BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide

BRITISH COLUMBIA
PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM
ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION
PROGRAM GUIDE
BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE
For more information, please contact:

BC Provincial Nominee Program
450-605 Robson Street
Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5J3
Canada
Telephone: +1 (604) 775-2227
Fax:
+1 (604) 660-4092
E-mail:
[email protected]
Website: www.WelcomeBC.ca/PNP
The information in this guide is effective September 1, 2016. Please check our website to ensure you are using the current version.
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Table of Contents
Updates to this Edition ....................................................................... 4
BC Provincial Nominee Program: Entrepreneur Immigration Stream ....... 6

About the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide ............................. 6
Entrepreneur Immigration Requirements ............................................. 7
Personal Requirements ....................................................................... 8
Business Requirements ......................................................................12
Minimum Investment Requirements....................................................17
Job Requirements .............................................................................20
Key Staff Requirements (if applicable) ................................................22
Partnership with a Co-Registrant (if applicable) ...................................24
Entrepreneur Immigration Process .....................................................25
Preparation Before You Register .........................................................26
Registering with the BC PNP ..............................................................28
Creating your Profile .........................................................................29
Completing the Registration ...............................................................29
Submitting your Registration ..............................................................29
Scoring ............................................................................................31
Business Concept ..............................................................................37
Final Scoring and the Selection Pool ...................................................43
Invitation To Apply ............................................................................44
Review of Personal Net Worth ............................................................45
Applying to the BC PNP .....................................................................47
Nomination .......................................................................................49
After Nomination and Applying for Permanent Residence .....................51
Using a Representative ......................................................................52
Withdrawing your Registration or Application ......................................53
Request for Review ...........................................................................53
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Updates to this Edition

In an effort to clarify information presented in previous editions of the Entrepreneur Immigration
Program Guide, there have been updates to the information within the guide.
The following list outlines the updates made to this edition of the Entrepreneur Immigration Program
Guide:
September 1, 2016:
1. Updated the name of the federal ministry from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) to
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) throughout
2. Edits throughout to reflect the BCPNP Online application process; and for grammatical
accuracy and consistency
3. Updated wording regarding registrations and invitations (Pages 7, 28)
4. Added wording on the definition of an active role in the day-to-day management of a business
(Page 9)
5. Clarified timing of proposed investment (Pages 17 & 33)
6. Clarification on eligible personal investments (Pages 17-18)
7. Clarified timing of demonstrated job creation and annual salary (Pages 20 & 34)
8. Clarified ownership percentage and wage requirements for key staff (Page 23)
9. Clarified wording regarding the business relationship between co-registrants (Page 24)
10. Added recommendation regarding entering business concept wording in BCPNP Online (Page
30)
11. Updated wording on providing experience in a registration, and how experience is scored
(Page 31)
12. Added wording regarding email confirmations (page 43)
13. Clarification on the validity of the verification report (Page 46)
14. Clarification regarding TRV support letters (page 48)
15. Clarification on final report submission method and quantity (Page 49)
16. Clarified wording regarding additional information and site visits (page 49)
17. Added wording clarifying federal requirements regarding the age of dependent children (page
50)
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18. Removed wording regarding refunds (Page 52)

19. Update to the definition of authorized representative (Page 52)
20. Updated wording regarding contact from the BC PNP (page 53)
21. Updated wording regarding withdrawal of registrations or applications (Page 53)
22. Updated information regarding decision reviews (Page 53)
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BC Provincial Nominee Program: Entrepreneur Immigration Stream

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced
entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in and actively manage a business in B.C.
As of July 2, 2015, the BC PNP has changed the program requirements and process. You must
register with the BC PNP if you wish to apply through the Entrepreneur Immigration stream.
About the Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide
The BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Program Guide provides complete and comprehensive
information about the eligibility requirements and process of the program.
This guide also provides details on how to register with the BCPNP Online system and explains what
information you will need to provide.
Please carefully review the information in this guide before you register to determine your eligibility.
All dollar figures in this guide are expressed in Canadian dollars.
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Entrepreneur Immigration Requirements

You must meet all of the Entrepreneur Immigration requirements to be nominated by the BC PNP.
Please note that there are program requirements for each stage of the process including the
registration, application and nomination stages.
Please carefully review the requirements in the sections below for complete details.
It is your responsibility to demonstrate that you meet the program requirements.
A registration in the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration System does not guarantee that you will
be invited to apply.
Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply.
For more information on how registrants will be invited to apply, please refer to the Entrepreneur
Immigration process section of this Guide.
General Nomination Requirements
Active management:
You must demonstrate that you are actively managing the business in B.C.
Active management means you are accountable for the day-to-day operations of the business.
Active management must occur at the place of business in B.C.
This is a mandatory requirement of the BC PNP as set out in the Immigration and Refugee
Protection Regulations section 87(6)(c).
In order to be nominated, you must demonstrate that you have met this requirement in your
Final report to the BC PNP.
Residency:
You must demonstrate that you reside within 100 kilometres of the business you operate in
B.C.
You must also demonstrate that you have been a resident in B.C. for at least 75% of the time
while on a work permit. For example, if you submit your Final report 20 months after arriving
in B.C. with your valid work permit, you must demonstrate that you have been physically
present in B.C. for at least 15 months while operating your business.
In order to be nominated, you must demonstrate that you have met this requirement in your
Final report to the BC PNP.
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Personal Requirements
Eligibility:
In order to be eligible under the Entrepreneur Immigration stream, you must have been lawfully
admitted in the country where you currently reside.
In addition, you must not:
be prohibited from entering Canada

be or have been in Canada illegally
have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada
be under a removal order in Canada
Personal Net Worth:

In order to register, you must have at least a minimum of $600,000 in personal net worth. Your
personal net worth must be legally obtained and verifiable.
Your personal net worth includes all your assets and those of your spouse or common-law partner,
less any liabilities including mortgages and personal debts:
cash
assets in bank accounts
fixed (term) deposits
real property
investments in bonds, stocks and mutual funds
investments in one or more businesses
pensions and other assets
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) form Schedule 4A Personal Net Worth
includes details about how to calculate personal net worth.
Declared net worth must be in your name and/or your spouses name.
You must have title to any real estate holdings and business ownership.
If you are invited to apply, you will be asked to provide supporting documentation to substantiate
ownership, or percentage ownership, positions in any business, as well as equity amounts based on
current market values less outstanding mortgages or other encumbrances for you and your spouse.
Future inheritances cannot be included in your personal net worth. The share of business or property
ownership must be supported by legal documents, such as deeds, shareholder agreements, etc.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points will be awarded for personal net worth. For
detailed information on how points are calculated, please refer to the Scoring section of this Guide.
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If you receive an invitation to apply:
You must obtain a verification report from a BC PNP-qualified supplier. For more information,
please refer to Net Worth Review section of this Guide.
The verification report will be used as part of the BC PNP application assessment process.
Notwithstanding the conclusions of the net worth verification report, the BC PNP has sole
discretion and responsibility to assess your BC PNP application and may request additional
information, supporting documentation or clarification .
Failure to provide satisfactory evidence to verify your personal net worth and source of funds
may result in the refusal of your application.
For information on what documents you must provide for a Net Worth Review, please refer to the
Entrepreneur Immigration Application Guide, Appendix B available on our website.
Business and/or work experience:
The BC PNP will assign points for your business and/or work experience from the last 10 years.
Registrants must demonstrate they have sufficient knowledge and experience to successfully establish
the proposed business in B.C.
To register, you must have a minimum of:
more than three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or
more than four years of experience as a senior manager, or
a combination of at least one year of experience as an active business owner-manager and at

