What is the BC PNP Regional stream?
The Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional stream helps smaller B.C. communities attract entrepreneurs who will start a new business that fits local economic priorities. You work with a participating community, get its referral, then run your business on a work permit. Once you meet your performance agreement, B.C. can nominate you for permanent residence.
The stream was formerly the Regional Pilot and is now a permanent part of the BC PNP. This guide follows the BC PNP’s EI – Regional Program Guide (effective May 27, 2024) and 2026 draw results.
BC PNP Regional stream at a glance
Key takeaway
The Regional stream costs less to enter than the Base stream, but it is much narrower. You must start a new business that fits a participating community’s priority industries, and 2026 Regional draws have usually invited fewer than five people each.
Who qualifies for the BC PNP Regional stream?
You must meet every one of these requirements to be nominated.
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Business experience
Within the last 5 years: more than 3 years as an active owner-manager (with at least 10% ownership), more than 4 years as a senior manager (TEER 0 or 1, supervising at least 3 full-time employees), or 1 year as an owner-manager plus 2 years as a senior manager.
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Education
A post-secondary credential recognized in Canada. Without one, you need at least 3 years actively managing a business you owned 100% in the last 5 years (ownership can be shared with your spouse and dependent children).
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Personal net worth
At least $300,000, legally obtained and verified by a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm after you are invited.
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Personal investment
At least $100,000 of your own funds in eligible business expenses, made within 610 days (about 20 months) of arriving in B.C.
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Ownership
At least 51% of the business.
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Job creation
At least 1 new permanent full-time job (30+ hours a week, 1,560 hours a year) for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident within 420 days of arrival. The job must be on-site and filled continuously for 6 months before your final report.
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Language
CLB 4 or higher in all four skills, in English or French. Upload valid results (under 2 years old) with your registration.
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Community referral
An exploratory visit to a participating community and a referral from it, uploaded with your registration.
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Immigration status
Lawful status where you live now. B.C. won’t nominate someone who is out of status or working without authorization in Canada, or who has an unresolved refugee claim.
Good to know
Meeting the minimums does not guarantee an invitation or approval. Several scoring sections also have their own minimum scores, explained in the points section below.
How is the Regional stream different from the Base stream?
B.C. runs two entrepreneur streams. Here is how the Regional stream compares with the BC PNP Base Category.
| Requirement | Regional stream | Base stream |
|---|---|---|
| Personal net worth | $300,000 | $600,000 |
| Minimum investment | $100,000 | $200,000 |
| Ownership | At least 51% | At least 33⅓% |
| Type of business | New business only, in a participating community | New business, or buy and grow an existing one, anywhere in B.C. |
| Experience window | Last 5 years | Last 10 years |
| Exploratory visit and referral | Required | Visit recommended, no referral |
| Language test results | With your registration | By your final report |
| Minimum registration score | 105 of 200 | 115 of 200 |
| Final report timing | 12 to 20 months after your work permit | 18 to 20 months after your work permit |
| Partner with another BC PNP registrant | Not allowed | Allowed |
Both streams require at least 1 new full-time job, CLB 4 language skills and the same BC PNP fees.
Which communities take part in the Regional stream?
As of June 2026, 18 communities take part. Each one lists the industries it wants to attract by six-digit NAICS code, and your business must match one of them. Communities can pause sectors or limit referrals, so check the current list on WelcomeBC before you plan.
- Cariboo: Mackenzie, Quesnel
- Nechako: Bulkley-Nechako
- Northeast: Dawson Creek, Fort St. John
- Castlegar and Central Kootenay (Areas I and J)
- Columbia Valley and East Kootenay
- Kimberley
- Nelson and Central Kootenay (Areas E and F)
- Rossland
- Trail
- Thompson-Okanagan: Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon
- Vancouver Island and Coast: Campbell River, Comox, Mount Waddington, Powell River
Sector pauses
Communities sometimes pause intake for specific sectors. In 2026, for example, Comox and Campbell River paused some sectors for several months. Confirm your sector is open with the community’s contact person before you visit.
What kind of business qualifies?
You must start a new business that earns profit by selling products or services, matches your background, and needs your active, day-to-day management.
- A new business only. Buying an existing business or its assets is not allowed.
- A six-digit NAICS code that matches one of your community’s priority industries.
- A clearly defined concept. You can’t change it after you register.
- A seasonal business qualifies only if you will be in B.C. and manage it year-round.
