BC PNP Strategic Projects Stream: Bring Key Staff to a New B.C. Operation

Strategic Projects is one of three streams in Entrepreneur Immigration, the business category of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). The other two, Base and Regional, are for individual entrepreneurs. Strategic Projects is different: it is for companies.

An established company based outside Canada can use this stream to open or expand operations in B.C. The company invests in its B.C. operation, creates jobs for local workers and names a small number of its current employees as key staff to help set it up. Those key staff can come to B.C. on work permits, and the BC PNP can later nominate them for permanent residence.

B.C.'s April 23, 2026 restructure focused on Skills Immigration. Heron Law noted no material changes to Entrepreneur Immigration. B.C.'s Innovate objective, which targets high economic impact, fits the kind of investment this stream is built for.

WelcomeBC lists these core requirements (as of September 2026):

So a company that brings five key staff must create at least 15 new full-time jobs for Canadians or permanent residents.

The company

The company generally needs to be an established, active business outside Canada with the money and track record to support a B.C. expansion. The B.C. operation must be a real business activity, not a passive investment. The Entrepreneur Immigration program guide sets out the full company requirements.

Key staff

Key staff are the people the company needs in B.C. to set up and run the new operation, usually in senior or specialized roles. They must already work for the foreign company. Each key staff member must meet the individual requirements in the program guide, including admissibility to Canada.

1. The company applies. The company submits its proposal to the BC PNP, including the investment plan, job creation plan and the key staff it wants to bring.
2. B.C. reviews the project. The BC PNP assesses the company, the business case and the economic benefit to B.C.
3. Performance agreement. If approved, the company signs an agreement that sets out its investment and job commitments.
4. Work permits for key staff. B.C. supports work permit applications for the approved key staff, who apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
5. Set up the B.C. operation. The company invests and hires in B.C., and the key staff help run the operation.
6. Nomination. When the program's conditions are met, the BC PNP can nominate the key staff for permanent residence.
7. Permanent residence. Nominated key staff apply to IRCC.

The program guide sets the exact order and timelines. Expect the process to take well over a year.

Companies moving staff to Canada often compare several routes:

Strategic Projects has the most built-in path to permanent residence, but also the biggest investment and job commitments. Many companies use a temporary work permit first and let staff apply for permanent residence later through Express Entry or the BC PNP Skilled Worker stream. For employer-side detail, see our PNP employer streams page.

This stream tends to suit companies that:

• are already operating successfully outside Canada and can document it;
• plan a lasting B.C. operation, such as a regional office, production site or service center, rather than a short project;
• will hire a meaningful local team (at least three new full-time jobs per key staff member); and
• need a few trusted employees on the ground to set things up and want those people to settle in Canada permanently.

It may be a poor fit if you need only one person in Canada for a short time, if you are not ready to commit $500,000 in equity to B.C. operations, or if your hiring plans are uncertain. In those cases, a temporary work permit route may be simpler. Staff who later build Canadian work experience can apply for permanent residence on their own through Express Entry or a provincial stream. See the British Columbia guide and our Provincial Nominee Program overview for all options.

• Investment and hiring. The $500,000 minimum is equity in the B.C. operation, and the company must also cover hiring, premises and running costs.
• Fees. BC PNP fees are listed on WelcomeBC. Federal work permit and permanent residence fees are listed on canada.ca.
• Compliance. The company must meet its performance agreement. If it does not, key staff may not be nominated.
• Staff families. Spouses and children of key staff may be able to come on temporary status. See our pages on the spousal open work permit and study permits.

Companies should work with a Canadian immigration lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) and a tax adviser. Our guide on how to verify a lawyer or consultant explains how to check a license.