least two years of experience as a senior manager.
Business Experience as an Active Owner-Manager (business ownership of 10% or more): If you have
performed an active role in the management and operations of a company for which you have held
10% or more ownership during the past 10 years.
Work Experience as a Senior Manager (no business ownership, or business ownership of less than
10%): If you have worked during the past 10 years for a company/organization as an active senior
manager supervising at least three full-time employees.
An active role means that you are personally involved in the day-to-day operations of the company
and have direct involvement in decision-making.
For example, if you were a shareholder in a corporation and your only responsibility was to
attend shareholder meetings, this would not be considered as being an active business ownermanager as you are not involved in the day-to-day operations of the company.
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To register, you must indicate the industry sector code(s) and occupation code(s) that best relate to
your experience:
To identify the industry sector, please refer to the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS).
To identify the occupation and associated skill level, please refer to the National Occupational
Classification (NOC) system.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points will be awarded for business ownership and
work experience. For detailed information on how points are assigned, please refer to the Scoring
section of this Guide.
If you are invited to apply, you must provide evidence of your reported business and/or work
experience. For information on documents required at the application stage, please refer to the
Entrepreneur Immigration Application Guide on our website.
Adaptability Factors:
The BC PNP will consider adaptability factors and assign points for these factors as part of the
registration score. The adaptability factors are not mandatory requirements of the BC PNP but are
indicators to support the likelihood of your economic establishment in B.C.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points are awarded for each of the adaptability
factors, including a minimum point total for the section. For detailed information on how points are
assigned, please refer to the Scoring section of this Guide.
English language proficiency:
English language is NOT a mandatory requirement of the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration
stream. However, points are assigned for self-declared English language proficiency.
To register, you must indicate your current level of English language proficiency.
Evidence of language proficiency, such as test scores, is NOT required when you register. If
you are invited to apply, you may be required to provide evidence of language proficiency.
For the purposes of determining your current level of English language proficiency, you may
wish to refer to the Centre for Canadian Language Benchmarks publication, Canadian
Language Benchmarks: English as a Second Language for Adults.
Education:
You must provide information on your highest level of education completed.
To register, you must have one of the following:
o
A minimum of two-years of post-secondary education, or
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Experience as an active business owner-manager with 100% ownership of the business

for at least three of the past five years. The 100% ownership of the business may be
shared between you, your spouse or common-law partner, and/or your dependent
child(ren). The BC PNP uses IRCCs definition of a dependent child.
Post-secondary education refers to full-time studies from a licensed post-secondary

institution that leads to obtaining a credential such as a degree, diploma or certificate. Twoyears includes scheduled breaks such as winter and summer breaks and holidays. One year of
post-secondary education equals a minimum of two consecutive semesters.
Language training such as English as a second language will not be considered towards
meeting the post-secondary requirement.
If you are invited to apply, you will be required to provide evidence of your education, and you
may be required to provide an education credential assessment.
Previous visit(s) to B.C.:
If you have previously visited British Columbia, you must provide details of your visit(s),
including cities/municipalities visited, and the dates when you entered and exited B.C. If you
are invited to apply, you will be required to provide evidence of your previous visit(s) to B.C.
Age:
While the BC PNP does not have any age requirements or age limit, your age will be assigned
points under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration.
Canadian experience:
The BC PNP will assign points if you possess any of the following experience obtained in
Canada within the last 10 years:
o
Canadian, full-time work experience: You have legally worked in Canada for at
least 12 consecutive months in any occupation, which may include the active
management of a business under your ownership in Canada.
Full-time studies in Canada: You have legally studied in Canada under a secondary
or post-secondary program for at least 12 consecutive months (including scheduled
breaks such as winter and summer breaks and holidays a minimum of two
consecutive semesters).
Points will not be assigned for language training such as English as a second language.
If you are invited to apply, you will be required to provide evidence of your Canadian
experience.
For information on required documents for a complete application please refer to the Entrepreneur
Immigration Application Guide on our website.
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Business Requirements
Your BC PNP registration must include a short business concept that will be assigned points based on
proposed commercial viability, transferability of skills, and economic benefits. For details, please refer
to the Scoring section of this Guide.
If you are invited to apply, you will be required to submit a comprehensive business plan including
pro-forma financial statements along with other supporting documents. The personal and business
requirements remain the same for both the registration and application.
For more information on required documents for an application, please refer to the Entrepreneur
Immigration Application Guide on our website.
Eligible Businesses
The BC PNP will only consider registrations to establish or purchase and improve a business that
contributes to the economic growth of the Province.
The proposed business must be operated for the primary purpose of earning profits by providing
products and/or services. Additionally, the business must have strong potential for sustained
commercial success.
The BC PNP does not pre-approve or endorse business proposals.

The BC PNP will consider registrations to establish a new business, purchase an existing
business, form a partnership with an existing business, and partner with a local or foreign
entrepreneur to establish a new business.
You must decide on the specific type of business you intend to establish or purchase in B.C. before
you register. If you plan to purchase an existing business or partner with a local business, you must
indicate the specific target business or local partner in your registration.
You cannot change your business concept after you submit your registration.
When assigning points for your business proposal, the BC PNP will consider the following factors:
Commercial Viability
Business model:
o
You must describe how your proposed business will generate revenue and profit, and
how the business will have the potential for sustained commercial success under your
management.
Minimum ownership percentage:

o
You must demonstrate you will own at least one-third (33.3%) of the business in B.C.,
If your personal equity investment is at least $1,000,000, you may own less than onethird (33.3%) of the business pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection
Regulations section 87(6)(b)(ii).
or
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Market:
o
Products/services:
o
You must describe the types of products and/or services that will be offered, or that
are currently offered if you are purchasing an existing business. Describe the
uniqueness of the product(s) and/or service(s).
Reasonable proposed investment and job creation figures:

o
You demonstrate a market entry strategy to show how your proposed business will be
successful in British Columbia. If you are planning to purchase an existing business,
you must be able to demonstrate how the business will grow and expand under your
management.
The BC PNP will assign points for the proposed investment and job creation in your
registration, and, if you are invited to apply, will evaluate these elements of your
application. The reasonableness of your proposed investments and job creation figures
will be based on the type and scope of the proposed business, the market, the
proposed products and/or services, the business model, and the industry standard.
Risk factors:
o
The BC PNP will consider the potential for any risk factors of your proposed business
and your ability to address these risks, including but not limited to whether you are
proposing external financing, or whether you are proposing to invest more than 50% of
your personal net worth.
In addition to the above, for the purchase of an existing business, including partnerships:
Expansion plan (existing business):

o
If you plan to purchase an existing business, you must identify how you will improve,
upgrade and/or expand the existing business. This may include creating new
employment , investing in improvements and/or upgrades to the business, introducing
new products and/or services, etc.
For more information on expansion requirements, please refer to the Minimum Investment
Requirements section below.
Financial stability (existing business):

o
If you plan to purchase an existing business, you must be able to demonstrate that the
business is a going concern, that it can sustain additional expenses and investments,
how the business will generate a profit, and how the workforce will be expanded.
For details on how points are assigned in your registration, please refer to the Scoring section of
this Guide.
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Transferability of Skills
In addition to your business and/or work experience, the BC PNP will consider your transferable
skills. Transferable skills are assessed by considering the similarity of the occupation and industry
of your business/work experience to that of your proposed business in B.C.
To identify the industry sector, please refer to the North American Industry Classification
System (NAICS).
You will be assigned points for your transferable skills at the registration stage, and if you are
invited to apply, the BC PNP will assess your transferable skills at the application stage.
For details on how points are assigned in your registration, please refer to the Scoring section of
this Guide.
Economic Benefits
The BC PNP will review and assign registration points for the following factors used to demonstrate
the economic benefits of the proposed business in B.C.
Key Sectors:
The industry sector of the proposed business.

The following sectors are considered and eligible for additional points:
Agrifoods
Forestry
International Education
Mining & Energy or Natural Gas Sector
Value-Added Manufacturing
Technology and Green Economy

Transportation
Biomedical
Destination Tourism*
Aboriginal Peoples and First Nations
Destination tourism refers to businesses that target tourists directly where its business is
primarily focused on tourist attraction rather than potential spin-off activities from the tourism
industry.
For details on how points are assigned in your registration, please refer to the Scoring section
of this Guide.
Significant Economic Benefits:
Other significant economic benefits that the proposed business may demonstrate:
o adopting new technology
o developing new products and services
o developing innovative approaches to traditional businesses
o increasing exports
o increasing research and development, and technology commercialization
o providing products or services to an under-served local or regional market
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transferring technology and specialized knowledge to B.C.
of this Guide.
Location:
Points are awarded for the location of the proposed business based on the population sizes of
B.C.s Regional Districts.
BC PNP is focused on attracting investment to regional communities and under the

Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, higher points are awarded for investments proposed in
smaller communities.
of this Guide.
Franchises
Franchises may be considered as eligible businesses if you can demonstrate that the proposed
franchise is well-established.
If you are invited to apply, your application must include evidence that you are eligible to purchase
and operate a franchise location by the franchisor.
The BC PNP will only consider the purchase of an existing franchise location as an eligible business if it
includes an expansion plan that is consistent with franchisor requirements.
Ineligible businesses
The following types of businesses are ineligible under the BC PNP:
an immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Immigration and Refugee Protection

Regulations section 87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9)
any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR
87(6)(d)
bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses
pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses
pawnbrokers
scrap metal recycling
coin-operated laundries
automated car wash operations
businesses selling used goods (excluding collectibles, or businesses that provide value-added
services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling)
real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit
products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the BC PNP or the
Government of British Columbia into disrepute
Your registration will not be accepted if you propose an ineligible business.

