Entrepreneur Immigration Stream

British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration streams are also a part of PNP operated by the province of British Columbia. The streams target foreign nationals who have demonstrated experience in owning and operating businesses and wish to invest in business opportunities in British Columbia.

Candidates for this stream should purchase a new or existing business in British Columbia and become actively involved in management of the BC operation. These streams offer opportunities to affluent individuals with experience in business management, as well as wealthy foreign companies that plan to expand their business into British Columbia. Successful applicants receive a provincial nomination by the province of British Columbia which supports applications for Canadian PR. Streams contained within the BC Entrepreneur Immigration are:
•    British Columbia Entrepreneur
•    British Columbia Entrepreneur Regional Pilot
•    British Columbia Strategic Projects

British Columbia Entrepreneur

This stream targets experienced businessmen and managers who wish to live in British Columbia permanently. To be eligible for this stream, the applicants must demonstrate management experience along with substantial personal net worth. Successful applicants will be required to purchase and manage a new or existing business in British Columbia. The applicant becomes eligible for Canadian permanent residence after the operation of the business is proved successful.

British Columbia Entrepreneur Regional Pilot

This stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who wish to invest in and manage a business in the province of British Columbia. The applicants must be referred by one of the program’s participating communities in British Columbia.

British Columbia Strategic Projects

This stream targets successful foreign-owned companies looking to establish a new branch or operation in British Columbia. The companies must prove their ability to generate substantial annual revenue with the management of large staff teams. Successful companies will be required to transfer their key staff to British Columbia in order to manage their newly-proposed operation. The key staff members become eligible for Canadian PR after proving their BC enterprise operation successful.

British Columbia Entrepreneur Ranking System

The following points system is used by the BC Entrepreneur Immigration stream to rank candidates with registered profiles. Only the candidates with the most competitive scores get an invitation to apply to the program.

Scoring Sections

Points

Self-Declared

 

Experience

20

Ownership

4

Net Worth

12

Total Personal Investment

20

Jobs

20

Regional District

12

Adaptability

32

Self-Declared SUBTOTAL Score

120

Business Concept

 

Commercial Viability

30

Transferability of Skills

20

Economic Benefits

30

Business Concept SUBTOTAL Score

80

Maximum Score Available

200

Experience Total Duration

Points

Business Owner-Manager Experience

 

Less than 12 months

0

12 to 24 months

4

25 to 36 months

6

37 to 48 months

12

49 to 60 months

15

More than 60 months

20

Senior Manager Work Experience

 

Less than 24 months

0

24 to 48 months

4

49 to 60 months

8

More than 60 months

12

Maximum Score Available

20

Ownership Amount

Points

Business Ownership

 

Less than three years of 100% business ownership in the past five years

0

100% ownership of a business for at least three of the last five years

4

Maximum Score Available

4

 

 

 

 

 

Personal Net Worth

Points

Total Current Assets (Cash and Liquid Funds)

 

Less than $50,000

0

$50,000 to $199,999

2

$200,000 to $399,999

3

$400,000 or more

4

Total Personal Net Worth

 

Less than $600,000

0

$600,000 to $799,999

5

$800,000 to $1,999,999

6

$2,000,000 to $4,999,999

7

$5,000,000 or more

8

Maximum Score Available

12

Total Proposed Full-Time Jobs

Points

Less than 1

0

1 job

8

2 jobs

9

3 jobs

10

4 jobs

11

5 jobs

12

6 jobs

13

7 - 9 jobs

15

10 - 19 jobs

16

20 or more jobs

20

Maximum Score Available

20

Location Based on B.C. Regional District

Points

500,000 people or more

0

200,000 to 499,999

1

100,000 to 199,999

3

70,000 to 99,999

6

60,000 to 69,999

8

35,000 to 59,999

10

Fewer than 35,000 people

12

Maximum Score Available

12

Adaptability Factors

Adaptability Factor

Points

English Language Proficiency

 

None or minimal, similar to CLB 3 and below

0

Basic understanding, similar to CLB 4

2

Intermediate and advanced, similar to CLB 5 and above

4

Education Level

 

