BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Program
A complete guide to the Base and Regional streams, from first assessment to permanent residence
For experienced business owners and senior managers considering an active business in British
Columbia. This guide explains eligibility, business choices, registration scoring, invitations,
establishment, nomination and permanent residence.
Two routes and two business models
Stream | Proposed business | Net worth | Investment |
|---|---|---|---|
Base | New or purchase and improve existing | $600,000 | $200,000 |
Regional | New business in a participating community | $300,000 | $100,000 |
What this guide covers
A branched process map; 200-point scoring systems; recent official invitation scores; acceptable and excluded business models; acquisition and Regional referral requirements; net-worth evidence; workpermit, performance, nomination and PR; and our fee terms.​
About our firm
Farzan Fallah Law Corporation is led by Farzan Fallahpour, a barrister and solicitor in British Columbia and Ontario. We coordinate immigration representation with the legal work directly related to buying or
establishing the proposed business.
Choose a stream and check the fundamentals
Criterion | Base | Regional |
|---|---|---|
Location | Anywhere in B.C. | Participating community outside Metro Vancouver |
Business | New or acquisition plus improvement | New establishment |
Usual ownership | At least 33.33% | At least 51% |
New job | At least one FTE for citizen/PR | At least one FTE for citizen/PR |
Language | CLB 4 by nomination; test at EOI if claiming points | CLB 4 test at EOI |
Exploratory visit | Recommended | Required |
Community referral | Not required | Required |
Experience, education and active management
The guides assess qualifying owner-manager or senior-manager experience, generally within the previous ten years for Base and five for Regional. The applicant must actively manage the B.C. business. A postsecondary credential or the specified 100% ownership-management exception matters. The exact combination of experience and ownership must be checked individually.
For Base, ownership below one-third may be possible only under the guide’s separate $1 million equity investment rule. Regional has distinct 51% ownership and community requirements. The investment threshold is not a government payment; it is an eligible investment into the business.
A useful first assessment compares the applicant’s business history with the proposed sector, maps available funds against eligible investment categories, and checks whether family circumstances and settlement location support active management. The most appropriate stream is not always the one with the smaller minimum investment.
Decision and application flowchart
The decision points matter: EOI registration is not an application approval; a provincial support letter is not a work permit; nomination is not permanent residence. IRCC decides the federal work permit and PR applications.
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Base scoring out of 200
Factor | Max | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
Experience & ownership | 24 | Duration and 100% ownership |
Net worth | 12 | Total and liquid assets |
Investment | 20 | Eligible personal investment |
Jobs | 12 | New jobs and acquisition retention rules |
Development region | 12 | Proposed location |
Adaptability | 40 | Language, education, age, visit and Canadian experience |
Self-declared | 120 | Claims verified by province |
Commercial viability | 30 | Model, market, investment, ownership, risk |
Transferability | 15 | Fit of experience to proposal |
Economic benefits | 35 | Priority sectors and jobs |
Business concept | 80 | Provincial assessment; at least 40 |
The minimum qualified-pool score is 115, provided every applicable section minimum is met. A higher
score improves relative positioning but cannot guarantee an invitation. The business concept is scored
separately by the province.
Illustrative point thresholds
Eligible investment of $200,000–$399,999 scores 8, $400,000–$599,999 scores 10 and $600,000–$999,999 scores 11. One FTE job scores 4 and two score 5. A Mainland/Southwest location scores 0 regional-location points; Vancouver Island/Coast or Thompson/Okanagan scores 6; Cariboo scores 10; Northeast, Kootenay, Nechako or North Coast scores 12.
Base also awards points for verifiable net worth, liquid assets, documented visits, education, age, language and Canadian experience. These factors must be read together: increasing a proposed investment on paper does not help if the source and eventual expenditure cannot be substantiated.
Factor | Max | What is assessed |
|---|---|---|
Experience & ownership | 24 | Duration and ownership |
Net worth | 6 | Total and liquid assets |
Investment | 10 | Eligible amount |
Jobs | 15 | New FTE jobs |
Community population | 6 | Smaller communities score more |
B.C. region | 12 | Business location |
Adaptability | 67 | Language, education, age, Canada, family |
Self-declared | 140 | Verifiable claims |
Commercial viability | 30 | Model, market, capital, ownership |
Transferability | 15 | Relevant experience |
Economic benefits | 15 | Impact and employment |
Business concept | 60 | Provincial assessment |
The qualified-pool threshold is 105, subject to section minimums. The Regional concept has no separate minimum concept score, but viability and community fit still affect invitations and assessment. The referral is mandatory.
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Illustrative scoring steps
CLB 4 scores 5; CLB 5, 10; CLB 6, 15; and CLB 7+, 23. Investment of $100,000–$349,999 scores 6; $350,000–$599,999, 8; and $600,000+, 10. One FTE job scores 10; two to four, 11; five to seven, 13; and eight or more, 15. Community population and region are separate scoring factors. A smaller community may offer more points but also a smaller customer or labour market. Before selecting it, compare access to premises, suppliers, transport, staff and licences against the business plan.
