Entrepreneur Immigration – Base stream

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Program Name	BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration – Base
Initial Stay Period	Temporary work permit (typically 2 years)
Pathway to Permanent Residency	Provincial nomination leading to IRCC PR application
Cost / Fees	Non-refundable registration and application fees apply
Eligibility Timing	Up to 120 days to apply after invitation
Work Rights	Restricted to operating the nominated BC business
Family Work Rights	Spouse/partner eligible for open work permit
Study Rights	Dependent children eligible for study permits
Medicare / Public Healthcare	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Must reside in BC 75% of work permit period
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Spouse, partner, and dependent children included
Visa Record / Status Requirement	Must hold lawful status; no unauthorized work
Minimum Net Worth	At least $600,000 CAD
Minimum Personal Investment	At least $200,000 CAD
Job Creation Requirement	Minimum 1 full-time equivalent Canadian/PR job
Minimum Language Benchmark	CLB 4 in English or French

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Purpose

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration – Base (EI – Base) stream is designed for experienced business owners and senior managers who intend to permanently settle in British Columbia by investing in, establishing, or purchasing and expanding an eligible commercial business in the province.

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Eligibility Criteria

1. Personal & Experience Requirements

• Personal Net Worth: Minimum of $600,000 CAD (legally obtained and verifiable, including assets and liabilities of the applicant, spouse/partner, and dependent children).
• Experience (within the past 10 years / 120 months):
  • More than 3 years (36 months) as an active business owner-manager (holding $\ge$10% ownership); OR
  • More than 4 years (48 months) as an active senior manager (supervising $\ge$3 full-time staff, NOC TEER 0 or 1); OR
  • A combination of at least 1 year (12 months) as an owner-manager and at least 2 years (24 months) as a senior manager.
• Education:
  • Post-secondary credential (degree, diploma, or certificate); OR
  • Active business owner-manager experience with 100% ownership for at least 3 years (36 of the last 60 months).

2. Business Proposal & Ownership

• Must establish a new business or purchase an existing business operated by the current owner for at least 5 years (60 months).
• Ownership Share: Minimum of one-third (33.33%). If less than 33.33%, a minimum equity investment of $1,000,000 CAD is required.
• Eligible Business Types: Must operate for the primary purpose of earning profits from products/services. Franchises must have a 5-year operating track record and franchisor support. Seasonal businesses are eligible only if operated year-round.
• Ineligible Businesses: Immigration-linked schemes, passive investments, redemption option investments, bed and breakfasts, hobby farms, home-based businesses, payday loan/cash machine businesses, pawnbrokers, tanning salons, coin-operated laundries, DVD rentals, automated car washes, scrap metal recycling, used goods sales (without value-added repair/refurbishment), real estate/insurance/business brokerages, real estate development, simple import/export goods trading without value add, and adult entertainment.

3. Investment Requirements

• Minimum Investment: At least $200,000 CAD from personal net worth into eligible expenditures within 610 days (approx. 20 months) of arrival on a work permit.
• Purchasing an Existing Business: Up to $150,000 CAD of the purchase price counts toward eligible investment; at least $50,000 CAD must be invested into business expansion/improvements.
• Allowable Expense Caps:
  • Business vehicle: Maximum $15,000 CAD (if proven essential).
  • Operating expenses: Up to 6 months for new independent businesses; up to 3 months for existing business purchases or new franchises.
  • Inventory: Up to 3 months of start-up or new expansion product inventory.
• Ineligible Investments: Cash, working capital, reserves, wages paid to self or family/co-owners, refundable deposits, real estate purchases/fees, R&D expenses, and immigration/legal/accounting fees.

4. Job Creation & Maintenance

• Create at least 1 permanent, full-time equivalent (FTE) job ($\ge$30 hours/week, 1,560 hours/year) for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within 420 days (approx. 14 months) of arrival.
• FTE positions must be direct employees working on-site (no remote workers, independent contractors, or $\ge$10% shareholders).
• If purchasing an existing business, all existing jobs must be maintained at prevailing market wages.
• All required FTE jobs must be continuously maintained for at least 180 days (6 months) prior to submitting the Final Report.

