Economic growth in B.C. depends on people – on having the qualified workers and entrepreneurs we need to meet labour market and economic development demands and ensure the continued prosperity of our province. Immigration plays an important role in helping B.C. meet current and future labour market shortages.
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers an economic immigration pathway for in demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs who can contribute economically to the province.
On January 27, 2016, the government of British Columbia announced a new Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) for the BC PNP. This points-based system gives candidates a registration score that determines whether they may be invited to apply. The score is based on a number of factors — such as level of education, years of direct work experience and a B.C. employment offer — that reflect an individual’s ability to succeed in the labour market and contribute to the provincial economy.
Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC Streams
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams are intended for workers or international graduates with the skills, education and/or experience required for high-demand occupations in B.C.
To understand the program requirements and determine your eligibility, you must review this program guide before you register and/or apply online for one of the program categories below. If approved as a provincial nominee, you and your dependent family members can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to become a permanent resident of Canada in the Provincial Nominee class.
Skills Immigration categories:
You must have a B.C. job offer as managers, professionals and skilled tradespeople and a minimum two years of directly related full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience in the skilled occupation that has been offered to you, and, if applicable, the credentials and qualification requirements of the position.
Health care workers are in demand across British Columbia. You must be a physician, nurse, psychiatric nurse or allied health professional with a job offer from a public health authority in B.C.
You must have a degree or diploma from a Canadian College or University and a job offer for a full-time, indeterminate position that typically requires a university or college education at a wage that meets industry standards.
You must have a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a B.C. University. Note that for this category only, a job offer is not required.
You must a have job offer from your B.C. Employer and be a worker in tourism/ hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking, OR entry level and semi-skilled workers who are residing in Northeast Development Region of the province.
Express Entry BC Categories:
You must meet all of the following EEBC requirements to receive priority processing of your permanent residence application. You must meet the criteria for at least one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to IRCC’s Express Entry system, obtain an IRCC Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code, and indicate your interest in immigrating to B.C. and receive a nomination under one of the BC PNP’s EEBC categories. You also need to ensure that you meet the minimum criteria for both the relevant BC PNP category as well as one of the eligible federal economic immigration programs.
- Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker
- Express Entry BC – Health Care Professional
- Express Entry BC – International Graduate
- Express Entry BC – International Post-Graduate
BC PNP Tech Pilot
The BC PNP Tech Pilot is an initiative under the BC PNP to support the tech sector in recruiting top international talent to one of the 29 eligible occupations list.
Eligibility
- The BC PNP Tech pilot is not a separate BC PNP stream or category. Applicants still need to apply to the BC PNP under one of the existing categories.
- The job offer must be for a single job in one of the 29 occupations eligible under the BC PNP Tech Pilot. If you are already working in an eligible occupation, you may submit a registration with your current job offer.
- All job offers must be for at least one year (365 days), and the job offer must have at least 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP. Longer duration job offers, including indeterminate (permanent, or with no set end date) job offers, are also eligible.