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BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration: Regional stream
A lower-threshold entrepreneur route for people who will start a business in a participating smaller BC community that supports their business idea. It needs an exploratory visit and a community referral before registering.
Who it suits
- Business owners or senior managers with at least CAD 300,000 net worth and CAD 100,000 to invest
- People willing to settle in a participating BC community outside the big urban centres
Requirements
- Net worthPersonal net worth of at least CAD 300,000. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- InvestmentEligible personal investment of at least CAD 100,000 in the business, within 610 days of arrival. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- ExperienceWithin the last 5 years: 36+ months as an active owner-manager, or 48+ months as a senior manager, or 12+ months owner-manager plus 24+ months senior manager. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- OwnershipOwn at least 51% of the business. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- ReferralExploratory visit to the community is mandatory first; then a community referral, valid 90 days. The business must be new and match a priority set by the community, in a community enrolled in the program. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- JobsCreate at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or PR within 420 days of arrival. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- LanguageCLB 4 in all four abilities, test valid 24 months. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- EducationA post-secondary credential, or 36 of the last 60 months as 100% business owner-manager. ↗ welcomebc.ca
- FeesCAD 300 registration fee and CAD 3,500 application fee; performance agreement 20 months after arrival. ↗ welcomebc.ca
How candidates are selected
Same scored registration and invitation process as Base, after the community referral. Invitation rounds for Regional are very small and minimum scores have varied between 105 and 129 in 2026.
Location requirement: Business must be in a participating BC community with a community referral.
Processing: Same as Base: registration scoring about 6 weeks, each application stage about 4 months, request for review about 6 months.
Recent rounds
| Date | Round | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 22, 2026 | Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional stream (fewer than 5 invited) | 119 | — |
| Aug 25, 2026 | Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional stream | 116 | 5 |
| Jun 30, 2026 | Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional stream (fewer than 5 invited) | 113 | — |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional stream (fewer than 5 invited) | 117 | — |
| May 5, 2026 | Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional stream (fewer than 5 invited) | 115 | — |
| Mar 10, 2026 | Entrepreneur Immigration, Regional stream (fewer than 5 invited) | 129 | — |
Related pathways
BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration: Base stream
ClosedBC PNP Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream (closed)
OpenBC PNP Health Authority stream and Care: Health priority draws
ClosedBC PNP International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams (closed)
Limited intakeBC PNP Skills Immigration: Skilled Worker stream
ReplacedBC PNP priority technology occupations draws (ended)
Official sources
- welcomebc.caEntrepreneur Immigration pageChecked 2026-10-01
- welcomebc.caEntrepreneur Immigration Regional program guide (2024-05-27)Checked 2026-10-01
- welcomebc.caBC PNP invitations to applyChecked 2026-10-01
- welcomebc.caAbout the BC PNPChecked 2026-10-01
Program rules change often. This page summarizes the official pages listed above; the official page always takes precedence.