British Columbia offers immigration pathways to international students, workers and entrepreneurs. Explore the British Columbia Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) options. Consult with our BC PNP specialists.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an immigration program offered by BC Government. It has multiple categories to select and nominate foreign workers, international students and entrepreneurs to apply for Canadian permanent residency. All the BC PNP Programs have unique eligibility requirements catering to different types of immigrants willing to move to British Columbia. In this comprehensive guide, we will cover all the streams that come under British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
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Each British Columbia Nominee Program falls under either the BC PNP Skills Immigration or BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration categories. Each stream has its own BC PNP Programs and specific eligibility requirements. Some of these programs can also be aligned with the Express Entry System and come under the BC PNP Express Entry (EEBC) immigration route. The applicants who apply through the Express Entry BC stream can get 600 extra CRS points added to their Express Entry profile. We will look at all the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Streams and their types in the following sections.
British Columbia aims to attract skilled immigrants to the province through the BC PNP Skills Immigration category programs. The BC PNP programs under this category are suited for foreign skilled workers and international students (both graduates and post-graduates) who possess the skills, education, and/or experience to benefit BC’s economy. The programs under the BC PNP Skills Immigration Category are as follows:
The BC PNP Tech formerly known as BC PNP Tech Pilot Program allows employers in British Columbia’s tech industry who wish to recruit foreign tech workers. Employers who meet BC PNP Employer Requirements can hire these workers and help them immigrate only if there are no Canadian residents or permanent residents available to fill the position. BC PNP Tech ensures that B.C. can continue to attract and retain the talent required to sustain and grow the province’s technology economy.
You can find detailed eligibility requirements and the application process for BC PNP Tech here.
The BC PNP Skilled Worker stream offers an immigration route to skilled workers in specific professions, technical, management, trades, and other occupations. Here is a detailed BC PNP Occupation List that includes all the eligible occupations under British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. You need a valid Canadian job offer to apply for BC PNP under the Skilled Worker stream.
For more details follow the BC PNP Skilled Worker guide.
The BC PNP Health Authority is a unique immigration stream for healthcare professionals working under BC’s health authority including physicians, nurses, and midwives. If you are applying under BC PNP Health Authority category, you must have a valid job offer from one of the BC public health authorities as a healthcare professional. You can check the eligible BC PNP Health Authority Occupations here.
The BC PNP ELSS stream allows foreign workers working for British Columbia employers in Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled occupations and specific industries to receive permanent residence. This includes long-haul trucking occupations, tourism and hospitality, healthcare, and food processing. You can find a detailed occupation list for BC PNP ELSS here.
Just like other Skills Immigration streams, BC PNP Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Stream also demand a signed job offer letter for full-time employment in a NOC C and D occupation that also falls under the specific ELSS-eligible occupations list.
If you want to know more about this stream, check the BC PNP ELSS guide.
The BC PNP International Graduate stream is for individuals that have graduated from a Canadian College or University and possess a job offer from a recognized Canadian employer. For this, an applicant must earn a degree, diploma, or certificate from an approved post-secondary school in Canada.
Please see the BC PNP International Graduate guide for more information on the degrees, diplomas, and certifications that are eligible.
This program offers an immigration pathway to international students that hold a Master’s or Doctorate degree in an eligible program from a British Columbia University. This stream stands out because it does not require applicants to possess a job offer in BC. Although you must have a Master’s or Doctorate degree in one of the specific fields eligible under this stream.
You can learn all the details about BC PNP International Post-Graduate here.
British Columbia aims to attract foreign entrepreneurs and business people who can invest in and operate businesses in the province through BC PNP Entrepreneur Streams. Such businesses help create jobs for Canadian citizens and permanent residents and therefore benefit the economy. This BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration category contains the following three streams:
The BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Category offers an immigration route for foreign entrepreneurs who intend to set up a new business or buy a pre-existing business in British Columbia and operate it. BC uses a points-based online system to choose the highest-ranked investors with the most economically feasible company ideas from the pool. You need at least $200,000 CAD to immigrate through this British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
You can understand this program better here: BC PNP Entrepreneur Base Category guide.
This BC PNP Regional Pilot is for foreign entrepreneurs who intend to set up a new business in specific regional communities of British Columbia with local support. This business must benefit the community’s economy and align with its development goals. You can immigrate through BC PNP Regional Pilot if you are capable of investing a minimum of $100,000 CAD.
Learn more about BC PNP Regional Pilot here.
The BC PNP Strategic Projects is an entrepreneurial stream for foreign companies that plan to set up a branch or subsidiary location in British Columbia. This category allows international firms to move important personnel with corporate knowledge and skills to British Columbia on a permanent basis. The company must make an equity investment of $500,000 CAD or more to establish, buy, or expand its operations in British Columbia.
