British Columbia Entrepreneur Category Canadian Immigration Lawyer

Express Entry Profile

Not required to be registered under the federal Express Entry program.

Job Offer

Not required to apply under this category.

Level of Education

Have a minimum level of post-secondary education, or have 3 years of experience as an active business owner-manager with full (100%) ownership in the last 5 years. That 100% ownership may be shared with a spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children.

Work Experience

At least 3 years of experience as an active business owner-manager in the last 10 years with 10% or more ownership; or more than 4 years as a senior manager in the last 10 years supervising at least 3 full-time employees in a NOC TEER 0 or 1 role; or a combination of at least 1 year as a business owner-manager and at least 2 years as a senior manager. Must have actively participated in the day-to-day operations of the business.

Language Proficiency

Demonstrate a minimum of CLB 4 in English or French.

Personal Net Worth

Have a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 CAD, including the net worth of a spouse, common-law partner, and dependent children.

Investment Requirement

Invest a minimum of $200,000 CAD in a new or existing business anywhere in the province. Hold at least one-third (33.33%) ownership of the business. Partnership with a BC PNP co-registrant or a local business/person is allowed, and co-registrants may propose shared ownership with the primary candidate. Create a minimum of 1 full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Exploratory Visit

Not required, but highly recommended.

Connection to BC

No specific prior connection to the province is required at the time of applying, but the candidate must intend to live, work, and establish the business in British Columbia.

Scoring Requirement

Score a minimum of 115 out of 200 points under the BC Entrepreneur Immigration Ranking System to qualify.

Business Performance Agreement

Enter into a business performance agreement with the province.

Business Establishment and Operation

Establish and operate the proposed business according to the business plan. Reside in British Columbia and maintain a principal residence within 100 kilometers of the business location. Spend at least 75% of time physically present in British Columbia while on a temporary work permit.

Self-Declared: Experience & Ownership

24

Self-Declared: Net Worth

12

Self-Declared: Total Personal Investment

20

Self-Declared: Jobs

12

Self-Declared: Regional Development

12

Self-Declared: Adaptability

40

Self-Declared Subtotal

120

Business Concept: Commercial Viability

30

Business Concept: Transferability of Skills

15

Business Concept: Economic Benefits

35

Business Concept Subtotal

80

Maximum Score Available

200

Less than 12 months

0

12 to 24 months

4

25 to 36 months

6

37 to 48 months

12

49 to 60 months

15

60 months or more

20

Less than 24 months

0

25 to 48 months

4

49 to 60 months

8

60 months or more

12

Maximum Score Available (experience)

20

Less than 36 months of 100% ownership in the past 60 months

0

100% ownership of a business for at least 3 of the last 5 years

4

Maximum Score Available (ownership)

4

Less than $50,000

0

$50,000 to $199,999

2

$200,000 to $399,999

3

$400,000 or more

4

Less than $600,000

0

$600,000 to $799,999

5

$800,000 to $1,999,999

6

$2,000,000 to $4,999,999

7

$5,000,000 or more

8

Maximum Score Available

12

Less than $200,000

0

$200,000 to $399,999

8

$400,000 to $599,999

10

$600,000 to $999,999

11

$1,000,000 to $1,999,999

12

$2,000,000 to $3,999,999

14

$4,000,000 to $7,999,999

16

$8,000,000 or more

20

Maximum Score Available

20

Less than 1 job

0

At least 1 but less than 2

4

At least 2 but less than 3

5

At least 3 but less than 4

6

At least 4 but less than 5

7

At least 5 but less than 6

8

At least 6 but less than 7

9

At least 7 but less than 10

10

At least 10 but less than 20

11

At least 20 jobs

12

Maximum Score Available

12

Mainland/Southwest

0

Vancouver Island and Coast, Thompson/Okanagan

6

Cariboo

10

Northeast, Kootenay, Nechako, North Coast

12

Maximum Score Available

12

None or minimal (similar to CLB 3 and below)

0

Basic understanding (similar to CLB 4)

4

Intermediate/advanced (similar to CLB 5 and above)

6

Secondary school or less

0

Associate degree / diploma / certificate (trades or non-trades)

4

Bachelor’s degree / postgraduate diploma or certificate

7

Master’s degree / doctorate / PhD

10

Less than 25

0

25–34

4

35–44

8

45–54

6

55–64

4

65 or older

0

No visit, or visited BC more than 3 years ago

0

Visited BC 1–3 years ago

3

Visited BC less than 1 year ago, but not the proposed business’s Regional District

5

Visited the proposed business’s Regional District less than 1 year ago

8

No

0

Yes

8

Maximum Score Available (Adaptability)

40

Unsatisfactory/unclear

1

Fair/good

5

Excellent

10

Does not satisfactorily address any market/product factors

1

Addresses at least one market/product factor, consistent with the business model

4

Less than $200,000, or less than $50,000 of eligible expansion investment

0

$200,000 to $399,999

1

$400,000 to $599,999

2

$600,000 to $799,999

3

$800,000 or more

4

Investment proposal does not correspond to the type or scale of the business

0

Investment proposal corresponds to the type and scale of the business

4

Investment proposal corresponds to the type and scale of the business, the market, the proposed products/services, the business model, and industry standard

6

50% ownership or less

0

More than 50% and less than 100%

3

100% ownership

4

Proposing external financing, investing more than 50% of personal net worth, or partnering with a co-registrant

0

None of the above

2

Maximum Score Available (Commercial Viability)

30

12+ months of experience in an unrelated industry

5

12 months or less of direct experience, or 12–36 months of related experience

7

13–24 months of direct experience, or 37+ months of related experience

9

13–24 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

10

25–36 months of direct experience

11

25–36 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

12

37–60 months of direct experience

13

37–60 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

14

More than 60 months of direct experience

15

12+ months of experience in an unrelated industry

0

12 months or less of direct experience, or 12–36 months of related experience

2

13–24 months of direct experience, or 37+ months of related experience

4

13–24 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

6

37–60 months of direct experience

8

37–60 months of direct experience and 37+ months of related experience

9

More than 60 months of direct experience

10

Maximum Score Available (Transferability of Skills)

15

Does not identify or substantiate any key sectors or economic benefits

3

Substantiates 1 key sector or 1 significant economic benefit

10

Substantiates 1 key sector and 1 significant economic benefit

16

Substantiates at least 1 key sector and at least 2 significant economic benefits

23

Business concept does not support creation of at least 1 full-time position

0

Jobs plan does not correspond to the type and scale of the business

1

Jobs plan corresponds to the type and scale of the business

6

Does not propose or substantiate any high-skilled positions

0

Substantiates creation/maintenance of one high-skilled position

4

Substantiates creation/maintenance of two or more high-skilled positions

6

Maximum Score Available (Economic Benefits)

35