BC Entrepreneur Base Category

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category, applicants must meet the following criteria:

1. Personal Net Worth:

   • Possess a minimum personal net worth of CAD $600,000, legally obtained and verifiable.
     
      

2. Experience:

   • Have at least three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or
   • Four years as a senior manager, or
   • A combination of at least one year as an active business owner-manager and two years as a senior manager, all within the last ten years.
     
      

3. Education:

   • Hold a post-secondary credential, or
   • Demonstrate experience as an active business owner-manager with 100% ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years.
     
      

4. Language Proficiency:

   • Obtain a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in English or French.
     
      

5. Business Investment and Ownership:

   • Make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD $200,000 in a new or existing business in B.C.
   • Establish a new business or purchase and improve an existing business, owning at least one-third (33.3%) of the equity.
     
      

6. Job Creation:

   • Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within the business.
     
      

Application Process

The application process involves several key steps:

1. Preparation:

   • Conduct thorough research on business opportunities and the local market in B.C.
   • Consider an exploratory visit to B.C. to gain firsthand insight into potential business locations and environments.

2. Registration:

   • Create an online profile through the BC PNP portal.
   • Submit a registration that includes a business concept and pay a non-refundable fee of CAD $300.
   • Registrations are scored based on factors such as experience, net worth, adaptability, and the proposed business concept.
     
      

3. Invitation to Apply:

   • Top-scoring registrants receive invitations to apply.
   • Upon invitation, applicants have four months to submit a comprehensive application, including a detailed business plan and supporting documents.

4. Application Assessment:

   • Undergo a review of personal net worth by a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm.
   • Attend an in-person interview in Vancouver to discuss the business proposal.

5. Performance Agreement:

   • If approved, sign a Performance Agreement outlining the terms and conditions for establishing and operating the business in B.C.

6. Work Permit and Business Establishment:

   • Apply for a two-year work permit to implement the business plan.
   • Within 20 months of arriving in B.C., establish the business, make the required investment, and create the mandated job(s).

7. Nomination for Permanent Residency:

   • Submit a final report to the BC PNP demonstrating that all Performance Agreement conditions have been met.
   • Upon approval, receive a provincial nomination, enabling the application for permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).