Business Categories
The Business Categories component of the BC Provincial Nominee Program was developed to provide British Columbia with a mechanism for increasing the economic benefits of immigration to the province. Please note that meeting minimum selection criteria does not guarantee approval. Program targets and processing capacity lead to a focus on the candidates best able to bring economic benefits to the Province.
There are three separate business categories:
- Business Skills
- Regional Business
- Projects
This category is intended to attract prospective applicants who have extensive resources and business experience, and who want to be actively involved in implementing a BC business undertaking that will make a significant contribution to the economy of the province.
Eligibility:
- Successful business experience
- Minimum net worth: CAD$ 800,000
- Minimum investment: CAD$ 400,000
- Applicant must have a minimum 1/3 equity
- Business plan
- Business to create a minimum of 3 new jobs
- Applicant to have an active management role.
Regional Business Category:
This category is intended to assist people from outside Canada, with proven skills and financial resources, to rapidly implement plans for business establishment or expansion contributing to the regional development of British Columbia.
Eligibility:
- Project must be located outside the
Greater Vancouver Area (see below for definition) - Minimum net worth: CAD$ 400,000
- Minimum investment: CAD$ 200,000
excluding real estate component - Applicant must have a minimum (33 1/3%) equity
- Business must create a minimum of 1 new job
- Applicant to have an active management role.
The Greater Vancouver Area includes Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Langley City, Langley District Municipality, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Richmond, Surrey, Vancouver, West Vancouver and White Rock.
Fast Track Nomination Under Regional Business Category
The Fast Track option is designed for nominee candidates who are in a position to move quickly to implement their business proposal. It offers expedited nomination for permanent residence, in return for which you will make a conditionally refundable $125,000 CAD deposit with the Province of British Columbia.
Applicants in the Business Skills Category should note that Fast Track option is NOT available to foreign key staff included in their application.
Projects Category:
This category is designed to assist local or foreign companies with the timely entry of skilled, key managers and key technical professionals essential to the success of a business expected to generate significant economic benefits to British Columbia.
Eligibility:
- The company must have a proven record of successful experience in an area relevant to the proposed business
- Only for new investments or business expansions
(minimum investment: CAD$ 500,000 and create a minimum of 3 new jobs) - Key staff presence is essential to the success of the project.
