BC PNP Entrepreneur Draw

August 3, 2026
CIC News Update
British Columbia, PNP
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British Columbia has opened another opportunity for international entrepreneurs seeking to build a future in the province.

On July 28, 2026, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) selected 10 candidates through its Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Stream. The invitations went to individuals who had registered profiles with the province and achieved a minimum score of 117 points.

Those who received invitations can now submit a full application for provincial nomination. If they complete the provincial process and meet federal immigration requirements, they may eventually apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Also Read British Columbia Targets Business Immigration as Entrepreneur Draw Issues 10 Invitations

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Latest Selection Highlights

The July 28 round was dedicated exclusively to the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream.

The Base Stream is intended for experienced entrepreneurs who want to either establish a new company in British Columbia or acquire an existing business with plans to expand and develop it.

The latest selection was relatively small compared with some of British Columbia’s worker-focused immigration rounds. However, it represents an important opportunity for business owners who meet the program’s financial and professional requirements.

The 117-point threshold also falls within the range recorded in the province’s Base Stream selections during 2026. Earlier draws have generally required scores between 115 and 121.

Entrepreneur Invitations Issued Throughout 2026

British Columbia has continued to use its entrepreneur pathways to attract business talent during the year.

The selection activity recorded in 2026 includes:

Date	Immigration Stream	Invitations	Minimum Score
July 28	Entrepreneur Base	10	117
June 30	Entrepreneur Base	14	118
June 30	Entrepreneur Regional	Fewer than 5	113
June 2	Entrepreneur Base	15	117
June 2	Entrepreneur Regional	Fewer than 5	117
May 5	Entrepreneur Base	8	115
May 5	Entrepreneur Regional	Fewer than 5	115
April 14	Entrepreneur Base	14	115
March 10	Entrepreneur Base	7	117
March 10	Entrepreneur Regional	Fewer than 5	129
February 10	Entrepreneur Base	13	121
February 10	Entrepreneur Regional	Fewer than 5	105
January 13	Entrepreneur Base	7	115

Across the entrepreneur category, British Columbia has issued at least 88 invitations in 2026 so far.

The province’s wider immigration activity has been significantly larger. Once selections through the Skills Immigration category are also counted, the BCPNP has issued at least 3,824 invitations for provincial nomination this year.

Base Stream: What Entrepreneurs Need to Know

The Base Stream is designed for business owners and managers who have demonstrated experience running a company and have sufficient funds to establish or expand a business in British Columbia.

Applicants are generally expected to meet the following requirements:

Have at least three years of business owner-manager experience during the past decade.
Hold a post-secondary educational credential.
Demonstrate language ability of at least CLB 4.
Have a personal net worth of $600,000 or more.
Invest a minimum of $200,000 in the proposed business.
Own at least 31.33% of the business.
Achieve a registration score of at least 115 points.

There is an alternative route for applicants without a post-secondary credential. Under the applicable program rules, they may qualify by demonstrating complete ownership and active management of a business for the required period.

The program also allows eligible applicants to register with a co-applicant, providing additional flexibility in certain business situations.

Regional Stream Is Designed for Smaller Communities

Entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing a business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District can consider British Columbia’s Regional Stream.

The financial threshold is lower than under the Base Stream, but applicants must meet additional community-related requirements.

The Regional Stream generally requires applicants to have:

Three years of business owner-manager experience within the previous five years.
A post-secondary credential, subject to alternative eligibility provisions.
CLB 4 language proficiency.
Personal net worth of at least $300,000.
A minimum investment of $100,000.
At least 51% ownership in the proposed business.
A minimum registration score of 105 points.

Applicants must select a participating community and complete an exploratory visit. They must also obtain a referral from that community before moving forward with the immigration process.

From Business Proposal to Canadian PR

Entrepreneur immigration involves more than simply receiving an invitation. Candidates must progress through several stages before they can secure permanent residence.

For the Base Stream, the journey generally begins with developing a business proposal and submitting a registration to the BCPNP. The province evaluates the candidate using human capital and economic factors before assigning a registration score.

Candidates who rank competitively may receive an invitation to apply.

After receiving an invitation, the applicant must submit the required provincial application within the specified deadline. Successful candidates can then apply for a work permit through the federal government.

The next stage involves establishing and actively operating the approved business in British Columbia while fulfilling the conditions associated with the provincial program.

Once the entrepreneur meets the required performance conditions, the province may issue a nomination for permanent residence.

The applicant can then submit a permanent residence application to IRCC, which conducts the final federal assessment.

Regional Stream candidates follow a similar overall pathway but must complete the additional community selection, exploratory visit and referral requirements before registration.

Conclusion

The latest BCPNP selection demonstrates that British Columbia continues to use entrepreneur immigration as one way of attracting international business talent.

The pathway may be particularly relevant to established entrepreneurs who have the financial resources to invest in a Canadian business and the experience required to manage it actively.

However, meeting the minimum requirements does not necessarily guarantee an invitation. Candidates are ranked through the provincial registration system, making the strength of the overall profile an important consideration.

Entrepreneurs planning to apply should therefore assess their business experience, available capital, ownership plans, language ability and proposed investment before entering the system.

For international business owners who want to establish themselves in Canada, British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration category remains one provincial route that can connect business investment with a potential pathway toward permanent residence.

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