BC PNP - Entrepreneur Immigration - Base Category

Verified on October 6, 2026 — source WelcomeBC.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is the province’s economic immigration tool designed 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 intended for experienced business owners who intend to invest in and actively manage a qualifying business in the province.

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

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

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

Eligibility, Requirements, and Process (Base Stream)

1) Eligibility

• Personal net worth: Must have a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 CAD.

2) Requirements

• Business experience: Must have at least 3 years of experience* as a business owner-manager within the last 10 years.
• Investment value: Must make a minimum personal investment of $200,000 CAD in the business.
• Business type: Must establish a qualifying new business, or take over and expand an existing business.
• Job creation: Must create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Language proficiency: Must meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 requirement.
• Community referral: Not required.
• Exploratory visit: Recommended but not mandatory.

Candidates who do not meet the BC PNP’s business experience requirement may substitute it with evidence of a qualifying educational credential (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: Base stream

There are four main components to the Entrepreneur Immigration Base stream process: preparation, registration, application submission, and decision. Each step has its own requirements. Review the information on this website and in the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide before starting. When ready, follow these steps:

Develop a business proposal

• The first step is to build a comprehensive business proposal that showcases your unique knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur. Research the appropriate type of business; a suitable location; and demonstrate that the proposed business can contribute to British Columbia's economic development priorities.
• There are many resources to support preparation, such as the Starting a Small Business Guide. The Trade and Invest British Columbia website also has significant information on key industries and sectors in different 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 developing your business proposal, create an online profile and complete all sections of the registration.
• After registering, you will receive a score based on the information provided. Points are awarded based on human capital factors such as work experience, education, language proficiency, and economic factors such as the commercial viability of the proposal and the economic benefit to the province. The business concept section of the registration will be scored separately by BC PNP staff within 6 weeks of receipt. For more on how business concepts are scored, please see the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide.
• If your registration meets the BC PNP's eligibility criteria and requirements, the file will be placed in the qualified pool and remain valid for up to 6 months, or until you receive an invitation to apply.
• Note: registration does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply.

Wait for an invitation to apply

• To submit a Base stream application, you need an invitation. If invited, an accounting firm authorized by the BC PNP will review your personal net worth and verify the source of your funds. This review must be completed before you submit your application. A list of authorized accounting firms and instructions will be included with your invitation.

Submit your BC PNP application

• After receiving an invitation, you have up to 4 months from the date of invitation to submit a complete application through the BC PNP User Portal. Before submitting, you must pay the fees and ensure all required documentation is submitted.
• You may be invited for an interview regarding your work experience and business plan. The application is assessed under the Provincial Immigration Programs Act, the Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation, the information you provided in your application and interview, and the stream's eligibility/requirements criteria.

Apply for a work permit

• If the application is approved, you will sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia. This agreement is specific to you and based on the information in your application, business plan, and interview. You will also receive a Letter of Support to apply for a work permit to IRCC, which will allow you and your dependents to move to BC.
• Note: after receiving the Letter of Support, you have up to 90 days to submit your work permit application 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 requirements in your signed Performance Agreement.

Fulfill your Performance Agreement

• To be nominated, you must demonstrate that you have met the terms and conditions of your Performance Agreement. You will be required to submit a final report to the BC PNP between 18 and 20 months after arriving in BC. If the BC PNP confirms that you have met the terms and conditions, you will be required to sign a Conditions of Nomination Declaration.

Submit your IRCC application

• After signing the Declaration, you will receive a Confirmation of Nomination as a provincial nominee, which allows you to submit a permanent residence application to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.
• If IRCC approves, you will become a permanent resident of Canada.

Processing times

• Typically, about 80% of applications are processed within the following timelines:
• Registration score notification: 6 weeks
• Application decision notification (work permit stage): 4 months
• Application decision notification (final report stage): 4 months
• Review requests: 6 months

Processing times depend on when the BC PNP receives a complete application; the complexity and volume of applications; program capacity; and the number of available nomination spaces.

Program Fees and Status

Base and Regional streams continue to operate. As of September 22, 2026, the minimum invitation score for both is 119: Base invited 10 candidates, Regional fewer than 5. Invitation scores fluctuate with each draw.

Provincial registration fee: $300 CAD; application fee: $3,500 CAD; request for review: $500 CAD. IRCC fees, asset 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. You must cross-reference the official list before selecting a project.

Source: WelcomeBC — Entrepreneur Immigration; Current Invitations.

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