Investment in British Columbia

Investment programs in British Columbia are for individuals who want to start a business or invest in a business in British Columbia to contribute to the growth of the province’s economy and innovation.

Individuals selected through the provincial entrepreneur pathways in British Columbia receive a 2-year work permit and must manage their business for at least 18 months.

Successful investors who meet all the conditions of the provincial agreement will receive a provincial nomination for permanent residency along with their family.

Investment pathways in British Columbia

BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Category

This is suitable for experienced investors looking to establish new businesses or take over and expand existing businesses in British Columbia.

BC PNP Regional Pilot Program

This pilot program aims to attract investors who want to collaborate with local communities and establish new businesses that align with the economic development priorities of those communities.

Strategic Projects

Strategic projects are for foreign companies looking to establish another branch of their business in British Columbia that is strategically aligned with their main business.

All investment pathways in British Columbia at a glance

Immigration Pathway	Residency Status	Language Proficiency	Minimum Investment Amount	Work Experience	Processing Time
British Columbia Provincial Visa Base Category	Initially temporary and upon meeting the contract conditions, permanent residency	Minimum CLB 4	CAD 200,000 ,CAD 600,000 in personal net assets	3 years of business management/ownership	14 months
British Columbia Provincial Visa Regional Pilot Program	Initially temporary and upon meeting the contract conditions, permanent residency	CLB 4	CAD 100,000,CAD 300,000 in personal net assets	3+ years as a managing owner of a business. Or 4+ years as a senior manager. Or 1+ year as a managing owner and 2+ years as a senior manager	14 months
British Columbia Provincial Visa Strategic Projects	Initially temporary and upon meeting the contract conditions, permanent residency	Not mandatory	CAD 500,000	No minimum requirement	14 months
C11 Visa	Temporary residency	Not mandatory	Minimum CAD 100,000	Requires, depending on the type of work	7 months
ICT Visa	Temporary residency	Not mandatory	Minimum CAD 100,000	At least 1 year	13 months
Startup	Initially temporary residency, then permanent residency	,Minimum CLB 5	Between CAD 10,000 to 50,000 + CAD 200,000 for business investment	Not required	37 months

In this article, we focus on the procedural steps for investing in British Columbia through the entrepreneurship pathway.

General conditions for investing in British Columbia:

You must be eligible to live and work in Canada.

You should have sufficient financial capacity.

You must have experience and knowledge in managing or running a business.

You should be able to create or improve a business.

The business you plan to have in Canada must create at least one new job opportunity for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

For the exact details of the main entrepreneurship program conditions in British Columbia, refer to the article on British Columbia Entrepreneurship.

Steps for investment in British Columbia

Step 1: We provide you with advice and assess your situation

Based on our experience reviewing and advising on thousands of cases, we evaluate your eligibility for investment in British Columbia and offer you tailored advice.

Step 2: We identify the investment sector and define your business

During advisory sessions with investors at the Vancouver office of RainCity, we pinpoint your investment and business sector, and based on your needs, we determine which business to propose to the province.

Exploratory Trip

If you need to make an exploratory trip, we will send you a business invitation

During this trip, we’ll assist you upon your arrival at the airport and visit your areas of interest according to a detailed schedule

During this visit, we usually stop by the local municipality and tour successful businesses in the area with you

In the exploratory trip, we will also have meetings with real estate representatives to help us identify the future location of your business

you will need to meet with the area representative. We will prepare you for that meeting in advance

During this trip, you’ll gather sufficient information on :

The best location in British Columbia for your business

The existing market in the province for the business you have in mind

The level of competition among similar businesses

Whether similar businesses have failed and the reasons for their failure

The availability of suppliers and other resources you may need

The costs you need to consider for your business

Access to employees with the skills your business requires.

Step 3: We write a business plan for you

One of the critical stages of investing in British Columbia, which requires high sensitivity, is writing a precise business plan. The RainCity team, with years of experience working on hundreds of cases, will write an accurate and transparent business plan for you.

