On April 14, 2026, the Government of British Columbia held a new selection round under the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), targeting foreign investors and experienced managers with the capacity to launch a new business or to take over and grow an existing one in the province. The round was conducted exclusively under the EI Base stream, which issued 14 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) at a minimum score of 115 points.
Compared with the previous Base-stream round held on March 10, 2026, the minimum score fell by two points, signalling a modest easing of competition for qualified business candidates. Measured against other draws conducted this year, it is also the largest single standalone EI round BC has run in 2026, suggesting the province is moving to work through its pool of eligible entrepreneurs at a faster pace.
2026 entrepreneur draw cadence and volumes
BC has now held six entrepreneur selection rounds in 2026, four of which have been conducted through the Base stream. Across all EI draws held year-to-date, no fewer than 41 ITAs have been issued to qualified business candidates.
While the Skills Immigration (SI) category remains BC PNP's main volume channel — with roughly 889 invitations issued in 2026 — the EI category has emerged as the province's most frequently drawn stream this year, at six rounds versus two under SI.
2026 allocation and selection posture
BC was the first province in Canada to make its 2026 PNP allocation public, releasing the figure in December 2025. The federal government subsequently confirmed a 2026 allocation of 5,254 nomination spaces for BC — an increase of about 31% from the province's initial 4,000-spot allocation at the start of 2025, though still below the number BC had formally requested.
Against that constrained backdrop, BC PNP representatives signalled early in 2026 that the program would remain selective, continuing to prioritize applicants with strong economic impact potential. The province's 2026 posture clearly leans toward quality over volume within the business-immigration stream.
How the Base and Regional streams compare
The EI Base stream is designed for seasoned entrepreneurs who intend to start a new business or take over and grow an existing business anywhere in BC, without requiring a community referral. Its eligibility threshold is notably higher than the Regional stream on several dimensions:
- Financial thresholds: minimum personal net worth of CAD 600,000 and a business investment of at least CAD 200,000;
- Business experience: at least three years as a business owner-manager within the past 10 years;
- Ownership: a minimum one-third (33.33%) equity stake in the qualifying business.
By contrast, the Regional stream targets candidates willing to settle and operate a business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District in a participating BC community. Financial thresholds are lower — a net worth of at least CAD 300,000 and a business investment of at least CAD 100,000 — but the stream requires at least three years of owner-manager experience within the past five years and a majority (51%) ownership stake in the business.
On the scoring side, the Base stream requires a registration score of at least 115 points, compared to 105 for the Regional stream. Base-stream cut-offs in 2026 have ranged from 115 to 121 points, reflecting steady but moderate competition, while Regional-stream scores have spanned from 105 to 129.
What this means for prospective applicants
The drop to 115 points, combined with BC's repeated emphasis on high-economic-impact candidates, suggests the province is trying to hold Base-stream standards steady while still being willing to release capacity when the qualifying pool tightens or strong projects come forward. For applicants who meet BC's net-worth and investment requirements and bring several years of business-management experience, the remainder of 2026 remains a meaningful window to watch.
