Entrepreneurs welcomed in British Columbia’s latest provincial immigration draw
This week, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held another selection round targeting entrepreneur for provincial nomination.
Invitations were extended to candidates through two of the province’s Entrepreneur Immigration category pathways.
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Draw results
On December 16, 2025, the BC PNP targeted provincial nominee candidates through both of its Entreprenuer Immigration streams:
- Base Stream; and
- Regional Stream.
Most invitations were issued through the Base stream, as has typically been the case over the course of 2025 in draws where both streams are targeted.
Cumulatively, no more than 21 invitations were issued across both streams, with minimum scores varying stream-to-stream:
| Stream | Number of invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|
| EI Base Stream | 17 | 115 |
| EI Regional Stream | <5 | 107 |
The round stood as both the province’s second-largest Entrepreneur Immigration selection round in 2025 and the EI Base stream’s second-highest invitation round this year.
British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration category
The BC PNP’s Entrepreneur Immigration category is for foreign entrepreneurs who want to open a new business or buy and run an existing one in British Columbia.
Program streams differ in eligibility standards and conditions, including (but not limited to) minimum net worth, required investment amounts, and ownership thresholds.
To qualify for the EI Base Stream, candidates must score at least 115 points. For the EI Regional Stream, the minimum required score is 105.
EI Base Stream: Intended for entrepreneurs planning to start a new business or takeover and manage an existing business anywhere in British Columbia.
EI Regional Stream: Designed for entrepreneurs who plan to establish a new business in one of BC’s smaller, participating communities throughout the province, grouped by regional development areas.
| Development region | Participating communities |
|---|---|
| Cariboo | -Mackenzie -Quesnel |
| Kootenay | -Castlegar and Central Kootenay (Areas I & J) -Columbia Valley and East Kootenay -Kimberley -Nelson & Central Kootenay (Areas E & F) -Rossland -Trail |
| Nechako | -Bulkley-Nechako |
| Northeast | -Fort St. John |
| Thompson-Okanagan | -Penticton -Salmon Arm -Vernon |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | -Cambell River -Comox -Mount Waddington -Powell River |
In both cases, candidates are required to generate at least one full-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
How many invitations has the BC PNP issued in 2025?
Over the course of 2025, the BC PNP has conducted a total of 19 provincial immigration draws, targeted candidates through two categories: Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration.
Most draws held by British Columbia this year targeted entrepreneurs, however, the bulk of invitations were issued through its Skills Immigration category.
Below is the number of BC PNP’s draws held this year per category and overall number of invitations issued thus far for each:
Skills Immigration category: 978 invitations issued across three draws.
Entrepreneur Immigration category: No more than 132 invitations issued across 16 draws.
- Base Stream: No more than 97 invitations issued.
- Regional Stream: No more than 35 invitations issued.
British Columbia started this year with 4,000 nomination spaces (down from 8,000 compared to 2024 levels) after the federal government slashed its nomination allocation by 50%—as it did for most provinces and territories.
But after successfully lobbying the government to increase its 2025 nomination allocation, British Columbia was granted additional nomination spaces—twice—and has recovered about 77% of its 2024 allocation.
Its first increase was announced on October 2 and totalled 1,254 additional nominations; the second came on December 15, when the province was granted 960 extra nomination slots.
British Columbia intends to use its full allocation of 6,214 spaces by the end of the year.
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