BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION: Regional Pilot (2023 Version)

(updated on November 16, 2022)

BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) is a way for international entrepreneurs wishing to immigrate to British Columbia (B.C.) to set up businesses that support innovation and economic growth in the province.

Entrepreneur Immigration is a “temporary to permanent” immigration pathway. That means that if you are approved, you will initially come to B.C. as a temporary resident, and then apply to stay permanently once you have successfully started a business.

Streams at a Glance

	EI – Base	EI – Regional Pilot
Experience	Within last 10 years:	Within last 5 years:
	3+ years of experience as a business owner-manager, OR, 4+ years of experience as a senior manager,  OR, a combination of 1+ year of experience as a business owner-manager and 2+ years of experience as a senior manager
Net worth	At least $600,000	At least $300,000
Education	Obtained a post-secondary credential,  OR, experience as an active business owner-manager for at least 36 of the last 60 months  with 100% ownership in the business
Business proposal	You must submit  a business proposal to establish a new business or purchase of an existing business in British Columbia	You must submit  a business proposal to establish a new business in British Columbia and be referred by an enrolled  community
Ownership percentage	At least one-third (33.33%)	At least 51%
Investment	Minimum $200,000	Minimum $100,000
Job creation	Must create at least one full-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident  of Canada
Location	Anywhere in British Columbia	Participating communities
Exploratory visit required?	No, but strongly recommended	Yes. You must engage and visit an enrolled community for support before registering
Language requirement?	Minimum of CLB 4 equivalent in English or French. Must submit  a copy of valid language proficiency test results at final report (if not previously  submitted)	Minimum of CLB 4 equivalent in English or French. Must submit  copy of valid language proficiency test at registration
Partner with BC PNP co- registrant allowed?	Yes	No
Partner with a local business/person allowed?	Yes
Registration  scores	Total 200 points (120 points for self-declared section; 80 points for business concept). Must score minimum of 40 points in business concept section. Total score must be at least 115 points to qualify.	Total 200 points (140 points for self-declared section; 60 points for business concept). No minimum business concept score. Total score must be at least 105 points to qualify.
Registration  timeframe	Registrations are scored within  six weeks	Registrations are scored within  four weeks
Net worth verification	Yes, you must obtain a net worth verification report if you are invited to apply
Application timeframe	Application decisions are typically made within  four months
Interview required  for approval?	Yes
Minimum amount  of time to submit a final report	18 months  after issuance of a work permit	12 months  after issuance of a work permit
Fees	Registration: $300 Application: $3,500	Registration: $300 Application: $3,500

Regional Pilot

British Columbia welcomes entrepreneurs from around the world to discover the many business opportunities across all regions of the province. Entrepreneurs can open a business in one of B.C.’s smaller communities and experience first-hand why many choose to live outside of a large urban center for their families.

Through the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Pilot, the Province offers an immigration pathway for enterprising individuals who are looking to start a new business in a small community and make B.C. their new home.

The EI Regional Pilot was introduced in March 2019 and has been extended to March 31, 2024.

Key features

B.C. communities are active participants

The communities that enrolled for Phase 2 of the EI Regional Pilot play a key role. Each has identified the kinds of businesses that are a priority for their community. They are looking for entrepreneurs with experience managing these types of businesses.

Communities are also interested in learning more about your background and your proposed business. When you reach out to them, you may be asked to provide information so that their contact person can see if your proposal and/or business experience is a fit with their priorities.

Communities have implemented their own administrative process for the pilot, and some communities may charge a fee for services. We ask interested parties to respect and follow each community’s specific process. Please contact the community using only the contact details listed in each profile.

Prospective candidates must visit the community

If a community sees your business proposal as a possible match with their priorities, they may invite you for an in-person exploratory visit to their community and meet with their contact person. The visit will also give you first-hand experience of the location you are proposing for your business, and you will also be able to assess whether the lifestyle is a fit for your family.