British Columbia invites entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination
On August 25, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) conducted a draw through its Entrepreneur Immigration category, issuing 16 invitations to apply.
Invitations were extended to entrepreneurs who wish to establish a new business in the province or acquire and expand an existing enterprise.
Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams
The latest round of selections was the BCPNP’s 21st of the year, and its ninth focused exclusively on entrepreneurs.
Invited candidates have the opportunity to apply for provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence.
Draw details
The two streams differed in the number of invitations issued, while sharing the same cutoff score.
Of the invitations issued in this round, the majority went to Base Stream candidates:
| Stream | Minimum score | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 116 | 11 |
| Regional | 116 | 5 |
This draw recorded the highest invitation count of any Regional Stream draw held in 2026.
The table below shows how this round compares to previous Entrepreneur Immigration selections held over the course of 2026:
| Date of draw | Stream | Invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 25, 2026 | Base | 11 | 116 |
| Regional | 5 | 116 | |
| July 28, 2026 | Base | 10 | 117 |
| June 30, 2026 | Base | 14 | 118 |
| Regional | <5 | 113 | |
| June 2, 2026 | Base | 15 | 117 |
| Regional | <5 | 117 | |
| May 5, 2026 | Base | 8 | 115 |
| Regional | <5 | 115 | |
| April 14, 2026 | Base | 14 | 115 |
| March 10, 2026 | Base | 7 | 117 |
| Regional | <5 | 129 | |
| February 10, 2026 | Base | 13 | 121 |
| Regional | <5 | 105 | |
| January 13, 2026 | Base | 7 | 115 |
This year’s nine entrepreneur selection rounds have produced 15 draws in total: nine under the Base Stream and six for the Regional Stream.
The BCPNP has invited no fewer than 104 entrepreneurs through its 2026 draws, contributing to a year-to-date total of no fewer than 4,942 invitations across its entrepreneur and skilled worker streams.
How the BCPNP’s entrepreneur streams differ
While both the Base Stream and Regional Stream provide pathways for entrepreneurs to pursue permanent residence in British Columbia, they each have varying rules and requirements:
| 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 a post-secondary credential must demonstrate at least three years of active business ownership and management experience within the past five years, with full ownership of the business.
Pursuing permanent residence through the BCPNP’s entrepreneur streams
The route to permanent residence is largely the same under both entrepreneur streams, with Regional Stream candidates subject to two additional steps:
- Identify a participating community that aligns with your proposed business (Regional Stream);
- Complete an exploratory visit and obtain a community referral (Regional Stream);
- Prepare a business proposal;
- Register with the BCPNP and receive a score based on human capital and economic factors;
- Wait to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) in a future draw;
- Submit a nomination application within four months of receiving an ITA;
- If approved, apply to the federal government for a work permit;
- Establish and operate the proposed business in British Columbia while on the work permit; and
- Receive a provincial nomination if program requirements are met.
Once nominated, candidates can apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.
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