Manitoba PNP International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot or ISEP is a pathway under the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). Every year, it invites 20 eligible international students who have graduated from an institution in Manitoba.

Just like the MPNP Career Employment Pathway nominates students who want to work immediately after graduation, the International Student Entrepreneur pathway nominates eligible international students to become entrepreneurs in Manitoba.

Eligibility requirements for International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

Before applying for the Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot pathway, you must ensure that you meet the following eligibility criteria.

1. A valid business plan: You must submit a business plan while submitting your MPNP application. 
2. Business experience: At the time of nomination through the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot, you must have at least 6 months’ experience as a senior manager in a business situated in Manitoba. Your role must be according to the requirements of the Business Performance Agreement (BPA). 
3. Business Ownership: You must own 51% of the business equity 
4. Education: You must have earned a post-secondary academic degree from a recognized institution in Manitoba. The program must be full-time and of at least 2 years.
5. Language Proficiency: You must score at least CLB/NCLC 7 in your test for language proficiency. MPNP accepts IELTS and CELPIP for English proficiency, and TCF and TEF for French proficiency.
6. Age: You must be within the age group of 21-35 years to be eligible.
7. Settlement Funds: Although there is no minimum net worth required, you must have at least CAD $10,000 readily available funds before applying.
8. Work Permit: you must have a valid work permit (in some cases Post-Graduate Work Permit) when you apply for the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot.
9. You must be living in Manitoba since your graduation. Moreover, you must be able to show that you plan to permanently reside and work in the province and contribute to it economically, culturally, and socially.
10. Once your MPNP application is approved, you will need to sign a Business Performance Agreement or BPA. 

Steps to Apply for Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

To make the process simpler to understand, we can divide the process of applying to Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot into two phases. The first phase includes the steps to create an Expression of Interest. The second phase includes the steps to submit your MPNP application. In this section, we will explain both the phases in detail.

MPNP ISEP Phase 1

Step 1: Self Assessment and Interest Guideline form

The very first step is to ensure that you meet all the eligibility requirements for the Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot pathway. Once you ensure your eligibility, you must complete the ISEP Interest Guideline Form . You can submit a Business Concept and the Interest Guideline form before graduating from a valid academic institution in Manitoba. However, you must have completed at least one year of a two year educational program.

Step 2: Exploring Business Environment of Manitoba

Once you have completed the Interest Guideline form, explore the entrepreneurial environment in Manitoba. After that, register for a mandatory ISEP information session by sending an email to [email protected] . Submit a Business Concept to the MPNP. The ISEP Business Concept form will need information like:

• the industrial sector and region of your intended business in Manitoba.
• If your business would be a start-up or an acquisition of an already established business in Manitoba. If it is an existing business, you will need to provide the details about its name, address, current ownership structure, etc.
• Nature of your business
• The kinds of products and services your business will offer.
• The research that convinced you that your business will be successful in Manitoba
• Your educational background, entrepreneurial skills and experience and how it would help in operating your business.
• The intended investment in your business and your current financial situation.
• Marketing plan of your products and services.
• Critical resource requirements
• Implementation timelines
• Anticipated critical factors that might affect your business
• How your business would benefit Manitoba.

Step 3: Submit Expression of Interest or EOI and LAA

Your Expression of Interest (EOI) for International Student Entrepreneur Pilot includes the submission of completed Business Concept Form, Interest Guideline Form, and Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives form if you are hiring a licensed consultant. Your EOI will be screened to determine if you can go further to the next step.

If your Business Concept is approved, you will be interviewed in-person by the MPNP officer. Once your interview is successful, you will get the Letter of Advice to Apply or LAA and a Business Concept Code (BCC), along with instructions for the next steps.

MPNP ISEP Phase 2

Step 4: MPNP Application Submission

Once you get the Letter of Advice to Apply to the ISEP, submit your complete application within 120 days or 4 months. You will also be required to pay a non-refundable fee of CAD $2500.

You might be asked to submit your net worth and financial statements for net worth verification. Moreover, you will need to submit all the required documents along with your MPNP International Student Entrepreneur Pilot application.

Step 5: Application Assessment

Your MPNP ISEP application will be assessed by MPNP. If approved, you will get a notice with an approval in principle. During this approval process, you will need to sign the ISEP Business Performance Agreement or ISEP-BPA. This agreement will be a contractual agreement between you and Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). 

