Maple News reports that the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) has issued new Invitations to Apply (ITAs) under its Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Stream. The latest draw, conducted on April 15, 2025, invited five foreign entrepreneurs to apply for a provincial nomination, aiming to support business growth and economic development in the province.
This marks British Columbia’s third Entrepreneur Base Stream draw this year, demonstrating the province’s ongoing commitment to attracting innovative and experienced international business leaders. The minimum score required to receive an invitation in this draw was 115.
The BCPNP Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Stream is designed for seasoned entrepreneurs seeking to start a new business or invest in an existing one within the province. In return, successful applicants gain a pathway to permanent residence in Canada, provided they meet the program’s performance-based requirements.
To be eligible, applicants must meet several key criteria. These include a minimum personal net worth of $600,000, a minimum investment of $200,000 into a qualifying business, and ownership of at least one-third of that business unless investing $1 million or more. Candidates must also have a post-secondary credential or relevant business experience—either three years as a business owner-manager, four years as a senior manager, or a combination of the two.
Language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher is required, along with demonstrated plans to create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The selected entrepreneurs are expected to play an active day-to-day role in the management of their proposed businesses.
British Columbia also offers a Regional Pilot stream aimed at attracting entrepreneurs to participate in smaller communities. While this pathway features lower financial thresholds, it requires candidates to obtain a community referral following a mandatory exploratory visit to the region.
The latest draw reaffirms British Columbia’s strategic use of immigration to foster local economic development and promote investment-driven residency pathways. Maple News will continue to track developments from the BCPNP and other provincial nominee programs across Canada.