BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Benefits
- Opportunity to apply for a two-year temporary work permit to develop a business in British Columbia
- After successfully operating the business for two years, applicants may become eligible to apply for permanent residence
- Opportunity to include spouse, common law partner, and dependent children into the application
- No age limit
- No job offer required
BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Requirements
- Be at least 18 years old
- Meet the minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French
- Have a personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000
- Have a minimum of 3 years of experience within the last 10 years as a business owner-manager, or 4+ years as a senior manager, or a combination of 1+ year of experience as a business owner-manager and 2+ years as a senior manager
- Be committed to developing a business that bring benefits to the province’s economy and creates at least 1 full-time position
- Be committed to spending at least 75% of the time developing the business from within British Columbia after the work permit is granted
BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial Nominee ProgramInvestment options
- The applicant must make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD 200,000 to develop a new business, or purchase and expand an existing business in British Columbia.
- If the applicant has less than 1/3 ownership in the business, the applicant should make an equity investment of at least CAD 1 million in the business
BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Process
- Submit an Expression of Interest outlining the business idea
- Upon receiving invitation to apply, complete a net worth assessment by an authorized accountant and submit the BCPNP Base application
- Sign the performance agreement and receive a work permit support letter to apply for a work permit
- Upon approval of the work permit application, visit British Columbia to develop the business.
- If business progress is satisfactory and conditions on the performance agreement are met, nomination will be granted to support permanent residence application
- Typical processing time for work permit and permanent residence applications are 3 months and 16 months respectively
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the BCPNP program for Entrepreneurs under the Base Stream?
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) for Entrepreneurs under the Base Stream is an excellent pathway for experienced entrepreneurs to secure permanent residence status in Canada if they can establish and actively manage a business in British Columbia that contributes to the province’s economy.
Who is eligible to apply for the BCPNP program in Canada?
Eligible entrepreneurs must meet the following requirements:
General Requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have no criminal record
- Meet the minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark level 4
Other Requirements:
- Have a personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000
- Have a minimum of 3 years of experience within the last 10 years as a business owner-manager, or 4+ years as a senior manager, or a combination of 1+ year as a business owner-manager and 2+ years as a senior manager
- Be committed to establishing an eligible new business or expanding an existing business
- Be prepared to invest at least CAD 200,000 in the business and create at least one full-time job in British Columbia
- Commit to spending at least 75% of the time developing the business from within British Columbia after the work permit is granted.
Who qualifies as dependents under the BCPNP program?
The main applicant can include the following family members in his BCPNP permanent residence application for entrepreneurs under the base stream:
- Spouse
- Common-law partner
- Children under 22 who do not have a spouse or partner
- Children over 22 who have relied on the main applicant for financial support since before turning 22 and cannot financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition
Additionally, after the main applicant successfully secures his work permit to develop the business in British Columbia, he can assist the above-listed family members in applying for their respective temporary residence permits. These permits will enable the family members to accompany the main applicant to British Columbia.
What type of business ideas are accepted under the BCPNP Canada Entrepreneur program?
Generally, applicants can propose to develop a new business or purchase and expand an existing business that contributes to the economic growth of the province. The proposed business must offer products or services for profit and have strong potential for sustained commercial success. Franchises may be accepted if the applicant can demonstrate that the proposed franchise is well-established (i.e., ability to expand, sound financial track record, and in operation for at least five years) and the applicant will receive support from the franchisor to purchase and operate a franchise location. Additionally, the business must not fall under the list of ineligible business types identified by the British Columbia government.
Can one use an existing business in Canada to apply for the BCPNP program?
Yes, applicants can use an existing Canadian company they have established in British Columbia to apply for the BCPNP entrepreneur program under the Base stream if they hold at least one-third (33 1/3 per cent) of the business in shares. Those who had established a company in British Columbia but own less than one-third in shares of the company must make an equity investment of at least CAD 1 million to support the application. Additionally, applicants considering the purchase of an existing company in British Columbia to apply for the BCPNP entrepreneur program under the base stream must ensure that the company has been in operation for at least five years prior to their purchase.
What percentage of business ownership is required for the BCPNP program?
In general, applicants must demonstrate that they will own at least one-third (33 1/3 per cent) of the proposed business in British Columbia. If the applicant’s proposed ownership in the business is less than one-third, they must make an equity investment of at least CAD 1 million.
What benefits does the BCPNP Entrepreneur Base Stream program provide?
This program provides several key benefits:
- Opportunity to apply for a 2-year employer-specific work permit to develop a business in British Columbia
- Opportunity to apply for permanent residence after meeting certain business performance conditions
- Ability to assist dependent family members in obtaining work and study permits to reside in British Columbia while holding an employer-specific work permit under BCPNP
- Fast processing times for work permit and permanent residence applications
- No age limit for applicants.
What is the typical application process for the BCPNP program?
The application process typically involves the following steps:
- Expression of Interest (EOI): Submit an EOI to showcase your qualifications and business idea.
- Invitations: Wait for government invitations from the qualified EOI pool to submit the BCPNP Base application.
- Net Worth Assessment: Have your net worth assessed by an authorized accountant and submit the BCPNP Base application within 120 days of receiving the invitation.
- Performance Agreement: Sign a performance agreement outlining your proposed business details, investment amounts, job creation plans, and the requirement to reside in British Columbia.
- Work Permit Support Letter: Receive a support letter valid for 90 days to apply for a work permit to establish your business in Canada.
- Arriving in British Columbia: Submit an arrival report within 60 days and have 610 days (~20 months) to implement your business plan.
- Progress Reports: Submit a post-arrival progress report within the first year, and a final report after 18-20 months.
- Nomination Declaration: Sign a declaration to continue working on your business while your PR application is processed; receive a nomination confirmation letter.
- Permanent Residence Processing: PR applications typically take ~16 months, depending on admissibility and program compliance.
What is the application processing time for the BCPNP program?
Work permit applications typically take approximately 3 months, while permanent residence applications typically take around 16 months. Timeframes may vary based on application volume, processing capacity, case complexity, and completeness of documentation. Submit all required information promptly and ensure foreign-language documents are properly translated to avoid delays.