- The franchise must be well established, with a sound financial track record and at least 5 years of operation.
- Your application must show the franchisor supports a new location run by you.
- Get the franchisor’s disclosure document before you invest.
- Base your plan on B.C.’s “Taking Stock” farm business planning workbook.
- Show you have researched the feasibility of the farm in detail.
- Show you have contacted local officials, suppliers and service providers who can support you.
- Passive investments and real estate development
- Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses
- Payday loans, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines
- Pawnbrokers, tanning salons, coin laundries and automated car washes
- Real estate, insurance or business brokerage
- Import/export trading without demonstrated added value
- Scrap metal recycling and most used-goods businesses
Regulated industries
Agriculture, child care, health care, financial services, passenger transportation and other highly regulated industries are still eligible. Your plan must show how you will meet their licensing and regulatory requirements.
What counts toward the $100,000 investment?
Only spending that is essential to set up and run your new business counts. Your total budget can be larger, but the BC PNP looks at eligible spending.
- New equipment
- Leasehold improvements
- Marketing costs
- Operating expenses such as rent, wages and utilities: up to 6 months (3 months for a new franchise location)
- Start-up inventory: up to 3 months
- A business vehicle, only if essential: up to $15,000
- Cash, working capital, reserves and contingency funds
- Wages paid to you, your family or co-owners
- Refundable deposits
- Real estate and related fees
- Buying an existing business or business assets
- Research and development
- Immigration, net worth verification, accounting review and BC PNP fees
Timing and source of funds
Spending before your invitation doesn’t count, and the BC PNP strongly discourages any commitment before you sign a performance agreement and get a work permit. The $100,000 minimum must come from your own documented funds. Loans or a partner’s money can cover amounts above it.
How is your BC PNP Regional registration scored?
Your registration is scored out of 200: up to 140 points for self-declared factors and up to 60 for your business concept. You need at least 105 in total and must meet each section’s minimum. There is no minimum business concept score.
- Owner-manager: 12–24 months 7, 25–36 months 12, 37–48 months 16, 49–59 months 19, 60+ months 22
- Senior manager: 25–48 months 4, 49–59 months 8, 60+ months 12
- Bonus: 2 points for 100% ownership for 3 of the last 5 years
- Liquid assets: $10,000–$49,999 1, $50,000–$199,999 2, $200,000+ 3
- Total net worth: $300,000–$999,999 2, $1,000,000+ 3
- $100,000–$349,999: 6
- $350,000–$599,999: 8
- $600,000+: 10
- 1 job: 10
- 2 to 4 jobs: 11
- 5 to 7 jobs: 13
- 8+ jobs: 15
- 40,000–75,000: 1
- 20,000–39,999: 2
- 15,000–19,999: 3
- 10,000–14,999: 4
- 5,000–9,999: 5
- Under 5,000: 6
- Lower Mainland/Southwest: 1
- Vancouver Island and Coast: 2
- Thompson-Okanagan: 6
- Cariboo and Kootenay: 10
- Nechako, North Coast and Northeast: 12
- Language (min 5): CLB 4 5, CLB 5 10, CLB 6 15, CLB 7+ 23
- Education: diploma or associate degree 6, bachelor’s or post-graduate diploma 14, master’s or PhD 16
- Age: under 25 2, 25–29 8, 30–44 16, 45–54 10, 55–64 4
- Canadian work or study (last 10 years): 12–24 months 4, more than 24 months 8
- A close family member living in the community for 12+ months: 4
- Commercial viability: 30
- Transferability of your skills: 15
- Economic benefits: 15 (5 for a significant economic benefit such as new technology, exports or serving an under-served market; 10 for a realistic jobs plan, min 1)
How does the BC PNP Regional process work?
The Regional stream has six stages, and the first one happens before you can even register.
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Step 01
Choose a community
Review the participating communities and their priority industries, shape a business idea that matches one, and take a language test showing at least CLB 4.
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Step 02
Visit and get a referral
Make an exploratory visit and meet the community's designated contact person. If they find you suitable, they issue a referral, valid for 90 days. Communities may limit referrals.
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Step 03
Register online
Register on BC PNP Online with your referral and language results and a $300 fee. Qualified registrations stay in the pool for 6 months and are invited by score, with some spread across communities.
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Step 04
Apply when invited
You have 120 days to submit a full application with a $3,500 fee and a net worth verification report. You may be interviewed. Decisions usually take about 4 months.
