The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) has introduced a mandatory online registration system for all prospective applicants to the Entrepreneur Immigration Stream (EIRS). The registration is scored according to points. The registration system will calculate one portion of an applicant’s score and then the applicant will receive a total score from BC-PNP based on the information provided in the registration.

The Entrepreneur Immigration Stream was designed to identify and invite the highest-scoring applicants without delay. The registration system will assist the BC PNP to prioritize those with the greatest potential for success by establishing a selection pool that is continually renewed. The highest-scoring registrants will be invited to apply to the Entrepreneur Immigration stream at periodic intervals, based on processing capacity of the program. This will allow the BC-PNP to make quicker decisions and ensure that a future surplus of applications is not created.

Registrants who meet the minimum qualifying point total in each section will be entered into the selection pool for up to six months. Periodically, the BC-PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants from the pool to apply. The number of invitations issued will be based on annual nomination allocations and the program’s processing capacity. Those invited will have four months from the date of invitation to submit a complete application.

Watch Encubate's BC-PNP Entrepreneur video to get a better understanding about the program eligibility, process, and selection criteria.

If you are interested in immigrating to B.C. and are ready to invest in and actively manage a business in the Province, the Entrepreneur Immigration stream may be a fit for you. First, you should conduct research about B.C.’s economy and regions. You may then complete an Entrepreneur Immigration Registration. If you meet the minimum registration requirements, you will be entered into the selection pool.

Periodically, the BC-PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants to submit an application. If invited to apply, you will have four months to submit a complete application. If the application is approved, you will sign a Performance Agreement and will have up to 20 months to implement your business proposal in B.C.

If you meet the requirements of the Performance Agreement within the 20 months, the BC-PNP will nominate you for permanent residence. You and your dependent family members can then apply for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee class with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. Below is a general overview of the eligibility criteria of the BC-PNP Entrepreneur Immigration stream.

You must engage a qualified supplier to review your personal net worth and verify your accumulation of funds in order to apply to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration stream. A qualified supplier is a professional chartered accounting services supplier, qualified by the BC-PNP, that will complete a verification report of your personal net worth. A list of qualified suppliers and instructions is included with the invitation to apply.

You must enter into an agreement with a BC PNP qualified supplier to undertake the review of your personal net worth. You are responsible for all costs associated with this verification service. You must have received a BC PNP file number before you can engage a qualified supplier.

The qualified supplier will review your personal net worth claims and verify your accumulation of funds through an assessment of your supporting financial documentation. The qualified supplier will then produce a report of your personal net worth. When the review is complete, the qualified supplier will send you and the BC-PNP copies of the report.

Each candidate who submits a registration will be given a final score in the system. The score will be based on the information you provided in your registration, as well as the Business Concept that was assigned points by the BC PNP. This score will be used to determine your rank within the pool of candidates. Your ranking will depend on the scores of other candidates in the pool and will change regularly as people are added to and removed from the pool. Each section of the registration has a minimum eligibility score. You must meet the minimum scores in each section to be entered into the selection pool. The maximum score available is 200. There is no overall minimum score.

You will receive points based on your business ownership and/or senior management work experience. You must provide details of your business/work experience for the last 10 years. Do not duplicate the details of your experience in both sections. For example, if you owned 100% of a business but you also worked at the business as the General Manager, you may only select Business Owner-Manager Experience. The transferability and relevance of your background to your proposed business in B.C. will be scored by the BC PNP as part of your Business Concept.

You will receive points based on your total net worth including that of your spouse or common-law partner, if applicable. You will have to provide information on the following:

You will receive points based on your proposed eligible personal investment for the business. You will be required to include proposed total investment and eligible investment for your proposed investments. The BC-PNP will verify the eligibility of your proposed investment and may adjust your score accordingly.

The following are sample items that could be used:

• purchase of existing business assets
• new equipment purchases
• start-up inventory or new inventory related to an expansion plan
• leasehold improvements
• new marketing costs
• operating expenses
• additional investment items, if necessary

You will receive points based on your proposed job creation, and job maintenance if you are purchasing an existing business. For the proposed business, you must identify the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions that will be created, and maintained. To identify the occupation and associated skill level, please refer to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.

You will receive points based on your self-declared adaptability factors. Language test results or certificates are not required with your registration. If you are invited to apply, you may be required to provide evidence of your language proficiency. If your score for Education Level is 0, you will not be eligible to register unless you have at least three years of active management experience of a business that you had 100% ownership in the last five years.

You must provide a brief business concept of 1,000 words, but not exceeding 1,500 words, specific to your proposal. The Business Concept may address topics covered in other sections of your registration. Your proposed Business Concept will be scored by the BC PNP. Points are awarded for the location of the proposed business based on the population sizes of B.C.’s Regional Districts.

Are you an investor looking for an immigration pathway through investment? If you do not know where to look and how to start, we invite you to book an eligibility consultation with us. We will prepare an individualized assessment report for you and guide you on your immigration journey to Canada.