British Columbia Announces New Entrepreneur Immigration Draw
Introduction
On September 22, 2026, British Columbia invited entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP).
The province issued at least 10 invitations through its Entrepreneur Immigration category. These invitations went to people who want to start a new business or purchase and grow an existing business in British Columbia.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration Draw
The latest draw included both entrepreneur-focused streams:
- Base Stream: 10 invitations
- Regional Stream: Fewer than 5 invitations
Candidates in both streams needed a minimum score of 119 to receive an invitation.
Moreover, the 119-point cutoff marked the highest score seen in several months. The Base Stream last reached this level on February 10, while the Regional Stream last reached it on March 10.
This draw also marked the 10th entrepreneur-focused selection round of 2026. So far, the BCPNP has conducted 17 entrepreneur draws, including 10 for the Base Stream and seven for the Regional Stream.
How Many Entrepreneur Invitations Has B.C. Issued?
As of September 22, the BCPNP had issued at least 114 invitations through the Entrepreneur Immigration category during 2026.
In addition, the province had issued more than 5,300 Skills Immigration invitations. As a result, the BCPNP had issued at least 5,414 invitations across these categories during the year.
Base Stream vs. Regional Stream
Although both streams support entrepreneurs who want to establish themselves in British Columbia, they have different requirements.
| Requirement | Base Stream | Regional Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Business type | Start a new business or take over and grow an existing business | Start a new business outside Metro Vancouver Regional District |
| Business experience | 3 years as a business owner-manager in the last 10 years | 3 years as a business owner-manager in the last 5 years |
| Education | Post-secondary credential | Post-secondary credential |
| Language | CLB 4 | CLB 4 |
| Minimum personal net worth | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Minimum investment | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| Minimum ownership | 33.33% | 51% |
| Community referral | Not required | Required |
| Exploratory visit | Not required | Required |
| Minimum registration score | 115/200 | 105/200 |
| Co-applicant allowed | Yes | No |
There is also an alternative education rule. Applicants without a post-secondary credential can still qualify if they have at least three years of active business ownership and management experience during the past five years while holding full ownership of the business.
What Is the Path to Permanent Residence?
The general process looks similar for both entrepreneur streams. However, Regional Stream applicants must complete two additional steps at the beginning.
First, Regional Stream applicants must select a participating community that matches their proposed business. They must then complete an exploratory visit and obtain a community referral.
After that, the process generally follows these steps:
- Develop a business proposal.
- Register with the BCPNP and receive a score based on human capital and economic factors.
- Wait for an invitation to apply in a future draw.
- Submit the provincial nomination application within four months of receiving an invitation.
- Apply for a work permit if the province approves the application.
- Move to British Columbia and establish and operate the proposed business.
- Receive provincial nomination after meeting the program requirements.
- Apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) after receiving the nomination.
Work Permit Options for Approved Entrepreneurs
Once British Columbia approves a nomination application, the province provides a work permit support letter. The applicant can then use this letter to apply to the federal government for a work permit.
Furthermore, entrepreneurs who meet the conditions of their business performance agreement and receive a nomination may qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after submitting their permanent residence application.
Since June 9, 2026, a temporary federal measure has also allowed nominees applying through a base Provincial Nominee Program pathway to apply for a BOWP earlier. They no longer need to wait for an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) for their permanent residence application first.
What Does This Draw Mean for Entrepreneurs?
Overall, the September 22 draw shows that British Columbia continues to select entrepreneurs through both of its Entrepreneur Immigration streams.
However, each stream has different requirements for business experience, investment, personal net worth, ownership, and community involvement. Therefore, entrepreneurs should review the requirements carefully before registering with the BCPNP.
For applicants interested in establishing a business in British Columbia, understanding the stream requirements and the nomination process can help them prepare their application more effectively.
Get in touch with SPS Global
Receive advice on any of your questions regarding immigration. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).
