The Business Investor Stream is a Manitoba immigration pathway for people who want to start, buy, or run a business (or a farm) in Manitoba and later apply for permanent residence through a provincial nomination.
Many older articles describe “EOI draws” for business investors, but Manitoba currently states BIS EOI draws are not being conducted, and EOIs are reviewed to decide whether you receive a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA).
This guide explains the two pathways, minimum requirements, fees, and the realistic risks—so you can plan based on official rules, not assumptions.
What is the Business Investor Stream in Manitoba?
Manitoba’s Business Investor Stream (BIS) is part of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). It is designed to nominate business candidates who have the ability and intent to establish themselves economically in Manitoba.
BIS has two pathways:
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Entrepreneur Pathway: for candidates who plan to open or purchase a business in Manitoba
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Farm Investor Pathway: for candidates who plan to establish and operate a farm operation in rural Manitoba
Which pathway fits you: Entrepreneur or Farm Investor?
Choose the pathway that matches your real experience and plan:
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Entrepreneur Pathway is usually a better fit if you:
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have business ownership or senior management experience
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can invest in an eligible Manitoba business
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can actively manage operations day-to-day
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Farm Investor Pathway is usually a better fit if you:
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have proven farm ownership/operation experience
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can invest in a rural Manitoba farm business
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will live on the farm and actively manage it (not passive investing)
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Entrepreneur Pathway eligibility (minimum requirements)
Manitoba lists these minimum requirements for the Entrepreneur Pathway:
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Business experience: at least 3 years in the last 5 years as an active business owner or senior manager
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Language: minimum CLB/NCLC 5
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Education: minimum Canadian high school equivalency
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Net worth: minimum $500,000 CAD
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net worth must be verified by an approved third-party; Manitoba says the verification report must be submitted within 120 days of receiving your LAA
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Minimum investment:
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$250,000 CAD if the business is in the Winnipeg Metropolitan Region
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$150,000 CAD if outside the Winnipeg Metro Region
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Job creation: the proposed business must create or maintain at least one job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (not including close relatives)
Manitoba also recommends an in-person business research visit, and says it must be completed no more than one year before you submit your EOI.
Farm Investor Pathway eligibility (minimum requirements)
Manitoba lists these minimum requirements for the Farm Investor Pathway (FIP):
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Farm experience: at least 3 years of farm ownership and operation experience (with documents)
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Minimum farm investment: $300,000 CAD, with a farming business in rural Manitoba
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Farm research visit: required
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Active management: you must live on the farm and actively manage it; speculative or passive farm investments are not eligible
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Value-added activity: Manitoba expects value-added farm business activity (not purely speculative)
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Net worth: minimum $500,000 CAD
Important 2026 update: EOI draws are not currently being conducted for BIS
This is where many applicants get confused.
Manitoba’s EOI draws page states: for business investors, EOI draws for the Business Investor Stream are not currently being conducted. Manitoba says EOIs received are reviewed within four weeks, and it issues either:
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a Letter of Advice to Apply (LAA) (if the EOI meets requirements), or
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a feedback letter (if unsatisfactory)
This is different from how many other PNP “EOI draw” systems work.
How the Entrepreneur Pathway application process works right now
Manitoba’s Entrepreneur Pathway “Apply” page states it is using a paper-based interim process until technical changes to the online system are complete.
A practical step-by-step summary based on Manitoba’s official process:
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Self-assess and research
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confirm you meet minimum eligibility
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prepare your business concept and supporting logic (market, location, jobs, investment)
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Submit your EOI
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Manitoba’s interim process requires specific forms (business concept, self-assessment, code of conduct) submitted as instructed
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Receive LAA (or feedback)
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Manitoba says BIS EOIs are reviewed and then you may receive an LAA
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Submit your complete application + pay fee
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Manitoba requires a $2,500 CAD non-refundable processing fee by wire transfer when submitting the application
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if net worth verification is required, Manitoba says your verification report must be submitted within 120 days of receiving your LAA
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Assessment + Business Performance Agreement (BPA)
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Manitoba states an approved applicant must sign a Business Performance Agreement before a work permit support letter is issued
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Manitoba also states it may prioritize businesses that provide significant economic benefit
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How the Farm Investor Pathway application process works
Manitoba’s Farm Investor “Apply” page describes a process where early steps are about expressing interest, and later steps are about submitting a complete application and meeting nomination terms.
