Immigration Ineligibility

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application

List of Ineligible Businesses

• An immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Provincial Regulation S6(e) and the IRPR S87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9), or
• Any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(d), or
• Any business defined as a passive investment pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(c), or
• Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses, or
• Pawnbrokers, payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses, or
• Tanning salons, DVD rental stores, coin-operated laundries, or
• Automated car wash operations, scrap metal recycling, or
• Trading of used goods (excluding value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling), or
• Real estate brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage, or
• Real estate development activities, or
• Goods trading businesses, except value-added products or services, or
• Production, distribution or sale of pornographic products or services, or
• Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of BC into disrepute

Basic requirements

• 3 years of work experience as a business owner, or 4 years as a senior business manager, or a combination of 1 year as a business owner and 2 years as a senior business manager within the last 10 years
• Have graduated an equivalent to a post-secondary credential in Canada, unless having business owner experience with 100% ownership for 3 years within the last 5 years, foreign education credential(s) must be assessed by Educational Credential Assessment

Language Proficiency:

Minimum CLB 4, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
• Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Investment requirements

• Net worth including all assets owned by applicant and applicant-spouse after debt deduction, assessed by a BC PNP-authorized professional accounting firm
• Not consider investment made prior to signing a performance agreement and obtaining a valid work permit
• Establish or purchase an existing business with a 33.33% ownership
• Invest at least $200,000 from personal net worth within 20 months on a valid work permit for business activities such as:
  ○ Purchasing of new equipment
  ○ Leasehold improvements
  ○ Marketing costs
  ○ Regular operating expenses (rent, wages, utilities)
  ○ Start-up inventory or new inventory related to an improvement/expansion plan
  ○ Purchase of existing business
• Only consider the purchase price of a business up to $150,000 if purchasing an existing business, at least $50,000 must be invested in improvement, renovation and/or expansion of the business
• Not consider the purchase of a vehicle unless it is essential to the business
• Only consider operating expenses in a maximum of 6 months if establishing a new business, or 3 months if purchasing a business or franchising
• Ineligible Investments:
  ○ Cash and working capital
  ○ Wage payments to the applicant and family members, or other business co-owners
  ○ Refundable deposits
  ○ Real estate and related fees
  ○ Immigration-related professional and government fees

Business requirements

• Within 12 months from the date of the letter of confirmation, the applicant must arrive in BC with a valid work permit
• Work Permit may be extended if the applicant still meets the terms and conditions of Business Performance Agreement
• Only consider the Business Plan that contributes to the economic growth of BC
• Reside within 50 km of the business in BC for at least 75% of the time while on a work permit
• The business concept cannot be changed or modified after submission
• Create 1 permanent full-time position for Canadian or Permanent Resident within 14 months after issuance of work permit
• Justify the need to recruit high-skilled positions NOC 0, A, and B to increase EOI points
• If purchasing a business, must maintain the number of existing jobs with a comparable wage
• Maintain the number of jobs as agreed in Business Performance Agreement for at least 6 months after submitting the final report
• The final report must be submitted within 18 - 20 months after issuance of work permit
• To receive provincial nomination, the applicant must meet the terms and conditions set out in Business Performance Agreement

Immigration Ineligibility

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application

List of Ineligible Businesses

• An immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Provincial Regulation S6(e) and the IRPR S87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9), or
• Any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(d), or
• Any business defined as a passive investment pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(c), or
• Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses, or
• Pawnbrokers, payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses, or
• Tanning salons, DVD rental stores, coin-operated laundries, or
• Automated car wash operations, scrap metal recycling, or
• Trading of used goods (excluding value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling), or
• Real estate brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage, or
• Real estate development activities, or
• Goods trading businesses, except value-added products or services, or
• Production, distribution or sale of pornographic products or services, or
• Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of BC into disrepute

Basic requirements

• 3 years of work experience as a business owner, or 4 years as a senior business manager, or a combination of 1 year as a business owner and 2 years as a senior business manager within the last 5 years
• Have graduated an equivalent to a post-secondary credential in Canada, unless having business owner experience with 100% ownership for 3 years within the last 5 years, foreign education credential(s) must be assessed by Educational Credential Assessment

Language Proficiency:

Minimum CLB 4, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
• Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
• Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada)

