Starting April 1, 2021, the pathway for Canadian permanent residence for foreign nationals who wish to an LMIA under the Owner/Operator category will become more complicated. The government is lifting the advertising exemption and will require those candidates to pay the prevailing wages. As a result, this pathway may be less popular among foreign entrepreneurs.

As of now, the most viable alternative for such candidates is the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT). This pathway towards the PR may be a good option for those who already own a business in their home country and wishes to open a Canadian branch. The main advantage of this path is the opportunity to get a work permit without an LMIA (exemption code C12). Therefore, ICT can become a route for foreign businesspeople to gain Canadian work experience and extra points for Express Entry.