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How to improve a credible score
1- A valid higher language result can materially improve Regional adaptability: CLB 4 to CLB 7+ changes this factor from 5 to 23 points. For Base, claimed language points require valid proof at EOI.
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2- Location carries points. Compare development regions under Base, or participating community population, region and sector priorities under Regional. Choose a location for a genuinely viable business, not only its points.
3- A supported, eligible investment and realistic additional FTE jobs can increase points. Budget wages, recruitment and operating costs. Inflated promises may become binding performanceagreement terms.
4- Explain your own role, relevant experience, customers, competition, pricing, suppliers, market entry and the economic benefit. The provincial business-concept score is not selfawarded.
Do not claim points that documents will not substantiate. Check ownership history, financial statements, liquid assets, language validity and prior visits before submitting the EOI.
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Example: moving from CLB 4 to CLB 7 changes the Regional language factor by 18 points, but an invitation still depends on the whole registration and that draw’s competition.
A score-improvement plan should identify each available point, its proof, its cost and its effect on the future performance agreement. For example, a stronger language result may be safer than promising additional jobs without a sustainable payroll budget. Recalculate after any change to the proposed business or location.
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Recent Entrepreneur Immigration invitations
The table shows official minimum scores for selected 2026 rounds. “<5” is how the province reports a small invitation count. A blank stream means no score is listed for that stream in that round. Date Stream Lowest
Date | Stream | Lowest score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
Sep 22, 2026 | Base | 119 | 10 |
Sep 22, 2026 | Regional | 119 | <5 |
Aug 25, 2026 | Base | 116 | 11 |
Aug 25, 2026 | Regional | 116 | 5 |
Jul 28, 2026 | Base | 117 | 10 |
Jun 30, 2026 | Base | 118 | 14 |
Jun 30, 2026 | Regional | 113 | <5 |
Jun 2, 2026 | Base | 117 | 15 |
Jun 2, 2026 | Regional | 117 | <5 |
May 5, 2026 | Base | 115 | 8 |
May 5, 2026 | Regional | 115 | <5 |
Mar 10, 2026 | Regional | 129 | <5 |
How to read the draw scores
Pool eligibility at 115 (Base) or 105 (Regional) is distinct from the invitation cutoff. For example, Regional reached 129 in March but 113 in June. Applicant composition and provincial selections vary. Do not treat a historic threshold as a future promise.
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Business concepts that may qualify
The province does not pre-approve a sector or endorse an individual business. A proposed
business must be eligible, profit-oriented, commercially viable and capable of contributing to
B.C. An attractive industry alone does not establish eligibility.
Potential concept | Core assessment question |
|---|---|
Value-added manufacturing | Are product, customers and investment substantiated? |
Professional or technology services | Does the founder have relevant experience and a viable revenue model? |
Food, tourism or local services | Are demand, licensing and hiring realistic? |
Eligible franchise | Are franchisor history, disclosure and support documented? |
Base acquisition and growth | Is the target identified with a credible improvement plan? |
Franchises and priority sectors
A franchise may qualify subject to the guide’s specific conditions, including an established franchisor and support documentation. Regional communities publish their own economic priorities. A sector appearing in a community profile is an opportunity to investigate, not automatic endorsement or a promise of points.
Screening a proposed idea
Ask whether the business will produce real goods or services, whether the applicant can manage it personally, whether investment is eligible and traceable, whether jobs can be sustained, and whether the market evidence supports projected sales. Licences and sector regulations may change the feasibility assessment.
Business types the program excludes
The official program list includes the following examples. It is not exhaustive; each proposal must be screened against the current guide before investment or commitment.
Category | Official examples |
|---|---|
Passive arrangements | Immigration-linked investment, passive investment or redemption option |
Accommodation/home | B&Bs, hobby farms and home-based businesses |
Financial services | Payday lending, cheque cashing, money changing, ATM operations, pawnshops |
Selected services | Tanning salons, DVD rentals, coin laundries, automated car washes |
Trade/property | Scrap metal; used goods without value added; real estate development or real estate, insurance or business brokerage; trading/import-export without demonstrated value added |
Other | Sexually explicit goods/services; other businesses bringing the program into disrepute |
“Not listed as excluded” does not mean “approved.” The province also evaluates active management, ownership, investment eligibility, viability and economic contribution. A used-goods operation with genuine repair/refurbishment may be assessed differently from simple resale; import-export requires demonstrable value added.
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The label used by a business is not decisive. Officers look at its actual operations and revenue model. A proposal that is principally passive, relies on property appreciation or only circulates goods without demonstrable local value may fail even if its marketing language describes innovation.
