British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) - businesses

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) selects potential business immigrants for settlement here in British Columbia. Under the BC PNP, an individual must have at least a net worth of CAD$400,000 and be prepared to invest in a potential business in B.C. If you wish to establish a business in the greater Vancouver area, you must invest $400,000. Outside of Vancouver, you only have to invest $200,000.

The business must have the potential to create significant economic benefits to British Columbia by contributing to one or more of the following areas:

• Increasing value-added manufacturing, processing or primary resource activity
• Increasing exports of goods or services
• Increasing destination tourism
• Increasing R&D/technology commercialization
• Developing innovative and creative approaches to traditional business
• Transferring technology, skills and specialized know-how to the Province
• Servicing an under-served local or regional market

The BC PNP gives special priority to business proposals that contribute to the following:

• Expanding business with the Asia-Pacific region
• Utilizing wood infected by mountain pine beetle
• Diversifying the economies of communities affected by mountain pine beetle damage
• Creating business partnerships with the Province's First Nations or aboriginal people
• Developing the Province's emergent technology industries in alternative energy, clean technologies, information technology, new media and life sciences

The applicable minimum personal investment can be applied to the following types of business costs, provided they are reasonable for the business:

• Machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures
• Leasehold improvements
• Inventory
• Patents and licenses
• Franchise purchase fees
• Allowable real estate and franchises
• Initial promotion and marketing
• Start up expenses such as permit fees, legal and professional fees

Approximately four to six months after submission of the formal application and business plan, you will be required to attend a personal interview at the Vancouver BC PNP offices to discuss your business plan and investment. Following the interview, you will enter into a formal Performance Agreement with the Province describing your investment and employment goals over the course of the next two years and you will be issued a letter authorizing you to apply for a work permit to enter Canada and establish the business.

Once the conditions of the Performance Agreement have been met within those two years (although you could conceivably meet the conditions within only several months), you will be nominated for permanent residence by the BC PNP and your permanent residence application may be submitted for processing to a Canadian visa office abroad. Finalization of your permanent residence application will take another 10 to 14 months after submission to the visa office.

Assessment

Complete our free assessment form to determine whether you qualify for the PNP business program.