Dear future neighbour,
Got a business idea and dreams of building it in Canada? British Columbia just made that a little more possible.
On July 28, the province invited 10 entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination through the Base Stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program’s Entrepreneur Immigration category. Candidates needed a score of at least 117 out of 200 to make the cut this round.
This marks BC’s eighth entrepreneur-focused draw of the year, and it’s part of a bigger trend worth paying attention to if business immigration is on your radar.
How this draw compares to earlier rounds in 2026
| Date of Draw | Stream | Number of 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 |
Altogether, BC has now held 13 entrepreneur draws this year, split between the Base Stream (8 draws) and the Regional Stream (5 draws). The July 28 round was one of only three draws all year reserved solely for Base Stream candidates. Base Stream cutoff scores have moved between 115 and 121 throughout 2026, so competition has stayed fairly steady rather than spiking dramatically.
So far this year, BC has issued at least 88 invitations through its Entrepreneur Immigration category alone. Add in invitations from the Skills Immigration category, and the province has issued more than 3,824 provincial nomination invitations in total in 2026.
What sets the Base Stream and Regional Stream apart
If you’re weighing your options as a business-minded applicant, the stream you qualify for makes a real difference in what’s required of you.
| Criteria | Base Stream | Regional Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Business type | Start a new business or take over and grow an existing one | Start a new business outside Metro Vancouver |
| Business experience | 3 years as an owner-manager in the last 10 years | 3 years as an owner-manager in the last 5 years |
| Education | Post-secondary credential* | Post-secondary credential |
| Minimum language level | CLB 4 | CLB 4 |
| Minimum personal net worth | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Minimum investment | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| Minimum ownership | 31.33% | 51% |
| Community referral required | No | Yes |
| Exploratory visit required | No | Yes |
| Minimum registration score | 115/200 | 105/200 |
| Co-applicant registration allowed | Yes | No |
If you don’t have a post-secondary credential, you’ll need to show full (100%) ownership and hands-on management of a business for at least three of the last five years.
Regional Stream applicants carry two extra steps that Base Stream applicants don’t: finding a participating community that fits their business plan, and completing an exploratory visit to secure a referral from that community. Beyond that, the path to permanent residence looks fairly similar either way;
- Build a business proposal
- Register with the BCPNP
- Wait for an invitation,
- Submit your nomination application
- Get your work permit, and
- Actually run the business in BC before receiving your provincial nomination.
- Once nominated, you can apply directly to IRCC for permanent residence.
This latest entrepreneur draw came shortly after BC ran its first-ever selection under a brand new Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative, aimed at health authority cleaners and security staff. It’s a sign the province is actively widening its immigration toolkit this year, not just recycling the same categories.
Thinking About Starting a Business in Canada? Let’s Discuss
Numbers like “minimum net worth” and “ownership percentage” can feel overwhelming when you’re just trying to figure out if you even qualify. That’s exactly where we come in. Whether you’re eyeing the Base Stream, the Regional Stream, or still deciding which province fits your business plan best, we’ll walk you through your options, help you build a strong application, and keep you from wasting time on a stream you don’t qualify for.
At Ese Umoh Immigration, we support clients across the full spectrum of Canadian immigration; provincial nomination, Express Entry, work permits, postgraduate work permits, spousal sponsorship, visitor visas, super visas, citizenship applications, and school admissions.
Ready to find out where you stand? Book a consultation with us today and let’s get your business in Canada off the ground.