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Step 05
Get your work permit and build
Sign a performance agreement, apply for a work permit within 90 days and arrive within 12 months. Invest within 610 days and hire within 420 days. Your community contact checks in at 6 to 8 months.
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Step 06
Final report and PR
Submit your final report 12 to 20 months after your work permit is issued, with a year of CPA-reviewed financial statements. Once nominated, you and your family apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
Your family
Your spouse or common-law partner may be able to get an open work permit, depending on IRCC’s current rules for spouses, and your dependent children can attend school in B.C.
What does the Regional stream cost and how long does it take?
These are the BC PNP’s own fees and reported processing times. IRCC work permit and permanent residence fees and processing are separate.
| Stage | BC PNP fee | Typical processing |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | $300 | About 4 to 6 weeks |
| Application (work permit stage) | $3,500 | About 4 months |
| Final report (nomination stage) | No separate fee listed | About 4 months |
| Request for review | $500 | About 6 months |
Fees are non-refundable once the BC PNP starts its assessment. The program guide says registrations are usually scored within 4 weeks; WelcomeBC reports 6 weeks. Professional fees for legal, accounting and business plan work are extra.
What are the most common Regional stream mistakes?
Refusals often come from planning problems, not from missing the minimums.
Picking a community too late
Why it hurts
Without a referral you can't register, and your business must match the community's priority industries. Referrals expire after 90 days.
What works instead
Choose the community first, confirm your sector is open, then plan the business around it.
Planning to buy a business
Why it hurts
The Regional stream only accepts new businesses. Buying an existing business or its assets doesn't qualify or count toward your investment.
What works instead
If you want to buy, look at the Base Category instead.
Investing or borrowing too early
Why it hurts
Spending before your invitation doesn't count, and the $100,000 minimum can't come from loans.
What works instead
Keep your own funds liquid and documented until you hold a work permit.
Not living in the community
Why it hurts
You must live within the community's boundaries, manage the business on-site and be in B.C. at least 75% of your work permit time.
What works instead
Plan your family's move and travel around these rules from day one.
How often does B.C. invite Regional stream entrepreneurs?
Regional draws usually run alongside Base draws, but they are much smaller. B.C. doesn’t publish exact counts below five. Results as of October 2026:
| Draw | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| September 22, 2026 | 119 | Fewer than 5 |
| August 25, 2026 | 116 | 5 |
| June 30, 2026 | 113 | Fewer than 5 |
| June 2, 2026 | 117 | Fewer than 5 |
| May 5, 2026 | 115 | Fewer than 5 |
| March 10, 2026 | 129 | Fewer than 5 |
| February 10, 2026 | 105 | Fewer than 5 |
Source: BC PNP invitation rounds as reported by CIC News and immigration.ca. Besides score, B.C. may consider how invitations are spread across communities and how long you have been in the pool.
BC PNP Regional stream: frequently asked questions
No. The Regional stream only accepts new businesses, and buying a business or its assets doesn’t count toward your investment. If you want to buy and grow an existing business, consider the BC PNP Base Category.
No. Only participating communities can refer you, and your business must match one of the industries that community has listed. The list changes, so check WelcomeBC before you plan.
Contact the community, make an exploratory visit and meet its designated contact person to discuss your business idea. If they find you suitable, they issue a referral, which is valid for 90 days. Communities can set their own conditions and limit how many referrals they give.
You can partner with a local business person, but not with another BC PNP registrant. Either way, you must own at least 51% of the business.
Within the boundaries of the community that referred you. You must also manage the business on-site and be physically present in B.C. at least 75% of the time you are on your work permit.
Not for the minimum. Your $100,000 minimum must come from your own funds, and you must document its source. Loans or a partner’s money can cover amounts above it.
With your registration. You must upload results showing at least CLB 4 in all four skills, and they must be less than 2 years old when you register.
Qualified registrations stay in the pool for 6 months. If you are not invited, you can strengthen your business concept or adaptability factors and submit a new registration, which may need a new referral. An invitation is never guaranteed.
Is the BC PNP Regional stream right for you?
The Regional stream suits experienced owners and senior managers with at least $300,000 in net worth who want to start a new business in a smaller B.C. community and settle there for good. It rewards early community research, a business that fits local needs, and well-documented funds.
Still comparing options? See our BC PNP Base Category guide, the BC PNP overview, the C11 entrepreneur work permit, and all provincial nominee programs.
