British Columbia Invites Entrepreneurs in Latest BC PNP Draw
British Columbia has issued new invitations to experienced entrepreneurs seeking to establish, purchase or expand a business in the province.
In its July 28, 2026 selection round, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program issued 10 invitations to apply through its Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream.
Candidates needed a minimum registration score of 117 points to receive an invitation.
The stream provides a pathway for experienced business owners and senior managers to first obtain authorization to establish and actively manage a business in British Columbia.
Candidates who successfully implement their approved business plan and meet the terms of their performance agreement may later receive a provincial nomination and apply for Canadian permanent residence.
This is not a passive investment program or an immediate permanent residence route. Applicants must actively operate the proposed business in British Columbia and satisfy the program’s investment, job-creation, residency and business-performance requirements.
Quick Answer
| Draw date | July 28, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Immigration stream | Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream |
| Invitations issued | 10 |
| Minimum score | 117 |
| Application deadline after invitation | Up to four months |
Receiving an invitation allows a candidate to submit a full provincial application. It does not by itself grant a work permit, provincial nomination or permanent residence.
British Columbia Issues 10 Entrepreneur Invitations
The July 28 round selected candidates registered under the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream.
The province issued 10 invitations, and the lowest-ranked invited registration had a score of 117.
The draw was limited to the Base Stream. No Regional Stream invitations were reported in the July 28 round.
Invitations are generally issued to qualified registrations submitted before the selection date. The province can consider registration scores together with its economic-development and program priorities.
A score of 117 does not guarantee an invitation in a future draw. Selection scores and invitation numbers can change based on the number and quality of candidates in the pool.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Draws in 2026
| Draw date | Stream | Invitations | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 28 | Base | 10 | 117 |
| June 30 | Base | 14 | 118 |
| June 30 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 113 |
| June 2 | Base | 15 | 117 |
| June 2 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 117 |
| May 5 | Base | 8 | 115 |
| May 5 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 115 |
| April 14 | Base | 14 | 115 |
| March 10 | Base | 7 | 117 |
| March 10 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 129 |
| February 10 | Base | 13 | 121 |
| February 10 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 105 |
| January 13 | Base | 7 | 115 |
Base Stream cutoff scores in 2026 have ranged from 115 to 121. British Columbia had issued at least 88 Entrepreneur Immigration invitations by the July 28 draw.
What Is the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream?
The Base Stream is intended for experienced entrepreneurs who want to establish a new business or purchase and improve an existing business in British Columbia.
Unlike the Regional Stream, the Base Stream can generally support an eligible business located anywhere in British Columbia.
A community referral and exploratory visit are not mandatory under the Base Stream, although an exploratory visit is strongly recommended.
The applicant must actively manage the business from within British Columbia. A passive investment where another person manages the company will not normally satisfy the program’s purpose.
Main Eligibility Requirements
| Personal net worth | At least $600,000 CAD |
|---|---|
| Eligible personal investment | At least $200,000 CAD |
| Business ownership | Generally at least 33.33%, unless the applicant makes an equity investment of at least $1 million |
| Job creation | At least one new full-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident |
| Language level | Minimum CLB 4 in English or French |
| Minimum qualifying registration score | 115 out of 200 |
Business or senior-management experience
The applicant must generally have one of the following:
- More than three years of active business owner-manager experience during the previous 10 years;
- More than four years of eligible senior-manager experience during the previous 10 years; or
- A combination of at least one year as an active business owner-manager and at least two years as a senior manager.
An active business owner-manager must generally have held at least 10% ownership and participated directly in daily operations and decision-making.
Education requirement
The applicant must generally hold a post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate.
A person without a post-secondary credential may qualify by demonstrating active business ownership and management with 100% ownership for at least 36 of the previous 60 months.
Business and Investment Requirements
The proposed business must contribute to economic growth and demonstrate potential for sustained commercial success.
The candidate can propose to:
- Establish an eligible new business;
- Purchase and improve or expand an existing business;
- Enter an eligible partnership with another business owner; or
- Operate an eligible franchise with the franchisor’s support.
Purchasing an existing business
The target business must generally have been operated by its current owner for at least five years.
The applicant must propose an improvement or expansion plan rather than simply continuing the business without material changes.
Examples of ineligible businesses
Ineligible proposals can include:
- Passive investment arrangements;
- Immigration-linked investment schemes;
- Bed and breakfasts and home-based businesses;
- Payday-loan and cheque-cashing businesses;
- Coin-operated laundries;
- Automated car washes;
- Real-estate development and brokerage;
- Import-export or goods-trading businesses without demonstrated value added in British Columbia.
Applicants should not make significant investments solely because they have registered. The province warns that investments made before approval and obtaining valid work authorization are made at the applicant’s risk.
How Are Entrepreneur Registrations Scored?
A Base Stream registration can receive up to 200 points.