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The BC PNP may not consider registrations for businesses proposed in locations that are saturated
by similar businesses. The following examples are business activities that may not offer significant
economic benefit if the local market is already well-served:
convenience stores
DVD rental stores
gasoline service stations
personal dry cleaning services
tanning salons
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points will be awarded for your Business Concept.
For detailed information on how points are assigned, please refer to the Scoring section of this Guide.
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Minimum Investment Requirements

Eligible Investment
In order to register, you must demonstrate that you will make an eligible personal investment of
at least $200,000 in the proposed business within 20 months of arriving in B.C. on a BC PNPsupported work permit.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points are assigned for this section according to
total proposed eligible personal investment. Meeting the minimum eligible investment
requirements does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply or be approved as a
provincial nominee only the highest-scoring registrants are invited to apply.
The minimum eligible personal investment of $200,000 must be derived from your personal net worth.
Eligible Personal Investment is the minimum required investment of eligible expenditures as
described below.
If you are proposing a Key Staff member, you must demonstrate that you will make an eligible
personal investment of at least $400,000. For more information, please refer to the Key Staff
Requirements section below.
Typical eligible expenditures may include:
purchase of existing business assets (including inventory) or equity to a maximum allowable
amount of $150,000
new equipment purchases
start-up inventory or new inventory related to an improvement/expansion plan
leasehold improvements
new marketing costs
operating expenses
Total investment is not the same as eligible personal investments under the BC PNP. The
eligibility of a proposed investment is determined by the BC PNP based on whether the expenditure is
essential to establish and operate a new business or to purchase, improve and operate an existing
business.
The eligible investment must be directed to one business location. Some investment items may not be
eligible while others may be eligible with limitations. For example:
Purchase of an existing business:

o
o
The BC PNP may consider as eligible investment the lesser of the total business
purchase price or $150,000.
You must commit to make an eligible investment of at least $50,000 to improve,
upgrade and/or expand the business.
Eligible investments toward improving, upgrading and/or expanding a business
may include new capital purchases and equipment, leasehold improvements,
introduction of new technology, job creation, etc.
Improvement/expansion does not include regular operating expenses such as
recurring inventory, wages, rent, utilities, or maintaining the same levels of
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marketing or advertising expenses, legal or professional fees, business licences,

etc.
Establishing a new location or a separate business will not be considered as an
eligible improvement or expansion.
The BC PNP will not consider the purchase of additional real estate as an
eligible investment towards the improvement or expansion of the business.
The BC PNP discourages registrants and applicants from making any investment prior to
signing a performance agreement with the BC PNP and obtaining a valid work permit
from IRCC. Signing an agreement to purchase a business and/or making a deposit is solely at your
own risk.
Purchase of real estate (new business only):
The BC PNP will not consider real estate as an eligible investment unless you can demonstrate
that the real estate is essential to the business. In which case:
o The BC PNP may consider as eligible investment the lesser of the total purchase price
of the real estate or $150,000.
o You must make an additional eligible investment of at least $50,000.
o Eligible investment to meet the minimum $50,000 requirement can include capital
purchases and equipment, leasehold improvements, introduction of new technology,
creation of new jobs, etc. It cannot include regular operating expenses such inventory,
wages, rent, utilities, or business licences, etc.
Purchase of a business vehicle:
Inventory:
The BC PNP will not consider the purchase of a vehicle as an eligible investment unless you
can demonstrate that the vehicle is essential to the business. In which case:
o The BC PNP may consider as eligible investment a maximum of $25,000 for the
purchase of a business vehicle.
For the establishment of a new business:

The BC PNP may consider a reasonable amount of start-up inventory. The
reasonableness of the start-up inventory is based on the industry, type of products,
and size and scope of the proposed business. No more than three months of start-up
inventory will be eligible.
For the purchase and improvement/expansion of an existing business:
The BC PNP may consider a reasonable amount of up to three months of new inventory
related to the improvement and expansion plan where a new product is to be sold.
The new product must be substantially different than the type of products already sold
by the business.
Operating expenses:
Operating expenses refers to regular, recurring monthly expenses such as rent, wages and
salaries, utilities, etc. The BC PNP may consider eligible operating expenses in the following
circumstances:
o For the establishment of a new business: A maximum of six months of operating
expenses.
o For the purchase of an existing business: A maximum of three months of operating
expenses.
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For the establishment of a new franchise location: A maximum of three months of

operating expenses.
Operating expenses, as recurring expenses required for the business to operate, may not form
part of the required eligible personal investment for improvement, upgrading and/or expansion
of the business.
For the purchase of an existing business:
o
o
In addition to the purchase of the business, you must invest at least $50,000 to
improve, upgrade and/or expand the business.
If the total purchase price of the business is less than $150,000, the remaining balance
of the eligible investment may be made up of other investments such as a maximum of
three months of operating expenses.
For example, if the purchase price of the business is $100,000, and you invest $60,000
to improve and upgrade the business, the BC PNP may consider up to three months of
operating expenses in addition to any other investments to make up the $40,000
difference.
Ineligible Investments
The following are not considered eligible investments:
cash and working capital
wage payments made to yourself and your family members, if applicable.
Timing of your investment
The BC PNP will not consider as eligible any investment made prior to the date you are invited to
apply.
The BC PNP discourages registrants and applicants from making any investment or
financial commitment prior to signing a performance agreement with the BC PNP and
obtaining a valid work permit from IRCC.
Any investment made prior to obtaining approval and a valid work permit is solely at your
risk. BC PNP offers no guarantee that your registration will be selected or that your
application will be approved.
The BC PNP does not require that you sign a purchase agreement or memorandum of understanding
if you are purchasing an existing business.
External financing
BC PNP requires that you make the minimum eligible personal investment from your personal funds.
However, you may also use external financing from a business partner or financial institutions.
If external financing is a requirement of business operations, you must identify how you will obtain
the financing and how it will be applied in your proposed investment.
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Job Requirements
Minimum Job Creation Requirements
In order to register, you must demonstrate that you will create at least one permanent, new full-time
equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada in the proposed business within
20 months of your arrival date.
You must also demonstrate the likelihood of supporting long-term employment of Canadians or
permanent residents of Canada in the proposed business.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points will be awarded for this section. For detailed
information on how points are assigned, please refer to the Scoring section of this Guide.
Job creation requirements differ for applicants who proposed to include a Key Staff member. Please
refer to the Key Staff Requirements section below.
A full-time equivalent (FTE) job means a position of at least 30 hours per week worked by one or
more employees under continuous employment.
Independent contractors will not be considered as part of your job creation requirement only direct
employees of the proposed business will be considered. Employees must work at the primary place of
business and not remotely. Employment in British Columbia is regulated by the Employment
Standards Act. For more information, please visit: www.labour.gov.bc.ca/esb/facshts.
Determining the skill level of positions
When determining the position(s) to be created, please refer to the National Occupational
Proposed wages for the employees must be consistent with the skill level of the positions created.
For information on average wages, please refer to information on Work BC.
Job Maintenance Requirements (if purchasing an existing business)
In addition to the job creation requirements listed above, if you are proposing to purchase an existing
business, you must commit to maintain the number of existing jobs in the business, and pay your
employee(s) a wage that is commensurate to their skill level.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, points will be awarded for this section. For detailed
information on how points are assigned, please refer to the Scoring section of this Guide.
Failure to maintain the number of existing jobs may result in your refusal at the nomination stage.
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Requirements at nomination stage

