British Columbia Immigration Entrepreneur Category

Under the Agreement for Canada - British Columbia Co-operation on Immigration, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program was developed to provide British Columbia with a mechanism for increasing economic benefits of immigration to the province.

Business Skills Program

British Columbia's Business Skills program is intended to assist business immigrants, with proven skills and financial resources, to "fast track" their plans to establish a business anywhere in British Columbia.

Eligibility

• The applicant must have a successful business experience;

• The applicant must have a minimum net worth of CAD$ 2 million;

• The applicant must have a minimum investment of CAD$ 1 million;

• The applicant must have a minimum 33 1/3% of equity in business;

• The applicant must have a business plan;

• The business to create a minimum of 5 new jobs; and

• The applicant must have an active management role in the business.

Regional Business Program
British Columbia's Regional Business program is intended to assist business immigrants, with proven skills and financial resources, to "fast track" their plans to establish a business in British Columbia, but outside Greater Vancouver. 

Eligibility

• The applicant must have a minimum net worth of CAD$ 600,000; 

• The applicant must make a minimum investment: CAD$ 300,000 (excluding real estate); 

• The applicant must have a minimum 50% equity in the business; 

• The business must create a minimum of 2 new jobs; 

• The applicant must have an active management role in the business; 

• The business must be outside Greater Vancouver; and 

• The investment cannot include real estate.

A key difference between this category and the Business Skills Category is that the investment amount is much smaller (CAD$300,000 instead of CAD$1,000,000), but the investment must be outside of Greater Vancouver, and cannot include a real estate component. The applicant must submit the application to the BC government, who will review it on the basis of the above criteria, and considering other priorities which they may have at the time. Qualifying businesses have included franchise restaurants, manufacturing, and other businesses. Once the applicant application has been approved in principle by the BC government, our office will negotiate a Performance Agreement with them to set out the investment levels and the timeline for the investment. Once our office have received approval, we will arrange for Work Permits for the applicant and the applicant's spouse for 2 years in order to allow the applicant and his/her family to come to Canada while the immigration case is being processed. After the applicant have complied with conditions on the Performance Agreement, the BC Government will "nominate" the applicant and his/her family for permanent residence, and our Office will then process the applicant's Permanent Residence application.