The score considers personal and business factors, which can include:
- Business owner-manager and senior-management experience;
- Education;
- English or French proficiency;
- Personal net worth;
- Proposed ownership percentage;
- Eligible personal investment;
- Job creation;
- Commercial viability of the business concept;
- Economic benefits for British Columbia;
- Location and local market considerations.
Base Stream candidates need a total registration score of at least 115 to enter the qualified pool and must obtain at least 40 points in the business-concept section.
Meeting the minimum qualifying score does not guarantee an invitation. In the July 28 draw, candidates required at least 117.
From Registration to Work Permit and Permanent Residence
- Prepare a business proposal. Research the industry, location, market, investment, ownership and economic benefits of the proposed business.
- Submit an online registration. The registration is assessed and assigned a score.
- Enter the qualified pool. An eligible registration can remain active for up to six months or until the candidate receives an invitation.
- Receive an invitation to apply. Invited candidates must complete a personal-net-worth verification through an accounting firm authorized by the BC PNP.
- Submit the provincial application. The candidate has up to four months from the invitation date to submit a complete application.
- Sign a performance agreement. Approved candidates commit to specific investment, ownership, job-creation and business-performance requirements.
- Apply for a work permit. The province issues a support letter. The candidate generally has up to 90 days to submit the work permit application to IRCC.
- Move to British Columbia. After receiving the work permit, the entrepreneur must arrive within the applicable deadline and begin implementing the business plan.
- Operate the business. The entrepreneur generally has up to 20 months to establish and actively manage the business.
- Submit the final report. The report is generally submitted between 18 and 20 months after arriving in British Columbia.
- Receive a provincial nomination. Nomination may be issued when the province is satisfied that the performance agreement has been fulfilled.
- Apply for permanent residence. The nominee submits a separate permanent residence application to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.
A provincial invitation is only one stage in this process. Neither an invitation nor a work permit guarantees provincial nomination or permanent residence.
Documents an Entrepreneur May Need
- Passport and civil-status documents;
- Business ownership and registration records;
- Employment and senior-management reference letters;
- Corporate tax returns and financial statements;
- Bank, investment and property records;
- Evidence of liabilities and outstanding debts;
- Documents showing the legal source of funds;
- Post-secondary education documents;
- Language-test results where applicable;
- A comprehensive business plan;
- Market research and financial projections;
- Job-creation and staffing plans;
- Evidence concerning the proposed business location;
- Net-worth verification from an authorized accounting firm.
Business ownership, management dates, income, net worth and source-of-fund information should remain consistent throughout the registration, provincial application and federal immigration process.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a passive investment proposal;
- Using an ineligible business model;
- Overstating business ownership or management experience;
- Failing to document the legal source of funds;
- Using unrealistic revenue or job-creation projections;
- Making major investments before receiving the required approvals;
- Choosing a business without researching the local market;
- Changing the business concept after registration;
- Missing the four-month provincial application deadline;
- Assuming an invitation guarantees permanent residence.
How Always Canada Group Can Help
Always Canada Group is a Canadian immigration consultancy led by Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants.
Our entrepreneur immigration services may include:
- Reviewing preliminary BC PNP eligibility;
- Assessing business and senior-management experience;
- Reviewing education and language requirements;
- Reviewing the proposed business and ownership structure;
- Supporting the preparation of immigration documentation;
- Reviewing net-worth and source-of-funds evidence;
- Preparing the provincial immigration application;
- Preparing the related work permit application;
- Supporting post-arrival immigration compliance;
- Preparing the permanent residence application after nomination.
Always Canada Group cannot guarantee an invitation, provincial approval, work permit, business success, nomination or permanent residence.
Book a Canadian business immigration consultation to review your entrepreneur profile and available immigration options.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many entrepreneurs did British Columbia invite?
British Columbia issued 10 invitations through the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream on July 28, 2026.
What was the minimum score?
The minimum registration score in the July 28 draw was 117.
How much net worth is required?
The Base Stream generally requires a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 CAD.
What is the minimum investment?
The applicant must generally make an eligible personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD.
Is a university degree mandatory?
Not always. A post-secondary credential is generally required, but an applicant may qualify through eligible recent experience as a 100%-owner and active manager.
Does the entrepreneur receive permanent residence immediately?
No. The entrepreneur generally obtains a work permit, establishes and manages the business, fulfills the performance agreement, receives a nomination and then applies separately for permanent residence.
Does a score of 117 guarantee another invitation?
No. Future minimum scores and invitation numbers can rise or fall.
Final Takeaway
British Columbia invited 10 Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream candidates on July 28, 2026, with a minimum score of 117.
The program can provide a pathway from business establishment and a work permit to provincial nomination and permanent residence.
Applicants must be prepared to actively manage a genuine business, invest the required personal funds, create employment and prove that they have fulfilled their performance agreement.
Book a consultation with Always Canada Group to assess your Canadian entrepreneur immigration options.
