Key takeaways
– British Columbia held a BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration draw on October 20, 2026, inviting entrepreneurs in the Base and Regional streams.
– Base stream: 10 invitations to apply, minimum score 118.
– Regional stream: fewer than 5 invitations to apply, minimum score 118.
– Both streams shared the same minimum score threshold of 118 in this round.
– The draw was published on the official WelcomeBC Invitations to Apply page (last updated October 20, 2026).
What happened
On October 20, 2026, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program conducted its latest Entrepreneur Immigration invitation round. The province invited 10 candidates through the Base stream and fewer than 5 candidates through the Regional stream, with both streams requiring a minimum registration score of 118.
The Base stream is designed for experienced entrepreneurs who want to establish or expand a business in British Columbia, while the Regional stream targets entrepreneurs willing to invest in and settle in smaller communities across the province, with community support from a participating regional district. This round follows the September 22, 2026 entrepreneur draw, which also invited 10 Base and fewer than 5 Regional candidates at a minimum score of 119 — a nearly identical result, showing steady, selective invitation volumes in this category.
What it means for candidates
Entrepreneur draws remain among the smallest invitation rounds BC conducts, but they are also one of the few provincial pathways built specifically for business owners rather than skilled employees. The consistent minimum scores around 118-119 in recent rounds give prospective candidates a realistic benchmark for how competitive their registration needs to be.
An invitation is only the first step. Invited candidates must submit a complete application to the BC PNP, including net-worth verification and a detailed business proposal, within the province’s application deadline. Provincial nomination is followed by a work permit application and, later, a permanent residence application to IRCC — each a separate decision.
What to do next
If you received an invitation in this round, begin your authorized net-worth verification promptly and make sure your business proposal, source-of-funds evidence, and personal information are consistent across your registration and application. If you are considering registering, review the current WelcomeBC entrepreneur requirements first — the province lists ineligible business types and exceptions, and a registration that ignores them wastes the $300 registration fee.
Do not describe an invitation as a nomination, a work permit, or a permanent residence approval. Each stage has its own assessment, and score cutoffs can move between rounds.
Frequently asked questions
- How many invitations did BC issue in the October 20, 2026 entrepreneur draw?
- British Columbia issued 10 invitations through the Base stream and fewer than 5 through the Regional stream in the October 20, 2026 Entrepreneur Immigration draw.
- What was the minimum score for the BC PNP entrepreneur draw?
- The minimum registration score was 118 for both the Base and Regional streams in the October 20, 2026 round.
- What is the difference between the BC PNP Base and Regional entrepreneur streams?
- The Base stream is for entrepreneurs establishing or expanding a business anywhere in British Columbia, while the Regional stream targets smaller communities and requires support from a participating regional district. Both streams were invited in this round at the same minimum score.
- Does a BC PNP entrepreneur invitation mean I have permanent residence?
- No. An invitation to apply starts the provincial application stage. Nomination, a work permit, and permanent residence are separate later steps, each with its own decision.
- How often does BC hold entrepreneur draws?
- BC has held entrepreneur invitation rounds roughly monthly through 2026 — including September 22 and October 20 — with similar volumes each round. Dates are not announced in advance.
To explore whether the BC PNP Entrepreneur stream fits your business plans, contact ImmiQuest Immigration at +1 778-855-4155, email info@immiquest.ca, or visit https://immiquest.ca.
Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710
Official source: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program/invitations-to-apply