You can find more details on BC PNP Strategic Projects here.
The Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) allows the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to prioritize candidates for provincial nomination. It is similar to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) that is used for federal immigration programs.
You can use our BC PNP Points Calculator to determine your SIRS score by answering a few simple questions. Currently, all BC PNP immigration categories subject to the SIRS require candidates to accept an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from a BC employer.
Skills Immigration Registration System candidates can earn up to 190 points based on the following factors.
The table below shows the maximum points an individual can get as per the SIRS for the BC PNP program.
| Scoring Factors | Scoring Sections | Max. Points |
|---|---|---|
| Economic Factors (110) | Hourly Wage of B.C. Job Offer | 55 |
| Are within B.C. | 25 | |
| Human Capital Factors (80) | Directly Related Work Experience | 40 |
| Highest Level of Education | 40 | |
| Language | 40 | |
| Total Points Available | 200 | |
Economic factors constitute the bulk of the points for the BC PNP program. These include factors related to the job offer, including annual wage, and the regional district of the job offer.
Candidates with a job offer in certain districts receive higher points. There are also additional points if the candidate is presently working with the organization that has made the job offer.
| Hourly Wage of the B.C. Job Offer | Points |
|---|---|
| $70.00 and above | 55 |
| $69.00 to $69.99 | 54 |
| $68.00 to $68.99 | 53 |
| $67.00 to $67.99 | 52 |
| $66.00 to $66.99 | 51 |
| $65.00 to $65.99 | 50 |
| $64.00 to $64.99 | 49 |
| $63.00 to $63.99 | 48 |
| $62.00 to $62.99 | 47 |
| $61.00 to $61.99 | 46 |
| $60.00 to $60.99 | 45 |
| $59.00 to $59.99 | 44 |
| $58.00 to $58.99 | 43 |
| $57.00 to $57.99 | 42 |
| $56.00 to $56.99 | 41 |
| $55.00 to $55.99 | 40 |
| $54.00 to $54.99 | 39 |
| $53.00 to $53.99 | 38 |
| $52.00 to $52.99 | 37 |
| $51.00 to $51.99 | 36 |
| $50.00 to $50.99 | 35 |
| $49.00 to $49.99 | 34 |
| $48.00 to $48.99 | 33 |
| $47.00 to $47.99 | 32 |
| $46.00 to $46.99 | 31 |
| $45.00 to $45.99 | 30 |
| $44.00 to $44.99 | 29 |
| $43.00 to $43.99 | 28 |
| $42.00 to $42.99 | 27 |
| $41.00 to $41.99 | 26 |
| $40.00 to $40.99 | 25 |
| $39.00 to $39.99 | 24 |
| $38.00 to $38.99 | 23 |
| $37.00 to $37.99 | 22 |
| $36.00 to $36.99 | 21 |
| $35.00 to $35.99 | 20 |
| $34.00 to $34.99 | 19 |
| $33.00 to $33.99 | 18 |
| $32.00 to $32.99 | 17 |
| $31.00 to $31.99 | 16 |
| $30.00 to $30.99 | 15 |
| $29.00 to $29.99 | 14 |
| $28.00 to $28.99 | 13 |
| $27.00 to $27.99 | 12 |
| $26.00 to $26.99 | 11 |
| $25.00 to $25.99 | 10 |
| $24.00 to $24.99 | 9 |
| $23.00 to $23.99 | 8 |
| $22.00 to $22.99 | 7 |
| $21.00 to $21.99 | 6 |
| $20.00 to $20.99 | 5 |
| $19.00 to $19.99 | 4 |
| $18.00 to $18.99 | 3 |
| $17.00 to $17.99 | 2 |
| $16.00 to $16.99 | 1 |
| Less than $16.00 | 0 |
| Maximum Score Available | 55 |
| Area of employment within B.C. | Points |
|---|---|
| Area 1: Metro Vancouver Regional District | 0 |
| Area 2: Squamish, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Mission, and Chilliwack | 5 |
| Area 3: Areas of B.C. not included in Area 1 or 2 | 15 |
| Additional points: | |
| Regional Experience, or | 10 |
| Regional Alumni | |
| Maximum Score Available | 25 |
Individuals who want to apply for the BC PNP Program must show relevant industry experience. The applicant’s work experience should directly relate to the job offer. Fresh international graduates with no work experience are not eligible for the program. Applicants will receive additional points if they have resided in Canada for at least one year before applying for the British Columbia Program.
| Directly Related Work Experience in the Occupation of B.C. Job Offer | Points |
|---|---|
| 60+ months | 20 |
| 48 to 59 months | 16 |
| 36 to 47 months | 12 |
| 24 to 35 months | 8 |
| 12 months to 23 months | 4 |
| Less than 12 months | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Additional points: | |
| At least 1 year of directly related experience in Canada | 10 |
| Currently working full-time in B.C. for the employer in the occupation identified in the BC PNP registration | 10 |
| Maximum Points Available | 40 |
The education credentials of the applicant should also relate to the tech position. BC PNP sector positions generally require post-secondary education. The degree must be directly related to the profession.
