Choosing a province as an entrepreneur isn't just about the lowest investment. The table and questions below help you compare systematically.
Comparison from official figures (October 2026)
| Manitoba | Alberta (Rural) | Newfoundland and Labrador | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum net worth | CAD 500,000 | CAD 300,000 | CAD 600,000 |
| Minimum investment | CAD 150,000–250,000 | CAD 100,000 | CAD 200,000 |
| Language | CLB/NCLC 5 | CLB/NCLC 4 | CLB 5 |
| Regions | Lower investment outside Winnipeg | Rural communities under 100,000 people | Priority to regional development and high-demand sectors |
| Exploratory visit | Recommended | Required, with a community support letter | Required if applying from outside the province |
Ontario currently has no entrepreneur stream. British Columbia, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia must be checked on the provinces' sites.
Non-financial factors
- The market for your business: population, customers, competitors.
- The Vietnamese community and support services.
- Schools, health care and climate.
- Long-term fit: nominees must settle in the nominating province.
- Language: French matters in New Brunswick; elsewhere it is mostly English.
Questions to ask yourself
- Can I personally manage the business day to day in this region?
- Can I prove the lawful source of all my funds?
- Is my business plan realistic for the size of the local market?
- Is my family ready for a small community and a cold climate?
Note The minimums are only the entry bar. Competitive applications usually go well beyond them in investment, experience and language.
Official sources
- Immigrate as a provincial nominee (IRCC) ↗
- Eligibility - Entrepreneur Pathway (Government of Manitoba) ↗
- Rural Entrepreneur Stream – Eligibility (Government of Alberta) ↗
- Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream – Eligibility (Government of Alberta) ↗
- Eligibility Criteria - Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador) ↗
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) (Government of Ontario) ↗
Entrepreneur streams by province
Net worth and investment requirements by province
The process: exploratory visit, commitment, nomination