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The business component of the BC PNP offers accelerated immigration for investment-ready and qualified entrepreneurs ready to invest and settle in BC, and become permanent residents of Canada.

The BC PNP provides opportunities for business immigration in three categories:

• 1) Business Skills
• 2) Regional Business
• 3) Strategic Projects

Basic Criteria

The basic criteria for consideration under all three of the business categories relates to business eligibility:

• The primary purpose of the business is to earn profits from active income from the supply of products/services;
• The business' sustained commercial viability must be probable;
• The business must provide economic benefit to BC by contributing to one of the following:
  • increasing the exports of goods/services;
  • increasing value-added manufacturing,  processing, or primary resource activity;
  • increasing BC tourism;
  • increasing research and development and technology commercialization;
  • creating innovative approaches to traditional businesses;
  • servicing an underserved regional market;
  • transferring skills, technology, and know-how to BC

Applications Not Accepted

Applications will not be accepted from individuals who:

• have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada,
• are in Canada illegally
• are under a removal order in Canada
• are prohibited from entering Canada.

1) Business Skills
Applicants for nomination in the Business Skills category will be required to:

1. Make a personal investment of at least $400,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in BC
2. Create at least three new jobs in the business for Canadians or permanent residents.
3. Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
4. Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business.
5. Demonstrate that they have:
   • the skills and experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC
   • a personal net worth of at least $800,000 CAD obtained from legal sources
   • sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment
   • a viable business proposal
6. Sign a performance agreement with the Province of British Columbia.
7. Sign a deposit agreement with the Province of British Columbia, if they are seeking a fast track nomination.

Fast Track Option - SUSPENDED

The fast track option offers immediate nomination for permanent residence. In return, you will be required to make a conditionally refundable $125,000 CAD deposit with the Province of British Columbia. The deposit will be refunded (without interest) when you have met the terms of conditions of your performance agreement and deposit agreement.

Principal Applicants and Key Staff

Principal applicants in Business Skills category may include one foreign, key staff essential to the proposed business as a co-applicant for nomination, but must still create three jobs for Canadians or permanent residents.

2) Regional business

Applicants for nomination in the Regional Business category will be required to:

1. Make a personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in BC outside of the Vancouver metropolitan area (PDF - 2.34MB) or the Abbotsford metropolitan area (PDF - 775KB).
2. Create at least one new job in the business for a Canadian or permanent resident.
3. Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
4. Provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business.
5. Demonstrate that they have:
   • the skills and experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC
   • a personal net worth of at least $400,000 CAD obtained from legal sources
   • sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment a viable business proposal.
6. Sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.
7. Sign a Deposit Agreement with the Province of British Columbia if they are seeking a Fast Track nomination.

Fast Track Option

The Fast Track option offers immediate nomination for permanent residence, in return for which you will make a conditionally refundable $125,000 CAD deposit with the Province of British Columbia. The deposit will be refunded (without interest) when you have met the terms of conditions of your Performance Agreement and Deposit Agreement.

Principal Applicants and Foreign Staff

Applications in the Regional Business category are limited to principal applicants. Foreign key staff cannot be included as co-applicants for nomination.

3) Strategic projects

The Strategic Projects category assists foreign-controlled companies establishing an eligible business in BC with the timely entry of foreign key managerial, professional or technical staff, up to a maximum of 5 per company, who intend to become permanent residents of Canada and settle in BC

Companies applying in this category will be required to:

1. Make a minimum equity investment of $500,000.
2. Create at least three jobs for Canadians or permanent residents in BC for each nominee applicant put forward by the company.
3. Demonstrate a record of good business practices and successful business operations outside of Canada that are relevant to the proposed business.
4. Establish or purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in BC
5. Incorporate a Canadian subsidiary or register an extra-provincial company in BC to operate the proposed business.
6. Demonstrate that the nominee applicants are qualified senior personnel who are essential to establishing or expanding and operating the proposed business in BC
7. Sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.

The fast track option is NOT available to nominee candidates in the Strategic Projects category

Application Forms

Strategic Occupations

Nominee applicants under the Strategic Occupations component must either

• have a job offer of indeterminate length from a BC employer or
  
• have completed a masters or doctorate degree at a BC post-secondary institution in either the natural, applied or health sciences.

For applications where a job offer is required, the employer and the nominee applicant (potential employee) submit a joint application to the BC PNP. The need to employ foreign workers in an occupation is assessed based upon current and projected labour market conditions and economic benefit to the province.

Applicants to the Strategic Occupations stream of BC’s Provincial Nominee Program are considered under one of five categories:

• Skilled Workers
  Managers, professionals, technologists and technicians, skilled trades
• International Graduates
  Recent graduates of recognized Canadian post-secondary institutions
• International Post-Graduates Pilot Project   
  Recent BC masters and doctorate graduates in natural, applied and health sciences (for this category only no job offer is required)
• Designated Health Professionals
  Registered nurses, midwives, registered psychiatric nurses, and physicians
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project
  Select occupations in tourism/hospitality and food processing, and long-haul trucking.
•  For positions in the Northeast Development Region, the Northeast Pilot Project expands the ELSS to include most NOC C and D occupations.

