Summary

If your expression of interest (EOI) is successful and you are invited to apply to the Entrepreneur Stream, you must scan and upload copies of the following documents to support the information in your EOI and online application.

  • work experience documents
  • investment documents
  • documents to support your human capital
  • identity documents

Important: All documents are mandatory unless otherwise stated.

Work experience documents

Resumé

You must scan and upload a copy of your most current resumé with your application. The resumé should summarize your education, business and work experience.

Documents required if you are a senior manager

1. Employment reference letters

You must scan and upload copies of your employment reference letters from all previous and current employers in the last 60 months (5 years). Reference letters must:

  • be printed on business letterhead
  • identify the business address, telephone/fax numbers, email, and website addresses
  • include the name(s) of the responsible officer/supervisor and their signature(s)
  • specify your employment period and the positions you held
  • stamped with the company’s corporate seal (if applicable)

The letter must specify the following:

  • employment period
  • positions held, your duties and responsibilities during the employment period (including the number of people you managed) for each position and the time spent in each position (if applicable)
  • your total annual salary plus benefits
  • number of hours worked per week
  • any extended periods of leave, if more than one month.

2. Organizational chart

You must scan and upload organizational charts from all organizations where you were a senior manager in the last 60 months. The organizational chart must:

  • highlight your position and reporting structure
  • size of the organization

3. Work/employment contracts

You must scan and upload copies of your work contract(s) for the last 60 months.

4. Pay slips

You must scan and upload copies of your last two pay slips or payroll records from your current employer.

Documents required if you are a business owner

1. Employment reference letters

You must scan and upload three reference letters from your present or past business contacts, for example, vendors, suppliers, customers, etc.

The person providing the letter must include:

  • their name and title
  • contact information for the reference
  • time of your relationship
  • details of the relationship

2. Business registration licence

You must scan and upload the business registration licence for each organization you owned in the last 60 months.

3. Registration with taxation authorities

You must scan and upload registration with the taxation authorities for each organization you owned in the last 60 months.

4. Proof of shareholding

You must scan and upload proof of shareholding of each organization you owned in the last 60 months.

5. List of employees

You must scan and upload a list of all employees and include:

  • their monthly salaries
  • number of hours paid each month
  • proof of payment of salaries for a minimum 12 month period within the last 60 months.

The list must be divided into part-time and full-time employees.

6. Business income tax returns

You must scan and upload copies of business income tax returns or receipts for business tax payments for the years you were in business for a minimum of 24 months in the last 60 months.

7. Financial statements

You must scan and upload copies of financial statements and business bank statements for the years you were in business for a minimum of 24 months in the last 60 months.

8. Articles of incorporation

You must scan and upload copies of the articles of incorporation for your business, if applicable.

Specific work experience

Note: These documents are only mandatory if you claimed points for high growth or export trade work experience in your expression of interest.

If you were a senior manager with:

  • high growth experience gained in the last 60 months, scan and upload a reference letter from your employer and supporting documentation that outlines your impact on high growth activities of the business
  • export trade experience gained in the last 60 months, scan and upload a reference letter from your employer and supporting documentation outlining your decision making authority on export trade activities of the business
  • transferable skills gained in the last 60 months, scan and upload a reference letter from your employer and supporting documentation demonstrating experience gained in the same or related industry and sector as your proposed business

If you were a business owner with:

  • high growth experience gained in the last 60 months, scan and upload financial statements for at least two consecutive years showing a total increase in revenue of at least 20 per cent or more
  • export trade experience gained in the last 60 months, scan and upload supporting documentation (e.g., financial statements, purchase orders, vendor agreements, reference letters) to show your experience exporting at least 20 per cent total goods/services to a foreign market
  • transferable skills gained in the last 60 months, scan and upload supporting documentation demonstrating experience gained in the same or related industry and sector as your proposed business

Investment documents

Net worth report

You must scan and upload a copy of the third-party verification report for your net worth and legal accumulation of funds.

More information regarding how to obtain this report will be provided to you by email if you are invited to apply.

Business-related visits

Note: These documents are only mandatory if you are purchasing an existing business.

You must include copies of at least three of the following examples to prove you have made a business-related visit to Ontario:

  • flight itinerary and boarding passes
  • accommodation receipts
  • summary of meetings, including itinerary
  • email correspondence with any Ontario business contacts
  • photographs or meeting notes from business trip
  • business cards or contact information from business interactions

Business plan

You must scan and upload a copy of your business plan. It must align with the investment and job creation information in your EOI.

Please see the Entrepreneur Stream Application Guide for more information on how to structure your business plan.

Proof of business ownership

Note: These documents are only mandatory if you are purchasing an existing business.

You must scan and upload copies of at least two of the following documents:

  • business names report (if you have a master business licence and are purchasing a sole proprietorship or partnership)
  • profile report (if you are purchasing a corporation)
  • letter of intent to purchase a business or sale agreement

T4 statements

If applicable, you must scan and upload copies of the T4 statements of remuneration paid for all full-time and part-time employees for the most recent tax year.

Documents to support your human capital

Education

Note: These documents are only mandatory if you claimed points for education in your expression of interest

Canadian education credential

If you have a Canadian diploma, certificate or degree, you must scan and upload:

  • a copy of your educational credential granted from an academic institution in Canada
  • a copy of your official transcripts issued from the Canadian academic institution that granted the credential

Foreign education credential

If you have a diploma, certificate or degree from another country, you need to get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).

The ECA must be done by one of the following organizations, designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada:

Each organization charges a different fee and has different processing times. Please review the website of each ECA organization to choose the one that is best for you.

You must give us a copy of the ECA report when you submit your application. The report cannot be more than five years old at the time you submit your application.

We must be able to confirm your ECA results with the organization that completed it. This means you must authorize the organization to share the results with us.

To authorize us to see your ECA results from:

Note: For the other organizations, no additional steps are required.

You should contact the ECA organization directly for more information about the process for getting an ECA, or how to authorize an organization to share the results with the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program.

Language skills

Note: These documents are only mandatory if you claimed points for language proficiency in your expression of interest.

You are not required to upload them in your stage 1 application, but you will need to provide them in stage 2 if your application is successful.

For English, scan and upload test results from:

  • International English Language Testing (IELTS) or
  • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)

For French, scan and upload tests results from:

  • Test d’évaluation de français pour le Canada (TEF Canada)
  • Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Identity documents

1. Photograph

You must scan and upload a copy of a photograph of yourself (that meets passport or visa requirements) with your application.

Photographs that are not clear or are of low quality will not be accepted.

2. Passport

You must scan and upload a copy of your entire valid passport, including:

  • your personal details page
  • all blank pages
  • temporary resident visas
  • entry stamps
  • any other immigration stamps

If you’ve had your current passport for less than two years, include copies of all of the pages of your previous passport.

3. Family members’ passports

If applicable, you must scan and upload a copy of the personal details page from the passport of each dependent family member.

Contact us

Ask us a question by email at ontarionominee@ontario.ca or by phone from Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at: