Key Eligibility Requirements of the British Columbia PNP
The program targets experienced entrepreneurs who plan to actively manage a business in BC and has two sub-categories:
- Entrepreneur Immigration: Base Category
- Entrepreneur Immigration: Regional Stream (for individuals wanting to start a business in a smaller BC community)
The program sets minimum requirements in a number of areas:
- Experience & Education. Applicants must meet criteria including business or senior management experience, post-secondary education, and language proficiency.
- Net worth. Minimum net worth requirements vary by stream ($600,000 for the base and $300,000 for the regional).
- Investment minimums. Investments of at least $200,000 for the base stream and $100,000 for the regional stream are obligatory.
- Job creation. Projects create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Community size. For the regional pilot program, the PNP business must be located in a participating regional community with a population of fewer than 75,000.
- Language proficiency. Requirements vary between the programs, but there is a minimum level that needs to be met.
The Idea Behind the Regional Stream
Mahyar begins by explaining the Regional Stream path in the BC PNP, which is the focus of most of the conversation.
“The Regional Stream started back in March of 2019 as a pilot program and they wanted to start cooperating with smaller participating communities. These are basically rural areas in BC and you can choose from those communities to basically go there, live there, and start your business in that small community. The Regional Stream has more rules attached to it compared to the base categories,” he says.
“The process is much longer because you need to first get the approval of those regional communities to be able to start the process. That’s the biggest difference between the two.|
“The biggest benefit to the Regional Stream is that it provides a pathway to permanent residency. We have many people in Canada who are living here on a temporary residence basis and they are trying hard to find a pathway to become a permanent resident, or PR, which is not always easy. The good thing about BC PNP is that you know that you can become a PR if you do everything right.”
Another Benefit to the Regional Stream
Another big advantage to the Regional Stream, Mahyar tells us, is that applicants don’t have to commit to an investment before their application is approved. There’s no financial risk involved apart from the cost of the application process.
“You are not committed to any investment before your application is approved. So you keep your money, you’re not risking your savings or your investment amount. Whenever you get your approval, you have your visa and work permit, you come to BC and invest in your own business.”
Provisions for Family Members
The BC PNP has guidelines for the admission of the families of applicants. Spouses can receive work permits and apply at the same time. Children can accompany successful applicants as well.
“Spouses can apply for an open work permit,” Mahyar tells us. “The main applicant gets a closed work permit and is tied to the business that they are starting or operating. The good thing about having an open work permit for the spouse is that they are not limited to or tied to any specific employer and they can basically work in any industry for anyone.”
“For children, public schools are free of charge. So from grade one to grade twelve, they can attend Canadian schools without paying any tuition fees just like Canadian citizens.”
Points and Pools
In response to a question about the role of points in the application process, Mahyar gives these highlights:
“The pointing system is divided into two parts. One part is the self-declared points, which include your investment amount, your age, your education, your experience, your personal criteria, and some other things like the location of the proposed business. And then a big portion of the scoring also goes to the business plan you submit in the beginning,” he explains.
“The scoring is on a scale of 200 points. The business part has 80 points. The self-declared points are 120. Applicants need to get at least 115 out of 200 to be eligible to proceed further. If the total is less than that, they are not entered into the pool of eligible individuals. Those who have the minimum 115 points wait for their invitation. Their profile is active for six months. Anytime during those six months, whenever there’s a draw, they might receive an invitation.”
He also reminds us that it is possible to attain the minimum point total, be placed in the pool of approved applicants and still not receive an invitation within the given six months.
In terms of timelines and the expected wait time for things to move forward, Mahyar says “It takes about six weeks for BCPNP to score everything but sometimes it’s done faster.”
Learn More By Watching the Full Version
These are just a few of the takeaways and tips you’ll find in the full presentation of Permanent Residency in Canada: A Guide to British Columbia’s PNP Program. with special guest Mahyar Afzali. For more details and a deeper look at the opportunities available through the BC PNP, watch the full version of the conversation on Joorney’s YouTube channel.
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