Investment requirements

• Net worth including all assets owned by applicant and applicant-spouse after debt deduction, assessed by a BC PNP-authorized professional accounting firm
• Not consider investment made prior to signing a performance agreement and obtaining a valid work permit
• Only allow investment into regional communities with a population under 75,000
• Must discuss with the community representative and express an interest to invest in the community, and request a referral (valid for 90 days) from a community representative after a physical visit to the community
• Invest at least $100,000 from personal net worth within 20 months on a valid work permit into 1 business location for business activities such as:
  ○ Purchasing of new equipment
  ○ Leasehold improvements
  ○ Marketing costs
  ○ Regular operating expenses (rent, wages, utilities)
  ○ Start-up inventory
• Only consider a reasonable amount of start-up inventory for up to 3 months, depending on the industry, type of products, and size and scope of the proposed business
• Not consider the purchase of a vehicle unless it is essential to the business
• Only consider operating expenses in a maximum of 6 months if establishing a new business, or 3 months if establishing a new franchise
• Ineligible Investments:
  ○ Cash and working capital
  ○ Wage payments to the applicant and family members, or other business co-owners
  ○ Refundable deposits
  ○ Real estate and related fees
  ○ Purchase of an existing business or business assets
  ○ Research and development expenses
  ○ Immigration-related professional and government fees

Business requirements

• Within 12 months from the date of the letter of confirmation, the applicant must arrive in BC with a valid work permit
• Work Permit may be extended if the applicant still meets the terms and conditions of Business Performance Agreement
• Reside within 100km of the business in BC for at least 75% of the time while on a work permit
• The business concept cannot be changed or modified after submission
• Establish a new business with at least 51% ownership
• Create 1 permanent full-time position for Canadian or Permanent Resident within 14 months after issuance of work permit
• To receive provincial nomination, the applicant must create employment opportunities for at least 6 months prior to submitting the final report
• Not consider any position with more than 10% ownership
• Proposed wages must be consistent with the skill level of the positions created
• The final report must be submitted within 18 - 20 months after issuance of work permit
• To receive provincial nomination, the applicant must meet the terms and conditions set out in Business Performance Agreement

Priority Sectors by Regional Communities

1. Key staff members

Immigration eligibility

Staff members are not under any of these circumstances:

• Are under removal order
• Are inadmissible to Canada
• Are living in Canada illegally
• Are working without authorization
• Have an unresolved refugee or humanitarian and compassionate application

Job position

• Are working in a senior management position with essential qualifications and experience to establish and operate the business in BC
• Are being appointed to an executive, senior managerial, or specialized knowledge professional position that is essential to business operation
• Will be employed in a permanent full-time position
• Are offered a wage commensurate with expertise and consistent with industry and company salary scale

2. The corporation

General requirements

• Be a well-established and in good financial standing company
• Demonstrate investment readiness and capacity for international expansion into BC
• Bring significant economic benefit to the province by making a high value investment in BC
• A successful profile is typically a multinational corporation with more than 150 employees and annual revenue of at least 20M
• Must first contact the BC PNP to discuss the business proposal

The value of investment

• Invest at least $500,000 directed toward business operation in BC
• Purchase or establish and expand an eligible business in BC

The expansion project

• For each foreign key staff member transferred, create at least 3 permanent full-time positions for Canadian and Permanent Resident
• Are not on the list of ineligible business activities, such as:
  ○ An immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Provincial Regulation S6(e) and the IRPR S87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9), or
  ○ Any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(d), or
  ○ Any business defined as a passive investment pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(c), or
  ○ Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses, or
  ○ Pawnbrokers, payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses, or
  ○ Tanning salons, DVD rental stores, coin-operated laundries, or
  ○ Automated car wash operations, scrap metal recycling, or
  ○ Trading of used goods (excluding value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling), or
  ○ Real estate brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage, or
  ○ Real estate development activities, or
  ○ Goods trading businesses, except value-added products or services, or
  ○ Production, distribution or sale of pornographic products or services, or
  ○ Any businesses that tend to bring the Nominee Program or the Government of BC into disrepute

Business Establishment

• The province will send full application to key staff members by email, and invite each key staff member to attend an interview in the BC PNP offices in Vancouver
• The company representative sign a Corporate Performance Agreement with the province
• After the interview, each key staff member will receive a letter of support to apply for a 2-years work permit and is also required to sign a separate Performance Agreement