British Columbia(BC) PNP

The BC Provincial Nominee Program provides three ways to become a permanent resident in B.C. Each category haves different streams aligned to it so an individual can apply to it, depending on their National Occupational Classification skill level, job, or international student status.

BC PNP-SKILLS IMMIGRATION

The Skills Immigration (SI) category for an individual, demands for a job offer by a BC employer with persons skills, experience and qualifications. If you want to settle in B.C., the SI category can help you become a permanent resident. Streams covered under this section are as follows:

SKILLED WORKER BC PNP

People who want to gain a permanent residency in British Columbia to give to its growing economy, have high demand skills or professions like management, technical, trade with respect to BC in-demand occupation list and who have a job offer from BC employer can apply through this stream for a BC PNP.

You will need a relevant training and experience and level of education.

Under this also come Express Entry BC Program explained below, it’s a faster way of PR for Canada. The candidate must check if he or she qualifies.

CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY

To qualify for this category, you must:

  • have accepted a full-time, a defined job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job should be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
  • be qualified to match the duties of the job
  • 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
  • for NOC skill level B occupations, meet minimum language requirements
  • have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

Yours Employer Eligibility

Your employer willing to aid your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process. View the employer requirements given in the end of the BC page.

EE BC- SKILLED WORKERS

The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – Skilled Worker category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a faster way to gain permanent residence in B.C.

To qualify, you must first have a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. You will also need relevant training and experience.

Express Entry BC connects to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system to make your permanent residence process faster.

Candidate Eligibility (as same as above but includes the point below for eligibility)

To qualify for this category, you must:

Employer Eligibility

Your employer must be willing to assist your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process.

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

This stream gives an opportunity to physicians, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals work in B.C. and gain permanent residence through skilled Immigration (SI)-category in BCPNP.

Candidate Eligibility

To qualify for this category, you must:

  • have the assistance 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
  • allied health professional such as a:
    • diagnostic medical sonographer
    • clinical pharmacist
    • medical laboratory technologist
    • medical radiation technologist
    • occupational therapist
    • physiotherapist
  • if you are a midwife, have a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in B.C.

Employer Eligibility

Your employer must be willing to aid your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process. View the employer requirements given in the end of this topic.

EE BC- HEALTHCARE PROFESSION

British Columbia needs more health care professionals. The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – Healthcare Professional category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) helps physicians, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals put your valuable skills to work in the province and get permanent residence. EE system is a faster process for your Permanent Residency.

Candidate Eligibility (same as above but includes the point given below for eligibility)

To qualify for this category, you must:

Employer Eligibility

Your employer willing to aid your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process. View the employer requirements given below.

INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE

Graduated Students who have gained their education degree from a valid Canadian university or a Canadian college stand a chance for a Permanent Residency in BC through SI- Category for BCPNP.

Candidate Eligibility

To qualify for this category, you 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 your occupation in B.C.
  • show you 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

Employer Eligibility

The employer willing to aid your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process.

EE BC- INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE

Graduated Students who have gained their education degree from a valid Canadian university or a Canadian college stand a chance for a Permanent Residency in BC through SI- Category for BCPNP.

Express Entry BC connects to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system to speed up the permanent residence process.

Candidate Eligibility (Same as above but includes point below for eligibility)

To qualify for this category, you must:

Employer Eligibility

Your employer willing to aid your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process.

INTERNATIONAL POST GRADUATE

This stream is for those who have gained their education in or is a graduate degree holder in sciences from an eligible B.C. institution and consider advancing their career in B.C.’s growing technology, health care, and applied sciences sectors.

Such students can apply to the Skills Immigration (SI) – International Post-Graduate category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) and does not need a job offer to apply.

The Valid graduate degree is as follows:-

You 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
  • physical sciences

Candidate Eligibility

To qualify for this category, you 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 your intent and ability to live in B.C.

EE BC- INTERNATIONAL POST GRADUATE

This stream is for those who have gained their education in or is a graduate degree holder in sciences from an eligible B.C. institution and consider advancing their career in B.C.’s growing technology, health care, and applied sciences sectors.

Such students can apply to the The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – International Post-Graduate category of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) and does not need a job offer to apply.

Express Entry BC connects to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) Express Entry system to speed up the permanent residence process.

The valid graduate degree

You 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
  • physical sciences

Candidate Eligibility (Same as above but includes the point given below for eligibility)

To qualify for this category, you must:

ENTRY LEVEL AND SEMI-SKILLED LEVEL

The Skills Immigration (SI) – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream of BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for workers in a valid tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking or food processing occupation to gain permanent residence in B.C.

To qualify, you must first have a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. Please note that this category is not eligible under the Express Entry BC stream.

Candidate Eligibility

To qualify for this category, you must:

  • have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a 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., you may apply in any National Occupational Classification occupation (skill level C or D).
  • have worked 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 can support yourself and your dependents
  • have legal immigration status in Canada
  • be earning a wage in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

Employer Eligibility

Your employer shall be willing to aid your application. They must meet the eligibility criteria and fulfill certain responsibilities during the application process.

SKILLS IMMIGRATION PROCESS

Get an overview of the registration and application process for the Skills Immigration (SI) stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

 

EXPRESS ENTRY BC PROCESS

Stage 1: Registration  Stage 2: Invitation  Stage 3: Application   Stage 4: Nomination

Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC

  • Estimated Process Time 2-3 month

Entrepreneur Immigration registrations/applications (online)

Stage Estimated processing time
Registration score notification 6 weeks
(from the date of registration submission)
Application decision notification
(at work permit stage)
4 months
​(from the date of application submission)

 

ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION – PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

If you want to immigrate to B.C. and  interest in investing in an actively manage valid business there, you may qualify for BC Entrepreneur Immigration stream. Here is an overview of the requirements.

