BC PNP - (Business) Entrepreneur Immigration - Regional Stream

Checked on October 6, 2026 - source: WelcomeBC.

The British Columbia (BC) 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 for permanent residency. Individuals nominated by the BC PNP are eligible to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency for themselves and their dependents.

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

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

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

Regional stream is an immigration pathway for individuals who want to start a new business outside the Vancouver Regional District (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 (Regional Stream)

1) Eligibility (Eligibility)

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

2) Requirements (Requirements)

• Business experience: Must have at least 3 years of experience as a business owner-manager within the last 5 years.
• Investment value: Must personally invest a minimum of $100,000 CAD in the business.
• Business type: Must establish an eligible new business that aligns with the economic development priorities of the nominating 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 CLB 4.
• Community referral: Must have a completed referral form from the nominating community.
• Exploratory visit: Must conduct an exploratory visit to the community where the business will be established.

Applicants who do not meet the BC PNP business experience requirement may provide evidence of an eligible educational credential (e.g., post-secondary diploma) for consideration.

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

3) Process for entrepreneurs: Regional stream (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. Please review the information on this website and in the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide before starting. When ready, complete the following steps:

Find the right community (Find the right community)

• The first step is to research the B.C. communities participating in the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Stream to choose the right community for your business. To learn about the development regions and their corresponding economic priorities, see the participating communities list.
• Request for a community referral (Request for a community referral)
• A community referral is required to submit a Regional stream application. To obtain a referral, you must contact the chosen community to express your interest and conduct an exploratory visit. After completing the 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 issue.

Develop a business proposal (Develop a business proposal)

• After obtaining a referral, the next step is to develop a comprehensive business proposal that demonstrates your unique knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur. Research the type of business and demonstrate how the proposed business can contribute to the economic development priorities of your chosen community.
• There are many resources available to help you prepare, such as the Starting a Small Business Guide. The Trade and Invest British Columbia website also has a lot of information about key industries and sectors in different regions of B.C.

Register online (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.
• After registering, you will receive a score based on the information provided. The score is assessed based on personal factors (work experience, education, language) and economic factors (the commercial viability of the proposal and the economic benefits to the province). The business concept section is assessed separately by a BC PNP officer within 6 weeks. For more information, see the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide.
• If the registration meets the criteria, the profile will be placed in the qualified pool and remain valid for a maximum of 6 months or until an ITA is received.
• Note: registration does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Wait for an invitation to apply (Wait for an invitation to apply)

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

Apply for a work permit (Apply for a work permit)

• If the 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 through IRCC, allowing you and your dependents to move to B.C.
• Note: after receiving the Letter of Support, you have a maximum of 90 days to apply for the work permit through IRCC and must arrive in B.C. within 12 months of receiving the work permit.
• After arriving in B.C., you have a maximum of 20 months to implement the plan, manage the business, and fulfill the Performance Agreement.

Fulfill your Performance Agreement (Fulfill your Performance Agreement)

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

Submit your IRCC application (Submit your IRCC application)

• After signing the Declaration, you will receive a Confirmation of Nomination and can apply for permanent residency through IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.
• If IRCC approves, you will become a Canadian permanent resident.

Processing times (Processing times)

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

• Registration score notification: 6 weeks
• Decision notification (work permit stage): 4 months
• Decision notification (final report stage): 4 months
• Request for reconsideration: 6 months

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

Fees and program status

Base and Regional streams remain open. On September 22, 2026, the minimum invitation score for both was 119: Base invited 10 candidates, Regional invited fewer than 5. Invitation scores change with each round.

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

Ineligible business categories include passive investment, certain home-based business models, real estate brokerage, and other industries. Check the official list before choosing a project.

Source: WelcomeBC — Entrepreneur Immigration; Current invitation rounds.