Basic Requirements

The basic or pre-requirements cover all categories above and must be met prior to applying:

• the nominee applicant intends to settle in BC
• the nominee applicant has the ability to become economically established in BC
• if the nominee applicant is currently in Canada, they must maintain legal immigration status throughout the process and must not be subject to a removal order.
• the nominee applicant does not have an active refugee claim
• if the nominee applicant is currently outside Canada, they must not be prohibited from entering Canada and must have legal status in the country in which they are currently residing

The following requirements cover all categories except for the International Post-Graduates Pilot Project and must be met prior to applying:

• the employer has offered, and the nominee applicant has accepted permanent and full-time employment in an eligible occupation
• the nominee applicant is qualified to do the job
• the wage offered is competitive with BC wage rates for the occupation
• the nominee applicant’s occupation offers good long-term prospects
• the employer is  financially sound, with a history of good business and human resource practices, and has been operating in BC for at least one year ( two years for an Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled employer) and currently has at least five full-time employees
• the nominee applicant may not own 10% or more of the supporting employer company
• the employment of a foreign worker will be of significant economic benefit to BC
• the employment of a foreign worker will not adversely affect the settlement of a labour dispute, or the employment of anyone involved in any such dispute
• the employer has actively recruited locally to fill the position

1) Skilled Workers

Skilled workers normally have post-secondary education or training with several years of employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trades or other skilled occupation.

The requirements considered for applications under Skilled Workers are:

• Occupation The BC PNP will only consider applications for positions under Skill Levels O, A and B of the National Occupational Classification Matrix  National Occupational Classification (NOC). These positions normally require formal post-secondary qualifications and several years of directly related work experience.
  
• Demand and outlook for the occupation Applications will not be approved for occupations where there is a current surplus of workers domestically, or where future prospects for employment in the occupation are poor. Employers supporting applications to the BC PNP will need to indicate the duration of unfilled vacancies and their recruitment efforts in BC.
• Wage The wage the employer intends to pay the nominee applicant must be at market rate and comparable to that for equivalent jobs in BC, for workers with a similar level of experience and training.
• Qualifications The nominee applicant must be qualified for the job that the employer is looking to fill. This normally requires several years of directly-related experience in the position the employer is seeking to fill.This includes regulated occupations.
  
• Offer of employment Employers must provide the nominee applicant with a written offer of employment (in the required format) which must be signed by both parties.
• Eligible employers Employers must meet certain requirements to be considered eligible under the BC PNP.
• Ability to become economically established The potential for nominee applicants to become economically established in BC will be assessed according to their income and employment prospects, number of dependants, English language ability and connections to BC or Canada through work, study, residence and family ties.

How to apply

Application forms


2) International Graduates

An International Graduate has satisfied the requirements for an eligible degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada within the last two years. Specifically, an application must be received by the BC PNP within two years of the date shown on the final official transcript which indicates that all requirements have been met.

An International Graduate must have accepted a permanent, full time job offer from a BC employer. The PNP program does not require that International Graduates have previous work experience.

The requirements considered for your application as an International Graduate are:

• Education Nominee applicants in this category must have satisfied the requirements for an eligible degree or diploma as conferred by a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada, before applying to the BC PNP.
• Occupation The BC PNP will consider applications for positions under Skill Levels 0, A and B of the NOC Matrix. The BC PNP will also consider applications for positions under Skill Levels C and D of the NOC Matrix where the employer can demonstrate that there is a structured career progression to an occupation at Skill Level 0, A or B. Applicants to the International Graduates category of the BC PNP are not required to have any previous work experience.
  
• Wage The wage the employer intends to pay the nominee applicant must be at market rate and comparable to that for equivalent jobs in BC, for workers with a similar level of experience and training.
• Qualifications The nominee applicant must be qualified for the job that the employer is looking to fill. This normally requires several years of directly-related experience in the position the employer is seeking to fill.This includes regulated occupations.
• Offer of employment Employers must provide the nominee applicant with a written offer of employment (in the required format) which must be signed by both parties.
• Eligible employers Employers must meet certain requirements to be considered eligible under the BC PNP
• Ability to become economically established in BC The potential for nominee applicants to become economically established in BC will be assessed according to their income and employment prospects, number of dependants, English language ability and connections to BC or Canada through work, study, residence and family ties.

How to apply

Application forms

3) International Post-Graduates Pilot Project
The BC PNP’s International Post-Graduate Pilot Project is a three year pilot ending on May 28, 2013. Applications under this pilot project may be submitted until that date.

Nominee applicants to the International Post Graduate Pilot Project must have satisfied the requirements for an eligible masters or doctorate degree from a recognized post-secondary institution in BC within the last two years. Specifically, an application must be received by the BC PNP within two years of the date shown on the final official transcript. If more than six months have passed since the completion of studies, it is expected that the Nominee Applicant will have obtained a temporary work permit valid for work in BC.

