Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) > BCPNP - Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot (EIRP) Stream
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of British Columbia's Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot (EIRP) stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the participating communities, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot (EIRP) stream
The Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot (EIRP) stream is one of two PNP streams in British Columbia that are dedicated to international entrepreneurs residing outside Canada who wish to invest their money in British Columbia.
When receiving a nomination under the EIRP stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The EIRP stream has minimum eligibility requirements, however, British Columbia does not send invitations to apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 200 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the BCPNP conducts periodic EIRP draws, and each draw has its minimum threshold score, and all candidates with scores above or equal to that draw's threshold are invited to apply. More information is available in the Draw History section of this guide.
The EIRP stream has minimum eligibility requirements, however, British Columbia does not send invitations to apply to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 200 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the BCPNP conducts periodic EIRP draws, and each draw has its minimum threshold score, and all candidates with scores above or equal to that draw's threshold are invited to apply. More information is available in the Draw History section of this guide.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the Immigration Entrepreneur Regional Pilot (EIRP) stream, the BCPNP will only consider registrations to establish a new business in a participating community that aligns with one of the economic development priorities identified by the community. The proposed business must be operated for the primary purpose of earning profits by providing products and/or services. Additionally, the business must have strong potential for sustained commercial success.
The BCPNP will not consider a business proposal for a seasonal business unless you can demonstrate that you will be present in British Columbia and will perform an active management role on a year-round basis..
Franchises may be considered as eligible businesses if you can demonstrate that the proposed franchise is well-established. If you are invited to apply, your application must include evidence that you have received support from the franchisor to set up a new franchise location.
If you are proposing to establish a new farm/agricultural business, your business plan should be based on or cover the issues described in the document "Taking Stock: A Farm Business Planning Workbook For The Beginning Farmer". The business plan must demonstrate that you have thoroughly researched the feasibility of your farming operation and have established contact with relevant local stakeholders who can provide support to your enterprise.
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the EIRP stream:
- An immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation section 6(e) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) section 87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9).
- Any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(d).
- Any business that may be a passive investment pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(c).
- Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses.
- Payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses.
- Pawnbrokers.
- Tanning salons.
- DVD rental stores.
- Coin-operated laundries.
- Automated car wash operations.
- Scrap metal recycling.
- Businesses selling used goods (excluding businesses that provide value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling).
- Real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage.
- Businesses involved in producing, distributing or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services.
- Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the BCPNP or the Government of British Columbia into disrepute.
Co-Registrant and Key Personnel
You may associate with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident businessman, but under the EIRP stream, you are not allowed to associate with a foreign businessman (Co-registrant).
You will not be able to bring with you Key Personnel to help you with the creation of the company.
Participating communities and priority sectors
Under this EIRP stream, you are eligible only if your investment is done in one of the participating communities (listed below) and that aligns with one of the economic development priorities (listed below) of the community. You must make an exploratory visit in the selected community, meet with a designated community contact person, and obtain a referral from them before registering online to enter the pool of applicants. The referral is valid for 90 days.
List of Participating Communities & Key Sectors
With the search bar in this link, you can use the NAICS codes below to find out the corresponding priority sectors and their descriptions.
Community | Development region | Population | Priority sectors (NAICS codes) |
Contact | Community Website | Trade and Invest Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
100 Mile House | Cariboo | 1,980 | 311 339 6216 6115 5413 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Bulkley-Nechako (some priority sectors are not accepted in certain areas) | Nechako | 39,713 | 111 112 1131 1132 1133 1151 1152 1153 3211 3212 3219 3391 3399 7139 7211 7212 7213 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Burns Lake | Nechako | 1,869 | 4872 4882 4871 7139 7212 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Campbell River | Vancouver Island/Coast | 36,167 | 3119 3212 5417 7225 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Castlegar & Central Kootenay (Areas I & J) | Kootenay | 14,713 | 321 443 444 448 451 452 453 541 713 722 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Chase | Thompson-Okanagan | 2,300 | 7225 721113 448 452 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Clinton | Thompson-Okanagan | 654 | 4511 44611 7225 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Columbia Valley & East Kootenay | Kootenay | 9,482 | 5416 7211 3116 1112 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Comox | Vancouver Island/Coast | 13,812 | 3113 3114 3364 5414 5415 5417 7211 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Cranbrook | Kootenay | 21,502 | 722 713 4452 448 451 454 5415 6216 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Fort St. John | Northeast | 22,283 | 722 4452 44512 44619 4481 4482 4513 4531 4532 8121 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Kimberley | Kootenay | 8,151 | 3399 6116 6117 7139 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Mackenzie (temporarily paused) | Cariboo | 3,380 | 1153 1151 7211 7225 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Mount Waddington | Vancouver Island/Coast | 11,035 | 2361 238 487 512 711 7139 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Nelson & Central Kootenay | Kootenay | 11,557 | 334 3219 5415 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Penticton | Thompson-Okanagan | 45,792 | 512 311 5411 5412 5413 5414 5416 5417 5418 5419 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Port Alberni | Vancouver Island/Coast | 19,060 | 3117 3121 5112 5182 51913 5415 5417 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Powell River | Vancouver Island/Coast | 13,865 | 11251 721113 512 5415 311 48819 54169 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Prince George | Cariboo | 82,290 | 337123 337121 32199 493110 531120 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Quesnel (temporarily paused) | Cariboo | 10,378 | 311 541 722 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Rossland | Kootenay | 4,096 | 2361 2362 7211 7223 7224 7225 5182 5191 3219 3329 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Salmon Arm | Thompson-Okanagan | 19,296 | 5416 5415 71399 333 311 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Terrace | North Coast | 12,817 | 3123 2131 321 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Trail | Kootenay | 8,250 | 4181 3313 3314 3315 5182 5191 2361 2362 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Vernon | Thompson-Okanagan | 44,171 | 2361 2362 3112 3114 3118 4421 4481 4511 7225 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
West Boundary | Kootenay | 2,155 | 7139 32199 31199 54171 5615 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |
Williams Lake | Cariboo | 11,559 | 561 611 722 |
E-mail Contact | Community Website | Trade & Invest Website |