Personal requirements

To qualify, you must:

  • have a personal net worth of at least CAD$600,000
  • show business and/or management experience
  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada

You must also have been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently live.

BUSINESS, JOB AND INVESTMENT REQUIREMENTS

To qualify you must:

  • set up an eligible new business or buy and improve an existing business
  • make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD$200,000 in the business
  • create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the business

If you are eligible, you will receive a score based on your registration information. BC will also put you into a qualified pool. Periodically, BC will invite people with the highest scores to apply through BC PNP Online.

ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION – PROCESS

Stage 1: Registration Stage 2: Invitation Stage 3: Net worth review Stage 4: Application Stage 5: Building your business in B.C.

 

BC PNP TECH PILOT

With an increasing demand of employment in the tech sector of BC’s economy there came a need of this steam for people skilled in the field of technology and who went to gain PR in BC through this stream.

The Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology has interest in establishing B.C. as a preferred place for new and emerging technologies, which increased the growth of domestic B.C. tech companies, and made it easier to attract skilled workers.

In support of these ministry priorities, a pilot assigned under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) works to make sure the technology sector can attract and keep the talent it needs to keep up the grow the sector further called the BC Tech Pilot Stream.

BC PNP Tech Pilot Stream

A BC PNP Tech Pilot  are for those people who are looking for an exponential growth in technology sector of BC by contributing to BC economy and thus gaining PR in BC.

The BC government is also working to develop and attract it’s already existing highest quality local talent by introducing students to tech earlier, adjusting training and education in post-secondary institutions and creating work experience opportunities.

Not only do BC companies need access to local talent skills but also skilled workers, from around the world. Tech entrepreneurs and skilled workers from other countries can have a catalytic effect on B.C.’s technology sector, leading to more jobs for British Colombians.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot Working

BC PNP staff work with employers to discuss their talent needs by providing a fast-track, permanent immigration pathway for in-demand foreign workers and international students.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot features:

  • A dedicated concierge service so tech employers understand the immigration process with prompt and relevant information about the application process
  • Weekly invitations for tech registrants to apply so employers have timely access to qualified people in the 32 key technology occupations
  • Priority processing to meet the sector’s fast-paced demands so if you are working in the technology sector and you give a complete application to the BC PNP, your file will be assigned the next business day to our dedicated technology sector-focused team
  • Focused outreach and engagementwith the technology sector and industry partners with tailored presentations, networking opportunities and one-on-one employer support

Weekly invitations

The BC PNP issues weekly invitations to qualified registrants in any category who have valid job offers in the 32 key technology occupations.

The 2016 Tech Talent BC Report identifies the 32 in-demand occupations, and qualified people in only those 32 occupations are invited to apply weekly. These occupations are recognized by their National Occupational Classification (NOC) code.

Applications may be affected if the applicant’s job duties do not accurately reflect the NOC they have identified in their application.

The free registration process includes providing information about the applicant’s supporting B.C. employer. In order for being issued an invitation to apply, both the applicant and their employer must meet all program requirements at the time of registration.

Meeting program requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

INVITATIONS TO APPLY

Periodically, BC invite the highest scoring registered applicants in each category to apply to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). These candidates are nominated as successful applicants to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency.

Categories of Invitation

We invite registrants in the following categories:

  • Skills Immigration — Skilled Worker
  • Skills Immigration — International Graduate
  • Skills Immigration — Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
  • Express Entry BC — Skilled Worker
  • Express Entry BC — International Graduate
  • Entrepreneur Immigration

Health Care Professional and International Post-Graduate applicants under the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams do not need an invitation to apply.

Number of Nominations

The number of nominations depends on various program and economic factors, including B.C.’s annual allocation, the B.C. 2025 Labour Market Outlook, historic BC PNP nomination trends and existing application inventory levels. For 2018, the allocation is 6,250.

Invitations to apply

The number and frequency of invitations to apply works on annual nomination allocations from the Canadian federal government (IRCC), and BC ability to process applications in a timely way.

Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC

Date Category Minimum
Score
Number of
Invitations
February 14, 2018
(includes February 21, 2018
tech-only draw)
SI – Skilled Worker 80
SI – International Graduate 75
SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 40
EEBC – Skilled Worker 80
EEBC – International Graduate 75
Total number of invitations issued: 339
January 31, 2018
(includes February 7, 2018
tech-only draw)
SI – Skilled Worker 75
SI – International Graduate 70
SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 40
EEBC – Skilled Worker 75
EEBC – International Graduate 70
Total number of invitations issued: 383

Entrepreneur Immigration

Date Stream Score Number of Invitations
February 21, 2018 Entrepreneur Immigration 115 15
January 17, 2018 Entrepreneur Immigration 115 15
November 29, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 115 11
November 1, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 117 12
September 27, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 119 12
August 31, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 120 9
August 2, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 123 13
June 21, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 121 15
April 19, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 120 16
March 22, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 126 12
February 23, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 143 8
February 17, 2017 Entrepreneur Immigration 130 20

Guarantee of Invitations

If you meet or exceed these registration scores,there is guarantee to receive an invitation to apply in the next draw for your category. Invitations to apply may also be issued for scores lower than these minimums. Guaranteed invitation scores are subject to change.

Category Guaranteed Registration Score
Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker 135
Skills Immigration – International Graduate 105
Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
(includes Northeast)
95
Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker 135
Express Entry BC – International Graduate 105

 

 

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