Last Updated on July 27, 2021

British Columbia immigration is hitting the pause button on applications to the base category of its Entrepreneur Stream while pondering its next steps in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on B.C.’s economy, the temporary pause allows us to review the (Entrepreneur Immigration) – base category to ensure it continues to meet its objectives to support government priorities and economic recovery, and prepare prospective applicants for the greatest chance of success,” the provincial government announced Tuesday. 

“We will post an update early in 2022 to notify people when registrations will likely resume.”

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That base category of the Entrepreneur Stream has existed in its current form since 2015. Under it, foreign entrepreneurs can get permanent residence by owning and managing a new business or buying an existing one in British Columbia.

The province stopped taking applications July 19, the day it made the announcement. 

Applications Already Submitted Will Be Processed

The pause in applications to the base category of the Entrepreneur Stream does not affect any applications already in the system. They remain active and will continue to be processed through to final decisions. 

But those applications do have an expiry date. And no-one whose application in the base category expires will be allowed to submit a new one during the pause.

The registration pause does not apply to the:

• Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot category, which was recently extended to March 2024;
• Strategic Projects category, which supports international companies to set up a presence in B.C. and support senior staff for permanent residence, or;
• any of the Skills Immigration categories. They remain open.

British Columbia’s decision to take a break from accepting applications under the base category of its Entrepreneur Stream comes as the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be winding down in Canada and the country prepares to re-open its borders.