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Acquiring an existing business under Base
A Base proposal may purchase and improve an existing B.C. business. Buying shares or assets and maintaining the status quo is not enough. Identify the specific target and explain what will be improved, upgraded or expanded.
Pre-acquisition due diligence
Review the purchase structure, ownership, seller obligations, conditions, closing and any financing. Obtain financial statements, revenue and net profit history, tax and payroll records, material contracts and existing liabilities. Check commercial lease assignment or new lease, licences, permits, zoning, equipment, inventory, intellectual property, employment obligations and disputes. Determine which costs qualify as eligible personal investment under the guide. The registration concept asks for approximate revenue and net profit over the preceding two years, business history and financial health, valuation method, staffing and a rationale for improvement. A new FTE job is still required; existing positions may trigger maintenance obligations.
Legal work included in our proposal
Review and drafting of the purchase agreement, incorporation and review/drafting of the related commercial lease are included without a separate professional fee within this engagement. Accounting, valuation, tax, environmental or other third-party work remains a client expense.
Regional and the community referral
Regional is designed for a new business in a participating community outside Metro Vancouver.
Each participating community describes local priorities and its referral process. The list can
change; confirm participation and intake status directly before committing to a location.
Step | Action |
|---|---|
1 Screen | Check community, sector priorities, demand and local criteria. |
2 Contact | Discuss concept, capacity and visit process with community staff. |
3 Visit | Assess market, competitors, premises, suppliers, workforce and permits. |
4 Proposal | Show fit with priorities and commercial feasibility. |
5 Referral | Obtain community support and register EOI while the referral is valid. |
The referral is valid for 90 days from issue under the provincial process page. It supports registration; it does not guarantee an invitation, a provincial approval, a work permit or nomination. A stand-alone purchase of an existing business is not the Regional proposal described by the guide.
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From EOI to full application and interview
Registration and pool
The EOI records the applicant’s human capital, financial position and business concept. The
portal calculates self-declared points; provincial staff assess the concept and can adjust scores
after verification. A qualified registration may remain active up to six months. Invitation is
competitive and depends on the draw.
After invitation
An authorized accounting firm verifies net worth and accumulation of funds. Prepare a
comprehensive business plan and supporting evidence, then file the full provincial application
generally within four months of invitation. Provincial application fees are separate from the
firm’s professional fees.
Interview preparation
The province may request an interview about your prior management, ownership, source of
funds and proposed market, competitors, pricing, staffing and investment. You should be able to
explain the plan personally and consistently with your records. Do not present sample questions
as a fixed official examination.
At this stage, changes to the business concept can have significant consequences. Do not make
an irrevocable purchase commitment or claim an expenditure is eligible without checking the
applicable guide and transaction facts.
Work permit and business implementation
If the provincial application is approved, the applicant signs a personalized Performance
Agreement and receives a work permit support letter. The work permit application goes to
IRCC. A provincial approval is not itself permission to work in Canada.
Stage | Action and evidence |
|---|---|
The provincial webpage describes a 90-day period to apply for a work permit after support-letter issuance, arrival within 12 months of receiving the permit, and implementation before final report. The applicable performance agreement and current guide govern the individual timeline. The program’s published processing estimates are not guarantees.
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From final report to permanent residence
Nomination is not PR
The province assesses whether the agreed business commitments were met and, if satisfied, nominates the applicant. IRCC then decides the permanent residence application under federal requirements, including applicable admissibility checks. A nomination cannot guarantee federal approval.
For Base and Regional, the program webpage describes a final report between 18 and 20 months after arrival; always use the signed agreement and post-arrival guide to schedule a particular file. PR processing varies and is not controlled by the province.
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Our services and fees
Milestone | Professional fee |
|---|---|
Engagement: business plan and EOI | $10,000 |
Provincial invitation | $10,000 |
Work permit approval | $5,000 |
Provincial nomination | $10,000 |
PR approval | $5,000 |
Total | CAD $40,000 + GST |
Total: CAD $40,000 + GST
The scope includes business-plan preparation, EOI, full provincial application, work permit, final report and nomination work, and federal PR application. Related purchase-agreement review/drafting, incorporation and commercial-lease review/drafting are included without a separate professional fee within this engagement.
Refund and refusal terms
If the EOI is not selected and no invitation issues, $5,000 of the initial fee is refunded. Judicial review of a refused work permit decision carries no separate professional fee; following a favourable court result, updating and refiling that work permit application also carries no separate professional fee. If a submitted PR application is refused, one resubmission carries no additional professional fee. Court filing fees and third-party disbursements remain client costs.
Government costs and sources
Provincial registration is $300 and the provincial application $3,500 for either entrepreneur stream. IRCC fees, net-worth review, travel, business purchase/start-up, professional thirdparty services and taxes are separate client costs. No approval is guaranteed.