Step Four: We'll Get You Registered

In this step, we'll submit your application online to the British Columbia province. During the registration phase, we'll send your business concept (a brief business proposal). We'll create a profile for you and apply under BC PNP. The British Columbia Immigration Office evaluates and scores each case. It usually takes about 4 to 6 weeks for the province to announce the scoring results. Applicants with the highest scores receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and must complete their documents. If you get the invite to apply, you have 4 months from the invitation date to finalize your documents and submit your application. You'll be notified of this via email.

Step Five: We Get Your Documents Ready

At this stage, we need to provide evidence for the claims we've made, so we'll work together to gather the necessary documents. At RainCity, we collect documents with great attention to detail to ensure your case is presented correctly according to the claims made. For example, if in the registration stage you claimed your total assets are over 1 million dollars, now you need to show proof of that. You’ll have to evaluate your assets and properties, as well as show your bank account balances to prove that your claimed assets are indeed accurate. Alternatively, if you earned points for managing your business during registration, now you need to provide proof that you've actually been the manager of your own business.

Step Six: We Submit Your Application

With the collected documents, we’ll submit the complete application for BC PNP. If there are no issues with your net assets and your business plan gets approved, you’ll be invited for an interview at the British Columbia provincial nominee program office in Vancouver to discuss the details of your application.

Step Seven: We Prepare You for the Provincial Interview

We’ll help you get ready for the interview stage in British Columbia and ensure you can handle the questions about your work experience and business plan that they’ll ask you at the provincial office. The British Columbia interview is known to be one of the toughest. But since we’re holding several hours of prep sessions for you, passing this interview becomes feasible. If you’re worried about communicating in English, you can use a simultaneous interpreter for the interview session. We'll be with you during the interview. We are there with you as your lawyer in the interview session.

Step Eight: Sign the contract with the province and get the support letter

If your application is accepted by the province and you pass the interview, you’ll have to sign a performance agreement with the province. This contract outlines all the conditions you need to meet to be nominated. After signing the contract, you’ll receive a support letter for your work permit.

Step Nine: We submit your work permit application to the immigration office

Once your application is accepted, you’ll receive a letter from the province known as the Letter of Confirmation or Work Permit Support Letter. At this stage, we’ll prepare the application based on the requirements of the officer at Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), get the documents ready, and include a legal defense letter in your file from your immigration lawyer to persuade the federal officer to grant the work permit. Your spouse or common-law partner can also apply for an open work permit.

Step Ten: Start your business in Canada

After you get your work permit, you can enter Canada, start implementing your business plan, and create job opportunities. About 60 days after you arrive in British Columbia with a valid work permit, we'll register your arrival report. You have approximately 20 months from the time you arrive in British Columbia with a valid work permit to implement your business plan, actively manage your business, and comply with the terms of your agreement. Note: The day you arrive in Canada and the day your work permit is issued will be considered the start date for purposes related to your performance agreement, and the dates mentioned in the agreement, like the deadline for the final report, will be based on this date.

Step 11: We'll register your progress report

We’ll assist you in submitting the Post-Arrival Progress Check-in report. In this report, you need to provide a description of your activities and business progress. In the EI-Base program: you must submit the report within a maximum of 12 months after arriving in Canada. In the EI-Regional program: you must submit the report within a maximum of 6 to 8 months after arriving in Canada.

Step 12: We’ll send you the final report

We’ll help you register the Final Report on the British Columbia provincial site through BC PNP Online. The final report usually gets assessed within 4 months. In the EI-Base program: you should submit the final report approximately 18 to 20 months after your work permit is issued. In the EI-Regional program: you should submit the final report approximately 12 to 20 months after your work permit is issued.

Step 13: We’ll apply for your permanent residence

We’ll assist you in obtaining Canadian permanent residence through provincial nomination. If you've adhered to the terms of the performance agreement, you’ll receive a Confirmation of Nomination. Using this letter, we’ll submit your application for permanent residence to the Canadian immigration office.

