British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
British Columbia PNP (B.C.), on the Pacific coast, is Canada’s westernmost province, with a population of four million. The Port of Vancouver is the gateway to the Asia-Pacific. The goods produced in B.C. are forestry products, including lumber, newsprint, and pulp and paper products. The Okanagan Valley fruit orchards and wine industry. B.C. has the most extensive park system in Canada, with approximately 600 provincial parks. The province’s large Asian communities have made Chinese and Punjabi the most spoken languages in the cities after English.
About British Columbia PNP
British Columbia offers three options to choose:
- Skills Immigration Stream
- Express Entry British Columbia Stream
- Entrepreneur Immigration
The Skills Immigration Stream is for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and post-graduates as well as entry-level and semi-skilled workers. All candidates need to have a job offer or a current job, except for international post-graduates. The Express Entry British Columbia Stream is for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates and post-graduates only.
• Skilled Worker Category — This category is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Workers are expected to have several years of experience in their skilled occupation
• Healthcare Professional Category — This category is for individuals with experience and eligible job offers, such as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses, or allied health professionals.
• International Graduate Category — This category is for individuals who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last three years. A job offer must be obtained from a BC employer to be eligible under this sub-category
• International Post-Graduate Category— This category is for graduates with Master’s or Doctoral degrees from an eligible educational institution in British Columbia in the natural, applied, or health sciences programs of study. No job offer is required to apply under this sub-category
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category — Workers in certain entry-level or semi-skilled positions in tourism/hospitality, food processing, or long-haul trucking, or those in entry-level or semi-skilled positions living and working in the Northeast Development Region of British Columbia, may be eligible for immigration through this program
Application Fee: CAD 1,150 processing fee. A request for review would cost an additional CAD 500.
Processing time: 2-3 months
Minimum Requirements:
• Must have accepted a full-time job offer
• Must have a wage offer in line with the provincial wage rates
• Must show you can support yourself and your family
• Must meet minimum language requirements
• Must meet any additional requirements specified under the category
• The employer must also meet eligibility criteria (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
First, you must register with the Skilled Migrant Registration System (SIRS). British Columbia reviews your job, education, location, language skills, and wage against the provincial labour market needs. You can register by completing all registration sections at BCPNP Online.
International Post-Graduate Category and Healthcare Professional Category candidates do not need to register with SIRS and can apply directly through BCPNP online. You then receive an enrollment score based on multiple factors and are included in the selection pool for your chosen category. Those who meet specific criteria and achieve certain scores above certain thresholds are invited to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw. Candidates can then apply online through BCPNP for 30 days.
Category | Is a job required? | Is it currently receiving applications? | Additional Requirements |
Skilled Worker | Yes (Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B) | Yes | Must have at least two years of work experience in skilled work. |
Healthcare Professional | Yes | Yes | Must have at least two years of experience as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses or allied health professionals. |
International Graduate | Yes | Yes | Must have graduated from an eligible university or college in the last three years. |
International Post-Graduate | No | Yes | Must have graduated with a Master’s or PhD from a B.C. university in the natural, applied or health sciences programs of study. |
Entry-level and Semi-skilled worker | Yes, candidates must be currently working. | Yes | Must work in certain positions in tourism, food processing, or long-haul trucking, OR Must be living and working in the Northeast Development Region of British Columbia |
B.C. Express Entry aligns with the federal government’s Express Entry immigration selection system, allowing eligible applicants to receive priority processing of their BC PNP application. The following Skills Immigration categories are processed through Express Entry British Columbia:
• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category
Application Fee: CAD 1,150
Processing Time:2-3 months
Minimum Requirements:
• Must have a valid profile with the federal Express Entry system
• Must have a Job Seeker Validation Code from the Express Entry system
• Must have accepted a full-time job offer
• Must have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates
• Must be able to support yourself and your family
• Must meet minimum language requirements
• Must meet additional requirements specific to your category
• Employer must also be eligible (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
First, you must register with the Skilled Migrant Registration System (SIRS). British Columbia reviews your job, education, location, language skills, and wage against the provincial labour market needs. You can register by completing all registration sections at BCPNP Online.
International Post-Graduate Category and Healthcare Professional Category candidates do not need to register with SIRS and can apply directly through BCPNP online. You then receive an enrollment score based on multiple factors and are included in the selection pool for your chosen category. Those who meet specific criteria and achieve certain scores above certain thresholds are invited to apply for a provincial nomination in a draw. Candidates can then apply online through BCPNP for 30 days.
