BC Entrepreneur Immigration: Strategic Projects

Licensed RCIC guidance on British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration Strategic Projects category for foreign companies expanding into BC and their key staff.

Written and reviewed by Usman Khalil, RCIC (R709592), a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). Last reviewed: June 2026.

British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration Strategic Projects category is for established foreign companies establishing or expanding in BC and their key staff, not for individual entrepreneurs. This page explains who it is for, the thresholds, and the staged process, reviewed by a licensed RCIC.

Current status: The BC Entrepreneur Immigration Strategic Projects category is open but invitation gated. It is for established foreign companies establishing or expanding operations in British Columbia and up to five key staff, not for ordinary individual entrepreneurs. Entry is by an information meeting and an invitation to register.

1. What the Strategic Projects category is

The British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration Strategic Projects category is different from the individual entrepreneur categories. It is for established foreign companies that want to establish or expand operations in British Columbia, and it allows the company to bring up to five key staff who can be considered for provincial nomination. It is not a route for an ordinary individual entrepreneur or a small startup. Entry is by invitation: the company first has an information meeting, and is then invited to register.

2. Eligibility at a glance

The province looks for an established company in good financial standing that will make a minimum equity investment of $500,000 into its British Columbia operations, and that will create at least three new full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents per key staff member, up to a maximum of five key staff. The business must be a genuine, well supported expansion or establishment in British Columbia.

3. Who this is for

This category fits established foreign companies with the financial capacity and a credible plan to set up or expand a BC operation, and the key staff who will run it. It suits corporate expansion, not individual immigration.

4. Who this is not for

It is not for individual entrepreneurs, small startups, passive investors, or applicants without an established company behind the project. Those applicants should look at the BC Entrepreneur Base Category or Regional entrepreneur categories instead.

5. The staged process

The process is staged and corporate. The company attends an information meeting and, if invited, registers and submits an application within the required window. Approved key staff obtain work permits and the company establishes or expands the BC operation, creating the required jobs. After the agreed terms are met, key staff can be nominated and then apply federally for permanent residence. The work permit stage is not permanent residence.

6. Source of funds and business plan

Because the investment and corporate financials are closely assessed, the strongest applications pair clear, documented corporate funds and financial statements with a credible expansion plan. Our work combines a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant with a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, Ontario, C83028834), so the corporate financials, source of funds, and business plan are prepared to the standard British Columbia evaluates.

7. Common officer concerns

Applications commonly run into difficulty when the company’s financial standing or funds are not fully documented, when the job-creation commitments are unclear, or when the BC expansion is not credible. Each of these requires full review before the company commits.

8. How MAK helps

MAK works with licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants and a CPA. We help established companies assess whether the Strategic Projects category fits, prepare the corporate financials and key-staff documentation, and manage the staged process.

Frequently Asked Questions