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 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 valid business in the province.
Entrepreneurs who meet the eligibility criteria based on factors such as personal net worth, business experience, and economic impact may choose to apply through one of the following lines:
The base stream is an immigration pathway for individuals who want to start a new business or acquire and grow an existing one.
The Regional Stream is an immigration pathway for individuals who want to start a new business outside the Metropolitan Vancouver Regional District and wish to choose a participating BC community as their place of residence.
Businesses (foreign corporations) wishing to establish operations in the province can apply through the Strategic Projects stream of the program. The Strategic Projects stream provides a pathway to permanent residency for current employees of foreign corporations wishing to operate in British Columbia.
The Entrepreneur Immigration - Strategic Projects Stream targets successful, established international corporations with substantial revenue and strong financial standing. To be considered under this stream, companies are expected to have identified strategic investment opportunities in BC that are crucial for growth and expansion of their core operations, have completed market research and commercial viability assessments, and have developed a detailed implementation plan. If invited to apply and subsequently approved, key personnel—experienced senior managers—may move to the BC subsidiary/branch with work permits supported by the BC PNP and receive nomination once the investment is completed and jobs are created.
Companies interested in the Strategic Projects stream are expected to have at least 150 employees and a minimum annual revenue of CAD 20 million. Applications in the Strategic Projects stream typically create jobs in high-paying professions.
BC will issue invitations to apply to foreign-owned companies that meet the criteria and can most clearly demonstrate that their investment will deliver significant economic benefits to the province. To date, BC has approved companies operating in advanced manufacturing, technology, new media, specialized engineering, forestry product processing, and scientific research and development. The Entrepreneur Immigration stream accounts for a maximum of 5% of the province's total annual nomination quota.
Information regarding the criteria and application process for the Strategic Projects stream is available on the BC PNP website.
Conditions and requirements for the Strategic Projects Stream
Condition:
Equity investment: A minimum equity investment of CAD 500,000 must be made toward the group’s operations in BC.
Request:
- Ready to do business: Must demonstrate willingness to invest and capacity for international expansion into BC.
- Financial standing: The business must demonstrate that it is well-established and in sound financial condition.
- Key personnel requirements: Must be full-time, permanent employees with the necessary experience to directly manage the business at BC.
- Job creation: At least three full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents must be created for each proposed key personnel position, with a maximum of five.
Businesses that do not qualify
The program prioritizes businesses that meet the needs of the British Columbia labour market and economic development. For a list of businesses that are ineligible under the BC PNP, please see below:
- Investment-linked immigration scheme under Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation section 6(e) and IRPR section 87(5)(b), as defined in IRPR 87(9)
- Any business that has an investment provision including a redemption option under IRPR 87(6)(d)
- Any business may be a passive investment under IRPR 87(6)(c)
- Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms, and home-based businesses.
- Payday loans, check cashing, currency exchange, and ATMs.
- Spout
- Tanning salons
- DVD rental shop
- Coin-operated laundromats
- Automatic car wash
- Recycling scrap metal
- Trading in used goods (unless there is added value such as repair, refurbishment, or recycling)
- Real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage, or corporate brokerage.
- Real estate development activities
- Trading in goods (e.g., import/export), unless proof of added value is required.
👉 If you are the owner of a large corporation or company and wish to settle in Canada and bring your key personnel and their families over, please schedule an appointment with us using the schedule below.
Immigration Event Calendar and Live Stream
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Have a Question?
Be the first to ask a question about this.