British Columbia continued to court global business talent this week, inviting seven candidates to apply for provincial nomination under its Entrepreneur Immigration Base stream. The invitations were issued on 13 January 2026 and publicly reported on 17 January 2026. (cicnews.com)
The minimum score required was 115, unchanged from the final draw of 2025. Eligible applicants must invest at least CAD 200,000, create a minimum of one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and actively manage the business in the province. Those selected receive a performance-based work permit support letter; a permanent-residence nomination follows once they meet job-creation and investment milestones, typically within 20–24 months.
The draw underscores B.C.’s push to diversify its economy beyond Vancouver’s tech corridor. Provincial officials noted that 2025 saw the highest number of entrepreneur nominations since 2018, with regional communities accounting for 37 % of approved business plans. By keeping the cut-off steady, the province aims to maintain momentum while Ottawa recalibrates federal entrepreneur pathways.
![British Columbia issues new invitations under Entrepreneur Immigration stream]()
For local communities, each nomination can translate into more than CAD 1 million in direct investment when real estate, equipment and working capital are combined.
Entrepreneurs who receive an invitation often need to secure the proper immigration documents quickly. VisaHQ’s dedicated Canada desk (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) guides clients through work-permit and business-visitor visa filings, arranges biometrics and submission appointments, and tracks every stage online—helping investors stay compliant while they finalize their B.C. business plans.
The program also offers expedited options for applicants creating at least three jobs and investing CAD 500,000 or more in key sectors such as clean tech, agri-food and life sciences.
Advisers urge prospective applicants to prepare for stricter compliance audits. The province increased on-site inspections last year after finding that 12 % of approved businesses had not met job-creation targets within the prescribed timeline, a figure officials want below 5 % by the end of 2026.
The minimum score required was 115, unchanged from the final draw of 2025. Eligible applicants must invest at least CAD 200,000, create a minimum of one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and actively manage the business in the province. Those selected receive a performance-based work permit support letter; a permanent-residence nomination follows once they meet job-creation and investment milestones, typically within 20–24 months.
The draw underscores B.C.’s push to diversify its economy beyond Vancouver’s tech corridor. Provincial officials noted that 2025 saw the highest number of entrepreneur nominations since 2018, with regional communities accounting for 37 % of approved business plans. By keeping the cut-off steady, the province aims to maintain momentum while Ottawa recalibrates federal entrepreneur pathways.
For local communities, each nomination can translate into more than CAD 1 million in direct investment when real estate, equipment and working capital are combined.
Entrepreneurs who receive an invitation often need to secure the proper immigration documents quickly. VisaHQ’s dedicated Canada desk (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) guides clients through work-permit and business-visitor visa filings, arranges biometrics and submission appointments, and tracks every stage online—helping investors stay compliant while they finalize their B.C. business plans.
The program also offers expedited options for applicants creating at least three jobs and investing CAD 500,000 or more in key sectors such as clean tech, agri-food and life sciences.
Advisers urge prospective applicants to prepare for stricter compliance audits. The province increased on-site inspections last year after finding that 12 % of approved businesses had not met job-creation targets within the prescribed timeline, a figure officials want below 5 % by the end of 2026.