Secondary school or less

0*

Associate degree

2

Diploma / certificate (non-trades)

2

Diploma / certificate (trades)

2

Bachelor’s degree

5

Post-graduate diploma / certificate

5

Master’s degree

8

Doctorate / PhD

8

Age

 

Less than 25

0

25 – 34

4

35 – 44

8

45 – 54

6

55 – 64

4

65 or older

0

Business Exploratory Visits

 

No, or visited B.C. more than 3 years ago

0

Yes, visited B.C. 1 – 3 years ago

1

Yes, visited B.C. less than 1 year ago, but did not visit the Regional District of the proposed business

2

Yes, visited the Regional District of the proposed business less than 1 year ago

4

Canadian Work Experience, Business Experience, or Studies from Within Canada for at Least 12 Months

 

No

0

Yes

8

Maximum Score Available

32

 

 

Overall Commercial Viability

Points

Business Model

10

Unsatisfactory / Unclear

1

Fair

5

Good

10

60,000 to 69,999

8

Market & Products/Services

4

Does not satisfactorily address any of the Market/Product factors

1

Addresses at least one of the Market/Product factors, and is consistent with Business Model

4

Eligible Personal Investment

4

Less than $200,000 or less than $50,000 of eligible expansion investments

0*

$200,000 to $399,999

1

$400,000 to $599,999

2**

$600,000 to $799,999

3

$800,000 or more

4

Assessment of Proposed Personal Investment

6

Investment proposal does not correspond to the type or scale of the business

0

Investment proposal corresponds to the type and scale of the business

4

Investment proposal corresponds to the type and scale of the business, the market, the proposed products and/or services, the business model, and the industry standard.

6

Ownership Percentage

4

100% ownership

4

More than 50% and less than 100%

3

33 1/3% to 50%

2

Less than 33 1/3% ownership*

0

Risk Factors

2

- proposing external financing

OR

- proposing to invest more than 50% of PNW

OR

- proposing to partner with a co-registrant

0

None of the above

2

Maximum Score Available

30

Transferability of Skills

Points

Business Experience Only

20

12+ months of experience in an unrelated industry

2

12 months or less of direct experience or 12 to 36 months of related experience

5

13 to 24 months of direct experience or 37+ months of related experience

8

13 to 24 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

10

25 to 36 months of direct experience

12

25 to 36 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

14

37 to 60 months of direct experience

16

37 to 60 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

18

More than 60 months of direct experience

20

Work Experience Only

14

12+ months of experience in an unrelated industry

2

12 months or less of direct experience or 12 to 36 months of related experience

4

13 to 36 months of direct experience or 37+ months of related experience

6

13 to 36 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

8

37 to 60 months of direct experience

10

37 to 60 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

12

More than 60 months of direct experience

14

Language Ability

2

Minimal to none (Similar to CLB 3 or below)

0

Basic language proficiency (Similar to CLB 4)

1

Intermediate or above language proficiency (Similar to CLB 5 or above)

2

Maximum Score Available

20

 

 

Overall Economic Benefit Points

Points

Key Sector & Significant Economic Benefit

12

Does not identify or substantiate any key sectors or any significant economic benefits

3

Substantiates at least 1 key sector or at least 1 significant economic benefit

8

Substantiates at least 1 key sector and at least 1 significant economic benefit

12

Jobs Assessment

6

The business concept does not support the creation of at least 1 FTE position, or, if proposing a key staff, the creation of at least 3 FTE positions

0

Jobs plan does not correspond to the type and scale of the business

1

Jobs plan corresponds to the type and scale of the business

6

High-skilled Jobs (NOC 0, A or B)

4

Business concept does not propose or substantiate hiring any high-skilled positions

0

Business concept substantiates the creation/maintenance of 1 high-skilled position

2

Business concept substantiates the creation/maintenance of 2 or more high skilled positions

4

Regional Development

8

Lower Mainland / Southwest

2

Vancouver Island and Coast

4

Thompson / Okanagan

4

Cariboo

6

Kootenay

8

Nechako

8

North Coast

8

Northeast

8

Maximum Score Available

30

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