In order to be approved for nomination, you must demonstrate that you have consistently employed
the required number of full-time equivalent jobs for at least six months before submitting your Final
report.
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Key Staff Requirements (if applicable)

About Proposing a Key Staff
If you meet the requirements below, you may propose one Key Staff member whose expertise is
essential to the success of your proposed business. The Key Staff member will be eligible to apply for
a work permit to work for you in B.C. during the business establishment period and may also be
eligible to be nominated for permanent residence if you meet the performance expectations of your
performance agreement.
The Key Staff must demonstrate education and experience consistent with the proposed occupation in
B.C. as a senior manager, professional or technical position related to the proposed business.
Your Requirements for Proposing one Key Staff
As the employer of the Key Staff, you must demonstrate a rationale for a Key Staff in relation
to the domestic labour market - that a Canadian or permanent resident would not be able to
perform the proposed duties.
If you fail to demonstrate that the Key Staff is essential to establishing or operating and
expanding your business, the proposed Key Staff will be refused.
Eligible personal investment:

If you are proposing one Key Staff, you must demonstrate that you will make an eligible
personal investment of at least $400,000.
For the purchase of an existing business:
o The amount of eligible investment that can be applied to the purchase of an existing
business is the lesser of the total purchase price or $150,000.
o You must invest at least $50,000 towards the improvement, upgrade, and/or expansion
to the existing business.
Job creation:
If you are proposing a Key Staff, you must demonstrate that you will create at least three new,
permanent, full-time equivalent positions for Canadian citizens and/or permanent residents of
Canada.
If you are purchasing an existing business, you must maintain the number of jobs as described
above, and create at least three new full-time equivalent positions.
Requirements for Key Staff
General Requirements:
o The Key Staff must have worked with you, the applicant, in a senior position for at least
one year out of the last three years, and have a critical skill set for the proposed B.C.
business.
o The proposed position the Key Staff will fill must fall under the National Occupational
Classification (NOC) system as skill level 0 or A.
o If education and work experience are not specifically identified in the proposed position in
B.C., the Key Staff must possess a minimum of two-years post-secondary education.
Page 22
The wage offered must be equal to or greater than the median for that occupation in B.C.
If you are invited to apply:

o The Key Staff must demonstrate relevant experience that is transferable and essential to
the proposed business in B.C.
o The Key Staff may be required to attend an in-person interview at the BC PNP offices in
Vancouver.
In order to be approved for nomination:

o The Key Staff must not hold 10 percent or more ownership of the proposed business.
Equity ownership may be offered as part of the remuneration package but it must
be specified in the employment contract, and, in which case, it must be less than
10%.
o The wage offered must continue to be equal to or greater than the median for that
occupation
o The Key Staff must meet the requirements listed in the General Nomination Requirements
section above regarding active management, residency, and admissibility.
o The Key Staff must have been performing the duties of their position as described in the
performance agreement at the place of business in B.C.
For more information on proposing a Key Staff in your registration, please refer to the Business
Concept section of this Guide.
Page 23
Partnership with a Co-Registrant (if applicable)

You may choose to partner with another registrant under one business proposal.
If you are proposing to partner with a co-registrant, each co-registrant must provide a rationale for
the business partnership and describe the business relationship with each partner.
Each co-registrant must meet the individual eligibility requirements listed in the Entrepreneur
Immigration Program Guide in order to be entered into the selection pool.
Co-registrant registration scores will be adjusted to match the lowest score from each of
the co-registrants.
For example:
Two registrants may choose to partner under one business proposal and may individually score
154 and 112 under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration. For the purposes of selecting
registrants from the pool to invite them to submit applications, the partnership scores will be
adjusted so that each co-registrant scores 112 points.
If the co-registrants are invited to apply, each application will be assessed separately. There is no
guarantee that either or both of the co-applicants will be approved.
Each co-registrant must ensure they provide complete information on their background and work
experience, their business proposal, as well as provide a rationale for partnering in the proposed
business. For more information, please refer to the Business Concept section of this Guide.
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Entrepreneur Immigration Process

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has introduced an online registration process for
individuals interested in the Entrepreneur Immigration stream.
This section of the Guide details the registration and application process with the BC PNP.
The BC PNP process involves three main steps before you can apply for permanent residence:
1. Preparation Before you Register
Business research
B.C. Regions and Regional Districts
Purchasing an existing Business
Online resources
2. Registering with the BC PNP
Creating your Profile
How to Register
Scoring
Final Scoring and the Selection Pool
Invitation To Apply
Review of Personal Net Worth
3. Applying to the BC PNP
Submit Application
Interview
Performance agreement
Work Permit
4. Nomination
Arrive in B.C.
Building your Business
Submitting your Final report
Being Nominated
After Nomination: Applying For Permanent Residence
Page 25
Preparation Before You Register

Preparation and Business Research
Please take the time to carefully review the program requirements detailed in this Guide.
We encourage you to make an exploratory visit to B.C. to learn more about opportunities and the
local business environment before you register.
During
your visit, you can:

investigate and evaluate potential business opportunities
make local business contacts
learn more about what its like living and doing business in B.C., and gain a better
understanding of our health care and education programs, housing, culture, recreation
opportunities, and lifestyle
If you require a visitor visa (Temporary Resident Visa) to travel to Canada, you must apply to a
Canadian visa office or online: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp.
The BC PNP will not provide a letter of support for you to obtain a Temporary Resident Visa to
conduct an exploratory visit to B.C.
B.C. Regions and Regional Districts
Each of B.C.s regions offers different key industries, business opportunities, demographics, and
lifestyle opportunities. We encourage you to explore B.C.s regions to find the best place for you.
B.C.s Communities: https://tools.britishcolumbia.ca/Invest/Pages/SearchProfiles.aspx
B.C.s Regions:
www.welcomebc.ca/Live/about-bc/regions.aspx
Industry Sectors:
www.britishcolumbia.ca/invest/industry-sectors.aspx
Reference Maps:
www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/statisticsbysubject/geography/referencemaps/rds.aspx
Purchasing an Existing Business

If you are interested in purchasing an existing business in British Columbia, you must conduct your
own due diligence to determine whether the business meets eligibility requirements.
The BC PNP discourages potential registrants and applicants from making any investments or financial
commitments prior to signing a performance agreement with the BC PNP and obtaining a valid work
permit from IRCC. Any investment made before you obtain a valid work permit is solely at your own
risk. The BC PNP does not guarantee that your registration will be selected or that your application
will be approved.
Page 26
Online Resources
You many also want to explore the following online resources to learn more about our province:
Welcome BC: Learn about living, investing, working and studying in B.C. as an immigrant to
Canada.
Small Business BC: This resource centre has information, products, services and support for
entrepreneurs at every stage of business development.
Trade and Invest BC: Learn about the many opportunities to invest in high growth businesses,
discover B.C.s innovation clusters, connect to B.C.s businesses and communities, and explore
B.C.s unique lifestyle.
Doing Business in British Columbia: A detailed guide on how to establish a business in B.C. as well
as information you may want to consider before you develop your business concept.
Hello BC: British Columbias official tourism website, with suggestions on things to see and do,
places to stay and information on how to get around.
BCEDA: Learn more about the role of economic development in the regions. You may refer to the
directory of BCEDA members for specific industry information for a particular B.C. community:
www.bceda.ca/content/members.
You may also refer to the Business Improvement Association of BC website at
www.bia.bc.ca/index.php, and the B.C. Chamber of Commerce website at
http://bccc.bcchamber.org/list/mapview?c=189.
Page 27
Registering with the BC PNP

