Provincial Nominee Program: Business Immigrants

The Application Process – Business Skills

	Before applying to the BC PNP, carefully review this section, the requirements for Business Skills or Regional Skills, and the Preliminary Application Form for the relevant category. If you have any questions about eligibility, or the program, please contact us before you prepare or submit an application
	Please note that if you are using a paid representative to help prepare your application, this person must meet the requirements for Authorized Representatives, and you must submit an Authorized Representative Form ( 226KB) with your application.

1. Preliminary Application
   
   You must first submit a Preliminary Application Form ( 367KB) for review by the BC PNP. This form requests basic personal and business background information, and a brief business proposal. There is no fee for a Preliminary Application and no supporting documents are required.
   
   If it appears that you and your business proposal meet the BC PNP’s requirements, you will be invited to submit a Formal Application.
    
   • If you have submitted three unsuccessful Preliminary Applications during the past 2 years, the BC PNP will not accept any further applications for a period of 2 years from the date of the last rejection
      
2. Formal Application
    

   	Once you have been invited to submit a Formal Application, we will send you electronically-fillable copies of the necessary forms (these are NOT available for downloading from our website)
   	We strongly encourage nominee applicants to make an exploratory visit to British Columbia at this stage

   The Formal Application requires you to submit the following:
    

   1. the appropriate provincial and federal forms
   2. supporting documentation on your business experience, qualifications, and financial resources
   3. a business plan
   4. the $3,000 CAD BC PNP processing fee (Business Skills applicants proposing supporting the nomination of a key staff member must also pay an additional $1,000. These fees are NOT refundable

   Your completed application will be reviewed by a BC PNP business advisor. The information and supporting documentation submitted in your application must be verifiable to the BC PNP’s satisfaction.
    

3. You will be required to attend a personal interview with a business advisor to discuss your application. If your application is approved, you will be required to sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia. The Performance Agreement sets out terms and conditions for nomination that relate to implementing your business proposal. The agreement identifies key steps and milestones in establishing the proposed business, such as incorporating a company, leasing a building, buying and installing equipment, obtaining permits and hiring employees. These key steps and milestones MUST be included in your business plan.
    
4. The BC PNP will issue you with a letter of support for a 2-year federal temporary work permit. This permit will allow you to work legally in Canada to begin implementing your business proposal. You must submit your application for a work permit within 60 days of the date on the BC PNP’s support letter.
    
5. When you have signed a Performance Agreement, you will be accepted as a Nominee Candidate. You now have the option of pursuing a Fast Track nomination or a Regular nomination.

   The Fast Track option offers immediate nomination for permanent residence, in return for which you will make a conditionally refundable $125,000 CAD deposit with the Province of British Columbia. The deposit will be refunded (without interest) when you have met the terms of conditions of your Performance Agreement and Deposit Agreement.
    

   Applicants in the Business Skills category should note that the Fast Track option is NOT available to foreign key staff included in their application

   The Regular option allows you to continue working to implement your business on your federal work permit, and leads to nomination when you have met the terms of conditions of your Performance Agreement.