Candidates will receive additional points for post-secondary education in Canada, particularly in British Columbia. Moreover, there are additional points if the candidates have got an educational assessment from a qualified institution. Individuals with Industry Training Authority British Columbia (ITAB) certification also get additional points.
| Education Level | Points |
|---|---|
| Master’s or Doctorate/PhD | 27 |
| Post-Graduate Certificate or Diploma* | 22 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 15 |
| Post-secondary Diploma/Certificate (Trades)** | 15 |
| Associate Degree | 5 |
| Post-secondary Diploma/Certificate (Non-trades) | 5 |
| Secondary School (High School) or Less | 0 |
| Additional points: (NOTE: you can only receive additional points for ONE of the following) | |
| Post-secondary education completed in B.C. | 8 |
| Post-secondary education completed in Canada (outside of B.C.) | 6 |
| Additional points for professional designation in B.C. | 5 |
| Maximum Score Available | 40 |
The applicant should demonstrate suitable language proficiency in English or French. The mark requirements and criteria for the BC PNP program change over time. Contact a Canadian immigration agent to know about the minimum passing marks to qualify for the Tech program.
| Canadian Language Benchmark Level (CLB) | Points |
|---|---|
| 9+ | 30 |
| 8 | 25 |
| 7 | 20 |
| 6 | 15 |
| 5 | 10 |
| 4 | 5 |
| Below 4 | 0 |
| No test | 0 |
| Maximum Score Available | 40 |
Check your SIRS points using our Free BC PNP Score Calculator.
Prospective applicants who intend to apply for immigration through a BC Provincial Nominee Program should thoroughly understand the BC PNP requirements. Each program has distinct requirements, so prospective candidates must ensure they meet them before applying.
Applicants must intend to reside, work, and settle in British Columbia. This evidence could include the following:
The applicant’s presence in British Columbia must economically benefit the province. They can meet this requirement if they:
The BC PNP will not nominate a candidate if:
Applicants must possess a minimum language proficiency score of CLB 4 on a recognized language test if their job offer is for an occupation that falls under NOC TEER 2, 3, 4 or 5. No language proficiency requirement exists for applicants whose job offer is for an occupation under NOC TEER 0 or 1.
Additional requirements apply to all BC PNP Skills Immigration categories that require a job offer:
Most BC PNP Skills Immigration and EEBC categories require to submit of a signed job offer letter
from an eligible B.C. employer.
Applicants must earn a minimum annual income of $26,426 CAD if their job is in Metro Vancouver Regional District. This requirement is $22,024 CAD if their job is in other parts of British Columbia.
Applicants must be offered a wage rate that is comparable to the wages paid to Canadian citizens and permanent residents with similar education, experience, and training.
The applicant must be qualified to perform the duties for the occupation their job offer is in.
If the offered employment requires obligatory certification, licensing, or registration, you must submit proof to the BC PNP at the time of application. You will have to demonstrate that you fulfill these requirements, or that you will achieve them soon.
A candidate needs the support of an eligible employer to come to Canada through the BC Provincial Nominee Program’s Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams. Your employer will have to meet specific requirements to be able to maintain your application.
Check all BC PNP Employer Requirements here.
Move to British Columbia as a Skilled Worker or an Entrepreneur. Apply for British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
The general process for the Skills Immigration category is described below.
Applicants must first create their online profile using the BCPNP Online portal. This registration process is not necessary for Health Authority and International Post-Graduate category applicants.
BC PNP applicants will then be entered into a pool of candidates and chosen based on their Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) score. This BC PNP point system helps filter out the most desirable candidates.
Successful BC PNP candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and will need to complete an application through the BC PNP Online System within thirty days, pay BC PNP fees, and submit supporting documents.
The province will nominate successful candidates for permanent residence. They will also receive additional points for their Express Entry application.
The application process for the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration stream is summarized below:
Prospective immigrants who wish to immigrate to British Columbia through any of the programs mentioned above should contact our experts. Our exceptional team of Regulated Immigration Consultants understands the British Columbia PNP requirements. They can assess your British Columbia PNP eligibility and optimize your application. Make your journey to Canada easier under the guidance of the experts at Elaar Immigration by contacting us today.
Move to Canada as a skilled worker, tech worker, or entrepreneur through British Columbia’s BC PNP Programs.
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