What is the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration?
The Entrepreneur Immigration Registration is an online registration process that is the first step to
immigrating to British Columbia as an immigrant entrepreneur. As it is a points-based system, you
will receive a score based on the information you provide.
Your score will determine whether you will receive an invitation to apply under the BC PNP
Entrepreneur Immigration stream.
How does it work?
You must create an online profile and complete all of the sections, including a short business concept.
You will automatically be assigned points for each section when you submit your registration, except
the Business Concept section. Your responses to the Business Concept section will be scored by the
BC PNP within four weeks. The BC PNP will verify the scoring in all sections to finalize your
registration score.
If you meet the minimum points requirement for each of the sections, you will be entered into a
selection pool. You will remain in the pool for a maximum of six months.
Periodically, the BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants to apply. More information about
the invitation to apply process can be found in the Invitation to Apply section below.
Please carefully review the program requirements before completing your registration.
What else should I know?
The BC PNP reserves the right to make changes to the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration
without prior notice, including changes to the score grids, the minimum total required in each
section, the expiry of registrations in the selection pool, and the number and frequency of
registrants invited to apply. Please check our website to ensure you are using the most up-todate version of this Guide.
A registration into the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration System is not a guarantee that
you will be invited to submit an application.
There is a non-refundable registration fee of $300.
The BC PNP will only accept a maximum of 200 registrations per month.
You do not need to submit attachments with your registration, unless you are using the
services of an immigration representative. If you choose to use the services of an immigration
representative, you must upload a scanned copy of the Use of a Representative form available
on our website.
You are not able to make changes or edit any information once the registration is submitted.
Page 28
Your registration is valid for six months from the date you receive your total registration score.
If you do not receive an invitation to apply before your registration expires, it will no longer be
valid. You may then create and submit a new registration.
The number of invitations and frequency of draws will be determined by the BC PNPs
processing capacity and is subject to change. Please check our website for information on the
most recent invitations.
Your registration will be assessed according to the program requirements applicable at the
time of submitting your registration.
The BC PNP will verify the information you provide in your registration and may adjust your
score if necessary.
We may refuse your application if the information in your registration is materially different
from what you submitted in your application.
Creating your Profile

In order to register, you must create a profile with BC PNP Online. This includes your email and home
address, telephone number and passport information as well as security questions and password. You
will receive an email from the BC PNP asking you to confirm you email address and password.
You are responsible for updating your contact information in your profile and ensuring that it is
current and up to date.
Once you have completed your profile, click on the Entrepreneur Immigration stream button to
continue the registration process.
Completing the Registration
When you click on the Entrepreneur Immigration stream, you will be directed to My Dashboard, where
you can complete your registration.
The registration requires you provide information in all sections, which are listed as tabs across the
top of My Dashboard.
You are able to copy and paste from another program into text fields. Tables requiring numbers will
automatically calculate totals.
The system will save your information when you click on any tab and when you click the Next or
Previous buttons.
Submitting your Registration
When you complete the submit tab, which contains the declaration and confirmation for you and your
spouse, and select the "Submit this registration form", the system will calculate your section scores,
based on the information you provided. The Business Concept section will be scored separately by BC
PNP.
Page 29
The registrant declaration in the online registration requires your consent and is the legal
equivalent to your signature. As the registrant, you must ensure that you have read and
understood the declaration.
If your scores in each section meet the minimum eligibility scores, you will be directed to the
electronic payment system to pay the $300 non-refundable registration fee.
Your registration will only be submitted to the BC PNP after you have paid the registration fee. You
will receive a fee payment receipt and acknowledgment.
The BC PNP will assign points to your Business Concept score and provide you with a total score
within four weeks. If you are entered into the selection pool, you will receive an email notification.
An update of your final registration score will appear in My Dashboard.
Tips and Information
You do not need to complete the registration in one session. You may return to your
registration as often as needed. Inactive profiles and registrations will be deleted after 30
days.
If you do not meet the minimum eligibility score, you will be directed to My Dashboard. Any
sections where you did not meet the minimum score or sections where there was an error will
be highlighted in red. You may return to the section and correct any errors.
Information on the minimum scores is detailed in the Scoring section below.
To avoid lost data due to system time-out or network connection issues, it is recommended
that you compose your business concept in local word processing software and then paste the
text into the browser field.
Once you have paid the fee, you will not be able to make any changes or edits to your
registration.
If you have any questions, please refer to the frequently asked questions section of on our website.
Page 30
Scoring
Your registration will be scored based on the information you provide. The grids below outline how
your score will be calculated.
Each section of the registration has a minimum eligibility score. You must meet the minimum scores
in each section to be entered into the selection pool.
The maximum score available is 200.
Scoring Sections
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Points
Experience
Net worth
Personal investment
Jobs
Adaptability
Business Concept
24
12
30
36
18
80
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE
200
Experience
You will receive points based on your business ownership and/or senior management work
experience.
You must provide details of your business/work experience for the last 10 years. Please list all of
your active business ownership and/or senior management work experience. You will be assigned
points in the Experience section for periods that are not duplicated in time.
For example, if you owned 100% of Business XYZ but you also worked at Business XYZ as the General
Manager, you will only be assigned points for your Business Owner-Manager experience.
The transferability and relevance of your background to your proposed business in B.C. will be scored
by the BC PNP as part of your Business Concept.
The Program Requirements section of this Guide provides detailed information on business and work
experience requirements.
Page 31
Experience
Business Owner-Manager Experience
Senior Manager Work Experience
Total Duration
Points
Less than 12 months

12 to 24 months
25 to 36 months
37 to 48 months
0
4
6
12
49 to 60 months
15
61 months or more
20
Less than 24 months

24 to 48 months
49 to 60 months
61 months or more
0
4
8
12
The maximum score available for this section is 24.

You must score at least 8 points to meet the minimum requirements for this
section.
Net Worth
You will receive points based on your total net worth including that of your spouse or common-law
partner, if applicable.
The Program Requirements section of this Guide provides detailed information on personal net worth
requirements.
You will have to provide information on the following:
Current Assets:
bank deposits (e.g., personal chequing and savings accounts)

liquid investments (e.g., stocks, bonds, term deposits redeemable/cashable within one year)
other liquid assets (you must specify)
Other Assets:
real property (e.g., real estate, personal and commercial property ownership)
business ownership (current value of your percentage ownership in business(es), excluding
stocks held in investment portfolios that have been included under liquid investments above)
pension funds and other assets (you must specify)
Liabilities:
real property mortgage

other debts (e.g., personal loans, credit card debt)
Page 32
Personal Net Worth

Your total current
assets (cash and
liquid funds)
Your total personal
net worth*
Points
Less than $50,000

$50,000 to $199,999
$200,000 to $399,999
More than $400,000
0
1
3
6
Less than $600,000

$600,000 to $799,999
$800,000 to $1,999,999
$2,000,000 to $4,999,999
$5,000,000 or more
0
1
3
5
6

* You must score at least 1 point to meet the minimum requirements for total
personal net worth.
Personal Investment
You will receive points based on your proposed eligible personal investment for the business. Your
proposed investment must be completed within 20 months of arriving in B.C. on a BC PNP-supported
work permit.
You will be required to include proposed total investment and eligible investment for your proposed
investments.
Under the Entrepreneur Immigration Registration, typical investment items are included in a pre-filled
table. For any investment items that are not applicable to you, insert a 0 in the investment column
and a N/A in the description column. You may also add investment item fields to the table by
clicking Other.
The following sample items are provided in the pre-filled table:
purchase of existing business up to a maximum of $150,000 (if applicable)

new equipment purchases
start-up inventory or new inventory related to an improvement/expansion plan
leasehold improvements
new marketing costs
operating expenses
additional investment items, if necessary
The BC PNP will verify the eligibility of your proposed investment and may adjust your score
accordingly.
If you are proposing a partnership with a co-registrant, you must include the names of each partner
with your registration.
Page 33
If you intend to use external financing, you must indicate the source of the investment and the
amount.
The Program Requirements section of this Guide provides detailed information on minimum
investment requirements.
Eligible Personal Investment
Less than $200,000
$200,000 to $399,999
$400,000 to $999,999
$1,000,000 or more
Points
0
6
20
30

You must score at least 6 points, or 20 points if you are proposing a Key Staff, to
meet the minimum requirement for this section.
Jobs
You will receive points based on your proposed job creation, and job maintenance if you are
purchasing an existing business. Your proposed job creation must occur within 20 months of your
arrival to B.C.
For the proposed business, you must identify the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions that
will be created, and maintained.
Each registrant or co-registrant will receive points for the total number of jobs maintained. For
example, if you and your co-registrant (if applicable) are proposing to purchase an existing business
where there are a total of 10 jobs maintained, each registrant (yourself and the co-registrant) will
each receive points for maintaining 10 jobs.
Classification (NOC) system. The salary field represents the annual salary of the position.
The Program Requirements section of this Guide provides detailed information on job creation
requirements.
Page 34
Number of FTE Job Positions Created and Maintained
Points
Less than 1
1
2
3-4
5-6
7-8
9-10
11 or more
0
2
6
12
20
28
32
36

