Entrepreneur
A stream for experienced business owners and senior managers who want to start or buy a business in Nova Scotia and run it themselves. Nomination comes only after the applicant has operated the business for at least one year and met the terms of a business performance agreement. Financial thresholds are lower for businesses located outside the Halifax Regional Municipality.
Invitation only
Candidates submit an expression of interest and may apply only after receiving an invitation to apply.
Status
Job offer
How you apply
Key requirements
| Age | 21 years or older |
| Language | CLB 5 in English or French in all abilities (minimum CLB 5) |
| Work experience | At least 3 years of experience actively managing and owning a business (minimum one-third ownership), or more than 5 years in a senior business management role |
| Job offer | Not required |
| Ties to the province | Must live in Nova Scotia and actively manage the business on a day-to-day basis |
| How you apply | Expression of Interest (EOI) — you register a profile and wait to be invited |
| Money — funds, net worth, investment | Minimum net worth of $600,000 CAD ($400,000 if the business is outside the Halifax Regional Municipality); minimum equity investment of $150,000 ($100,000 outside the Halifax Regional Municipality) |
Summary only — requirements change and details decide real cases. Always confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying: https://liveinnovascotia.com/entrepreneur (this record was verified against that source on 23 Oct 2026). This page is general information, not legal or immigration advice.
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How long will it take?
Current IRCC processing-time estimates, recorded daily.