Step 6: Meeting the requirements of  Business Performance Agreement (BPA)

According to the ISEP Business Performance Agreement, you will need to provide progress reports to MPNP at regular intervals. The MPNP officers might also monitor your business activities anytime in order to ensure the the terms and conditions of ISEP BPA are being met. 

Understanding a Business Performance Agreement or ISEP BPA

The Business Performance Agreement includes all the conditions and obligations you will need to fulfill within a specific period of time in order to get nomination through the Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. The ISEP BPA entails the following conditions:

• You will attend an arrival meeting with the Program staff in Winnipeg within 30 days of arrival in Manitoba on a work permit. You will also provide your contact information in the arrival meeting
• You will submit the business progress according to the prior discussed reporting requirement. The program officer will determine the format, frequency and the content of your progress report according to the proposed business plan.
• You will establish or purchase the proposed business within 14 months from your date of arrival
• Invest the amount committed to in the Business plan while establishing or purchasing the business.
• You will be able to continuously own, control and financially support the business at all times
• You will operate the proposed business on everyday basis with the intention of generating profits
• You will actively, regularly, and directly manage the daily operations of the business from its premises.
• You will live in Manitoba and within a 100km of your business location. You would also be in Manitoba 80% of the time since your arrival.
• Have all the necessary license and permits required to operate your business 
• Operate your business for at least 6 months before submitting your final report to the MPNP program
• Prove and demonstrate to the program that you and your business are not subject to bankruptcy, insolvency or dissolution at the time you submit your final report.
• You will allow the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) to visit and inspect the business premises any time and have access to all and any related documents whenever they require.
• If you are creating a new business in Manitoba, you should be able to create at least one full time job in the province, for at least 6 months before submitting the final report. This job must employ either a Canadian citizen or a Permanent Resident living in Manitoba.
• If you are acquiring an already existing business, you must be able to maintain the existing full time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Manitoba.

Step 7: Getting MPNP nomination through the International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

If you meet all the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement, you will get a provincial nomination through the MPNP International Student Entrepreneur Pilot (ISEP) pathway. You must apply to IRCC for Canada PR within 6 months or 180 days.

List of documents for International Student Entrepreneur Pilot pathway

This section includes a list of documents you will need to submit while applying for Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot (ISEP). This is not an exhaustive list, and you might need to submit additional paperwork depending on your profile.

Your immigration consultant will be able to guide and inform you about the complete list of documents. Regardless, you will need submit the photocopies of the following:

• Language test results that are not older than 2 years
• Academic degrees, certificates, and diploma
• Documents for Identity such as birth certificate, national identity card, etc
• Passport or travel documents
• Proof of status in Manitoba and Canada. This includes a valid Work Permit, Post Graduate Work Permit, open work permit and Off-Campus student visa
• Documents to prove that you have continuously lived in Manitoba since your graduation
• Manitoba Health card (if applicable)
• Financial Statements such as bank statements, credit card reports, fixed deposit certificates, etc.

If you receive your Letter of Advice to Apply to MPNP-ISEP, you will need to fill and submit the following forms:

• A completed and signed MPNP fee payment form
• A signed and completed MPNP application form 
• Manitoba Information Release form
• Manitoba Consent to Indirect Collection and Disclosure of Personal Information 
• Manitoba Code of Conduct for Immigration Representatives Who Represent Applicants to MPNP 
• Declaration of Intent
• Summary of ISEP Business Plan in Manitoba

Getting legal and professional help

Manitoba International Student Entrepreneur Pilot (MPNP-ISEP) only nominates 20 eligible applicants. Thus, it is an extremely competitive pathway. You need to have a great Business plan, and ensure submitting a complete application. You also need to completely understand the Business Performance Agreement before signing it.

Getting professional help from a licensed immigration representative is not compulsory but it makes the process extremely easy. You will no longer have to worry about documentation, updates, or any technical details.

CICC licensed immigration representatives at Talent Connected Worldwide are professionally trained to provide you the best assistance and expert guidance in your immigration process. 

Become a young entrepreneur in Manitoba through the  International Student Entrepreneur Pilot. Contact Talent Connected Worldwide.

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