British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued a new round of invitations for entrepreneurs on 22 September 2026, adding ten applications to the province’s 2026 total for the Entrepreneur Immigration category.
Draw summary
| Date | Stream | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep | Base | 119 | 10 |
| 22 Sep | Regional | 119 | 5 |
| 25 Aug | Base | 116 | 11 |
| 25 Aug | Regional | 116 | 5 |
| 28 Jul | Base | 117 | 10 |
| 30 Jun | Base | 118 | 14 |
| 30 Jun | Regional | 113 | 5 |
| 2 Jun | Base | 117 | 15 |
| 2 Jun | Regional | 117 | 5 |
| 5 May | Base | 115 | 8 |
| 5 May | Regional | 115 | 5 |
| 14 Apr | Base | 115 | 14 |
| 10 Mar | Base | 117 | 7 |
| 10 Mar | Regional | 129 | 5 |
| 10 Feb | Base | 121 | 13 |
| 10 Feb | Regional | 105 | 5 |
| 14 Jan | Base | 115 | 7 |
The 22 September draw brought the year‑to‑date total of entrepreneur invitations to 114. Including the Skills Immigration stream, the BCPNP has issued 5,414 invitations in 2026.
Base Stream vs. Regional Stream
| Requirement | Base Stream | Regional Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Business type | Launch a new business or acquire and grow an existing one | Launch a new business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District |
| Business experience | 3 years as owner‑manager in the past 10 years | 3 years as owner‑manager in the past 5 years |
| Education | Post‑secondary credential (or 3 years full ownership if no credential) | Post‑secondary credential |
| Language | CLB 4 | CLB 4 |
| Personal net worth | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Minimum investment | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| Ownership share | ≥ 33.33 % | ≥ 51 % |
| Community referral | Not required | Required |
| Exploratory visit | Not required | Required |
| Registration score | 115 / 200 | 105 / 200 |
| Co‑applicant registration | Allowed | Not allowed |
Path to permanent residence
Both streams follow a similar sequence, with the Regional Stream adding two preliminary steps:
- Select a participating community (Regional only).
- Complete an exploratory visit and obtain a community referral (Regional only).
- Develop a business proposal.
- Register with the BCPNP and receive a score based on human‑capital and economic factors.
- Await an invitation to apply (ITA).
- Submit a provincial nomination application within four months of the ITA.
- If approved, receive a work‑permit support letter and apply for a federal work permit.
- Relocate to British Columbia, establish and operate the business.
- Meet program performance requirements to obtain the provincial nomination.
- Apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
Work‑permit options after nomination
- Nominees who meet the terms of their business performance agreement become eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after submitting a permanent‑residence application.
- Since 9 June 2026, nominees applying for PR through a base PNP pathway can obtain a BOWP months earlier under a temporary federal measure that removes the requirement to first receive an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) for the PR application.
These details outline the current requirements and procedural steps for entrepreneurs seeking provincial nomination and eventual permanent residence in British Columbia.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