Category | Is a job required? | Is it currently receiving applications? | Additional Requirements |
Skilled Worker | Yes | Yes | Must have at least two years of work experience in skilled work. |
Healthcare Professional | Yes | Yes | Must have at least two years of experience as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses or allied health professionals, or a midwife with a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in B.C. |
International Graduate | Yes | Yes | Must have graduated from an eligible university or college in the last three years. |
International Post-Graduate | No | Yes | Must have graduated with a Master’s or PhD from a B.C. university in the natural, applied or health sciences programs of study. |
Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is a points-based system that gives candidates a registration score to determine whether candidates will be invited to apply. The score is based on several 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.
Express Entry is an online system that e Canadian federal government uses to manage immigration applications from skilled workers worldwide.
There are three immigration programs managed through Express Entry:
• the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW)
• the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) and
• the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Candidates in the Express Entry system are assessed based on multiple factors such as their age, education, work experience, and language ability. According to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), they are scored based on these factors. Candidates with the highest CRS score are invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada in an Express Entry draw.
Many PNP streams also use the Express Entry system, which is called “enhanced” streams. Streams that do not use the Express Entry system are called “base” streams. Enhanced PNP streams, such as the Alberta Express Entry Stream, are aligned with Express Entry. Alberta searches the Express Entry pool to find qualified candidates based on their available profile information. To be selected for an NOI by the province, candidates must have stated an interest in immigrating to Alberta and have a CRS score of at least 300. Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination from Alberta will get an additional 600 CRS points.
You have three options if you want to immigrate to British Columbia as an entrepreneur.
• Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category — This category is for senior managers or business owners who intend to invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia.
• Entrepreneur Immigration — Regional Pilot — This new pilot is for international entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business in a small community in British Columbia.
• Strategic Projects Category — Foreign-controlled companies can set up an operation in British Columbia through this category. Up to five key foreign managerial, professional or technical staff members can be nominated for permanent residence in the province.
Entrepreneur Immigration Fees:
• Registration Fee: CAD 300
• Application Fee: CAD 3,500
• Request for Review: CAD 500
Strategic Projects Fees:
• Registration Fee: CAD 300
• Application Fee: CAD 3,500
• Key Staff Fee: CAD 1,000 (for each key staff proposed)
Processing times:
• Registration score notification: 6 weeks (from the date of registration submission)
• Application decision notification: 4 months (from the date of application submission)
If you are interested in the Entrepreneur Immigration Categories, you must complete your registration and provide a short business concept through BCPNP Online.
Based on the information provided, you will receive a score. Eligible candidates are placed in the qualified pool. Periodically, the highest-scoring candidates are invited to apply.
Once you are invited to apply, you will have four months to submit a complete application through BCPNP Online. After that, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm must review your net worth.
If you are successful, you will be given a two-year work permit and allowed to establish your business in B.C. You will have up to 20 months to implement your business plan. You will then be able to receive a provincial nomination from B.C. and apply for permanent residence.
If you are interested in the Strategic Projects Category, you must first ensure that your company is eligible and that your key staff is qualified.
You will first be required to visit B.C. to learn more about the local business environment. You then must contact the BC PNP to discuss your business proposal.
The next step is to register the company’s interest in applying. At this stage, you will be required to provide the company details, your proposed investment in B.C., and the qualifications of the proposed key staff.
B.C. will review your registration, and you will be invited to apply if successful. You must submit your application within 90 days. If your application is approved, you and each key staff member must sign a corporate Performance Agreement with the province.
Each of you will receive a work permit support letter, and you can apply for a work permit through IRCC.
When you come to Canada and fulfill your obligations under the Performance Agreement, you must submit a final report to BC PNP. After that, you will receive a provincial nomination and have 180 days to submit your application for permanent residence with IRCC.
FAQ for British Columbia PNP
British Columbia has a few options to choose from if you wish to immigrate to the province:
- Skills Immigration Stream;
- Express Entry British Columbia Stream;
- Entrepreneur Immigration.
Step 1: Depending on your specific situation, choose the stream that is right for you. Find out if you are eligible for the chosen stream.
Step 2: If you need to, register through the SIRS system.
