BC PNP - (Business) Entrepreneur Immigration - Regional Stream

Checked on October 6, 2026 — source WelcomeBC.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is the province's economic immigration tool to attract new residents to British Columbia. The program allows the province to select a limited number of potential immigrants and nominate them to apply for permanent residence. Individuals nominated by the BC PNP are eligible to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence for themselves and their dependents.

The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who intend to invest in and actively manage a qualifying business in the province.

Entrepreneurs who meet eligibility criteria and requirements based on factors such as personal net worth, business experience, and economic impact may choose to apply under one of the following streams:

Base stream is an immigration pathway for individuals who wish to start a new business or purchase and grow an existing business.

Regional stream is an immigration pathway for individuals who wish to start a new business outside of the Metro Vancouver Regional District and are interested in choosing a participating B.C. community as their place of residence.

Eligibility, Requirements and Process (Regional Stream)

1) Eligibility

• Personal net worth: Must have a minimum personal net worth of $300,000 CAD.

2) Requirements

• Business experience: Must have at least 3 years of experience as a business owner-manager within the last 5 years.
• Investment value: Must make a minimum eligible personal investment of $100,000 CAD in the business.
• Business type: Must establish a new qualifying business that aligns with the economic development priorities of the referring host community.
• Job creation: Must create at least 1 new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Language proficiency: Must meet a minimum of CLB 4.
• Community referral: Must have a completed referral form from the referring host community.
• Exploratory visit: Must undertake an exploratory visit to the community where the business will be established.

Candidates who do not meet the BC PNP business experience requirement may substitute it with proof of qualifying educational credentials (e.g., a post-secondary degree) for consideration.

Note: There are exceptions to the table above. For full information, please see the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide.

3) Process for entrepreneurs: Regional stream

There are 4 main components in the Regional stream process: preparation, registration, application, and decision. Each step has its own requirements. Review the information on this website and in the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide before beginning. When ready, take the following steps:

Find the right community

• The first step is to research the communities in BC participating in the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Stream to choose one that aligns with your business. To learn about communities by development region and their corresponding economic priorities, see the participating communities list.
• Request for a community referral
• A community referral is required to submit a Regional stream application. To obtain a referral, you must contact your chosen community to express your interest and conduct an exploratory visit. After completing your visit, you can request a referral from the supporting community; this is a form detailing your business proposal, including information about the exploratory visit.
• Note: A community referral is only valid for 90 days from the date of issuance.

Develop a business proposal

• After receiving a referral, the next step is to build a comprehensive business proposal that demonstrates your unique knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur. Research the business type and prove that the proposed business can contribute to the economic development priorities of your chosen community.
• There are many resources to assist with preparation, such as the Starting a Small Business Guide. The Trade and Invest British Columbia website also provides a wealth of information on key industries and sectors in various regions of BC.

Register online

• Registration is mandatory to express interest in the program. You must register through the BC PNP Online User Portal. After preparing your business proposal, create an online profile and complete all sections of the registration.
• Upon registration, you will receive a score based on the information provided. Points are awarded based on human capital factors (work experience, education, language) and economic factors (commercial feasibility of the proposal and economic benefits to the province). The business concept section is scored separately by BC PNP staff within 6 weeks. For more, see the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide.
• If the registration meets the criteria, the profile will be placed in a qualified pool and remain valid for up to 6 months or until an Invitation to Apply (ITA) is received.
• Note: Registration does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Wait for an invitation to apply

• To submit a Regional stream application, an invitation is required. If invited, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm will review your personal net worth and verify the source of funds before you submit your application. A list of accounting firms and instructions will be included with the ITA.
• Submit your BC PNP application
• After receiving an ITA, you have up to 4 months to submit a complete application through the User Portal. Before submitting, you must pay the fees and submit all required documentation.
• You may be invited for an interview regarding your experience and business plan. The application is reviewed under the Provincial Immigration Programs Act, the Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation, the information in the application and the interview, and the stream's criteria.

Apply for a work permit

• If your application is approved, you will sign a Performance Agreement with the province. You will also receive a Letter of Support to apply for a work permit from IRCC, which helps you and your dependents move to BC.
• Note: After receiving the Letter of Support, you have up to 90 days to apply for a work permit to IRCC and must arrive in BC within 12 months of receiving your work permit.
• After arriving in BC, you have up to 20 months to implement your plan, manage the business, and meet the Performance Agreement.

Fulfill your Performance Agreement

• To be nominated, you must demonstrate that you have met the terms of your Performance Agreement by submitting a final report to the BC PNP within 18–20 months after arriving in BC. If the BC PNP is satisfied, you will sign a Conditions of Nomination Declaration.

Submit your IRCC application

• After signing the Declaration, you will receive a Confirmation of Nomination and can submit an application for permanent residence to the IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.
• If IRCC approves it, you will become a permanent resident of Canada.

Processing times

Typically, about 80% of applications are processed within these timeframes:

• Registration scoring notification: 6 weeks
• Decision notification (work permit stage): 4 months
• Decision notification (final report stage): 4 months
• Review requests: 6 months

Processing times depend on when a complete application is received; the complexity and volume of applications; program capacity; and the number of nomination quotas.

Program Fees and Status

Both the Base and Regional streams are ongoing. On September 22, 2026, the minimum invitation score for both was 119: the Base stream invited 10 candidates, and the Regional stream fewer than 5. Invitation scores vary by draw.

Provincial registration fee: $300 CAD; application fee: $3,500 CAD; request for review: $500 CAD. IRCC fees, net worth verification, and third-party services are charged separately.

Ineligible business categories include passive investments, certain home-based business models, real estate brokerages, and other sectors. Please check the official category list before selecting a project.

Source: WelcomeBC — Entrepreneur Immigration; Current Invitations.

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