BC PNP Regional Pilot Guide

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British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers different streams for eligible entrepreneurs to migrate and expand their business in Canada.

The Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Pilot is for foreign entrepreneurs who are planning to start a new business. Entrepreneurs wishing to purchase an existing business can register and apply under the EI – Base Category of the BC PNP.

Why is this better? – Lower net worth requirement and investment capability when compared to the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Base Category program.

In general, this is also a great Canada Permanent Residence (PR) program as there is no age limit and the language requirement is only CLB level 4!

What types of businesses are allowed? – Businesses set up to gain profits, create full-time or equivalent jobs for Canadian residents or permanent citizens and contribute to the community’s economic growth, link community profiles page are welcome in British Columbia.

Further, only businesses falling under the three-digit NAICS codes set-up by each community are allowed.

Get in touch with our consultants to know your business eligibility in British Columbia.

Begin Your Immigration Process- BC PNP EI-Regional Pilot

STEP 1: Determine your Eligibility

To be considered eligible for the BC PNP EI Regional pilot, a potential entrepreneur applicant must have:

Minimum Personal Net Worth (in CAD)	$300,000
Minimum Investment (in CAD)	$100,000 in the proposed business. Note: The BC PNP will not consider any investment made prior to the date of the invitation.
Minimum Language Proficiency	Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4
Work Experience	3 or more years of experience as an active business owner-manager; or 4 or more years of experience as a senior manager; or a combination of 1 or more years of experience as an active business owner/manager and 2 or more years of experience as a senior manager.
Level of Education	have either a postsecondary credential OR experience as a business owner/manager with 100% ownership of the business for at least 3 out of 5 years.

STEP 2: Conduct a Community Exploratory Visit

The province allows you to evaluate your business opportunities, refine business model, perform market research, and connect with local contacts by conducting a community exploratory visit.

A referral from the local community in British Columbia will be given only if your business aligns with the community’s target industries. A referral from the community will further strengthen your business proposal and thus your chances of immigration.

If you require a visitor visa – Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to conduct an exploratory visit, CanApprove is here to assist you.

business British Columbia

You are also encouraged to learn more about each community’s unique economic development priorities and how your business plans may align with the needs of:

B.C.’s communities
B.C.’s regions
Regional profiles
Industry sectors

STEP 3: Register Your Business Plan Online With BC PNP

After identifying the community, you need to develope a business plan for your new business.

Your new business plan should typically include the following:

A business concept,
Preliminary investment breakdown,
Job creation plan,
Financial projections and
Possible benefit to the community.

For the sake of your convenience, legal experts at CanApprove are here to help you customize your business plans. Fill-in this online assessment to get started!

Express your interest to immigrate as an entrepreneur in British Columbia by registering your profile online. Please note that registrations are allowed only after the community referral is obtained.

Once you have registered in the provincial pool, your profile will be ranked along with other registrants. Each profile is evaluated as per the given table:

BC PNP EI Regional Pilot

Scoring Sections		Points
Self-declared	Experience & Ownership	24
	Net Worth	6
	Total Personal Investment	10
	Jobs	15
	Community Population	6
	B.C.’s Regions	12
	Adaptability	67
Business Concept	Commercial Viability	30
	Transferability of Skills	15
	Economic Benefits	15
Maximum Score		200

Only the highest-ranking profiles receive invitations to apply for a provincial nomination through BC PNP EI Regional Pilot draws. You may talk to us about how you can boost your score.

You have up to 120 days from the date of invitation to submit a complete profile. It should contain all supporting documents like:

Community referral,
Valid language test results,
Identity documents,
Your net worth reports, and
A detailed business plan.

BONUS STEP: Apply for Canada PR

You have to obtain a work permit to arrive and set-up your business in Canada. Meanwhile, your spouse or common-law partner may also apply for an open work permit. Dependent minors will be eligible for study permits to attend elementary or secondary school (if applicable).
After fulfilling the terms and conditions of your performance agreement, you must submit a final report to the BC PNP. Based on the report and the evaluation of your performance agreement, you may be nominated by the BC PNP for permanent residence. It may take upto four months for the assessment process to complete.
With a successful provincial nomination in hand, you may apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for Canada PR.

CanApprove will always be there to assist you at every stage of your Canada Immigration process!

Addressing Most Common Concerns – BC PNP EI-Regional Pilot

CanApprove is an expert immigration agency registered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC). Over the last two decades, we have assisted eligible economic-class immigrants such as entrepreneurs, investors, foreign skilled/semi-skilled workers, international students, and their family members to migrate to Canada.

Based on our experience, of helping hundreds of our clients, we have prepared the below FAQ for your clarity

Are exploratory visits mandatory?	Yes. They are mandatory for the new regional pilot program.
Should the investments be proven as Liquid Investments?	BC PNP only requires proof of your net worth which can include assets such as stocks, bonds, and real property. Once you receive the work permit and arrive in B.C, you must transfer your proposed amount of investment into a local Canadian bank.
What is the 20-month period in BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot?	The 20-month period is to establish your business and start operations while meeting the terms of your performance agreement.
Am I allowed to bring any key personnel?	Apart from your spouse and dependents, you may bring no one else. All staff must be hired in Canada.
What is a Performance Agreement?	A performance agreement will set out the terms that must be adhered to while operating your business during your work permit period. This may vary for each business. Once the provincial authorities are satisfied with your performance agreement terms, you may apply for a provincial nomination. BC PNP conducts monthly draws to invite eligible candidates.
How long to obtain Permanent Residency?	Under 5 years. Eligible candidates can apply with IRCC for Canada PR after receiving a successful provincial nomination.
What are ‘Job creation’ terms?	You must create at least one full-time equivalent (FTE) job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. You may choose to hire temporary workers but only after creating at least one FTE.
Am I allowed to have partners?	It is a requirement that you must own at least 51% of the business you plan to establish. You may associate with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident businessman, but under the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot stream, you are not allowed to associate with a foreign businessman (Co-registrant).

Stay in touch with our immigration coordinators for further details and kick-start your plan to grow your business in Canada.

BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot Draws in 2020

With the release of the new Immigration Levels Plan for 2021-2023, Canada is set to prioritize business-class immigration for issuing permanent residence in Canada. Here is how BC PNP invited foreign entrepreneurs to apply for a provincial nomination.

Date	Qualifying Provincial Score	Invitations Sent
October 20, 2020	109	5
September 1, 2020	128	<5
July 28, 2020	123	5
June 2, 2020	118	9
April 6, 2020	107	18
February 4, 2020	116	5
January 14, 2020	111	7