BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration: the Base stream
For experienced entrepreneurs who want to start a new business, or buy and grow an existing one, anywhere in British Columbia, including Metro Vancouver.
At a glance
- Personal net worth
- $600,000+Including your spouse and dependent children; legally obtained and verifiable
- Eligible personal investment
- $200,000+Within about 20 months of arriving on your work permit
- Ownership
- 33⅓%+Or an equity investment of at least $1 million
- New jobs
- 1+ full-timeFor a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, within about 14 months
- Language
- CLB 4English or French, shown by the final report at the latest
- Registration score
- 115 / 200Including at least 40 for the business concept
Who qualifies
Experience
Within the last 10 years you need one of the following:
- more than 3 years as an active business owner-manager, with at least 10% ownership and day-to-day involvement;
- more than 4 years as a senior manager supervising at least three full-time employees, in a TEER 0 or 1 role; or
- at least 1 year as an owner-manager plus at least 2 years as a senior manager.
Education
A post-secondary credential, or at least 36 of the last 60 months as an active owner-manager with 100% ownership, which may be shared with your spouse or dependent children.
Status
You must have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status. Being out of status, working without authorization, having an unresolved refugee claim or being under a removal order rules out nomination.
The business and the investment
The business must be run for profit, have strong potential for commercial success, and be identified by a six-digit NAICS code when you register. You cannot change the concept after registering.
Buying an existing business
The business must have been operated by its current owner for at least five years. Up to $150,000 of the purchase price can count as eligible investment, and you must commit at least $50,000 more to improving or expanding it. Existing jobs must be kept.
What counts as investment
New equipment, leasehold improvements, marketing, start-up inventory and a limited period of operating expenses can count. Real estate, working capital, wages to yourself and immigration fees cannot, and nothing spent before your invitation counts.
Franchises and regulated industries
A franchise must be well established and supported by the franchisor. Regulated sectors such as child care, health care or passenger transportation need a credible plan for licensing and compliance.
Your obligations in B.C.
Your Performance Agreement sets out the business, its location, the investment, the jobs and the deadlines. While on your work permit you must:
- actively manage the business on site, day to day;
- live within 50 km of the business by road, without a ferry ride of more than 30 minutes;
- be physically present in B.C. for at least 75% of your time on the work permit;
- keep the new jobs filled continuously for at least 6 months before the final report.
The final report is due between about 18 and 20 months after your work permit is issued, with financial statements that have undergone a review engagement by a Chartered Professional Accountant.
Questions people ask
Is there a minimum revenue or business size?
No revenue minimum is published, but the business concept is scored on commercial viability and economic benefit, and the plan must show that the business can sustain the jobs it creates.
How is the registration scored?
Out of 200 points: 120 self-declared points for experience and ownership, net worth, investment, jobs, location and adaptability, and 80 points that BC PNP staff assign to the business concept for commercial viability, transferability of skills and economic benefits.
Can I register again if I am not invited?
Yes. A registration expires after about 6 months in the pool. You can submit a new one, for example with an improved concept, but only one registration can be active at a time.
What if my circumstances change after approval?
Tell the BC PNP promptly about any change that affects your Performance Agreement. You cannot change its terms on your own, and not meeting them can lead to refusal at the nomination stage.
Official sources
- WelcomeBC: For entrepreneurs and businesses
- Entrepreneur Immigration Base Program Guide (PDF)
- WelcomeBC: Invitations to apply
- WelcomeBC: Program guides and documents
Checked against official sources on October 20, 2026.
Does the Base stream fit your plans?
Find out in a free 20-minute consultation.
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