You must score at least 2 points, or 12 points if you are proposing a Key Staff, to
meet the minimum requirements for this section.
In addition, you will not qualify if you do not create at least 1 FTE. If you are
proposing a Key Staff, you must create a minimum of 3 FTEs.
Page 35
Adaptability
You will receive points based on your self-declared adaptability factors.
Language test results or certificates are not required with your registration. If you are invited to
apply, you may be required to provide evidence of your language proficiency.
The Program Requirements section of this Guide provides detailed information on adaptability factors.
Adaptability Factor
English language proficiency
Education Level*
Age
Business exploratory visits to

British Columbia
Canadian work experience,
business experience, or
studies from within Canada
for at least 12 months
Points
None or minimal, similar to CLB 3 and
below
Basic understanding, similar to CLB 4
Intermediate and advanced, similar to
CLB 5 and above
Less than two years of post-secondary
education
Two years or more of post-secondary
education
Less than 20
21 39
40 60
61 64
65 or older
No
Yes, 1 or more years ago
Yes, less than 1 year ago
0
2
4
0
3
0
3
4
2
0
0
1
2
No
Yes

There is no minimum required score for this section.
* If your score for Education Level is 0, you will not be eligible to register unless you have at least
three years of active management experience of a business that you had 100% ownership in the
last five years.
Page 36
Business Concept
You must provide a brief business concept of 1,000 words, but not exceeding 1,500 words, specific to
your proposal. The Business Concept may address topics covered in other sections of your
registration. Your proposed Business Concept will be scored by the BC PNP.
Your Business Concept must include an overview of the following:
description of business and its operations
competitive analysis
elaboration of proposed investments, and rationale for major investment items
human resources, including job creation/maintenance details
your skill set and experience and an assessment of business viability under your management
your proposed role in the business
due diligence activities
potential risk factors
In addition to the above, if you are purchasing an existing business, wholly or partially, please include:
identify and describe the business, including staffing
summarize the companys financial performance, with approximate annual revenue, net profit,
and total wages paid from the past three years
comment on business history and financial health
explain how you established the value of the business
provide a description and rationale of your improvement/expansion plan
If you are proposing to partner with a local or foreign businessperson or co-registrant, you must
provide a rationale for the business partnership and describe your business relationship with each
partner.
If you are partnering with a co-registrant, each co-registrant must submit their registrations within
four weeks of the earliest registration. Your registration will not be accepted if your co-registrant(s)
submits a registration more than four weeks after your registration is received.
If you are proposing a Key Staff, you must identify the Key Staff and provide a rationale for why the
Key Staff is essential to the proposed business, and describe your business relationship with the Key
Staff.
Do not include general market research or statistics in your Business Concept.
Page 37
Your Business Concept will be scored on the following factors:

Business Concept Factors
Points
1. Commercial Viability
28
2. Transferability of Skills
24
3. Economic Benefits
28

You must score at least 32 points to meet the minimum requirement for this
section.
There is no minimum required score for each of the three factors.
Your registration will not be accepted if you propose an ineligible business.
For complete information on business requirements, including detailed explanations of factors within
the Business Concept, please refer to the Program Requirements section of this Guide.
Page 38
You will receive points based on the commercial viability of your proposed business.
Business model of new business or improvement/expansion plan
What is the market like?
Unique selling point/advantage?
Due diligence
Ownership percentage of the proposed business*
Potential risk factors
Points
10
4
4
4
4
2
* You will receive points for ownership percentage based on the following table:
Ownership percentage
Points
100% ownership
67 to 99%
50 to 66%
33 to 49%
less than 33% ownership* must invest more than $1 million
4
3
2
1
0
For more information on Commercial Viability, please refer to the Program Requirements section of
this Guide.
You will receive points based on your direct experience and/or experience in related industries for the
last 10 years.
Direct experience is defined as experience gained in the same industry and sector corresponding to
the first three digits of the proposed NAICS number.
Related experience is defined as experience gained in a similar industry operating in a related

business line as the proposed business.
Business experience only
Work experience only
Language ability (bonus)
Points
24
14
2

Page 39
If you have business ownership and senior management work experience, your score will be
calculated by combining your work history with the following equation:
(Total Business experience only points) + (50% of points calculated from Work
experience only)*
* Unless your Work Experience Only points are greater than the combined total.
Business experience only: How many years as an active owner-manager in a similar business from the
last 10 years based on NAICS.
Business experience only
12+ months of experience in an unrelated industry
12 months or less of direct experience or 12 to 36 months of related
experience
13 to 24 months of direct experience or 37+ months of related
experience
13 to 24 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related
experience
25 to 36 months of direct experience
experience
experience
61+ months of direct experience
Points
2
5
8
10
12
14
17
21
24
Work experience only: How many years in a similar position as a senior manager from the last 10
years (without ownership or less than 10% ownership) based on NAICS.
Work experience only
12+ months of experience in an unrelated industry
12 months or less of direct experience or 12 to 36 months of related
experience
13 to 36 months of direct experience or 37+ months of related
experience
experience
experience
61+ months of direct experience
Points
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
For more information on Transferability of Skills, please refer to the Program Requirements section of
this Guide.
Page 40
Economic Benefits
You will receive points based on the potential to add economic benefits to British Columbia.
Economic Benefits
Identify a factor under Key Sector and/or Significant Economic Benefit
Location based on B.C. Regional District
Points
16
12

If your Business Concept identifies at least 1 factor under Key Sector or Significant Economic Benefit,
you will receive 10 points.
If your Business Concept identifies at least 1 factor under Key Sector and Significant Economic
Benefit, you will receive 16 points.
For more information on Economic Benefits including a list of Key Sectors and Significant Economic
Benefits, please refer to the Program Requirements section of this Guide.
Page 41

Points are awarded for the location of the proposed business based on the population sizes of B.C.s
Regional Districts. For up-to-date population statistics, please refer to the Highlights and Summary
Table.

More than 500,000 people
200,000 to 500,000
100,000 to 200,000
70,000 to 100,000
60,000 to 70,000
35,000 to 60,000
Less than 35,000 people
Regional district
Greater Vancouver
Capital
Fraser Valley
Central Okanagan
Nanaimo
Thompson-Nicola
Fraser-Fort George
North Okanagan
Cowichan Valley
Okanagan-Similkameen
Peace River
Comox Valley
Cariboo
Central Kootenay
Population
2,474,123
372,463
288,682
189,289
152,518
133,270
93,645
82,783
82,407
81,940
66,321
64,639
63,111
60,013
Regional district
East Kootenay
Columbia-Shuswap
Strathcona
Squamish-Lillooet
Bulkley-Nechako
Kitimat-Stikine
Alberni-Clayoquot
Kootenay-Boundary
Sunshine Coast
Powell River
Skeena-Queen Charlotte
Mount Waddington
Northern Rockies
Central Coast
Stikine
Points
0
1
3
6
8
10
12
Population
58,059
51,789
44,869
41,496
40,387
39,169
30,876
30,307
29,584
19,921
18,165
11,523
6,032
3,240
681
BC Stats 2014 Sub-Provincial Population Estimates
Page 42
Final Scoring and the Selection Pool

