British Columbia has invited 16 entrepreneurs to pursue provincial nomination and permanent residence.

British Columbia has invited 16 entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination, giving selected candidates a route toward Canadian permanent residence.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program held the draw on August 25 through its Entrepreneur Immigration category. The invitations went to people interested in starting a new business or taking over and expanding an existing business.

The selection was the BCPNP’s 21st draw of 2026 and its ninth entrepreneur-focused round. Both the Base and Regional streams used a minimum score of 116 in this draw.

Base and Regional streams

The Base Stream received 11 invitations, while the Regional Stream received five. Five Regional Stream invitations marked the highest count in any Regional Stream draw in 2026.

The two streams offer different options and requirements.

The Base Stream allows applicants to launch a new business or take over and grow an existing one. It requires at least three years of business owner-manager experience during the previous 10 years, CLB 4 language proficiency, $600,000 in personal net worth and $200,000 in investment. Applicants must own at least 31.33 per cent of the business.

The Regional Stream is for entrepreneurs starting a new business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District. It requires three years of business owner-manager experience within the previous five years, CLB 4 language proficiency, $300,000 in personal net worth and $100,000 in investment. Applicants must hold at least 51 per cent ownership.

Regional applicants also need a community referral and an exploratory visit. The minimum registration score is 105 for the Regional Stream, compared with 115 for the Base Stream. The Base Stream permits registration with a co-applicant, while the Regional Stream does not.

Applicants without a post-secondary credential may still qualify if they can show at least three years of active business ownership and management experience in the previous five years and full ownership of the business.

A growing entrepreneur program

The August draw brought the total number of entrepreneurs invited through BCPNP selections in 2026 to at least 104. Across entrepreneur and skilled worker streams, the program has issued at least 4,942 invitations this year.

The nine entrepreneur selection rounds in 2026 have produced 15 draws in total: nine under the Base Stream and six under the Regional Stream.

Steps toward permanent residence

The process begins with preparing a business proposal and registering with the BCPNP. Candidates receive a score based on human capital and economic factors and may wait for an invitation to apply in a future draw.

After receiving an invitation, candidates have four months to submit their nomination application. Approved applicants can apply to the federal government for a work permit.

Regional Stream candidates must first identify a participating community, complete an exploratory visit and obtain a community referral. After receiving a work permit, entrepreneurs must establish and operate their proposed business in British Columbia.

If program requirements are met, the province can issue a nomination. Candidates can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.

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