BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)


The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) was developed to meet its labour market needs. As a result, the program is modeled to attract skilled and in-demand Foreign Workers and experience Entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency in B.C.

British Columbia

BC Provincial Nominee Program- PATHWAYS

The BC Provincial Nominee Program offers three ways to become a permanent resident in B.C. These pathways have different categories you can apply under, depending on your National Occupational Classification skill level, job, or international student status.

  1. Skills Immigration
  2. Express Entry BC
  3. Entrepreneur immigration

Skilled Worker

Skills Immigration is for skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in B.C. BC Provincial Nominee Program uses a points-based invitation system. Firstly, the candidates have to register and apply online for the BC PNP. Secondly the candidates have to file a paper based application for permanent residency in Canada.

In order to qualify, the candidates must first accept a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. secondly, the candidates need relevant training and experience.

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

  • have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
  • be qualified to perform the duties of the job
  • have at least two (2) years of related work experience
  • show they can support themselves and their dependents
  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  • for NOC skill level B occupations, meet minimum language requirements
  • have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

BC PNP-International Graduate

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

  • have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
  • qualify to work in their occupation in B.C.
  • show they can support yourself and your dependents
  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  • have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years for NOC skill level B occupations
  • meet minimum language requirements
  • have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

BC Provincial Nominee Program-Entry Level Semi-Skilled Worker

To qualify for BC PNP Provincial Nominee Program’s Entry Level Semi-skilled Worker category, the candidates must:

  • have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a qualified B.C. employer in a specific occupation in tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or the food processing industry. For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., in any National Occupational Classification occupation (skill level C or D).
  • have been working full-time for your employer for a minimum of nine consecutive months before applying
  • meet minimum language and education requirements
  • qualify to do the job offered to you
  • show you they can support themselves and their dependents
  • have legal immigration status in Canada
  • be earning a wage in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

BC Provincial Nominee Program-Healthcare Professionals

To qualify for BC PNP Healthcare Professional’s category, the candidates must:

have the support of, or a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a public health authority as a physician, specialist, registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, nurse practitioner or allied health professional such as a diagnostic medical sonographer, clinical pharmacist, medical laboratory technologist, medical radiation technologist, occupational therapist and physiotherapist

International Post-Graduate

The candidates must have graduated in the last three years with a master’s or doctorate (PhD) degree in the natural, applied or health sciences such as agriculture, biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences and support services, engineering, engineering technology, health professions and related clinical sciences, mathematics and statistics, natural resources conservation and research, or physical sciences

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  • have completed a valid graduate program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution in B.C. in the last three years.
  • show their intent and ability to live in B.C.
  • Express Entry BC

Express Entry BC is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to B.C. However, you must also qualify for a federal economic immigration program.

The BC Express Entry uses a points-based invitation system. This iss an entirely web-based registration and application process for both the BC PNP and permanent residency process. It’s a faster way for eligible skilled workers to gain permanent residence in B.C.

Express Entry EEBC-Skilled Worker

To qualify, the candidates must first accept a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. They also need relevant training and experience. Express Entry BC connects to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system to speed up the permanent residence process.

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

  • have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class
  • have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
  • qualify to work in your job in B.C.
  • have at least two (2) years of directly related work experience
  • show you can support yourself and your dependents
  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  • meet minimum language requirements
  • have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

Express Entry EEBC-International Graduate

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

  1. have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:
  2. Federal Skilled Worker Program
  3. Federal Skilled Trades Program
  4. Canadian Experience Class
  5. have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B)
  6. qualify to work in your occupation in B.C.
  7. show they can support yourself and your dependents
  8. have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  9. have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years
  10. meet minimum language requirements
  11. have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

Express Entry EEBC-Healthcare Professionals

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows they meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class

have the support of, or a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a public health authority as a physician, specialist, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, or a allied health care such as a diagnostic medical sonographer, clinical pharmacist, medical laboratory technologist, medical radiation technologist, occupational therapist or physiotherapist

Express Entry EEBC-International Post-Graduate

The candidates must have graduated in the last three years with a master’s or doctorate (PhD) degree in the natural, applied or health sciences agriculture, biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences and support services, engineering, engineering technology, health professions and related clinical sciences, mathematics and statistics, natural resources conservation and research or physical sciences.

To qualify for this category, the candidates must:

  1. have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system because this shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry

programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class
  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  • have completed a valid graduate program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution in B.C. in the last three years.
  • show intent and ability to live in B.C.

3. Entrepreneur Immigration

The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who want to actively manage a business in B.C. That is why the program was designed as a points-based invitation system. See our web page on Business Immigration for more information about the other program.

Please contact us for more information or if you want to start your Canada immigration application.