Entrepreneur Regional Pilot in BC
BCPNP Regional Pilot of Entrepreneur Immigration
Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot of BCPNP is designated for entrepreneurs who propose to establish and actively manage new business in regional communities with population of fewer than 75,000 in British Columbia outside of major population centers. Communities enrolled will identify priority economic development industries, and will select or refer prospective applicants to the BCPNP. Selected applicant and family will be issued work permit to start.
The EI Regional Pilot is designed to attract and support entrepreneurs with a desire to start a new business and settle in regional communities. Thus, the criteria as personal net worth and investment amount decreases substantially. This reflects the lower cost to start a business and settle in a less population community and the intent of capturing a new, more inclusive market segment not currently targeted by the Entrepreneur Immigration base category of the program.
[UPDATE] Announced July 19, 2021, The BCPNP’s Regional Pilot of Entrepreneur Immigration is now enter Phase 2 (extended to March 31, 2024), the information on the Community Profile page including participating communities and economic priorities is subject to change. The final list of communities will be updated in Fall 2021.
Similar to other entrepreneur program, PNP office will review the business activities versus the performance agreement. Then applicant will apply to IRCC their permanent resident visa.
“Compared to the existing entrepreneur immigration which requires $600,000 net worth and $200,000 investment, this EI regional pilot program is more attractive to many oversea entrepreneur investors than the base category. Of course, the remote communities might not be familiar or appealing to the new comers” commented by Norman Luo, a seasoned Immigration Consultant.
Requirements:
- 3+ active business owner-manager or 4+ years senior manager in the past 5 years;
- Post-secondary credential or 100% business ownership at least 3 of the past 5 years
- Minimum $300,000 net worth
- New business investment of $100,000+ in the community
- Create 1 full-time job
- CLB 4 language proficiency
Active management must demonstrate actively managed the business for daily operations.
Residence, must demonstrate the entrepreneur reside within enrolled community and lived 75% of the time while under work permit.
Pilot-specific process:
- Conduct an exploratory visit to the enrolled community;
- Develop a business proposal based on one of the community’s priority economic development industry subsectors;
- Meet with the designated community representative to discuss details of your business proposal;
- Request a referral from the community to be able to register with the PNP;
- Complete a language proficiency exam
BC PNP office reminds all interested applicants that only authorized representative – immigration lawyer or RCIC Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant can be chosen as your paid representative and provide you required immigration services.