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British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) is an immigration program through which a broad range of workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs can settle in British Columbia permanently. The BC-PNP is one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). It is one of the most varied of all the PNPs, with two broad streams for workers and graduates — Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration — plus an additional stream for entrepreneurs.

Home to the country’s third-largest city, Vancouver, British Columbia is also one of the most diverse provinces in all of Canada. British Columbia’s economy focuses on a strong natural resources sector, with an emphasis on forestry and mining. Its natural environment, with expansive forests and a unique coastal climate, is renowned as one of the most beautiful in Canada, and indeed the world.

The BC PNP accepts applications under two main immigration streams:

Entrepreneur Immigration

The Entrepreneur Immigration stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a path to immigrate to Canada and settle in B.C. for experienced entrepreneurs who can support innovation and economic growth in the province.

Entrepreneur Immigration Category — This category is for senior managers or business owners who intend to invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia.

Entrepreneur Immigration — Regional Pilot — This new pilot is for international entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business in a small community in British Columbia.

Strategic Projects Category — Through this category, foreign-controlled companies can set up an operation in British Columbia. Up to five key foreign managerial, professional or technical staff members can be nominated for permanent residence in the province.

Minimum Requirements for Candidates

Personal net worth of at least $600,000 (including cash, assets in bank accounts, fixed deposits, real properties, investments, etc). The net worth must be legally obtained and may be under the spouse or common-law partner’s name. This net worth must verifiable if invited to apply;
Post-secondary credential or experience as an active business owner-manager with 100 percent ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years.
Eligible experience as an active business owner/manager and/or senior manager;
Submit a business concept that demonstrates an active and ongoing management role in the day-to-day operations of the proposed business and the creation of at least one new job in the proposed B.C. business; and
Personal investment of CAD $200,000 in eligible expenses.

Skills Immigration (including Express Entry British Columbia)

The Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is a dynamic management system for immigration to British Columbia, Canada. The SIRS allows the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to rank and select candidates who have the ability to settle permanently in the province. As it is a points-based system, candidates receive a score based on the information provided when they register. The registration score will determine whether a candidate will receive an invitation to apply under one of five BC PNP categories that are managed under the system.

BC PNP Skills Immigration is divided into the following categories:

Skilled Worker Category
Healthcare Professional Category
International Graduate Category
International Post-Graduate Category
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category

Express Entry British Columbia

Express Entry British Columbia aligns with the federal government’s Express Entry immigration selection system, allowing eligible applicants to receive priority processing of both their British Columbia PNP application and if nominated, their permanent residence application.

Following Skills Immigration categories processed through Express Entry:

Skilled Worker Category
Health Care Professional Category
International Graduate Category
International Post-Graduate Category

Nomination Requirements

If the applicants meet the requirements of the Performance Agreement within the 20 months, the BC PNP will nominate him or her for permanent residence. An applicant, along with his or her dependent family members, can then apply for Canadian permanent residence under the BC PNP with IRCC. Once the entrepreneur completes the terms of the Performance Agreement, he or she can submit a Final Report to the BC PNP to be issued a nomination certificate. The entrepreneur must demonstrate that he or she:

is actively managing a business (i.e., be accountable for the day-to-day operations of the business) in British Columbia;
resides within 100 kilometers of the business;
has been physically present in BC for at least 75 percent of the time that he or she was on a work permit; and
has complied with any other terms of the Performance Agreement.

Nomination Requirements

December 18, 2019	Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category	118
December 18, 2019	Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot	112

BC PNP Entrepreneur Stream points system

Up to 200 points are available to eligible candidates, who will receive a score upon registration. Candidates must meet the minimum scores in each section in order to be entered into the selection pool.

	Scoring section	Points
Self-declared	Experience	20
	Ownership	4
	Net worth	12
	Total personal investment	20
	Jobs	20
	Regional district	12
	Adaptability	32
Self-declared subtotal		120
Business concept	Commercial viability	30
	Transferability of skills	20
	Economic benefits	30
Business concept subtotal		80
Maximum score available		200

Experience

Maximum score available: 24

Minimum requirements for eligibility: 8

Details of the candidate’s business/work experience for the last 10 years should be included, but experience should not be duplicated. For example, if a candidate owned 100 percent of a business but also worked at the business as the General Manager, only the Business Owner-Manager experience should be selected.

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

In addition, candidates may be awarded points if they have owned 100 per cent of a business for at least three of the most recent five years. The 100 per cent ownership of the business may be shared between the candidate, his or her spouse or common-law partner and/or your dependent child(ren).

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

Net worth

Maximum score available: 12

Minimum requirements for eligibility: 5

Candidates may receive points based on their total net worth including that of their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.

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
Subtotal		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
Subtotal		8
Maximum score available		12

Personal Investment

Maximum score available: 20

Minimum requirements for eligibility: 8 (10, if proposing a key staff member)

Total personal investment	Points
Less than $200,000	0
$200,000 to $399,999	8
$400,000 to $599,999	10
$600,000 to $999,999	11
$1,000,000 to $1,999,999	12
$2,000,000 to $3,999,999	14
$4,000,000 to $7,999,999	16
$8,000,000 or more	20
Maximum score available	20

Jobs created/Maintained

Maximum score available: 20

Minimum requirements for eligibility: Create at least 1 job (3, if proposing a key staff member)

Total Proposed FTE 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 to 9 jobs	14
10 to 19 jobs	16
20 or more jobs	20
Maximum score available	20

Regional District

Maximum score available: 12

Minimum requirements for eligibility: The applicant must work at the primary place of business in the proposed regional district.

