What is British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) – Regional Pilot ?

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) – Regional Pilot is focused on attracting entrepreneurs from around the world to establish businesses in regional communities. The BC PNP selects and nominates foreign entrepreneurs for permanent residence who are ready to invest and have successfully developed and actively managed businesses that provide significant benefits to BC. In order to qualify under the EI – Regional Pilot, you must propose to establish a new business in a participating community in British Columbia that aligns with one of the economic development priorities identified by the community.

The benefits of BCPNP EI – Regional Pilot:

• Low minimum net worth and investment amount.

• Education is not a mandatory requirement.

• Low English proficiency required.

Eligibility of BCPNP EI – Regional Pilot:

• Minimum Net Worth: must have legally obtained personal net worth of at least CAD $300,000.

• Education: Must have either post-secondary credential or experience as an active business owner-manager with 100% ownership of the business for at least 3 of the past 5 years.

• Age: must be between 25-64 years of age to earn high points.

• Experience: in the past 5 years, you must have either 3+ years of experience as an active business owner-manager OR 4+ years of experience as a senior manager OR a combination of 1+ year of experience as an active business owner-manager and 2+ years of experience as a senior manager.

• Eligible Investment: must make a minimum eligible investment of CAD $100,000 into a new proposed business.

• Proposed Business must be: New established eligible business in B. C. Referred by a community with population < 75,000, be located beyond 30 km of a municipality of more than 75,000. You must own a minimum of 51% of the proposed business. Strong potential for sustained commercial success.

• Conduct an Exploratory visit to the enrolled community to learn about business conditions.

• Score IELTS (General Training) in the last 2 years: minimum Listening 4.5; Speaking 4.0; Writing 4.0 and Reading 3.5.

• Create full-time job for minimum 1 Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen.

• Obtain Work Permit and operate actively and continuously your business at least 12 months after arriving in B.C, submit Final Report for Nomination. Must resident for minimum 75% of time on Work Permit.