British Columbia Invites 10 Entrepreneurs in Latest Business Immigration Draw
British Columbia Targets Business Immigration as Entrepreneur Draw Issues 10 Invitations
British Columbia has continued its focus on attracting business owners and investors through its provincial immigration program, inviting another group of entrepreneurs to pursue permanent residence in Canada.
The latest selection round was held on July 28, 2026, under the Entrepreneur Immigration category of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The province issued 10 invitations to apply (ITAs) to candidates registered under the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Stream.
Candidates selected in this round recorded a minimum registration score of 117 points.
The draw provides another opportunity for experienced entrepreneurs who are prepared to invest in and actively operate a business in British Columbia. Successful applicants may eventually qualify for a provincial nomination, which can support their application for Canadian permanent residence.
July Entrepreneur Draw Focuses Exclusively on Base Stream
Unlike some earlier entrepreneur selections this year, the July 28 round was limited entirely to the Base Stream. The Base Stream is designed for entrepreneurs who intend to establish a new business in British Columbia or purchase and expand an existing business. Unlike the Regional Stream, applicants under the Base Stream are not required to obtain a community referral or complete a mandatory exploratory visit before registering.
The minimum score of 117 was within the range seen in recent Base Stream selections. Throughout 2026, the minimum score required in Base Stream entrepreneur draws has generally remained between 115 and 121 points. This indicates that candidates with strong business experience, financial capacity and a well-developed business proposal continue to be competitive in the province’s entrepreneur immigration system.
British Columbia's 2026 Entrepreneur Immigration Activity
The province has conducted multiple entrepreneur-focused selections since the beginning of the year, with invitations issued through both the Base and Regional Streams.
The 2026 selection history includes:
| Draw Date | Stream | Invitations | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 28 | Base | 10 | 117 |
| June 30 | Base | 14 | 118 |
| June 30 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 113 |
| June 2 | Base | 15 | 117 |
| June 2 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 117 |
| May 5 | Base | 8 | 115 |
| May 5 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 115 |
| April 14 | Base | 14 | 115 |
| March 10 | Base | 7 | 117 |
| March 10 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 129 |
| February 10 | Base | 13 | 121 |
| February 10 | Regional | Fewer than 5 | 105 |
| January 13 | Base | 7 | 115 |
Overall, British Columbia has issued at least 88 invitations through its Entrepreneur Immigration category during 2026 so far.
The July selection was also notable because only a small number of entrepreneur draws conducted this year have focused solely on Base Stream candidates. When invitations issued through the broader Skills Immigration category are included, British Columbia has issued at least 3,824 invitations for provincial nomination across its immigration pathways in 2026 to date.
Who Can Apply Through the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream?
The Base Stream is intended for experienced business owners and managers who have the financial resources and professional background needed to establish or expand a business in British Columbia.
Applicants generally need to demonstrate:
- At least three years of experience as a business owner-manager during the previous 10 years.
- A post-secondary credential.
- A minimum language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.
- Personal net worth of at least $600,000.
- A minimum eligible business investment of $200,000.
- At least 31.33% ownership of the proposed business.
- A registration score of at least 115 points.
Applicants who do not have a post-secondary credential may still qualify if they can demonstrate full ownership and active management of a business for the required period under the program rules.
The Base Stream also permits eligible applicants to register with a co-applicant, subject to the program’s conditions.
Regional Stream Offers a Different Route for Entrepreneurs
- At least three years of business owner-manager experience within the previous five years.
- A post-secondary credential, unless they meet the alternative business ownership and management requirements.
- CLB 4 language proficiency.
- Personal net worth of at least $300,000.
- A minimum investment of $100,000.
- At least 51% ownership of the proposed business.
- A minimum registration score of 105 points.
Unlike the Base Stream, Regional Stream applicants must work with a participating community. They are also required to complete an exploratory visit and obtain a community referral before proceeding through the application process.
This structure is intended to connect entrepreneurs with smaller communities that are seeking new business activity and economic development.
Thousands of Candidates Remain in the BC PNP Pool
The province has also released updated figures showing the current composition of the Skills Immigration registration pool. As of July 7, 2026, there were 8,683 active candidate profiles awaiting selection.
BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration Pool
| Registration Score | Number of Candidates |
|---|---|
| 0–59 | 209 |
| 60–69 | 381 |
| 70–79 | 729 |
| 80–89 | 1,227 |
| 90–99 | 1,496 |
| 100–109 | 1,728 |
| 110–119 | 1,369 |
| 120–129 | 1,058 |
| 130–139 | 440 |
| 140–149 | 34 |
| 150+ | 12 |
| Total | 8,683 |
The data indicates that the largest number of candidates currently have scores between 100 and 119, while only a small percentage of applicants hold scores above 140.
Entrepreneur Immigration invitations 2026
BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration invitations issued to date:
| Date | Stream | Minimum Score | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 30, 2026 | Base | 118 | 14 |
| Regional | 113 | <5 | |
| June 2, 2026 | Base | 117 | 15 |
| Regional | 117 | <5 | |
| May 5, 2026 | Base | 115 | 8 |
| Regional | 115 | <5 | |
| April 14, 2026 | Base Stream | 115 | 14 |
| March 10, 2026 | Base Stream | 117 | 7 |
| March 10, 2026 | Regional Stream | 129 | Fewer than 5 |
| February 10, 2026 | Base | 121 | 13 |
| Regional | 105 | Fewer than 5 | |
| January 13, 2026 | Base | 115 | 7 |
If your EOI is selected, you’ll receive an invitation to apply for nomination from British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
Conclusion
The latest invitation round demonstrates that British Columbia continues to select entrepreneurs through its provincial immigration system in 2026. For prospective applicants, the 117-point threshold in the latest Base Stream draw highlights the importance of building a competitive registration profile. Business experience, personal net worth, investment capacity, ownership structure and the strength of the proposed business can all play a role in determining eligibility and competitiveness.
Entrepreneurs considering British Columbia should carefully review the requirements before registering. A strong business concept alone may not be enough if the applicant does not meet the financial, ownership, language or experience requirements.
Those who receive a provincial nomination can then move forward with the federal permanent residence process, subject to meeting all applicable IRCC requirements. With British Columbia continuing to issue invitations through its entrepreneur and other immigration categories, business owners looking to settle in Canada may find provincial nominee programs worth exploring as part of their permanent residence strategy.
Source: welcomebc.ca
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