he British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot is now a permanent stream for permanent residency (PR) as of May 27.
The BC PNP provided an update saying that they will continue to assist regional communities in expanding their local economies by making this regional pilot a permanent stream.
The BC PNP’s Entrepreneur Immigration Regional stream is open to immigrants who want to launch a business in any of the province’s interior, coastal, or rural areas.
This comes as a relief for entrepreneurs at a time when Canada actually capped and paused two of the federally operated business immigration programs.
So B.C. continues to encourage entrepreneurs to set up businesses in one of the multiple regional communities in the seven B.C. regions listed below:
- Cariboo
- Kootenays
- Nechako
- Vancouver Island/Coast
- Thompson Okanagan
- North Coast
- North East
How Does BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Work?
The province’s Entrepreneurial Immigration (EI) Regional stream provides a permanent residency pathway for innovative individuals who want to start a new business in a small community.
Launched as a pilot in March 2019, the EI Regional stream is now a permanent stream as part of a larger BC PNP regional program.
Each of the participating communities has recognized the types of businesses that are important to their community.
Communities have developed their own administrative procedures, and some may charge fees for services.
If a community believes your business concept is a good fit for their goals, they may ask you for an in-person exploratory visit to meet with their contact person.
The tour will also provide you with firsthand knowledge of the place you are considering for your business, allowing you to determine whether the lifestyle is suitable for your family.
If you believe it is the best fit for your business and family, you can then request a referral from the community.
Eligibility Criteria To Qualify as Entrepreneur
You must plan to establish a new business that aligns with the referring community’s in-demand list.
Furthermore, you need to demonstrate business and/or managerial experience with a personal net worth of at least CAD$300,000.
Apart from the net worth, you will need to invest at least CAD$100,000 in the business and create one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Additionally, you must meet the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) language proficiency level 4, which is the minimum score in language tests.
Full list of participating communities and regions
Cariboo
- 100 Mile House
- Mackenzie
- Quesnel
- Williams Lake
Kootenay
- Castlegar & Central Kootenay (Areas I & J)
- Columbia Valley & East Kootenay
- Kimberley
- Nelson & Central Kootenay (Areas E & F)
- Rossland
- Trail
Nechako
- Bulkley-Nechako
North Coast
- Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (Areas B, C, and E)
Northeast
- Fort St. John
Thompson-Okanagan
- Clinton
- Penticton
- Salmon Arm
- Vernon
Vancouver Island/Coast
- Campbell River
- Comox
- Mount Waddington
- Powell River
