Employment at a Relative’s Firm – BC PNP

[Ariabfed]

I am currently employed by an established engineering firm owned by my uncle. The company is a genuine, actively operating business, and my position was offered based on my qualifications and relevant skills.


My employment is completely genuine: I perform the stated duties, work the required hours, receive regular payroll, and have supporting records such as pay statements, tax documents, work products, and colleagues who can confirm my role. I do not own any shares or have any financial interest in the company.


Could employment by a relative’s genuine business, by itself, cause an eligibility or credibility issue under the BC PNP? Has anyone had a similar situation assessed or approved?

 

[CanGoldDigger]

What kind of work permit? Open, closed? LMIA?

 

[canuck78]

I am currently employed by an established engineering firm owned by my uncle. The company is a genuine, actively operating business, and my position was offered based on my qualifications and relevant skills.


My employment is completely genuine: I perform the stated duties, work the required hours, receive regular payroll, and have supporting records such as pay statements, tax documents, work products, and colleagues who can confirm my role. I do not own any shares or have any financial interest in the company.


Could employment by a relative’s genuine business, by itself, cause an eligibility or credibility issue under the BC PNP? Has anyone had a similar situation assessed or approved?

Yes being employed by family can always raise concerns about whether employment is genuine or whether it is solely for immigration purposes. Have you been employed in similar role, similar pay, etc. at another employer, etc.? Showing have you been employed at the firm? Did you get a closed work permit to work there? How long have you been working there? Does the company’s revenue justify your employment? How big is the company? Do they have scheduled jobs that would justify keeping you employed? If an engineer for example have your credentials beens assessed and approved in Canada?

 

[Ariabfed]

Thanks for your reply. I am currently on startup open work permit. I got that in July 2025 and was then employed. The firm has been operational since 1989 and was taken over by my relative in 2015. About 8-10 employees work in that firm. The firm works for the Ministry. Everything is genuine about this firm. I am not worried about additional scrutiny as every record will be provided.

The only thing I want to know is whether they will reject my application outright being a relative or they will process it but with more scrutiny?

 

[canuck78]

Thanks for your reply. I am currently on startup open work permit. I got that in July 2025 and was then employed. The firm has been operational since 1989 and was taken over by my relative in 2015. About 8-10 employees work in that firm. The firm works for the Ministry. Everything is genuine about this firm. I am not worried about additional scrutiny as every record will be provided.

The only thing I want to know is whether they will reject my application outright being a relative or they will process it but with more scrutiny?

How did you get a start-up WP if this business had been operational for decades and had been operational for a decade under your family member’s ownership in 2025? Are you an owner in the business?

 

[Ariabfed]

How did you get a start-up WP if this business had been operational for decades and had been operational for a decade under your family member’s ownership in 2025? Are you an owner in the business?

Hi,

I actually came to Canada on a startup closed work permit visa in June 2023. My PR is in process.

When the policy changed in Oct 2024 that startup applicants can now get 3 year open work permit visa whilst waiting for their PR, I applied for it and got the 3 year open work permit in Jul 2025.

Because I have expertise in data analytics and Autodesk and I was legally allowed to work anywhere in canada due to open work permit, my relative employed me in his firm in Jul 2025.

So he or his firm has got nothing to do with how I came to Canada. It is only once I was allowed to work anywhere, did he hire me

He has been running his firm well before I came to Canada and I am just an employee in his business like all others.

 

[CanGoldDigger]

Did you disclose al of that when you applied?

Basically, no issue anyway, there's some possibility of scrutiny at worst.

 

[Ariabfed]

Did you disclose al of that when you applied?

Basically, no issue anyway, there's some possibility of scrutiny at worst.

Hi

Thanks for the reply.
I will disclose everything if I receive an ITA.
I just submitted my profile last week.

But is it certain that it’s no problem?

Because in their guidelines it is mentioned that if an immediate or extended family member holds more than 10% equity in the business then that employer is deemed ineligible.

And that’s what i am interested in knowing and that’s what my question is related to:

Is it outright rejection due to that clause in the guidelines OR they may still process it but with extra scrutiny?

They can scrutinise as much as they want, that is not an issue

 

[Copingwithlife]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.
I will disclose everything if I receive an ITA.
I just submitted my profile last week.

But is it certain that it’s no problem?

Because in their guidelines it is mentioned that if an immediate or extended family member holds more than 10% equity in the business then that employer is deemed ineligible.

And that’s what i am interested in knowing and that’s what my question is related to:

Is it outright rejection due to that clause in the guidelines OR they may still process it but with extra scrutiny?

They can scrutinise as much as they want, that is not an issue

Why didn’t you disclose everything from the get go ?

 

[canuck78]

Hi,

I actually came to Canada on a startup closed work permit visa in June 2023. My PR is in process.

When the policy changed in Oct 2024 that startup applicants can now get 3 year open work permit visa whilst waiting for their PR, I applied for it and got the 3 year open work permit in Jul 2025.

Because I have expertise in data analytics and Autodesk and I was legally allowed to work anywhere in canada due to open work permit, my relative employed me in his firm in Jul 2025.

So he or his firm has got nothing to do with how I came to Canada. It is only once I was allowed to work anywhere, did he hire me

He has been running his firm well before I came to Canada and I am just an employee in his business like all others.

Confused have you applied for start-up PR or not? Do you have proof that you continue to work on your start-up business?