BC PNP entrepreneur draw sets 119 cut-off: what happens next

British Columbia invited 10 Entrepreneur Immigration Base candidates and fewer than five Regional candidates on 22 September 2026. The minimum registration score was 119 in both streams, according to the Province of British Columbia. An invitation allows a candidate to submit a BC Provincial Nominee Program application. It is not a nomination or permanent-residence approval.

The result is useful for entrepreneurs already in the qualified registration pool, but it should not be treated as a forecast for the next draw. British Columbia says future invitations may use different selection factors, and a registration does not guarantee an invitation.

What happened in the 22 September BC PNP entrepreneur draw?

The official WelcomeBC invitations page was last updated on 24 September 2026. It states that invitations are issued to qualified registrations received before the draw date.

The 119 cut-off was higher than the previous round on 25 August, when both streams had a minimum score of 116. That comparison describes two past draws only. It does not establish the score that will be needed in a future round.

What does a score of 119 mean?

Entrepreneur registrations are scored on human-capital and economic factors. WelcomeBC lists work experience, education and language ability among the human-capital factors. The commercial viability of the proposal and its expected economic benefit to British Columbia are also assessed.

A score at or above the published minimum does not automatically prove that a person was invited. The province selects from qualified registrations in its pool, and candidates should check their own BC PNP Online User Profile for an invitation.

What happens after an invitation to apply?

Invited entrepreneurs must first have their personal net worth and accumulation of funds reviewed by a BC PNP-authorised accounting firm. The invitation contains the authorised-firm list and instructions.

The candidate then has up to four months from the invitation date to submit a complete application through the BC PNP Online User Portal. The current provincial application fee for an entrepreneur application is CAD $3,500. A separate CAD $300 registration fee applies earlier in the process.

WelcomeBC says an applicant may be called for an interview about their experience and business plan. If the provincial application is approved, the entrepreneur signs a Performance Agreement and receives a Letter of Support for a federal work-permit application.

The applicant then has up to 90 days to apply for the work permit and must arrive in British Columbia within 12 months of receiving it. After arrival, the entrepreneur has up to 20 months to implement the business plan, manage the business and meet the Performance Agreement.

Nomination comes later, after the province accepts the entrepreneur’s final report and is satisfied that the agreement has been fulfilled. Only then can the entrepreneur apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence under the Provincial Nominee Class.

How do the Base and Regional streams differ?

The Base stream can support a new business or the takeover and growth of an eligible existing business. The Regional stream is for a new business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District that aligns with a participating community’s economic-development priorities.

The table is a summary, not a complete eligibility assessment. The province lists exceptions and ineligible business types, so candidates should check the current WelcomeBC entrepreneur requirements and process before acting.

What should candidates in the registration pool do now?

• Check the BC PNP Online User Profile rather than assuming a score of 119 produced an invitation.
• If invited, start the authorised net-worth verification promptly and calculate the four-month application deadline.
• Keep the business proposal, source-of-funds evidence and personal information consistent across the registration and application.
• Do not describe an invitation as a nomination, work permit or permanent-residence approval.
• Recheck the official draw table before relying on a past cut-off for a future registration strategy.

Entrepreneurs comparing Canadian routes should also distinguish the provincial pathway from the federal programme covered in Babylon’s guide to Canada’s Start-Up Visa pause and deadlines.

Frequently asked questions

Was 119 the cut-off for both streams?

Yes. WelcomeBC lists a minimum score of 119 for both the Base and Regional streams in the 22 September 2026 round.

How many entrepreneurs were invited?

The province lists 10 Base invitations and fewer than five Regional invitations.

Does an invitation mean permanent residence is approved?

No. It starts the provincial application stage. Nomination, a work permit and permanent residence are separate later steps with their own decisions.

Last verified: 3 October 2026.

Featured image: an archive view of downtown Vancouver from Harbour Centre, photographed by MagnusL3D on 8 August 2011. CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons. The image has been resized for display.

This article provides general information. It is not individual immigration, legal or financial advice.