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Windmill Microlending

Borrow up to $15,000 in low-interest loans for skilled immigrants and newcomers restarting their careers in Canada.

Reviewed by G Paul · verified August 21, 2026

$15,000

Total value

What you will need

Completed online application form
Submission of necessary supporting documents
A defined Career Success Plan
Meeting with a counsellor (if requested)

About this award

You can borrow up to $15,000 to fund your Career Success Plan. This is a loan — you pay it back after you finish school, usually with interest. The funds can cover accreditation, education, training, examination fees, and childcare. Note that a living allowance will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. This is for you if you are a skilled immigrant or newcomer to Canada looking to restart your professional career through affordable financing. No deadline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check Windmill Microlending's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You will receive a loan approval notification within two weeks of applying. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Windmill Microlending how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. You might be required to meet with one of their counsellors for free career guidance as part of the process. Once you are approved, you will get your loan amount credited within 10-15 days. Ask Windmill Microlending during your application exactly how the money will reach you to help you plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Windmill Microlending whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a skilled immigrant or newcomer to Canada. You can use the loan for accreditation, education, and training to advance your career. However, you cannot use this loan for business start-up costs, paying off other debt, or debt consolidation. Also, please note that they are not accepting applications for truck driving courses at this time.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Permanent resident

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Check this year's deadline
We don't have a confirmed date for this round. The award's own page will have it.

More details

Career Plan

Avoid borrowing the maximum amount without a budget.

Instead, create a detailed Career Success Plan and borrow only what you need to ensure you can repay the loan easily.

Support

Avoid ignoring the free counselling service.

Instead, engage with the Windmill counsellors to get professional guidance and better align your training with the Canadian job market.

Strategy

Avoid treating this as a grant.

Instead, use the loan calculator to estimate monthly payments and prioritize building a strong Canadian credit history through on-time repayments.

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