Key points Manitoba states:
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If you receive an LAA, you will receive instructions
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Your LAA may request net worth verification by a designated third party
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Your documents, verification report, and application fee must be submitted within 120 days of receiving your LAA for your application to be considered complete
Farm Investor Pathway also has a $2,500 CAD application processing fee (non-refundable), stated in Manitoba’s official guidelines kit.
Fees: what to budget for
For BIS, Manitoba confirms:
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MPNP application/processing fee: $2,500 CAD, non-refundable
After nomination, you also pay federal PR fees to IRCC (fees depend on your family situation). Use IRCC’s official fee table.
Processing times: what is realistic to say
Processing times can change based on volume and verification. Manitoba’s annual reporting has stated it works to process complete applications within six months, but incomplete files or files needing extra verification may take longer.
For federal PR timelines, use the IRCC processing tool (these are estimates, not promises).
Internal guidance (Canadianow-style)
Before spending money on third-party reports or making large financial decisions, confirm these first:
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You meet the minimum eligibility for the pathway you want (investment location and amount matters).
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You understand Manitoba’s current workflow: no BIS EOI draws right now, and the province decides whether your EOI becomes an LAA.
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You can prove your net worth and source of funds with documents that match your story (this is where many applicants struggle).
If you’re not ready for active management in Manitoba, this pathway may not fit. Manitoba’s farm pathway especially requires you to live on the farm and actively manage it.
FAQ
Is “Business Investor Stream” a federal IRCC investor program?
No. In this context, Business Investor Stream refers to Manitoba’s MPNP program with Entrepreneur and Farm Investor pathways.
Are BIS EOIs drawn like skilled worker EOIs?
Manitoba currently states BIS EOI draws are not being conducted and EOIs are reviewed to decide if you receive an LAA.
What is the minimum net worth for the Entrepreneur Pathway?
Manitoba lists $500,000 CAD minimum net worth, with third-party verification requirements.
What is the minimum investment for the Entrepreneur Pathway?
Manitoba lists $250,000 in the Winnipeg Metro Region or $150,000 outside it.
What is the minimum farm investment for the Farm Investor Pathway?
Manitoba lists $300,000 CAD minimum farm business investment in rural Manitoba.
Reality check (important)
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A provincial process can move forward, but PR is not guaranteed. Manitoba notes IRCC makes the final decision after security/health checks, and nominations can be withdrawn before PR is issued if requirements are not met or if information was misrepresented.
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This is not a passive investment program. Both pathways expect active management and real economic contribution.
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If your plan depends on “quick approval,” this is not the right pathway to rely on—verification, business assessment, and federal processing can take time.
Government Outlinks
Manitoba Business Investor Stream (BIS) main page:
https://immigratemanitoba.com/immigrate/bis/
Entrepreneur Pathway eligibility:
https://immigratemanitoba.com/immigrate/bis/entrepreneur/eligibility/
Entrepreneur Pathway apply page (paper-based interim process + $2,500 fee):
https://immigratemanitoba.com/immigrate/bis/entrepreneur/apply/
Farm Investor Pathway eligibility:
https://immigratemanitoba.com/immigrate/bis/fip/eligibility/
Farm Investor Pathway apply page:
https://immigratemanitoba.com/immigrate/bis/fip/apply/
MPNP EOI Draws page (BIS draws not currently conducted):
https://immigratemanitoba.com/notices/eoi-draw/
BIS FAQs (fees and general rules):
https://immigratemanitoba.com/immigrate/faq/bis/
IRCC provincial nominee (non-Express Entry) apply:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/non-express-entry/apply.html
IRCC fees:
https://ircc.canada.ca/english/information/fees/fees.asp
IRCC check processing times:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html