The amount needed for investment in British Columbia

In the article about entrepreneurship in British Columbia, we mentioned that the minimum amount required for investment was $100,000, and the main program was known as the $200,000 program.

However, based on our experience working with hundreds of applicants in various business fields, we provide our clients with a suggested investment amount so they can invest with more peace of mind.

Depending on whether your business is service-oriented or manufacturing, the amount needed for investment is detailed in the business plan.

But there are a lot of challenges in this area. For instance, people starting businesses in the construction industry often struggle a bit with presenting their cost chart because aside from setting up an office and its equipment, they generally can’t list many other costs as investment.

Don’t forget that British Columbia has very strict regulations regarding accepted investment amounts.

Any money you spend on your business doesn’t necessarily count as part of your investment amount.

Operational costs can only make up 25% of your investment!

We precisely plan the investment amount for you in your business plan.

Investment costs in British Columbia

Writing a business plan: between $2,000 to $3,000

Registration: $300

Application fee: $3,500

Work permit application: depending on the number of people

Permanent residency application: depending on the number of family members

Employer compliance fee: $230

Investment cost: minimum $100,000

Company registration cost: $1,800

Translation cost of documents: depending on the number of documents

Asset evaluation cost by an official auditor in Iran: depending on the value of assets

Asset evaluation cost in Canada: between $4,500 to $7,000

Translator’s fee if invited for an interview and if using a translator

and other related costs.

Achieving Permanent Residency through Investment in British Columbia

If you meet the set criteria for investment in British Columbia, after 18 to 20 months from the business registration and final report submission, and by receiving a provincial nomination approval, you will become eligible to apply for permanent residency along with your family.

Advantages of the Investment Program in British Columbia for Family Members

All family members can apply together under this program, meaning permanent residency will be issued for all family members, including children under 22 years old.

Even if your child is over 22, if they were under 22 at the time of applying for the program, their age will be “locked,” allowing them to still be included in your application for permanent residency.

The Role and Importance of a Lawyer in British Columbia

Legal Expertise

Immigration laws in Canada are complex and constantly changing. An immigration lawyer residing in British Columbia has a deep understanding of these laws and can provide you with accurate, up-to-date guidance.

Smart Case Organization

Since individuals with the highest scores receive invitations to apply, understanding the scoring factors and how to structure your case for maximum points is crucial. Experienced immigration lawyers excel in organizing cases according to the correct criteria.

Understanding Provincial Differences

Each Canadian province may have its own specific immigration programs and requirements for investors. A lawyer based in British Columbia is well-versed in the laws of this province and ensures your immigration strategy aligns with its regulations.

Specialized advice

Every immigration case is unique, and a local lawyer can provide tailored advice based on your circumstances. This personalized approach increases your chances of success in the immigration process.

Networking Opportunities

Local lawyers often have relationships with major investors and successful business owners, which can be beneficial for investors and is an advantage from the perspective of immigration through investment in British Columbia.

Assistance with Document Preparation

The immigration process involves a lot of paperwork. Having a lawyer in British Columbia can help in preparing and submitting essential documents, preventing mistakes and delays.

Support in case of rejection

If your application gets rejected or you encounter other challenges along the way, a local immigration lawyer can support you and advocate for you within the Canadian legal system.

Ability to mitigate risk

Immigrating through investment in British Columbia involves a financial commitment. An informed lawyer can assess potential risks and guide clients on how to minimize them, providing a safer path for their immigration.

Awareness of policy changes

Immigration lawyers keep themselves updated on policy changes and ensure that your immigration and investment strategy aligns with these changes and complies with the new legal frameworks.

Chances of approval in the British Columbia investment program

So far, 98% of our clients have succeeded in the investment program in British Columbia. It’s no surprise, as we have a precise plan for all our clients.

All clients of RainCity have support and guidance from a legal immigration lawyer from the very first step, which is specialized consultation, to the very last step, which is obtaining permanent residency, and every step of the journey is meticulously laid out for them.

Your immigration lawyer is with you and supports you throughout this entire process.

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