The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) kicked off its 2026 Entrepreneur Immigration stream with a Base-category draw on 13 January 2026, publishing the results on 17 January. Seven invitation-to-apply (ITA) letters were issued to candidates scoring at least 115 points—slightly higher than the 110-point average seen in late 2025.
Although small in absolute numbers, BC’s entrepreneur draws are closely watched by foreign business owners because they offer one of the few remaining provincial routes to permanent residence after the federal Start-Up Visa programme closed on 1 January. Successful applicants must invest at least CAD 200 000, create one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and actively manage the enterprise in the province.
Immigration lawyers note that BC continues to favour applicants proposing projects outside Metro Vancouver or in succession-buyout scenarios that preserve existing jobs. The programme awards bonus points for operating in rural areas, aligning with the province’s economic-development priorities. With only 7 ITAs this round, demand clearly exceeds supply; over 160 entrepreneur profiles are currently in the BC PNP pool.
![British Columbia invites seven entrepreneurs in first PNP draw of 2026]()
In this context, entrepreneurs often turn to VisaHQ for help securing the travel documents needed for exploratory visits, work-permit applications and subsequent business trips. VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines Canadian visa and passport processing—along with paperwork for 200+ other destinations—so founders and their teams can focus on meeting BC PNP deadlines rather than navigating consular red tape.
For corporate mobility teams, the draw underscores the importance of provincial options now that the federal Start-Up Visa has ended. Companies looking to relocate executives who own equity or to facilitate management buy-outs should review BC’s criteria carefully, including net-worth verification and exploratory-visit requirements. Advisors recommend beginning document collection early, as applicants have just 90 days to submit a full application once invited.
BC officials hinted that a “targeted immigration strategy” will be unveiled later this quarter, possibly introducing industry-specific draws similar to Saskatchewan’s newly launched tech-entrepreneur track. Prospective candidates would be wise to monitor announcements and keep their profiles up to date to maximise invitation chances.
Although small in absolute numbers, BC’s entrepreneur draws are closely watched by foreign business owners because they offer one of the few remaining provincial routes to permanent residence after the federal Start-Up Visa programme closed on 1 January. Successful applicants must invest at least CAD 200 000, create one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and actively manage the enterprise in the province.
Immigration lawyers note that BC continues to favour applicants proposing projects outside Metro Vancouver or in succession-buyout scenarios that preserve existing jobs. The programme awards bonus points for operating in rural areas, aligning with the province’s economic-development priorities. With only 7 ITAs this round, demand clearly exceeds supply; over 160 entrepreneur profiles are currently in the BC PNP pool.
In this context, entrepreneurs often turn to VisaHQ for help securing the travel documents needed for exploratory visits, work-permit applications and subsequent business trips. VisaHQ’s online portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) streamlines Canadian visa and passport processing—along with paperwork for 200+ other destinations—so founders and their teams can focus on meeting BC PNP deadlines rather than navigating consular red tape.
For corporate mobility teams, the draw underscores the importance of provincial options now that the federal Start-Up Visa has ended. Companies looking to relocate executives who own equity or to facilitate management buy-outs should review BC’s criteria carefully, including net-worth verification and exploratory-visit requirements. Advisors recommend beginning document collection early, as applicants have just 90 days to submit a full application once invited.
BC officials hinted that a “targeted immigration strategy” will be unveiled later this quarter, possibly introducing industry-specific draws similar to Saskatchewan’s newly launched tech-entrepreneur track. Prospective candidates would be wise to monitor announcements and keep their profiles up to date to maximise invitation chances.