Step 3: Submit your application through BCPNP Online.
Step 4: Obtain a provincial nomination from B.C.
Step 5: Submit a permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Candidates need to first register through the SIRS system on BCPNP Online. If you are applying through the International Post-Graduate Category or the Healthcare Professional Category, you do not need to register for the SIRS, and can apply directly on BCPNP Online.
You will then get a registration score and are entered the pool. If you meet specific criteria and have a score above a specific threshold, you will receive an invitation to apply for provincial nomination. You will then have 30 days to apply through BCPNP Online.
If successful, you will receive a provincial nomination, you can then apply for permanent residence with the Canadian federal government.
If you received a provincial nomination through the Express Entry system, you will have the option to accept it.
Immigrating to B.C. may be easy for one candidate but may be difficult for another. It is therefore advisable to choose the stream that is right for you depending on your specific situation.
For example, if you have received a job offer in a skilled occupation in B.C. and you have an Express Entry profile, you may want to consider to apply for the Skilled Worker category under the Express Entry B.C. stream.
If you would like help in choosing the best way to immigrate to B.C., feel free to contact us.
The BC PNP is for skilled workers, entry level and semi-skilled workers, international graduates, international post-graduates and healthcare professionals.
You do not need to have an Express Entry profile to be eligible to immigrate to B.C. However, candidates typically need to have a job offer to be eligible to immigrate, unless you are applying as an international post-graduate. To do this, you must have graduated from an eligible university in B.C. with a Master’s or PhD in a natural, applied or health sciences program of study.
In addition, the province has three options for entrepreneurs who wish to start a business or acquire a business in B.C.
You must first identify which immigration stream and category you are eligible for. Once you do this, you must then register with the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) so that B.C. can review your job, education, location in B.C., language ability and wage against the provincial labour market needs.
You can register by completing all the sections of the registration with BCPNP Online.
If you are applying for the International Post-Graduate Category and the Healthcare Professional Category, you do not need to register with the SIRS, and you can apply directly through BCPNP Online.
You will then get a registration score based on multiple factors and are entered into a selection pool for the chosen category. Those who meet specific criteria and who have a score above a certain threshold are invited to apply for a provincial nomination in a provincial draw.
After that, candidates will have 30 days to apply through BCPNP Online.
If you are selected, you will receive a provincial nomination through the Express Entry system. You are required to accept the nomination through the Express Entry system.
If you receive a provincial nomination, you will have the opportunity to apply for permanent residence with the Canadian government.
If you receive a provincial nomination through the Express Entry system, you are awarded an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This effectively guarantees that you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
Getting a provincial nomination puts you in an excellent position when applying for permanent residence with IRCC.
IRCC will review your application and make sure you also pass an admissibility check to decide whether to grant you permanent residence.
The quality of life in B.C. is high. Residents of B.C. are friendly and welcoming. The province is very diverse, and many people from all over the world immigrate to the province every year.
Vancouver island has a mild climate with warm, dry summers, and wet and rainy conditions in the winter, fall and spring. It does not snow often. The weather is colder in Northern B.C.
The cost of living in B.C. depends on where you live. The province has its own cost-of-living-calculator that allows you to see the costs of healthcare, housing, taxes, utilities and transportation in the different areas of the province.
Federal skilled workers are selected under the Express Entry immigration system. Canadian provinces select internationally trained and experienced skilled workers based on the needs of employers their province through their respective Provincial Nominee Programs.
Vancouver island and the areas along the south coast have a mild climate with warm, dry summers, and wet and rainy conditions in the winter, fall and spring.
The coastal region have the mildest winters in Canada. It rarely drops below 0 degrees celsius and does not snow often.
The central regions of B.C. have warmer summers (up to 30 degrees celsius) and colder and snowier winters.
The weather is even colder in Northern B.C. and the winters are longer with lots of snow.
Yes. Areas along the south coast including Vancouver island have very mild winters. It rarely goes below 0 degrees celsius and does not snow very often.
Yes. For Canadians and permanent residents who live in B.C., the Medical Service Plan (MSP) is free.
This covers required medical services such as: doctors’ fees, services provided by physicians and midwives, dental and oral surgery, eye exams and some orthodontic services. It also covers diagnostic services such as x-rays.
There are other services that may be covered like supplementary services provided by other health care providers. This includes: acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy, physical therapy and non-surgical podiatry.