BC PNP invites entrepreneurs through two streams in latest provincial draw

Over the past week, British Columbia (BC) held an Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) programme draw, inviting candidates to apply for a provincial nomination through both the Base and Regional streams.

Invitations were sent to eligible candidates looking to establish a new business or take over and grow an existing one in BC.

Draw results

On 10 March 2026, British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued invitations across two Entrepreneur Immigration programme streams.

The minimum scores and number of invitations issued are as follows:

So far in 2026, the BC PNP has held five entrepreneur draws, issuing no fewer than 29 invitations to apply (ITAs) to business candidates.

This year, the province has also held two Skills Immigration (SI) category draws on 11 February and 4 February, issuing a total of 889 invitations – continuing the trend from 2025 with frequent EI draws while the majority of ITAs are issued through SI draws.

Who received ITAs under the entrepreneur streams?

BC PNP entrepreneur immigration stream (Base) is designed for experienced entrepreneurs looking to establish a business or acquire an existing one in British Columbia, with no community referral required. These businesses can be located anywhere in the province.

Generally, the Base stream has higher financial requirements than the Regional stream, with a minimum net worth of CAD 600,000 and a minimum investment of CAD 200,000.

BC PNP entrepreneur immigration regional pilot stream (Regional) targets entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District. This stream has lower financial requirements with a minimum net worth of CAD 300,000 and a minimum investment of CAD 100,000, but requires a community referral and an exploratory visit, unlike the Base stream.

Standard process

Although requirements and timelines may vary, entrepreneurial candidates generally go through the following steps:

Register in the BC PNP entrepreneur immigration registration system (meeting all eligibility criteria) and receive a score; be invited in a draw if they have a competitive score; submit an application and if approved, receive a work permit; establish and operate a business in British Columbia; and receive permanent resident (PR) nomination if programme conditions are met.

Once nominated, candidates may apply directly to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.