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Many experienced entrepreneurs want to move to Canada by buying or building a business. The options changed a lot in 2025 and 2026: some programs paused or closed, while others stayed open. Here is an overview of the landscape as of October 2026.

Programs open, pause and close with little notice. Treat this article as a starting point, and confirm every detail with a licensed immigration professional and the official program website before making decisions.

Federal: Start-up Visa is paused

The federal Start-up Visa Program stopped accepting new applications after December 31, 2025. Applicants with a valid 2025 commitment certificate had until June 30, 2026 to apply. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has said it is designing a new, more targeted pilot for entrepreneurs, but no details have been published yet.

Provincial entrepreneur streams

Most entrepreneur pathways to permanent residence now run through Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Each province sets its own rules, and they differ widely:

• British Columbia. The BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration program runs a Base category and a Regional stream for smaller communities. Both held invitation rounds through 2026. Published thresholds include a personal net worth of $600,000 and an investment of $200,000 for Base, with lower thresholds for Regional.
• Alberta. The Rural Entrepreneur and Graduate Entrepreneur streams are active in 2026, but entrepreneur nominations are very limited. The Rural stream requires an endorsement from a participating rural community.
• Ontario. Ontario closed its Entrepreneur Stream, along with the rest of its previous streams, on May 30, 2026 as part of a program redesign. A new entrepreneur stream focused on buying existing businesses has been signalled for a later phase, but its criteria have not been published.
• Saskatchewan. The Entrepreneur stream closed permanently in March 2025.
• Manitoba. The Business Investor Stream has been operating through an interim, case-by-case process rather than regular draws.

Several other provinces, including some in Atlantic Canada, run their own business streams with different investment, residency and job-creation requirements.

Work permits while you set up

Some buyers first come to Canada on a temporary work permit tied to the business. The old "owner-operator LMIA" stream no longer exists as a separate route. Today, entrepreneurs who own a controlling interest usually look at the C11 "significant benefit" work permit under the International Mobility Program. It requires showing that the business will bring real economic benefit to Canada, and it is assessed case by case.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is for employees, not owners

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) launched in 2025 with 14 participating communities. It is a pathway for workers with a job offer from a designated local employer, not for business buyers. It can still matter to you as an owner: if you buy a business in a participating community, the pilot may help you recruit staff.

Questions to answer before you buy

1. Which province and community do I want to live in, and is there an open stream there?
2. Does the business I'm considering meet the stream's investment, ownership and job-creation rules?
3. Does the stream require me to register or be invited before I purchase?
4. What is my plan if the stream pauses while I'm in the process?

Simple Migrate helps entrepreneurs organize a clear readiness file and connects them with licensed professionals who can answer these questions for their situation.

Information only — eligibility is decided by the program and confirmed by a licensed professional.

Sources: IRCC — Update on immigration measures for entrepreneurs; WelcomeBC — Entrepreneur Immigration; Fragomen — Ontario advances overhaul of provincial nominee program; Canada provincial entrepreneur programs 2026, immigration.ca; Owner-operator LMIA in 2026, BridgePoint Law.