The business component of the BC PNP offers accelerated immigration for investment- ready and qualified entrepreneurs ready to invest and settle in BC, and become permanent residents of Canada. The objectives of the BC PNP Business Immigration categories are to encourage economic development, promote job creation and maintain existing jobs in BC.
Applicants must meet the program’s nomination criteria but should be aware that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee approval.
The BC PNP establishes nomination targets for the program, and gives priority to candidates who demonstrate the greatest potential to create a successful business and contribute economically to the province.
Business Categories
The BC PNP provides opportunities for business immigration in three categories:
- Business Skills
- Regional Business
- Strategic Projects
Business Skills
Requirements:
Applicants for nomination in the business skills category will be required to:
- Make a personal investment of at least $400,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in BC.
- Create at least three new jobs in the business for Canadians or permanent residents, except when the applicant is applying as a regional Succession Plan Buy- Out which reduces this requirement by one job for each existing job to be maintained .
- Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
- Provide active and on- going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business.
- Demonstrate that they have:
- The skill and the experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC.
- A personal net worth of at least $8000,000 CAD obtained from legal resources.
- Sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment.
- A viable business proposal.
- Sign a Performance Agreement with the province of British Columbia.
- Satisfy the condition of the Performance Agreement in order to be nominated for permanent residence.
Regional Business
Applicants for nomination in the Regional Business category will be required to:
- Make a personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand on eligible business anywhere in BC outside of the Vancouver metropolitan area and the Abbotsford metropolitan area.
- Create at least one new job in the business for a Canadian or resident permanent, except when the applicant is applying as a Regional Succession Plan Buy- Out.
- Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
- Provide active and on- going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business.
- Demonstrate that they have:
- The skill and experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC.
- A personal net worth of at least $400,00 CAD obtained from legal sources.
- Sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment.
- A viable business proposal.
- Sign a Performance Agreement with the province of British Columbia.
- Satisfy the condition of the Performance Agreement in order to be nominated for permanent residence.
Basic Criteria
The basic criteria for consideration under al three of the business categories relates to business eligibility:
- The primary purpose of the business is to earn profits from active income from the supply of products/services.
- The business’ sustained commercial viability must be probable.
- The business must provide economic benefit to BC by contributing to one of the following:
- Increasing the exports of goods/services.
- Increasing value- added manufacturing, processing, or primary resource activity.
- Increasing BC tourism.
- Increasing research and development and technology commercialization.
- Creating innovative approaches to traditional business.
- Servicing an underserved regional market.
- Transferring skills, technology, and know- how to BC.
- Succession Plan Buy- Outs where eligible business are purchased from retiring owners.
Application Processes
