What is the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot of Manitoba?

The Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) was founded in 1999. Over these 20 years, the province of Manitoba has welcomed more than 130,000 economic migrants to Canada. However, Manitoba is currently facing a population decline as residents are having fewer children. More people are exiting the workforce than entering it. To counter the effects of population decline and labour shortage, Manitoba has increased its efforts to attract more international immigrants. The MPNP, in December 2018, launched a 2-year Pilot Program called the “International Student Entrepreneur Pilot”. The pilot is a hybrid between the International Education sub-category and the Business Investor Stream. The pilot aims to attract young entrepreneurs who can meet the industry needs of Manitoba. The ISEP is different than other programs in that it allows international students to “work for themselves.” These students may not have otherwise qualified for the employment requirements of the MPNP. This program allows international students who lack work experience or who do not have a job offer in Canada to be self-employed. Thus, the program creates a pathway to PR for candidates who may not have otherwise qualified, as quoted by ABC News. The ISEP is a novel program in that it does not require a job offer. Most PNP programs require the applicant to have a confirmed job offer letter before they can apply for a provincial nomination. The ISEP is also different from other Entrepreneur Programs. It does not have a minimum investment or net worth requirement for the student entrepreneur. The ISEP is an excellent program for international students who have completed their studies from Manitoba. Such students who have set up their own business in the province can use this pilot as a pathway to Canadian PR. Applicants must meet the below criteria to qualify for the ISEP:

• Should be between 21 and 35 years of age
• Have a language proficiency score of at least CLB 7
• Should have completed minimum 2-year post-secondary course from Manitoba
• Should have a valid Post-Study Work Permit or a Work Permit at the time of applying
• Should have lived continuously in Manitoba after completing the graduation. The applicant should also have the intention to settle in Manitoba in the long run.
• Should have sufficient funds as per the Low Income Cut-off (LICO) of Canada
• Submit a business proposal which is based on the MPNPs criteria
• Should be willing to actively manage the business at least for 6 months

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