This program was launched in 2019 with the aim of attracting entrepreneurs to participate in existing businesses in rural and smaller areas of British Columbia and will be active until at least March 31, 2024. Its purpose is the participation of small communities in attracting those entrepreneurs whose business is aligned with the economic priorities of the society.
Foreign entrepreneurs should have an exploratory trip to the target areas and during that time, discuss their proposed business plan with the representative of the target community.
The amount of net worth and capital required in entrepreneurship through a regional pilot is lower than the basic entrepreneurship plan, which indicates that the costs of establishing a business in smaller communities in British Columbia are lower than in Vancouver and more populous cities.
In this program, a temporary work visa is issued to the applicant to start his own business based on the provided business plan.
After setting up a business in the desired area, the applicant can apply for permanent residence in Canada through the British Columbia BCPNP selection program.
Conditions of areas approved by the Entrepreneurship Pilot Plan
- The population of the area must be less than 75,000 people
- Must be within 30 kilometers of cities with a population of more than 75,000
More than 30 regions have joined the BC Entrepreneurship Pilot. These areas have conditions for issuing recommendation letters for the registration of applicants for this plan, and each one has its conditions.
Requirements for applicants
General conditions
Personal, financial, and professional factors
Business terms
Investment conditions
Employment conditions
To check your score in this program, you can refer to the scoring section of the regional pilot program.
The process of applying for the regional pilot immigration program
- Online registration
- Invitation of the applicants who have the most points
- Appraisal of the applicant’s assets and how to collect the applicant’s assets by approved companies in British Columbia
- Submit the file within 4 months of receiving the invitation
- Issuance of confirmation letter (support letter for a work visa) for successful applicants (possibility of applying for two-year work visa)
- Apply for a work visa
- Creating or developing a business within two years based on an approved business plan
- Issuance of a provincial selection certificate after completing the business requirements within 2 years or even earlier than the two-year deadline
- Sending the file to the federal government of Canada for visa issuance procedures.
- Medical and security checks and issuance of permanent residence visa