The Government of Ontario has officially announced the closure of its Entrepreneur Stream, which has been on pause for accepting new applications since December 4, 2023. The program, which was part of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP), will now undergo a wind-down process, with necessary amendments to its regulations.
The amended regulations have been outlined in Ontario Regulation 439/24 (General) and Ontario Regulation 438/24 (Approvals under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program and Other Matters). Current applicants who were in the process of applying to the Entrepreneur Stream will see their applications continue under the updated regulations.
Under the new regulations, these applicants may still be eligible for nomination for permanent residence, based on the commitments they made to establish a business in Ontario. Ontario will be reaching out to all current applicants and their authorized representatives in the coming days with further details on the next steps.
The closure of the Entrepreneur Stream comes as part of broader adjustments to Ontario’s immigration policies, aligning the province’s programs with evolving priorities and economic goals. While the program is closing to new applicants, those already in the application process will have the opportunity to continue their journey towards permanent residency in Ontario.