The BC PNP will assign scores to your Business Concept and calculate your final score.
You will receive an email from the BC PNP with your final score indicating whether you qualify for the
selection pool. After you complete your registration, please ensure that you have received a
confirmation email that includes your BC PNP registration number. If you do not receive this email
within 24 hours, please email the BC PNP at [email protected] for further instructions.
You will be able to view your final registration score, including scores for each section in My
Registrations that meet the minimum points total in every section will be entered into the
selection pool.
Registrations that qualify for the selection pool are valid for up to six months from the date
you receive your total registration score.
If you are not invited to apply to the BC PNP within six months of qualifying, your registration
will expire. At that time, you may submit a new registration to the BC PNP.
Registrants may only have one active BC PNP registration at any given time.
If you are proposing a partnership with a co-registrant, the total score of the lowest-scoring
registrant(s) will be applied to all co-registrants.
Dashboard.
Page 43
Invitation To Apply
Ranking
If you have entered the selection pool, your final registration score will be ranked along with other
registrants. Periodically, the BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants to apply to the
Entrepreneur Immigration stream.
In the event of a tie, registrants will be ranked according to the scores in the individual sections in the
following order:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Business Concept
Eligible Personal Investment
Job Creation
Business/Work Experience
Invitations to Apply
If you are invited to apply to the Entrepreneur Immigration stream, you will receive an email
notification including:
your BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration file number

instructions on how to complete the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration application
list of qualified suppliers for the verification of your net worth
timelines for application submission.
Registrants who are invited to apply will have up to four months from the date of invitation to submit
a complete application. This allows you time to finalize your business plan and obtain a verification
report of your net worth from a qualified supplier.
Note: If you are invited to apply, your registration will be removed from the selection pool.
The number and frequency of invitations to apply is based on annual nomination allocations and the
BC PNPs processing capacity to ensure timely processing of applications.
The BC PNP may refuse your application if the information in your application is materially different
from your registration.
What if I am not invited to apply?
Registering does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply. The BC PNP will only invite the
highest-scoring registrants from the selection pool.
You may wish to improve your score by developing a new business concept or improving your
adaptability. You may also submit a new registration with a new fee.
Invitation to Apply
Information about invitations to apply, including date, number of invitations issued and minimum
ranking scores, will be posted in the Invitation to Apply section of our website.
Page 44
Review of Personal Net Worth

You will need to engage qualified supplier to review your personal net worth and accumulation of
funds in order to submit an application to the BC PNP.
What is a Qualified Supplier?
A qualified supplier is a professional chartered accounting services supplier, who is qualified by the BC
PNP, that will complete a verification report of your personal net worth. The list of qualified suppliers
and instructions is included with the invitation to apply.
How does it work?
You must enter into an agreement with a BC PNP-qualified supplier to complete a review of your
personal net worth. You are responsible for all costs associated with this service.
You must have a BC PNP file number before you can engage a qualified supplier.
The qualified supplier will review your personal net worth claims and your accumulation of funds
through an analysis of your supporting financial documentation. The qualified supplier will produce a
report of your personal net worth and its legal accumulation. The report will outline how much of it is
verifiable, and whether there are any concerns that will require further investigation. The qualified
supplier may contact you to request additional information.
When the review is complete, the qualified supplier will send you and the BC PNP a copy of the report.
What will I need to provide?
You must provide the qualified supplier with a completed IRCC Schedule 4A Personal Net Worth form,
including the Section J - Accumulation of Wealth Narrative.
You must also provide to the qualified supplier all supporting documentation identified in the
Entrepreneur Immigration Application Guide, Appendix B, on the Documents page of our website.
What are the details?
The cost of obtaining a verification report will depend on which qualified supplier you choose, and the
amount of time it may take to evaluate your financial documentation. The average price may range
from $3,000 to $5,000 depending on the extent and complexity of your personal net worth.
The amount of time it takes to evaluate your financial documentation and prepare a verification report
will vary. Factors such as the volume of financial documentation you provide and the processing
capacity of the qualified supplier can impact the timing. The qualified suppliers are required to
complete a verification report within 60 days.
IMPORTANT
Do not engage a qualified supplier until you have received your BC PNP invitation to
apply.
Page 45
The verification report will be used as part of the BC PNP application assessment process.
Notwithstanding the conclusions of the net worth verification report, the BC PNP has sole discretion
and responsibility to assess your BC PNP application and may request additional information,
supporting documentation or clarification.
The verification report is valid for one year from the date of issuance by the supplier.
Failure to provide satisfactory evidence to verify your personal net worth and source of funds may
result in the refusal of your application.
Page 46
Applying to the BC PNP

Submitting your Application
If you received an invitation to apply, you will have up to four months to submit a complete
application including a verification report of your net worth, all supporting documents and a
comprehensive business plan.
For more information on submitting your application, including a Business Plan Guide, please refer to
the Entrepreneur Immigration Application Guide, on the Documents page of our website.
Processing Fee
You must pay a $3,500 non-refundable processing fee. Your spouse or common-law partner and
dependent children are included in the BC PNP application fee.
If you are proposing a Key Staff member, you must pay an additional $1,000 non-refundable
processing fee.
Application Assessment
Your application will be assessed by the BC PNP. After a review of your application, a decision will be
made on whether you will proceed to the interview stage:
you may be contacted to attend an in-person interview at our office in Vancouver
we may offer you an opportunity to respond to any concerns regarding your application
we may refuse your application if you have not met the minimum eligibility criteria outlined in
the program requirements section of this Guide
We may refuse your application if the information in your application is materially different from what
you submitted in your registration.
Interview
If requested, you will be required to attend an in-person interview at the BC PNP offices in Vancouver.
In the interview, you will be expected to describe your business/work experience and demonstrate a
thorough understanding of your business plan.
A decision on your application will be based on the information you provide up to and during your
interview. The BC PNP will not consider any additional or new information after your interview.
Interviews are conducted in English only.
If you are unable communicate in English, you must obtain the services of a certified translator. This
is to ensure you will be able to clearly communicate to BC PNP program staff. Certified translators
may include members of the Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC (STIBC) or individuals who
are certified court interpreters.
Page 47
If you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to attend the in-person interview, the BC PNP will
provide you with a letter of support for your TRV application.
At its discretion, the BC PNP may issue a maximum of two TRV support letters per applicant. An
applicants inability to attend an in-person interview will result in the refusal at the work permit stage
and closure of your application.
Performance Agreement
If your application is approved, you will be required to sign a performance agreement with the
Province of British Columbia. This document outlines the performance expectations you must meet
for nomination.
This includes:
type of business and location

investment amounts and timelines
the number and type of positions to be created for Canadians or permanent residents
active management requirement
residency requirements
timeframes within which you must meet these requirements
Performance agreements are unique to each applicant and are based on the information provided in
the application, business plan, and during the interview.
Important: Failure to meet the performance expectations within the timeframes may result in the
refusal at the nomination stage and closure of your application.
Work Permit
If your application is approved, the BC PNP will issue you a Letter of Confirmation (work permit
support letter) so you can apply to IRCC for a two-year work permit. This will enable you and your
dependants to move to B.C. so you can start implementing your business plan.
A work permit is the official document issued by the Government of Canada that allows a foreign
national to legally work on a temporary basis in Canada. It does not confer status on Canada. The
length of the temporary work permit may vary at the discretion of IRCC, but is usually two years.
For more information, please refer to the Building Your Business in B.C. Guide available on our
website.
Page 48
Nomination
Arrival
After you sign your performance agreement, you must arrive in B.C. with your valid work permit
within 12 months from the date of your Letter of Confirmation.
If you do not arrive to B.C. within the 12-month period from the date of your Letter of Confirmation,
your file will be closed.
Within two months of arriving in B.C. with your valid work permit, you must submit an Arrival Report
to the BC PNP. The Arrival Report provides basic information about your updated contact information,
your work permit, and whether you transferred the requisite funds into a financial institution in B.C.
Building your Business
Once you arrive in B.C. with your valid work permit, you will have up to 20 months to implement your
business plan, actively manage your business, and satisfy the performance expectations of your
signed performance agreement.
You may refer to the list in the Building Your Business in B.C. Guide for resources to assist you in
starting your business and your transition to Canada.
Final Report
You must submit a final report to the BC PNP between 18 to 20 months after you arrive in B.C. with
your valid work permit. You may submit your final report and supporting documents by USB drive or
in hard copy by courier. Email submission is not accepted.
The final report is the form and supporting documents that you must submit in order to be
considered eligible for nomination. The documentation outlines all of the performance expectations
and terms and conditions you must complete.
In your final report, it is your responsibility to demonstrate to that you have met the performance
expectations described in your signed performance agreement.
The BC PNP will review and evaluate your final report, and may at its discretion, request additional
information and/or conduct a site visit at your B.C. business in order to assess eligibility for
nomination.
You can only submit one final report.
For more information, please refer to the Final Report Guide in the Documents page of our website.
Page 49
Nomination
If you are nominated, the BC PNP will issue you a confirmation of nomination as a provincial nominee.
The nomination will allow you and your eligible dependant family members to apply for permanent
residence to IRCC under the Economic Class for Provincial Nominees.
Please note that the age(s) of your dependent children, if any, are locked in for the purpose of federal
immigration requirements at the time of application to the BC PNP. For more information on federal
requirements regarding the age of dependent children, please see IRCCs website.
If you fail to meet the performance expectations of the performance agreement during the mandatory
timeframes, your application may be refused at the nomination stage and your file will be closed.
Page 50
After Nomination and Applying for Permanent Residence

