BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration 2026: Base and Regional Streams Explained in Canada

BC Entrepreneur Immigration: What It Is and Who It’s For

British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration program lets experienced business owners and senior managers move to BC, run a business, and earn a path to permanent residence. With the federal Start-up Visa paused since June 30, 2026, it’s one of the clearest options left for entrepreneurs who want to settle in Canada.

The program has two streams: Base, for businesses anywhere in BC, and Regional, for new businesses in participating smaller communities. Both are run by the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), and both use registration, scoring and invitations.

Quick answer: To qualify for BC Entrepreneur Immigration, you need business experience, a solid business plan and enough money to invest. The Base stream needs $600,000 in net worth and a $200,000 investment. The Regional stream needs $300,000 and $100,000, plus a referral from a participating community. You register online, wait for an invitation, apply, move to BC on a work permit, run your business, and then get nominated for permanent residence.

Base vs Regional: Key Differences

Who Is Eligible

Business Experience

You need one of the following. For Base, it must be within the past 10 years. For Regional, it must be within the past 5 years.

• More than 36 months as an active business owner-manager with at least 10% ownership
• More than 48 months as a senior manager
• At least 12 months as an owner-manager plus at least 24 months as a senior manager

Education

You need a post-secondary credential. If you don’t have one, you can qualify instead by showing at least 36 of the past 60 months as an active owner-manager with 100% ownership.

Language

You need at least CLB 4 in all four skills, using IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Results are valid for 24 months.

Living and Working in BC

You must actively manage the business day to day, live within 50 km of it, and be physically present in BC for at least 75% of your time on the work permit.

Job Creation

You must create at least one new, permanent full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within 420 days of arriving in BC. BC defines full-time as at least 30 hours a week on average, or 1,560 hours a year. Independent contractors don’t count.

The Funds You’ll Need

Personal Net Worth

Your net worth includes your own assets plus those of your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. It must be legally obtained and verifiable. Future inheritances don’t count.

• Base: at least $600,000
• Regional: at least $300,000

Personal Investment

You must make an eligible investment from your own net worth within 610 days (about 20 months) of arriving in BC.

• Base: at least $200,000
• Regional: at least $100,000

What Counts as an Eligible Investment

• Buying an existing business (Base only): up to $150,000 of the purchase price counts, plus at least $50,000 for improvement or expansion
• Operating expenses: up to six months for a new business, or three months for a purchased business or new franchise location
• Inventory: up to three months for a new business
• Vehicles: up to $15,000, only if essential to the business

What Doesn’t Count

• Cash and working capital
• Wages you pay yourself or family members
• Refundable deposits
• Real estate
• Research and development
• Immigration-related fees

Investments made before you’re invited to apply don’t count. BC also warns that investing before you have a performance agreement and work permit is at your own risk.

Businesses That Aren’t Eligible

BC lists several types of business that don’t qualify, including:

• Bed and breakfasts
• Home-based businesses
• Real estate development or brokerage
• Payday loan businesses and pawnbrokers
• Scrap metal recycling
• Goods trading, such as import and export, unless you can show added value
• Passive investments and investment schemes

Franchises can qualify, but only if the franchise has been operating for at least five years.

How Registration Scoring Works

When you register, BC gives you a score out of 200.

Base stream:

• Self-declared factors (120 points): experience and ownership, net worth, investment, jobs, the region you choose, and adaptability
• Business concept (80 points): commercial viability, transferability of skills and economic benefits
• To enter the pool: at least 115 overall, including at least 40 on the business concept

Regional stream:

• 140 self-declared points and 60 business concept points
• To enter the pool: at least 105 overall

BC scores your business concept within about six weeks. Qualified registrations stay in the pool for up to 180 days.

Recent Draw Results

BC invites the highest-scoring candidates in regular draws. These are BC’s recent results:

Most recent draws invited about 10 Base candidates and fewer than five Regional candidates.

Step-by-Step Process

1. Develop your business proposal. For Regional, choose a participating community, visit it, meet its designated contact person and request a referral. A referral is valid for 90 days.
2. Register online through the BC PNP Online portal and pay the $300 registration fee.
3. Wait for an invitation.
4. Get your net worth verified. After you’re invited, hire a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm. This can take up to 60 days.
5. Apply within 120 days of your invitation and pay the $3,500 application fee.
6. Attend an interview if BC asks. Interviews are conducted in English.
7. Sign a Performance Agreement setting out your investment, jobs and timelines.
8. Apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving BC’s letter, and arrive in BC within 12 months.
9. Report your arrival within 60 days, then start your business.
10. Submit your final report within the required time window, with financial statements reviewed by a CPA.
11. Receive your nomination and apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Documents You’ll Need

BC’s application guide lists the following documents:

Personal documents

• Passport biographical and signature pages for you, your spouse and dependants
• Birth certificates, marriage certificates, and divorce or separation documents, if they apply
• Education certificates and transcripts
• Language test results, if you claimed language points

Proof of experience

• Personal tax returns for the last two years, for you and your spouse
• Employer reference letters or income certificates covering the experience period
• Business registration licences and ownership documents, such as a share registry
• Proof of signing authority, plus business items like brochures or business cards

Proof of funds

• A net worth review from a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm
• Two years of personal bank statements for every account
• Supporting records, such as property documents and proof of gifts or inheritances

Business documents

• A full business plan with an investment breakdown, two-year financial projections and your resume
• For a business purchase: two years of financial statements, proof of ownership history and proof of fair market value
• Franchise or partnership documents, if they apply

Other

• Proof of an exploratory visit, if you made one
• IRCC forms for your spouse, and an updated Schedule 4A with an accumulation of wealth explanation

Documents in other languages need a certified translation. You can upload a maximum of 50 attachments, each up to 3MB.

Fees and Processing Times

You’ll also pay for the net worth verification, the CPA review for your final report, and IRCC’s work permit and permanent residence fees.

BC estimates about six weeks to score your registration and about four months for each application decision.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Investing too early. Money spent before your invitation doesn’t count.

Choosing an ineligible business. Check BC’s list before building your plan.

Missing the referral window. A Regional referral expires after 90 days.

Underestimating the net worth report. Start right after your invitation, because it can take up to 60 days.

Living outside BC. You must spend at least 75% of your time in BC and live within 50 km of your business.

Letting jobs lapse. The full-time job must be kept for at least 180 days before your final report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I buy an existing business through BC Entrepreneur Immigration?
Yes, through the Base stream. The Regional stream only allows new businesses.

Can I apply without a post-secondary degree?
Yes, if you’ve been an active owner-manager with 100% ownership for at least 36 of the past 60 months.

What is the minimum language score?
CLB 4 in all four skills.

How many people does BC invite in each draw?
Recent draws invited about 10 Base candidates and fewer than five Regional candidates.

Do I need to visit BC before registering?
For Regional, yes. For Base, it’s strongly recommended.

Before You Apply

BC Entrepreneur Immigration is detailed and closely monitored. A strong application starts with an eligible business, a realistic plan, clear proof of funds and an honest look at whether you can meet every requirement once you arrive.

TDOT Immigration can review your eligibility, help you compare the Base and Regional streams, and guide you through your registration and application. Book a consultation with our team.

Sources

1. WelcomeBC - Entrepreneur Immigration
2. WelcomeBC - Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide (Base)
3. WelcomeBC - Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Program Guide
4. WelcomeBC - Entrepreneur Immigration Application Guide
5. WelcomeBC - Regional stream communities
6. WelcomeBC - Invitations to apply
7. IRCC - Start-up Visa: Who can apply