Canada · Business / Startup
Canada BC Entrepreneur · Base
Investment needed: CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k
BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration: Base stream
First checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
BC Entrepreneur · Base is a business / startup route for Canada. Applicants need an investment of CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k. Checked 2026-10-10 against the official source.
- Money needed
- CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k
- Government fees
- CAD 300 ≈ $210 · +3 more
- Processing
- 180 days
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 4 government fees listed below; investment CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k; decision: 180 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government feesCAD 300 ≈ $210 · +3 more
- CAD 300 (≈ $210)BC PNP registration fee.
- CAD 3,500 (≈ $2,450)BC PNP application fee, paid in the BC PNP Online User Portal; a request for review costs CAD 500 (≈ $350).
- CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110)IRCC permanent residence application fee for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee; a spouse or partner pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) and each dependent child CAD 270 (≈ $190).
- CAD 155 (≈ $110)IRCC work permit fee for the work-permit stage.
Shown, not spentCAD 600k+ ≈ $420k
- CAD 600,000 (≈ $420,000)Minimum personal net worth for the Base stream, reviewed by a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm before the application.
Invested and heldCAD 200k+ ≈ $140k
- CAD 200,000 (≈ $140,000)Minimum eligible personal investment in the business for the Base stream.
CitizenshipAfter 3 years as a permanent resident
Needs 1,095 days physically in Canada in the 5 years before applying, including at least 730 days as a permanent resident. Each day as a temporary resident before permanent residence counts as half a day, up to 365 days of credit.
Processing180 days
After nomination the federal service standard is 180 days for Express Entry-linked applications and 11 months for other (paper) provincial nominee applications.
Presence rulesAt least 730 days
A permanent resident must be physically in Canada at least 730 days in any 5-year period to keep the status.
What you'll need
Who can apply4
- The applicant has at least 3 years of experience as a business owner-manager in the last 10 years, or an eligible post-secondary credential instead.
- The applicant establishes an eligible new business or takes over and grows an existing one.
- The applicant meets at least Canadian Language Benchmark level 4.
- The business must create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
What you must show2
- Personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000 (≈ $420,000) and an eligible personal investment of at least CAD 200,000 (≈ $140,000).
- BC PNP fees are CAD 300 (≈ $210) to register and CAD 3,500 (≈ $2,450) to apply; IRCC charges CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for permanent residence.
Documents1
- An exploratory visit is recommended but not required.
Steps2
- Register online and wait for an invitation to apply; registrations stay in the pool for up to six months.
- After the invitation, submit the BC PNP application within four months; for the Base stream an authorized accounting firm first verifies net worth.
After you arrive1
- After nomination, apply to IRCC for permanent residence; a work permit can be requested at the work-permit stage.
What happens at day 183
How Canada decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a calendar yearDay count used in the CRA residency decision flow (page wording: fewer than 183 days versus more than 182 days throughout the year); significant ties and treaty residence are assessed together with it.
- At least 183 days in a tax yearA person who sojourned in Canada in the year for 183 days or more is deemed resident for the whole year (Income Tax Act s.250(1)(a))
- Foreign-source income
Worldwide income for residents; Canadian-source income for non-residents
All tax rules for Canada Tax records checked
Full official text
British Columbia nominee stream for business owner-managers who establish or take over an eligible BC business. 1 2
What you must show and pay
- An investment of at least CAD 200,000 (≈ $140,000) · Minimum eligible personal investment in the business for the Base stream. 1
- Assets of at least CAD 600,000 (≈ $420,000) · Minimum personal net worth for the Base stream, reviewed by a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm before the application. 1
- A fee of CAD 300 (≈ $210) · BC PNP registration fee. 1
- A fee of CAD 3,500 (≈ $2,450) · BC PNP application fee, paid in the BC PNP Online User Portal; a request for review costs CAD 500 (≈ $350). 1
- A fee of CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) · IRCC permanent residence application fee for the principal applicant, including the right of permanent residence fee; a spouse or partner pays CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) and each dependent child CAD 270 (≈ $190). 2
- A fee of CAD 155 (≈ $110) · IRCC work permit fee for the work-permit stage. 2
Requirements
- The applicant has at least 3 years of experience as a business owner-manager in the last 10 years, or an eligible post-secondary credential instead. 1
- The applicant establishes an eligible new business or takes over and grows an existing one. 1
- The applicant meets at least Canadian Language Benchmark level 4. 1
- The business must create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. 1
- Personal net worth of at least CAD 600,000 (≈ $420,000) and an eligible personal investment of at least CAD 200,000 (≈ $140,000). 1
- BC PNP fees are CAD 300 (≈ $210) to register and CAD 3,500 (≈ $2,450) to apply; IRCC charges CAD 1,590 (≈ $1,110) for permanent residence. 1 2
- An exploratory visit is recommended but not required. 1
- Register online and wait for an invitation to apply; registrations stay in the pool for up to six months. 1
- After the invitation, submit the BC PNP application within four months; for the Base stream an authorized accounting firm first verifies net worth. 1
- After nomination, apply to IRCC for permanent residence; a work permit can be requested at the work-permit stage. 1 2
Stay
- Permanent residence after nomination and federal processing; a work permit is available while the business is established.
Nationality
No nationality restriction.
Work
Manage the BC business; permanent residence once granted.
Family
Spouse and dependent children can be included.
Official sources
- BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration · Government of British Columbia · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
BC Entrepreneur · Base and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Entrepreneur · Base | Needs an investment of CAD 200k+ ≈ $140k | – | – |
| BC Entrepreneur · Regional | Needs an investment of CAD 100k+ ≈ $70k | – | – |
| Freelance professional M Colombia | Needs income of COP 8.8M+ a month ≈ $2,740 | 3 yr | Limited |
| E-1 Treaty Trader United States | – | 2 yr, renewable | Limited |
| Self-employed residence Uruguay | – | – | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the BC Entrepreneur · Base?
An investment of at least CAD 200,000 (≈ $140,000). Minimum eligible personal investment in the business for the Base stream. Assets of at least CAD 600,000 (≈ $420,000). Minimum personal net worth for the Base stream, reviewed by a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm before the application. A fee of CAD 300 (≈ $210). BC PNP registration fee. A fee of CAD 3,500 (≈ $2,450). BC PNP application fee, paid in the BC PNP Online User Portal; a request for review costs CAD 500 (≈ $350).
How long can I stay on the BC Entrepreneur · Base?
Permanent residence after nomination and federal processing; a work permit is available while the business is established.
How long does the BC Entrepreneur · Base take to process?
After nomination the federal service standard is 180 days for Express Entry-linked applications and 11 months for other (paper) provincial nominee applications.
Can I work on the BC Entrepreneur · Base?
Manage the BC business; permanent residence once granted.
Can I bring my family on the BC Entrepreneur · Base?
Spouse and dependent children can be included.
How are BC Entrepreneur · Base holders taxed in Canada?
No special regime in our records is tied to the BC Entrepreneur · Base. The standard rules apply: Tax obligations follow residency status decided on all facts, mainly significant residential ties; residents report world income from all sources.
More in Canada
Business / startup visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
Ask the AI about this route AI
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-10 against 5 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration · Government of British Columbia · checked 2026-10-10
- Citizenship and immigration application fees: fee list · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- Apply for citizenship: who can apply (physical presence) · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- IRCC service standards · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
- How long must I stay in Canada to keep my permanent resident status? · Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.