The requirements considered for your application as an International Post-Graduate are:

• Education Nominee Applicants in the International Post-Graduate Pilot Project must have satisfied the requirements for an eligible masters or doctorate degree conferred by an eligible post-secondary institution in BC and meet all other requirements before applying. A graduate degree (masters or earned doctorate) awarded for studies in the natural, applied or health sciences must have been awarded from a post-secondary institution in British Columbia.
• Intention to Reside in BC Nominee Applicants must satisfy the BC PNP (provide evidence) of their intention to settle in BC once they obtain permanent resident status in Canada.
• Ability to become economically established in BC Nominee Applicants must satisfy the BC PNP that they have the ability to become economically established in Canada.
• Information on Work Permits under this Pilot Project The BC PNP encourages Nominee Applicants/Nominees in this pilot project to apply for a Post-Grad Work Permit from CIC if they do not already have a work permit that will be valid for work in BC during processing of their application for nomination and permanent residence.

How to apply

Application forms


4) Designated Health Professionals

Applications in this category are limited to:

• Registered nurses, psychiatric nurses and physicians recruited by provincial and regional health authorities administered through Health Match BC, and who meet the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)'s requirements
• Midwives who meet the Provincial Nominee Program's requirements

All other applications to hire health professionals and other skilled health workers are considered in the skilled worker category.

Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses

Nominee candidates must be registered, or eligible for registration, with the College of Registered Nurses of BC or the College of Registered Psychiatric Nurses of BC

Physicians

Nominee candidates must have practiced in BC on a work permit for at least nine months, and have a letter from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC showing that a supervising physician has given them a positive assessment.

Midwives

Nominee candidates must provide proof of eligibility for registration with the College of Midwives of British Columbia. Please refer to their website for details.

After demonstrating eligibility for registration, midwife applications must provide a Letter of Confirmation from an established practice group in British Columbia confirming their acceptance into the group as an affiliated midwife for a period of at least six months. This letter must be on the practice group's official letterhead, and must be signed by the head of the practice group and the midwife applicant. This letter is required by the Provincial Nominee Program in place of the Guaranteed Job Offer Form and the Job Offer.

Please refer to the Provincial Nominee Program Application Checklist for Midwives (PDF - 611 KB) for specific application requirements for midwives.


How to apply

Public health authorities must send applications for Registered Nurses, Registered Psychiatric Nurses and Physicians to Health Match BC.

Application forms



5) Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project
NOTE: The Entry-Level and Semi Skilled Pilot Project of the BC PNP has been extended until August 31, 2011. Applications under this pilot project may be submitted until that date.

This pilot project applies to qualifying foreign workers in select occupations and eligible employers in the tourism/hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking industries.

Prior to applying under this category nominee applicants must have worked full-time for their employer in BC for a period of nine consecutive months and have continuing full-time employment with that same employer at the time of application to the BC PNP.

Work experience that forms an integral part of a program of study or is obtained using an Off-Campus Work Permit does not qualify toward this requirement for previous employment in BC

The requirements considered for your application under the Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project are:

• Occupation
• Wage
• Qualifications and Language Ability
• Offer of employment
• Eligible employers
• Ability to become economically established in BC

How to apply

Application forms


BC PNP - Strategic Occupations – Processing Fee
There is a $550 non-refundable processing fee for each application to the Strategic Occupations component of the BC PNP.

The Process

• When your application is accepted, it will be assigned to a BC PNP advisor who will review it.
• You will have 15 business days to provide any missing information that BC PNP requests. If you are unable to provide the outstanding information within 15 business days, a decision will be made on your application based on the information provided.
• If the application is refused, you will receive a letter stating the reasons for the decision. You may re-apply to the BC PNP, however we recommend that you do so only after all the reasons for a previous refusal have been resolved. Nomination is at the sole discretion of the Province of British Columbia and there is no appeal process. If the application is approved, it is “nominated”.

After you are nominated

Once an applicant has been nominated the BC PNP will:

• Send you (the Nominee) or, if applicable, your Authorized Representative, a letter of acceptance and a nomination package advising you of the next steps for applying for a permanent resident visa.
• Send the nomination certificate to the appropriate visa office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
• After receiving your BC PNP letter of acceptance, you (the Nominee) are responsible for completing and submitting a completed permanent resident visa application to the CIC visa office to which we have instructed you to apply. This must be done within 180 days of the date of your nomination or you must re-apply to the BC PNP. The BC PNP does NOT extend nominations.
• If you intend to work in BC while waiting for the processing of your permanent resident visa application, you are responsible to apply for and to keep your work permit valid up until you become a permanent resident. Nomination by the BC PNP does NOT authorize you to work legally while awaiting processing of your permanent resident visa. If required, we may issue you, (the Nominee), a work permit support letter which will assist you in applying to CIC for a new or renewed work permit full-time employment in a specific job with a BC employer.

Your nomination may be withdrawn at any point prior to CIC issuing you a permanent resident visa if the BC PNP is not satisfied that you meet the original requirements under which you were nominated.

References:

• Strategic Occupations – Frequently Asked Questions
  
• BC PNP Application forms
  
• BC PNP related links