Regional Pilot Program
British Columbia welcomes entrepreneurs from around the world to open a business in one of B.C.’s smaller communities. Applicants are required to apply first to any of the small communities interested in welcoming new entrepreneurs to their communities. Once approved, they can apply for approval by the BC-PNP. They will then be issued work permits to come and establish their business and once done, they can apply for permanent residence for themselves and their families.
Requirements
To qualify, you must:
- establish an eligible new business aligned with the priorities of the referring community
- show business and/or management experience
- have a personal net worth of at least CAD$300,000
- make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD$100,000 in the business
- create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4
- have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- have been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently live
If you meet the criteria and have the experience that the community is seeking, we connect directly with the designated community contact and present your business plan.
Here is the link to the communities – community profiles pages.
BC-PNP-EI-Regional-Pilot-Program-Guide.aspx (welcomebc.ca)
Click here for the comparative requirements of the Base Category and the Regional Pilot programs at Page 7.
BC-PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide