British Columbia has announced that its successful Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot is now a permanent immigration stream under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
The new BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Stream took effect on May 27, 2024.
It focuses on entrepreneurs interested in starting a business in the province’s rural, interior and coastal communities, offering less onerous requirements that the main Entrepreneur Immigration category.
The BC PNP first launched the regional stream as a two-year pilot in 2019, before extending it to 2024. It has now become a permanent part of the province’s immigration landscape.
Regular draws are conducted for the stream, although fewer candidates receive invitations than the main entrepreneur category.
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The main candidate requirements are a net worth of $300,000 and business investment of $100,000, with 51 per cent ownership.
To be part of the program, communities must have a population less than 75,000 and be at least 30km away from a municipality of more than 75,000.
The stream is the latest in a network of federal and provincial business and entrepreneur programs in Canada.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Stream
The Entrepreneur Regional Stream aims to attract motivated and experienced entrepreneurs to open a business in smaller communities of British Columbia and contribute to their specific labour needs.
It was initially opened in 2019 as a two-year pilot, and was made a permanent program as of May 27, 2024.
The Eligibility Requirements for Candidates
- Net worth of minimum $300,000.
- Minimum of $100,000 in eligible business investments.
- Minimum of 51% ownership in the new business.
- Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4 In English or French in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading and writing.
- Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Conduct an exploratory visit in the target community
The Eligibility Requirements for Communities
- A population of fewer than 75,000 people.
- Located beyond 30 km of a municipality of more than 75,000 people.
- Demonstrate capacity to support the entrepreneur through a network of established settlement and business support agencies.
Program Key Features
- Community Involvement: Participation communities are actively involved in attracting foreign entrepreneur, and helping them settle after arrival.
- BC PNP Referrals: Communities can refer foreign entrepreneurs to the BC PNP. The candidates must have visited the community and have a business proposal aligned with its economic priorities.
- Community Concierge: Participating communities have access to the services of a dedicated BC PNP Community Concierge.
- Invitations and Prioritization: Referred candidates register is a separate BC PNP pool. Monthly invitations are issued to the best scoring candidates. Those invited received priority processing.
