Glossary | Manitoba Immigration

The glossary provides explanations for various important terms found throughout this website. These are not legal definitions.

Affidavit	A sworn statement in writing. It is a written promise that this is the principal applicant's statement.
Accompanying dependant	A spouse and/or a dependent child (see below for definition of Dependent Children) of the principal applicant who intends to immigrate to Manitoba with the principal applicant.
Application	A package including all forms, supporting documents and information provided to the MPNP to request consideration by the MPNP.
Balance sheet (statement of financial position)	One of the most important pieces of financial information, prepared by a business/company. It is a snapshot that shows what a business owns (assets) and owes (liabilities) at that point in time. The difference between the assets and the liabilities is called the owner's equity.
(Statement of) Business Intent	A Business Intent is a plan summarizing the applicant's intended business venture. This should include enough information to outline the most important details of the applicant's business idea, how it will be run and broad expectations of outcomes.
Business immigrant	A person who has the intention, relevant business experience, and ability to establish, purchase or make a substantial investment in a business in Manitoba that will contribute significantly to the provincial economy and job creation. The business immigrant must also intend to live in Manitoba and have the ability to provide active and ongoing participation in the management of the business.
Business owner	As an entrepreneur, you must be engaged actively and on an ongoing basis in providing goods or services to customers. Also, as an entrepreneur, you should bear the risk of return for the capital investment in your business enterprise.
Canadian visa office	An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) immigration office outside Canada, located at a Canadian embassy, consulate, or high commission that issues temporary resident visas and permanent residence.
Cash deposit	A deposit made and payable to the Government of Manitoba. This deposit will be held until the agreed investment has been made. Terms governing release of the deposit are found in the Cash Deposit Agreement. The amount of the deposit differs between the MPNP for Business Investors (CAD 100,000) and Farm Strategic Recruitment Initiative (CAD 75,000); there is no deposit required under the Skilled Worker streams. No deposit is required until after the application has been assessed and approved, and no interest will be paid on the deposit. A cash deposit is not required under the Business Investor Stream.
Cash deposit agreement	The agreement entered into between the applicant and the Government of Manitoba governing the terms and conditions under which the deposit will be held and subsequently released. A cash deposit is not required under the Business Investor Stream.
Cash flow statement (or statement of changes in financial position)	A cash flow statement traces the flow of funds (or working capital) into and out of a business during an accounting period. It can be used to assess the timing, amount and predictability of future cash flows and it can be used as the basis for budgeting. There are three sections to a cash flow statement: operating activities; investing activities; and financing activities. Cash flow is not the same as net income.
College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)	A self-regulating association of paid immigration representatives who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. IRCC and the MPNP will not release information to any paid immigration representative who is not a member in good standing with CICC or a lawyer who is not in good standing with a Law Society in Canada or the Chambre des notaires du Québec.
Common-law partner	A common-law partner is a person who has been living with the principal applicant in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. The term refers to both opposite and same-sex relationships.
Dependent child	To be considered eligible to accompany an MPNP applicant to Manitoba, a dependent child must be under 22 years old and not have a spouse or common-law partner. Children who are at the age limit or older can qualify as "over-age" dependants if they have depended on their parents for financial support since before they reached the age limit and can't financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition. All existing dependants must be declared to the MPNP before nomination. New dependants, after nomination, must be declared to the MPNP and the Canadian visa office before permanent residence is approved. If you do not declare a new dependent to the MPNP and the Government of Canada before your permanent residence is issued, you will need to apply separately to sponsor these dependents through a Government of Canada sponsorship program after you settle in Manitoba. The MPNP cannot assist you with a sponsorship application. Please note also that IRCC may introduce regulatory changes to amend or change the definition of a "dependant." In that eventuality, the newly introduced definition of a "dependant" will prevail.
Deposit agreement	After an application is approved for nomination, the applicant must sign a contract with the Government of Manitoba which details the terms and conditions under which the applicant's deposit will be held and subsequently released. The deposit agreement will specify the applicant's intended level of investment and type of business proposed. A cash deposit is not required under the Business Investor Stream.
Designated representative	An individual, not necessarily a paid immigration representative, named by the applicant and authorized to receive information regarding an application. The MPNP will only release information to one named and authorized representative.
Equity investment (capital cash outlay)	This consists of investment in verifiable assets and working capital. It is the amount of money, in Canadian dollars, which is to be invested in an existing business in Manitoba, or the start-up of a new business. In the case of an incorporated business, this investment can take the form of share capital (common or ordinary shares, preferred shares or subordinated shareholder loans to the company). This is an investment in permanent capital and, as such, there can be no fixed redemption date. The investment can also take the form of capital outlay for a facility or land that will be used for the purposes of operating the proposed business. There can be no other claims on this money, except that of the entrepreneur.
