  • IRPA Regulations 87(6)(a), described entity.
  • the sole purpose of started a business is gaining access to permanent residency through immigration
  • Business startups in which the applicant does not own 100% of business unless deemed to be a significant economic advantage to the Prince Edward Island economy.
  • any business that brings the Government of PEI or a program into disrepute.

Application Requirement

The PEI Work Permit stream of the Business Impact category operated on the basis of the Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Eligible candidates must submit a profile to PEI’s pool of candidates and all of them are ranked against each other on the basis of the PEI Business Impact Category Ranking System (mentioned below). The high-ranking candidates will receive an invitation to submit an application in one of the category’s periodic draws.

The selected candidate will have 90 days to prepare and submit a complete application package including a business plan which includes the application fee of $10,000 CAD. If the application is approved, the applicant will be invited to attend the interview with the PEI’s Office of Immigration for the discussion of work experience, background, education, settlement plan and proposed business.

If the PEI approved the application and business plan, the applicant will be required to submit a legal opinion letter from the Canadian Lawyer which states that the applicant meets the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Once the legal opinion letter is received by the PEI Office of Immigration, they will issue a letter of support for the candidate’s work permit. After receiving a letter of support, the applicant can apply for a temporary work permit from IRCC. The successful applicant will receive a work permit which authorizes them to enter and work temporarily in Canada.

After landing in Canada as a temporary foreign worker, applicant will be required to meet with a Settlement Officer within 30 days to remain in compliance with their performance agreement and receive their nomination for permanent residence.

On meeting with all the conditions of the performance agreement the candidate will receive the provincial nomination from the PEI. After receiving a provincial nomination, the candidate will have six months to submit a paper-based application by mail for Canadian Permanent Resident to the appropriate federal application centre. Most of the paper-based permanent residence applications through PNP are processed within 18 months.

PEI Business Impact Category Ranking System

The eligible applicants’ profile will be awarded upto 200 assessment points basses on their six selection factors:

Overview of Factors

Factor Max Points
Age 20
Language 40
Education 20
Business ownership or senior management experience 50
Community endorsement 35
Adaptability 35
Maximum Points 200

Age

Age Points
21-24 7
25-29 20
30-44 20
45-49 15
50-54 7
Over 54 0
Maximum 20

Language

Proficiency in English or French Points
CLB/NCLC 10 40
CLB/NCLC 9 40
CLB/NCLC 8 35
CLB/NCLC 7 30
CLB/NCLC 6 20
CLB/NCLC 5 10
CLB/NCLC 4 0
Maximum 40

Education

Level of Education Points (20 max)
Master’s or Doctoral (PhD) level 20
Post-secondary degree (Bachelor) or three years of full-time study 17
Post-secondary diploma in a trade that requires at least 2 years of full-time study 12
High school 0
Maximum 20

Business Ownership or Senior Management Experience

Work Experience Points
Business Ownership Experience
if the manager and owner (50% or more) involved in the daily operations and having direct involvement in decision-making At least 5 out of the last 7 years 50
At least 3 out of the last 5 years 40
if the manager and owner (20-50%) involved in the daily operations and having direct involvement in decision-making At least 5 out of the last 7 years 35
At least 3 out of the last 5 years 25
Senior Management Experience
Senior Manager involved in daily operations as a primary decision-maker and supervising a staff of at least 3 people and having a less than 20% ownership in the company At least 5 out of the last 7 years 30
At least 3 out of the last 5 years 20
Maximum points 50

Community Endorsement

Community Endorsement Points
Written endorsement received from a rural community 35
Written endorsement received from a community within capital region 10
Maximum 35

Adaptability

Adapdability Points
The applicant’s dependent children have been enrolled in an approved PEI educational institution for a minimum of 6 consecutive months 10
The applicant’s common-law partner or spouse successfully graduated from an approved PEI post-secondary institution 5
The applicant’s common-law partner or spouse and/or their dependent children have a language ability of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 6 or higher in English or French 10
The applicant’s common-law partner or spouse has at least 3 years of work
experience in the last 5 years		 5
The applicant close relative that is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in PEI for at least 12 consecutive months 10
The applicant has a plan to operate a farm in PEI and having transferrable farming skills with a experience in farming 10
Maximum 35

PEI Business Impact Recent Draws