British Columbia PNP Conducts New Entrepreneur Immigration Draw

British Columbia has once again invited entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination under its Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category. This latest draw, held on August 19, 2025, represents the sixth entrepreneur-focused selection round of the year, emphasizing the province’s continued priority on business immigration.

Details of the Draw

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) issued no more than 16 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) across two EI streams:

• Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Base Stream
• Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Stream

The cut-off scores for this round were as follows:

• EI Base Stream: 11 invitations, minimum score 124
• EI Regional Stream: Fewer than 5 invitations, minimum score 115

Trends in 2025 Entrepreneur Draws

With the exception of a single skilled worker draw in May, nearly all BC PNP selections in 2025 have been focused on entrepreneurs. So far this year:

• EI Base Stream: Fewer than 45 invitations issued
• EI Regional Stream: Fewer than 25 invitations issued
• EI Strategic Projects Stream: No invitations issued

In total, fewer than 70 entrepreneurs have been invited through the program in 2025.

How the Streams Operate

• EI Base Stream: Designed for entrepreneurs who want to establish a new business or purchase and manage an existing one anywhere in British Columbia. Invitations may depend on factors such as registration score, business sector alignment, population size of the target community, and whether the proposal involves a startup or an acquisition.
• EI Regional Stream: Aimed at entrepreneurs who wish to launch businesses in smaller BC communities. Candidates must receive a referral from a participating community before being invited. Draws are typically held monthly.
• EI Strategic Projects Stream: For corporations planning significant investments in British Columbia and transferring essential staff. No draws have been held in 2025 under this stream.

Community Participation in EI Regional Stream

Entrepreneurs can choose from a range of smaller communities across development regions such as Cariboo, Kootenay, Nechako, Northeast, Thompson-Okanagan, and Vancouver Island/Coast. Examples include Mackenzie, Quesnel, Castlegar, Kimberley, Penticton, Vernon, Comox, and Campbell River.

Eligibility and Processing

• EI Base Stream: Minimum registration score of 115 out of 200.
• EI Regional Stream: Minimum registration score of 105 out of 200.
• Both streams require entrepreneurs to create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Standard processing time for most applications is approximately four months.

Once nominated by BC PNP, successful applicants can proceed to apply for Canadian permanent residency at the federal level.

For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!