British Columbia invites entrepreneurs in provincial immigration draw
In its July 28 draw, British Columbia issued invitations to entrepreneurs seeking to establish or take over an existing business in the province.
A total of 10 invitations to apply were distributed through the Base Stream of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) Entrepreneur Immigration category.
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Those invited have the opportunity to apply for provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.
Candidates needed a score of at least 117 to be selected in the draw.
This latest draw represents the province’s eight selection round under its Entrepreneur Immigration category this year.
The table below provides an overview of how British Columbia’s latest entrepreneur-focused draw compares with earlier Entrepreneur Immigration draws held by the province over the course of 2026.
| Date of draw | Entrepreneur Immigration Stream | Number of invitations | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 28 | Base | 10 | 117 |
| June 30 | Base | 14 | 118 |
| Regional | <5 | 113 | |
| June 2 | Base | 15 | 117 |
| Regional | <5 | 117 | |
| May 5 | Base | 8 | 115 |
| Regional | <5 | 115 | |
| April 14 | Base | 14 | 115 |
| March 10 | Base | 7 | 117 |
| Regional | <5 | 129 | |
| February 10 | Base | 13 | 121 |
| Regional | <5 | 105 | |
| January 13 | Base | 7 | 115 |
A total of 13 entrepreneur-focused draws have been conducted through the province’s Entrepreneur Immigration selection rounds—eight under the Base Stream, and the remaining five under the Regional Stream.
The latest BCPNP draw was one of only three held this year to invite exclusively Base Stream candidates.
Over the year, cutoff scores under the Base Stream have ranged from 115–121.
To date in 2026, the province has issued no fewer than 88 invitations to apply for provincial nomination through its Entrepreneur Immigration category.
With invitations issued through the BCPNP’s Skills Immigration category factored in, the province has issued no fewer than 3,824 invitations to apply for provincial nomination in 2026 thus far.
The July 28 entrepreneur draw came on the heels of a targeted Skills Immigration selection in which British Columbia issued its first invitations under the new Temporary Rural / Remote Health Support Initiative for health authority cleaners and security personnel.
British Columbia offers two streams for entrepreneurs: the Base Stream and the Regional Stream.
The table below illustrates how eligibility, rules, and requirements vary by stream:
| Criteria | Base Stream | Regional Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Business type | Launch a new business or take over + grow existing one | Launch a new business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District |
| Business experience | 3 years as a business owner-manager in the last 10 years | 3 years as a business owner-manager in the last 5 years |
| *Education | Post-secondary credential | Post-secondary credential |
| Minimum language proficiency | CLB 4 | CLB 4 |
| Minimum personal net worth | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Minimum investment | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| Minimum ownership | 31.33% | 51% |
| Community referral required? | No | Yes |
| Exploratory visit required? | No | Yes |
| Minimum registration score | 115/200 | 105/200 |
| Registration with BCPNP co-applicant permitted? | Yes | No |
*Those without post-secondary qualifications must demonstrate full ownership (100%) and active management of a business for at least three years during the past five years.
The process of obtaining permanent residence is generally the same under both streams. However, Regional Stream candidates must first complete two additional steps:
- Identify a participating community that is well suited to the proposed business (Regional);
- Conduct an exploratory visit and obtain a referral from the selected community (Regional);
- Prepare a business proposal;
- Register with the BCPNP and receive a score based on human capital and economic factors;
- Await an invitation to apply in a future draw;
- Submit a complete provincial nomination application within four months of receiving an invitation;
- If approved, apply to the federal government for a work permit;
- Establish and actively operate the business in British Columbia; and
- Receive a provincial nomination after satisfying the program’s conditions.
With a provincial nomination in hand, candidates can submit an application for permanent residence directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
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