PEI: the entrepreneur stream nobody is being invited to

Officially, yes: the Work Permit Stream page still describes the stream with no closure or pause notice. In practice, no. PEI's Expression of Interest draw table has a column for business work permit entrepreneur invitations, and it reads 0 in every one of the ten draws held from 15 January to 7 October 2026. Over the same period PEI issued 1,319 invitations to workers and Express Entry candidates.

PEI says it is currently selecting and prioritising skilled workers in higher-demand sectors such as healthcare and trades, and it reserves the right to limit intake or exclude streams from draws.

For when PEI invites entrepreneurs again, the published requirements are:

• A verifiable personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000 from legal sources. Business equity counts only if you own at least 70% of the business, and only up to CAD 180,000.
• Age 21 to 59 at the time of application, at least a secondary school education, and CLB/NCLC 4.
• Transferable management skills and past employment or business ownership experience.
• Net worth verification by a designated verifier (Grant Thornton or MNP), engaged within 15 days of the invitation and reported within 90 days.
• An interview with the Office of Immigration, where the Performance Agreement is signed.

The current documents mention no deposit. The obligations are these:

• Invest at least CAD 150,000 in the business within 12 months of landing in PEI.
• Operate the business for at least twelve consecutive months, with at least CAD 75,000 in eligible operating expenses.
• Be physically present in PEI at least 274 days a year, and report in person within 30 days of arriving.
• A new start-up must be 100% yours unless PEI deems it of significant economic benefit. When buying an existing business, you need at least one third of the equity or an equity investment of at least CAD 1,000,000.

The application fee is CAD 10,000, paid to Island Investment Development Inc. PEI refunds it in full if your file is not accepted, refunds CAD 7,500 if you are declined or withdraw before the interview, and keeps it all after the interview.

• 1. Create an EOI profile (free). It stays active for 6 months and is scored out of 200, plus a 10-point bilingual bonus.
• 2. If invited, submit the application within 60 days, with the net worth verification.
• 3. Interview and sign the Performance Agreement.
• 4. Receive a letter of support and apply to IRCC for a work permit.
• 5. Arrive, operate the business for at least 12 months, then request nomination and apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

If you are drawn to Atlantic Canada, Nova Scotia invited entrepreneurs four times in 2026 and New Brunswick's business stream is active and assessed outside the draw system. If your budget is closer to CAD 300,000 of net worth, Alberta's Rural Entrepreneur Stream is open and asks for a CAD 100,000 investment. We compare all five on one page.

We are not immigration lawyers or licensed consultants, and we do not file applications. We mentor founders through the business side of a provincial entrepreneur file, and part of that is telling you when a stream is not inviting anyone. For the legal filing, work with a licensed representative.