Admissibility criteria for the Québec Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2 (Business Start-up / Existing Business)

1. Management experience

• The applicant must have at least two years of business management experience within the five years preceding the application.

• Experience in excluded sectors (payday loans, sex industry, pornography-related businesses) is not admissible.

2. Personal net worth

• Applicants must demonstrate a minimum net worth of CAD 600,000.

• Donations received within six months before application are excluded.

• Net worth may be shared with a spouse, but both must prove the lawful origin and accumulation of their assets.

3. French language proficiency

• Applicants must demonstrate oral French skills equivalent to Level 7 of the Québec scale.

• Accepted proof includes recognized test results (TEF, TEFAQ, TCF, DELF, DALF) or certain secondary diplomas (French Baccalaureate, Belgian CESS, Swiss Maturity Certificate).

• Test results must be dated within two years of application.

4. Business partners

• The project may be undertaken alone or with up to three other applicants under the Entrepreneur Program.

5. Business plan

• A detailed business plan must be submitted, using the official template for Entrepreneur Program – Stream 2.

6. Notice of intention to select

• If all conditions are met except for business start-up and minimum expenditures, the applicant will receive a Notice of Intention to Select.

• This allows the applicant (and family members) to apply for a federal work permit to come to Québec and start the business.

7. Business start-up condition

• The business must be started within two years of receiving the work permit.

• At the time of proof submission, the business must have been registered for at least one year.

8. Minimum start-up and operating expenditures

• The applicant must have incurred at least:

  • CAD 300,000 in the Montréal metropolitan area, or

  • CAD 150,000 outside Montréal.

9. Minimum equity participation

• The applicant must hold at least 25% of the equity of the business.

• This share can be held individually or jointly with the spouse included in the application.

• If multiple candidates apply jointly, each must hold at least 25%.