Points are awarded for the location of the proposed business based on the population sizes of BC’s Regional Districts.

Location Based on BC 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

Based on official 2016 data, this would translate into the following points totals being awarded in specific Regional Districts.

Regional District	Population	Points
Greater Vancouver	2,558,029	0
Capital	382,645	1
Fraser Valley	301,238	1
Central Okanagan	197,075	3
Nanaimo	157,599	3
Thompson-Nicola	135,074	3
Fraser-Fort George	90,915	6
North Okanagan	85,164	6
Cowichan Valley	84,014	6
Okanagan-Similkameen	80,622	6
Peace River	66,504	8
Comox	64,847	8
Cariboo	63,111	8
Central Kootenay	60,775	8
East Kootenay	58,960	10
Columbia-Shuswap	52,021	10
Strathcona	46,175	10
Squamish-Lillooet	41,531	10
Bulkley-Nechako	40,383	10
Kitimat-Stikine	36,270	10
Alberni-Clayoquot	30,721	12
Kootenay-Boundary	29,926	12
Sunshine Coast	29,243	12
Powell River	20,328	12
Skeena-Queen Charlotte	17,389	12
Mount Waddington	11,139	12
Northern Rockies	5,992	12
Central Coast	3,248	12
Stikine	674	12

*Source: BC Stats 2016 Sub-Provincial Population Estimates

Adaptability

Maximum score available: 32

Minimum requirements for eligibility: none

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 BC more than 3 years ago	0
	Yes, visited BC 1 – 3 years ago	1
	Yes, visited BC 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

*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 per cent ownership in the last five years.

Business Concept

Maximum score available: 80

Minimum requirements for eligibility: 32

The BC PNP assesses the business concept and scores it according to the following framework: commercial viability (up to 30 points), transferability of skills (up to 20 points), and economic benefits (up to 30 points).

Commercial viability

This section is divided into the following factors, with a corresponding points breakdown.

Overall Commercial Viability	Points
Business model	10
Market & products/services	4
Eligible personal investment	4
Assessment of proposed personal investment	6
Ownership percentage	4
Risk factors	2
Maximum score available	30

Business Model	Points
Unsatisfactory / Unclear Proposed scale of business is not consistent with industry/regional norms. Business model does not clearly identify and/or describe the business operation from start to finish. Business model does not clearly identify the products and/or services being offered. Business concept does not provide details of applicant’s proposed role. Business concept does not provide substantive information on local business partner and/or co-applicant and/or key staff (if applicable). Proposed key staff is ineligible and/or the co-registrants do not demonstrate a prior working/business relationship. If purchasing an existing business: the proposed expansion plan does not effectively address a plan to upgrade/improve or expand the existing business, or is ineligible. If purchasing an existing business: the proposed expansion plan relies primarily upon unsubstantiated investment and/or job creation and appears to be inconsistent with industry/regional norms.	1
Fair Business model is clearly identified and describes the business operation from start to finish. Business model clearly identifies the products and/or services being offered. Proposed scale of business is consistent with industry/regional norms iv. business concept provides substantive information on local business partner and/or co-applicant and/or key staff (if applicable).	5
Good A good business model will be determined if, in addition to core requirements for fair, the business concept also meets at least 3 of the following factors: Proposed investment and jobs plan is consistent with the business model (must score 6 points for assessment of investment and score 6 points for jobs assessment) Business model identifies a clear strategy to become commercially viable. Business model’s operational plan is internally consistent iv. applicant’s proposed duties with the business are consistent with applicant’s experience	10
Maximum score available	10

Market & Product	Points
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
Maximum score available	4

Eligible Personal Investment	Points
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
Maximum score available	4

* If you score 0 points in this section, your registration will be disqualified. ** If you are proposing a key staff and your score in this section is less than 2 points, your registration will be disqualified

Risk factors	Points
proposing external financing OR proposing to invest more than 50% of your personal net worth OR you are proposing to partner with a co-registrant	0
None of the above	2
Maximum score available	2

Transferability of skills

Candidates will receive points based on their direct experience and/or experience in related industries for the last 10 years, according to the following points breakdown.

Transferability of Skills		Points
Business experience only	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
Subtotal		20
Work experience only	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
Subtotal		14
Language ability	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

Economic benefits

This section is divided into the following factors and corresponding points totals.

Overall Economic Benefit Points	Points
Key Sector & Significant Economic Benefit	12
Jobs assessment	6
High-skilled jobs (NOC 0, A or B)	4
Regional Development	8
Maximum score available	30

Key Sector / Significant Economic Benefit Scoring	Points
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
Maximum score available	12

Jobs assessment	Points
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
Maximum score available	6

*If you score 0 points in this section, your registration will be disqualified.

Development Region	Points
Lower Mainland / Southwest	2
Vancouver Island and Coast	4
Thompson / Okanagan	4
Cariboo	6
Kootenay	8
Nechako	8
North Coast	8
North Coast	8
Maximum score available	8

The Pool

Registrations that meet the minimum points total in every section will be entered into the qualified pool. Registrations in the qualified pool are valid for 180 days.

Candidates who are not invited to apply to the BC PNP within 180 days of qualifying will be removed from the pool. Registrants may only have one active BC PNP registration or application at any given time.

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