After you have been approved as a provincial nominee, you may then apply for permanent residence
to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Provincial Nominee Class.
IRCC will assess that you meet the security and admissibility to be issued permanent residence to
Canada, including medical and security checks.
IRCC may review additional information related to your application and ensure you continue to
meet the conditions of your performance agreement such as continuing to actively
manage your business.
IMPORTANT: Even if the BC PNP nominates you for permanent residence under the Provincial
Nominee Class, the Province has no decision-making authority or discretion as to whether or not IRCC
will grant you permanent residence status in Canada. IRCC has the final decision-making authority on
whether to issue you a permanent resident visa.
If IRCC approves your application, you will be issued a permanent resident visa to live and work in
Canada.
For more information on applying for permanent residence please visit IRCCs website.
For more information about processing times for applying for permanent residency, please visit IRCCs
website.
Work Permit Extension
If your work permit is due to expire within three months and you continue to meet the conditions of
your nomination, you must contact the BC PNP to request a support letter to extend your work
permit.
The BC PNP may request evidence to confirm you continue to meet the conditions of your nomination.
The BC PNP will then issue you a support letter to extend your work permit so you can apply to IRCC
for a work permit.
For more information about processing times for applying for a work permit, please visit IRCCs
website.
Page 51
Using a Representative
You do not have to use a representative such as an immigration consultant or lawyer to apply to
the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The program is designed for you to be able to
complete the process on your own.
The BC PNP scores all registrations under the same criteria, and, if invited to apply, the BC PNP
assesses all applications equally, regardless of whether they were prepared with the assistance of a
representative. Your registration or application will not receive special attention, faster processing, or
a more favourable outcome if it was submitted using the services of a representative.
Some people choose to use a representative to provide immigration advice or offer assistance with the
application process. If you pay someone to act as your representative, they must meet the
requirements for authorized representatives stated below.
Paid Representatives
If you are using a third-party representative to help you prepare and submit your application to the
BC PNP, they must follow federal legislation requiring that all paid immigration representatives meet
the definition of an authorized representative.
Authorized paid representatives are:
immigration consultants who are full members in good standing of the Immigration
Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council
lawyers who are members in good standing of the Law Society of BC or another law society in
Canada and students-at-law under their supervision.
Unpaid immigration third parties

You can also use the services of an unpaid third party, such as a family member, friend, or a member
of a non-governmental or religious organization, to act on your behalf.
The BC PNP only considers third-party representatives as unpaid if they do not charge fees or
receive any other compensation or benefit for providing immigration advice or related services.
Submit a representative form
If you are using an authorized or unpaid representative to help you prepare your application to the BC
PNP, you must submit the following disclosure consent forms for third-party representatives:
Use of a Representative form
By completing the BC PNPs Authorized Representative Form, you have legally authorized the person
on the form (such as an immigration consultant, lawyer, friend or family member) to communicate
details about your registration and/or application with the BC PNP on your behalf. This includes
submitting your registration and application, submitting payment, submitting supporting documents
and discussing details of your file with program staff.
Page 52
The legal declaration in the online registration or application is your legal signature. If
your representative enters the registration or application on your behalf, you should
review the information provided as you will be legally responsible for the accuracy of the
form contents.
BCPNP Online uses your personal email as the unique personal identifier for your client profile. The
email and contact information in the authorized representative form will be associated with your
registration in the system, and application, if applicable, and can be used by BC PNP staff for
communication and due diligence in the application assessment process.
At its discretion, the BC PNP may contact you directly to request additional evidence or information to
verify information in your application, and to determine if you meet or continue to meet all program
requirements.
You may only have one third-party representative for your application at any given time. If you wish
to change your representative during the BC PNP application process, you must submit a new Use of a
Representative Form allowing the BC PNP to disclose information to a different third-party.
If you wish to remove your representative during the BC PNP application process, you must notify the
BC PNP in writing (by email or a signed letter).
Beware of immigration fraud
We encourage you to protect yourself from immigration fraud and scams. Learn more about
protecting yourself from fraud.
Withdrawing your Registration or Application
You may choose to withdraw your registration and/or application by contacting the BC PNP, however,
fees will only be refunded if you withdraw your registration and/or application before the BC PNP
begins to assess it.
You may contact the BC PNP at [email protected] to withdraw your registration and/or application
and find out if you are eligible for a refund. Please provide your full name, your date of birth, and
your BC PNP file number in your email.
You may submit a new registration at any time, however, only one registration or application will be
active at one time.
Request for Review
The purpose of a review is to determine whether the original decision was based on a fair process,
and was within the range of decisions that could be reasonably supported by the evidence before the
decision maker on the basis of the program criteria at the time of the decision.
A review is not a chance to submit new evidence or re-argue the evidence submitted in your
application. Being unsatisfied with the final decision or a component of the decision is not sufficient
grounds to vary or reverse a decision.
Page 53
A complete request for review package must be submitted within 30 calendar days of the date
provided on the decision notice if the person is a resident in Canada, or 60 calendar days of the date
of the decision notice if the person is not a resident in Canada. For the purposes of a review,
residence in Canada is determined by the applicants residential address indicated on the request for
review form.
Important information for those who choose to submit a request for review:
only the applicant named on the decision notice may request a review
applicants may only submit a request to review decisions issued by the BC PNP. The review
process is limited to the following types of BC PNP decisions:
Skills Immigration nomination refusals

Skills Immigration nomination withdrawals
Entrepreneur Immigration registration disqualifications
Entrepreneur Immigration - stage 1 - application refusals
Entrepreneur Immigration - stage 2 - nomination refusals
Entrepreneur Immigration nomination withdrawals
the residential address provided in Section A of the request for review form must be the
applicant's current residential address. Forms that list the authorized representative's address
will be considered incomplete and will not be processed
The BC PNP will only vary or reverse a decision on review where the applicant demonstrates
that the decision was unreasonable or procedurally unfair
the review will be conducted on the basis of the program criteria and the evidence before the
original decision maker
all BC PNP reviews are final. Subsequent requests for review, or requests for review submitted
outside of the applicable 30 or 60 day periods, will not be accepted
submit your request by e-mail with the subject line: Request for Review
you will receive an e-mail confirming if your request has been received
if your request is missing required documents or is otherwise incomplete, you will receive an email indicating that your request is missing information and has not been accepted. Complete
requests must be submitted within the applicable 30 or 60 day periods
The request for review form can be found here.
Page 54

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BRITISH COLUMBIA

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

For more information, please contact:

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

BC Provincial Nominee Program: Entrepreneur Immigration Stream ....... 6

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Updates to this Edition

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

18. Removed wording regarding refunds (Page 52)

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

BC Provincial Nominee Program: Entrepreneur Immigration Stream

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Entrepreneur Immigration Requirements

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

be prohibited from entering Canada

Personal Net Worth:

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

If you receive an invitation to apply:

more than three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or

more than four years of experience as a senior manager, or

a combination of at least one year of experience as an active business owner-manager and at

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

A minimum of two-years of post-secondary education, or

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Experience as an active business owner-manager with 100% ownership of the business

Post-secondary education refers to full-time studies from a licensed post-secondary

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

The BC PNP does not pre-approve or endorse business proposals.

Minimum ownership percentage:

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Reasonable proposed investment and job creation figures:

Expansion plan (existing business):

Financial stability (existing business):

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

The industry sector of the proposed business.

Technology and Green Economy

Significant Economic Benefits:

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

transferring technology and specialized knowledge to B.C.

BC PNP is focused on attracting investment to regional communities and under the

an immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Immigration and Refugee Protection

Your registration will not be accepted if you propose an ineligible business.

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Minimum Investment Requirements

Purchase of an existing business:

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

marketing or advertising expenses, legal or professional fees, business licences,

Purchase of real estate (new business only):

Purchase of a business vehicle:

For the establishment of a new business:

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

For the establishment of a new franchise location: A maximum of three months of

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Requirements at nomination stage

BC PNP ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION PROGRAM GUIDE

Key Staff Requirements (if applicable)

Eligible personal investment: