The Base Category Program stream is best suited for experienced entrepreneurs who wish to immigrate to British Columbia and are prepared to invest in and actively manage a legitimate business. Applicants may establish a new business or take over and continue developing an existing business in British Columbia.Personal Requirements

To qualify for the Program, the Principal Applicant must:

• Have a verifiable personal net worth of at least CAD$600,000;
• Have or be eligible for legal immigration status in Canada;
• Have been lawfully admitted into the current country of residence;
• Have a post-secondary education credential OR experience as an active business owner-manager with 100% ownership of the business for at least three (3) of the past five (5) years;
• Demonstrate business and/or management experience of:
  • More than three (3) years of experience in the past ten (10) years as an active business owner-manager; OR
  • More than four (4) years of experience in the past ten (10) years as a senior manager; OR
  • A combination of at least one (1) year of experience as an active business owner-manager and at least two (2) years of experience as a senior manager.
• Demonstrate intent to actively manage the business;
• Demonstrate intent to reside within 100 kilometres of the business;
• Demonstrate intent to reside in British Columbia for at least 75% of the time while on a work permit;

Business, Job and Investment Requirements

Along with the Personal Requirements listed above, in order to qualify for the Program, the Principal Applicant must:

• Establish an eligible new business or purchase and develop an existing business;
• Make an eligible personal investment of a minimum of CAD$200,000 in the business;
• Demonstrate ownership of at least one-third of the business (if proposed ownership is less than one-third of the business, an equity investment of at least CAD$1 million is required);
• If opening a new business, create at least one (1) new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the business within 365 days of date of arrival.
• If purchasing an existing business, maintain the number of existing jobs in the business as well as create at least one (1) new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the business within 365 days of date of arrival;
• Demonstrate that the required number of full-time jobs have been employed for at least 180 days before submitting the Final Report.

Upon approval of the application, Applicants will be required to sign a Performance Agreement with British Columbia.

Key Staff Applicant Requirements

Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements may propose one key staff member whose expertise is crucial to the success of the proposed business. Key staff members will be eligible to apply for a Canadian work permit and may be eligible to be nominated for permanent residence. In order to be eligible, the key staff applicant must:

• Have education and experience consistent with the prospective occupation in British Columbia as senior manager, or in a professional or technical position;
• If work experience and education are not specifically identified in the proposed position, possess at least two (2) years of post-secondary education;
• Have worked with the Principal Applicant in a senior position for at least one (1) year in the last three (3) years;
• Have the proposed position fall under NOC Skill Types 0 or A.

Key staff applicants are also required to sign a Performance Agreement with British Columbia if approved.

If the Principal Applicant is proposing a key staff member, the Principal Applicant must:

• Make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD$400,000;
• If opening a new business, create at least three (3) new, permanent, full-time jobs for Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents;
• If purchasing an existing business, maintain the number of existing jobs in the business as well as create at least three (3) new full-time jobs for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident;
• Offer wage to key staff member that is equal to or greater than the median for that occupation in British Columbia.

Partnership with a BC PNP Co-Registrant

Applicants may choose to partner with another BC PNP co-registrant under one business proposal. Each co-registrant must meet the Personal and Business, Job and Investment Requirements listed above to be eligible. Each co-registrant will be assessed separately.

Applications may be denied on the following grounds:

• Direct or indirect misrepresentation;
• If the Applicant has a criminal record;
• If the Applicant proposes an ineligible business;
• If proposing to purchase an established business, if the Applicant has not identified the target business, or if the business has not been in operation under same owner for at least five (5) years;
• If the Applicant does not meet the minimum point requirements for any section;
• If the Applicant does not score at least 32 points in the business concept section.

Acquiring a Work Permit and Permanent Residence

The Base Category Program stream is a multi-step process requiring registration and application to the BC PNP first. BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants to submit a full application. Upon approval of the application, BC PNP will issue the Applicant a work permit support letter which will allow the Applicant to apply for a two (2) year work permit and begin implementing the business plan and making the required investments.

Applicants must submit a Final Report at least 18 months after receiving a work permit for determination on whether the terms and conditions of the Performance Agreement were met. If the determination is positive, Applicants are nominated for permanent residence and may apply with eligible family members to IRCC to become permanent residents under the Provincial Nominee Class.

Application Processing Time                               

Registrations are typically scored within six (6) weeks and application decisions are usually made within four (4) months. Final Reports are usually assessed within four (4) months. Permanent residence application processing times for the Provincial Nominees class are currently 15 to 19 months.

The Regional Pilot Program stream was implemented to attract entrepreneurs to work with participating regional communities by establishing new businesses that align with the communities’ economic development priorities. This stream was designed to encourage investment outside urban areas and will be administered for a period of two (2) years.

Communities may refer foreign entrepreneurs to the BC PNP which will place their application in a prioritized registration pool. Entrepreneurs will be required to visit the community to present their business concept to the designated contact person prior to receiving a referral.

Personal Requirements

To qualify for the Program, the Principal Applicant must:

• Have a verifiable personal net worth of at least CAD$300,000;
• Have or be eligible for legal immigration status in Canada;
• Have been lawfully admitted into the current country of residence;
• Have a post-secondary education credential OR experience as an active business owner-manager with 100% ownership of the business for at least three (3) of the past five (5) years;
• Have basic English or French language proficiency equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark level four (4) or higher in each category on a valid language test;
• Demonstrate business and/or management experience of:
  • More than three (3) years of experience in the past five (5) years as an active business owner-manager; OR
  • More than four (4) years of experience in the past five (5) years as a senior manager; OR
  • A combination of at least one (1) year of experience as an active business owner-manager and at least two (2) years of experience as a senior manager.
• Demonstrate intent to actively manage the business;
• Demonstrate intent to reside within the boundaries of the community that is supporting the application;
• Demonstrate intent to reside in British Columbia for at least 75% of the time while on a work permit.

Business, Job and Investment Requirements

Along with the Personal Requirements listed above, in order to qualify for the Program, the Principal Applicant must:

• Establish a new eligible business in a participating community in British Columbia that aligns with one of the economic priorities as identified by the community;
• Make an eligible personal investment of a minimum of CAD$100,000 in the business;
• Demonstrate ownership of at least 51% of the business;
• Create at least one (1) new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the business within 365 days of date of arrival;
• Demonstrate that the required number of full-time jobs have been employed for at least 180 days before submitting the Final Report.

Upon approval of the application, Applicants will be required to sign a Performance Agreement with British Columbia.

Applications may be denied on the following grounds:

• Direct or indirect misrepresentation;
• If the Applicant proposes an ineligible business;
• If the Applicant has a criminal record;
• If the Applicant is prohibited from entering Canada;
• If the Applicant has not been legally admitted into their current country of residence;
• If the Applicant is in Canada and is out of status or has been working without authorization;
• If the Applicant has an unresolved refugee claim in Canada or is under a removal order in or outside of Canada.

Acquiring a Work Permit and Permanent Residence

The Regional Pilot Program stream is a multi-step process requiring registration and application to the BC PNP first. BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants to submit a full application. Upon approval of the application, BC PNP will issue the Applicant a work permit support letter which will allow the Applicant to apply for a two (2) year work permit and begin implementing the business plan and making the required investments.

Upon fulfilling the conditions stipulated in the Performance Agreement, the Applicant must submit a final report to demonstrate how the terms and conditions were met. If the determination is positive Applicants are nominated for permanent residence and may apply with eligible family members to IRCC to become permanent residents under the Provincial Nominee Class.

Application Processing Time

Registrations are typically scored within four (4) weeks and application decisions are usually made within four (4) months. Final Reports are usually assessed within four (4) months. Permanent residence application processing times for the Provincial Nominees class are currently 15 to 19 months.

The Strategic Projects stream is best suited for foreign corporations that have found strategic investment opportunities in British Columbia and wish to carry out activities that are essential to the development of their core business. This stream allows foreign corporations to permanently relocate key staff to British Columbia and apply for provincial nomination to support the permanent residence of up to five (5) current senior employees, who will manage the business in British Columbia.

Program Requirements

Foreign corporations must meet the following requirements in order to be eligible for this stream:

• Make an equity investment of at least CAD$500,000 towards the corporation’s operations in British Columbia;
• Establish a new or purchase and develop an eligible business in British Columbia;
• Create at least three (3) new full-time positions for Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents per each key staff member proposed.

Upon approval of the application, the corporation’s designated signing authority will be required to sign a Performance Agreement with the province of British Columbia.

Company Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the program, the foreign corporation must:

• Be well-established;
• Be in good financial standing;
• Have enough funds to make the required investment;
• Demonstrate capacity for international expansion into British Columbia;
• Provide significant economic benefit to the province through a high value investment.

Key Staff Member Eligibility

To be eligible to apply as key staff, Applicants must:

• Currently be senior employees of the foreign enterprise who have the necessary qualifications and expertise to establish and operate the business in British Columbia;
• In the operation in British Columbia, be hired in a permanent, full-time capacity in an executive or senior managerial position, or have specialized knowledge that is crucial to the prospective operation;
• Be offered a wage that is proportionate to their expertise and consistent with industry and corporate compensation structures.

Upon approval of the application, each key staff member will also be required to sign a Performance Agreement with the province of British Columbia.

Applications may be denied on the following grounds:

• Direct or indirect misrepresentation;
• If the type of business proposed is on the list of ineligible businesses;
• If the Applicant has a criminal record;
• If the Applicant is prohibited from entering Canada;
• If the Applicant has not been legally admitted into their current country of residence;
• If the Applicant is in Canada and is out of status or has been working without authorization;
• If the Applicant has an unresolved refugee claim in Canada or is under a removal order in or outside of Canada.

Acquiring a Work Permit and Permanent Residence

The Strategic Projects stream is a multi-step process requiring registration and application to the BC PNP first. Upon approval of the application, BC PNP will issue Applicants a work permit support letter which will allow the Applicants to apply for a work permit and begin implementing the business plan and making the required investments. Applicants must submit a completed arrival report form within 60 days of arriving in British Columbia.

Upon fulfilling the conditions stipulated in the Performance Agreement, the foreign corporation must submit a final report to demonstrate how the terms and conditions were met. If the determination is positive, key staff members who have also met the terms and conditions are nominated for permanent residence and may apply to IRCC to become permanent residents under the Provincial Nominee Class.

Application Processing Time

There are no set application processing times for this stream. Permanent residence application processing times for the Provincial Nominees Class are currently 15 to 19 months.