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Language & Residency Conditions

• Language Ability: Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in all four bands (Listening, Reading, Writing, Speaking) via IELTS General, CELPIP-General, TEF, or TCF Canada. Mandatory to prove at Final Report, or at registration if claiming points.
• Residency: Reside within 50 km of the business (by shortest road route; any required ferry trip must not exceed 30 minutes).
• Physical Presence: Must be physically present in B.C. for at least 75% of the time on the temporary work permit.

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Rights & Family Provisions

• Applicant Work Rights: Permitted to work in Canada on a temporary, employer-specific work permit restricted to the approved B.C. business.
• Spouse / Partner: Eligible to apply for an open work permit.
• Dependent Children: Eligible for study permits to attend elementary or secondary school. Age is locked in at the time the initial BC PNP registration is submitted.
• Permanent Residence Pathway: Nominees receive a provincial nomination certificate enabling an application for Canadian permanent residence to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.

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Application Steps & Process

[1. Registration] ➔ [2. Invitation to Apply] ➔ [3. Application & Interview]
         ➔ [4. Performance Agreement & Work Permit] ➔ [5. Final Report & Nomination] ➔ [6. IRCC PR Application]

1. Online Registration: Create a profile on BCPNP Online and submit a registration with business concept details. Pay the registration fee. Registrations require at least 115 total points (and $\ge$40 in the business concept).
2. Pool & Invitation: Valid registrations enter the qualified pool for up to 180 days. Highest-ranking and prioritized candidates receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
3. Application Submission: Submit a complete application within 120 days of the ITA. Includes:
   • Net worth verification report completed by a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm (valid for 12 months).
   • Comprehensive business plan.
   • Required non-refundable application fee.
4. Assessment & Interview: Attend an in-person interview in Vancouver, B.C. (conducted in English; certified STIBC/CTTIC court interpreters permitted).
5. Performance Agreement & Arrival: Sign the Performance Agreement and receive a 90-day Letter of Confirmation to apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit. Arrive in B.C. within 365 days of the confirmation letter.
6. Business Establishment:
   • Submit Arrival Report within 60 days of arrival.
   • Submit Post-Arrival Progress Check-in within 365 days of work permit issuance.
   • Implement the business plan and fulfill all investment and hiring terms.
7. Nomination: Submit the Final Report between 550 and 610 days (18–20 months) after work permit issuance, including CPA-reviewed financial statements. Sign the Conditions of Nomination declaration to receive a Confirmation of Nomination.
8. Permanent Residence Application: Apply to IRCC for Canadian permanent residence within 180 days of nomination issuance.

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Partnerships & Co-Registrants

• Two BC PNP candidates may partner under a single business proposal.
• Both must submit their online registrations within 30 days of each other.
• Each co-registrant must independently meet all individual eligibility criteria, invest $\ge$200,000 CAD, and create at least 1 FTE job.
• Registration scores will be adjusted so both partners receive the score of the lower-scoring co-registrant.

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Important Warnings & Ineligibility

• Status Ineligibility: Applications are refused if the applicant is out of status (without a pending 90-day restoration), working without authorization, prohibited from entering Canada, subject to an active removal order, or has an unresolved refugee claim.
• Premature Investment: Investments made before receiving an ITA are ineligible. Any funds committed prior to signing a Performance Agreement and securing a work permit are at the applicant's sole risk.
• Consistency & Misrepresentation: Submitting false, misleading, or materially different information from the registration or concealing facts can result in refusal, closure of the file, or cancellation of the nomination.
• Jurisdiction: Provincial nomination does not guarantee permanent residence; IRCC retains sole authority over admissibility, health, security, and final PR visa approvals.