Exploratory visit	A visit that gives the MPNP applicant information relevant to their MPNP application. Exploratory visits differ under the MPNP streams. Business Investor Stream: A visit that gives the prospective business applicant an opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge about living and doing business in Manitoba. The visit may include market analysis/research, in-person meetings with industries and government departments or agencies, industry tours, and other important considerations in establishing or buying an existing business. Farm Investor Pathway: A visit that gives the prospective farm business applicant an opportunity to acquire first-hand knowledge about living and operating a farm business in Manitoba. The visit may include farm market analysis/research, in-person meetings with farm related industries and government departments or agencies, and other important considerations in establishing a farm business. Skilled Worker Overseas: A pre-arranged trip that potential applicants may make to Manitoba to research communities and employment opportunities to help them make an informed decision on whether they have the intention and ability to find employment and settle with their family in Manitoba as permanent residents. After the MPNP interview included in a pre-approved exploratory visit, we may invite you to submit an MPNP Online application. Note that it is the Invitation of Apply, not the exploratory visit, that establishes a candidate's requisite Manitoba connection. The MPNP conducts exploratory visits at our discretion as resources allow in order to provide opportunity for qualified skilled workers, otherwise ineligible for our program, to establish the Connection to Manitoba that is required of all MPNP applicants. Exploratory visits must be approved by, then arranged through, the MPNP only by invitation following our acceptance of your request.
Financial statements	Documentation including balance sheets, income statements and cash flow statements that are audited or reviewed by independent accredited accountants. See individual definitions in this section for details on each of these items.
Immigration representative	An individual who has the applicant's permission to conduct business for them with IRCC. A paid representative must be either a lawyer registered with a Canadian provincial law society or a consultant who is registered with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) or the Chambre des notaires du Québec. Paid representative: An individual who is a member in good standing of either the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), a Canadian provincial law society or the Chambre des notaires du Québec who acts on behalf of the applicant applying for immigration under the MPNP. Only members of these associations are authorized to charge fees for immigration advice and/or services under the MPNP. If using the services of a paid representative, the applicant must confirm that the representative is a member in good standing of at least one of these two professional associations. For more information, please read IRCC's tips for choosing an immigration representative.
Income statement	An indicator of a company's financial performance, which measures sales or revenues and expenses over a specified time period, usually one year.
IRCC visa office	An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office at a Canadian embassy, consulate or high commission that issues visas, including permanent residence status.
Manitoba provincial nominee	A person whose application to immigrate to Manitoba has been approved and to whom the MPNP has issued a nomination certificate.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program	A nomination program that allows the Province of Manitoba to assess and nominate applicants for immigration who can demonstrate their ability to establish successfully and permanently in Manitoba.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program applicant	A person who has been nominated in accordance with the criteria for one of Manitoba's MPNP streams/pathways. This person will be assisted in applying for permanent residence through a designated Canadian visa office under the provincial nominee category.
Net income	The amount of money a business has made over a specified period of time (usually one year). This is generally calculated as revenue less expenses and income (corporation) tax. It is calculated before dividends to shareholders or drawings to proprietors or partners.
Net worth	The value of an applicant's total assets, less the value of his or her total liabilities. This includes all the assets owned by the applicant's spouse and dependent children but does not include value of personal items such as jewelry, furniture, appliances or vehicles, etc.
Nomination	The term used by the Province of Manitoba to describe the selection of an applicant by the MPNP and to recommend an applicant for issuance of permanent residence.
Nomination certificate	A document issued by the MPNP directly to a IRCC visa office indicating that an approved provincial nominee is eligible to apply to that office for permanent residence.
Notary public/notary	A public official who verifies that documents are real and/or official.
Permanent resident	A person who is legally in Canada as a landed immigrant, but who is not yet eligible to apply for, or has not yet been granted Canadian citizenship.
Personal net worth	An indication of the financial background and strength of the principal applicant and spouse, which is calculated as the difference of assets (things owned) minus liabilities (things owed). It does not include value of personal items such as jewelry, furniture, appliances, etc.
Principal applicant	The person (you or your spouse) who has a better chance of meeting the selection criteria for the MPNP.
Senior manager/senior management experience	An individual who has occupied a position in the highest levels of the management structure of a major business. In that position, the individual was responsible for the strategic policy development affecting a major component or a wide range of operations of that major business, and has done so for at least three of the recent past five years prior to applying to the MPNP. The applicant claiming senior management experience must demonstrate that they has had a role with significant decision-making responsibilities involving a minimum of two of the following aspects of business: Distribution Production/operations/project management Purchasing Sales Marketing Finance Accounting Human Resources/personnel Research and development Information technology management Quality control In addition to the above, an applicant should also demonstrate that their level of income is commensurate with the prevailing income level of senior managers of the major businesses in their country. The applicant has to clearly demonstrate this level of income through the documents obtained from a third-party source.
Spouse	A person to whom the principal applicant is legally married. The term refers to both opposite and same-sex relationships.
Supporting documentation	The documents required for all immigration applications (e.g., documents that prove identity, work experience, language ability, finances, etc.).
Temporary work permit	A permit issued by an IRCC visa office or case processing centre allowing the holder to work temporarily in Canada according to the conditions indicated on the permit.