BC PNP – Employer Physical Presence for Remote Job

[Capycap]

I work 100% remotely as a software engineer and live in Vancouver. My employer is a remote-first company, incorporated in BC and holding a Vancouver municipal business license. However, their registered BC address is a virtual office/mailbox, not a place where employees work daily.

The company allows employees to use coworking spaces, but there is no dedicated or permanent office in Vancouver. My employment contract states that I work from my home office.

BC PNP mentions that employers must have an ongoing fixed place of business in BC where employees can physically report to work, and I’m not sure how this is interpreted for remote-first companies.

Is a virtual office + optional coworking access generally acceptable for BC PNP, or is this considered risky?

 

[scylla]

I work 100% remotely as a software engineer and live in Vancouver. My employer is a remote-first company, incorporated in BC and holding a Vancouver municipal business license. However, their registered BC address is a virtual office/mailbox, not a place where employees work daily.

The company allows employees to use coworking spaces, but there is no dedicated or permanent office in Vancouver. My employment contract states that I work from my home office.

BC PNP mentions that employers must have an ongoing fixed place of business in BC where employees can physically report to work, and I’m not sure how this is interpreted for remote-first companies.

Is a virtual office + optional coworking access generally acceptable for BC PNP, or is this considered risky?

Speak with an immigration lawyer before you apply. Your employer may not meet the requirements of the program.

 

[beigebeanie]

Hey! wonder if you have any updates on this, I'm also in a similar position where the company is registered in BC but without a physical office. We have a coworking space that we book on demand

 

[gelgoals]

In my humble and unsolicited opinion, I believe that you should "live and work" in the city you are claiming points for. As long as you have sufficient evidence that your work is supported by your company(In my case I asked my manager and HR to provide me a letter of accommodation that allowed me to relocate and claim points for area 3. I have submitted my bc pnp application but have not get any status update yet. Hoping that this point is not really an issue otherwise all our efforts relocating here in Area 3 would be futile.

 

[nskatp]

Hi @Capycap,
I wanted to follow up and see if you were able to get any clarity on your situation. I’m currently in a very similar position.
I work for an Employer of Record (EOR) with a remote-first policy. The company is incorporated in BC, holds a Vancouver municipal business license, and is in good standing with WorkSafeBC. I’m based in Victoria, and my employment contract specifies my home as my primary workplace, with optional coworking access (though I haven’t really used that).
I did consult with an immigration lawyer, but she didn’t have much experience with cases like this. Her general view was that the situation might have low potential under BC PNP, mainly due to the “fixed place of business” requirement.
With the province now shifting toward a higher economic impact focus, I’m trying to understand whether BC PNP is still a feasible path under this kind of setup.
Would really appreciate hearing if you found any additional insights or guidance.
Thanks!

 

[gelgoals]

Here's a rephrased version that flows naturally and keeps your helpful, candid tone:

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No worries about the late reply! Just a quick update on my end — I've already received my nomination, and a friend I encouraged to relocate to Area 3 is now a permanent resident. We're also in the final stages of our own papers, so things are progressing well.


To answer your question — and please treat this as personal experience, not official advice — the core requirement is that you must be currently living and working in the area, and your employer needs to fully support your application, including signing and completing the employer declaration forms. That said, employer support is just one piece of the puzzle; there are many other requirements to satisfy.


In my case, I have a company based in Kelowna but I work remotely from home. Interestingly, a friend who was nominated before me didn't have a physical office in the area either — their company simply had a lawyer who represented them through the process.


Given that you're already in Area 3, that's actually a strong position to be in — but it also means the stakes are high, so you want to get this right. My honest advice? Hire a licensed immigration consultant rather than going straight to a lawyer. A good consultant will assess your eligibility upfront and won't encourage you to proceed if you don't qualify — which saves you time, money, and stress. If your case becomes more complex, they can always refer you to legal counsel from there.


Hope this helps! Feel free to keep the questions coming.