The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) provides an immigration pathway enabling foreign nationals to become Canadian permanent residents in BC.
The PNP is designed to attract immigrants in areas that benefit the province. These potential immigrants are skilled workers, workers in sectors with labour shortages, entrepreneurs, and investors. The province operates several immigration streams divided into two categories:
British Columbia Skills Immigration
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration
BC PNP Skills Immigration allows workers and recent graduates with the skills, experience and qualifications B.C. employers need to settle in B.C. permanently.
Skills Immigration comprises five streams designed for people with different skills, experience, and education. Four of these streams also have an Express Entry BC option.
Eligibility for many Skills Immigration streams is based partly on the federal government’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system.
Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker stream is for experienced workers in professional, management, technical, trade or other occupations to gain permanent residence in B.C.
Eligibility for the Skilled Worker stream is the applicant’s acceptance of an indeterminate (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C employer classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. The wage offer must align with B.C. wage rates for the classified NOC occupations.
To be qualified to perform the job duties, the applicant must meet minimum language requirements and have at least two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience at NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
The applicants must show proof that they can support themselves and their dependents.
The employer must agree to support the applicant’s application and must meet certain requirements shown on the Employer page.
This Skilled Worker stream also has the option for an Express Entry BC.
The job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation or NOC 41200.
Health Authority
This stream gives a permanent residence pathway to people working for a health authority, such as physicians, midwives or nurse practitioners in B.C. The applicant may also be eligible to apply under the Health Authority stream.
There is no need to register for this stream. Candidates who meet eligibility requirements can apply directly to the BC PNP.
To be qualified for this stream, the applicants must meet the education, training, experience and qualification requirements the public health authority outlines. The applicants must either an indeterminate (no defined end date), a full-time job offer from a B.C public health authority or a letter from a health authority or midwife practice group that confirms that they are a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in British Columbia. The health authority must agree to support their application.
This Health Authority stream also has the option for an Express Entry BC.
The job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
This stream gives a permanent residence pathway to people who select occupations in the tourism/hospitality or food processing sectors in B.C.
To be qualified for this stream, the applicants must have been working full-time for their employer for a minimum of nine consecutive months before registering.
The applicant must have accepted an indeterminate (no defined end date) full-time job offer from a B.C. employer, which must be on the list of eligible occupations for the applicant’s sector. All ELSS-eligible occupations are classified as NOC TEER 4 or 5, and for the Northeast Development Region of B.C., the applicants may apply if they are working in any NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupations other than live-in caregivers.
The applicant must be qualified to have the job offer, including meeting any certification or registration requirements in B.C.
The applicant must meet minimum language and education requirements and the proof that they support themselves and their dependants.
The applicant must have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation.
Eligible ELSS occupations
Occupations in travel and accommodation
64314 Hotel front desk clerks
Tour and recreational guides and casino occupations
64320 Tour and travel guides
64321 Casino workers
64322 Outdoor sport and recreational guides
Occupations in food and beverage service
64300 Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
64301 Bartenders
65200 Food and beverage servers
65201 Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
Cleaners (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
65210 Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services
65310 Light duty cleaners
65311 Specialized cleaners
65312 Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
Other service occupations (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
65320 Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
65329 Other service support occupations
For the BC PNP, a resort is an accommodation facility for recreational activities. These activities include skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, nature-based or interpretive tours, etc.
Food processing
94140 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
94141 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
94142 Fish and seafood plant workers
94143 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
95106 Labourers in food and beverage processing
The employer must agree to support the applicant’s application and must meet certain requirements shown on the Employer page.
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream do NOT have the Express Entry BC option.
International Graduate
This stream gives permanent residence in British Colombia pathways to people who recently graduated with a degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution.
To be qualified for this stream, the applicant must have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years.
The applicant must have accepted an indeterminate (no defined end date) full-time job offer from a B.C. employer. The job must be classified as NOC TEER category 1, 2, or 3.
The International Graduates must be qualified to work in their occupation in B.C.
The applicant must meet minimum language requirements and show proof of financial support for themselves and their dependents.
The International Student job offer must have a wage offer in line with B.C wage rates for the occupation.
The employer who made the job offer must agree to support the application and must meet certain requirements shown on the Employer page.
This International Graduate Stream also has the option for an Express Entry BC.
The job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation.
International Post-Graduate
This stream gives permanent residence in British Colombia pathways to people who recently graduated from an eligible B.C. post-secondary institution with an eligible master’s or doctoral degree. Ph.D. candidates at a public B.C. post-secondary institution may also be eligible for this stream.
There is no job offer needed from an employer for this stream.
Candidates who meet the requirements can directly apply to BC PNP since they do not need to register for this stream.
The applicant must have obtained graduate-level education from an eligible program of study at a post-secondary institution in B.C. in the last three years.
Eligible education includes, Master’s degree in an eligible program in the natural, applied or health sciences disciplines from a B.C. post-secondary institution, Doctoral degrees in any field of study from a public B.C. post-secondary institution and Ph.D. students in any field of study, who have been admitted to candidacy at a public B.C. post-secondary institution.
The applicants must also demonstrate the ability and intent to live, work, and be economically established in B.C.
This International Post-Graduate Stream also has the option for an Express Entry BC.
Application Process for BC PNP
There are four main steps which have unique requirements for the BC PNP process: registration, invitation, application, and decision.
How to apply to a Skills Immigration stream including the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option
- Choose your stream and if you will use the EEBC option
- Register
- Wait for an invitation to apply
- Apply
- Decision
- Permanent Residence
Program priorities
There are some priority occupations and additional criteria that support the BC PNP’s strategic initiatives:
Workers with a job offer in the following occupation:
“42202 Early childhood educators and assistants” workers may benefit from targeted invitations.
These occupations are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP; other priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
There are some requirements for the workers in the construction sector to benefit from targeted invitations to apply. The first one is the job offer, which must be for an indeterminate, full-time job in one of the priority construction occupations; the second one is a valid trade certificate issued by or an apprenticeship registered with SkilledTradesBC, and the third, the trade certificate must correspond with the job the applicant has been offered.
Priority construction occupations:
- 22114 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
- 72102 Sheet metal workers
- 72103 Boilermakers
- 72104 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
- 72105 Ironworkers
- 72106 Welders and related machine operators
- 72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- 72201 Industrial electricians
- 72300 Plumbers
- 72301 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
- 72302 Gas fitters
- 72310 Carpenters
- 72311 Cabinetmakers
- 72320 Bricklayers
- 72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72402 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- 72500 Crane operators
- 73100 Concrete finishers
- 73101 Tilesetters
- 73102 Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- 73110 Roofers and shinglers
- 73111 Glaziers
- 73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- 73113 Floor covering installers
These occupations are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP; other priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
Employees who are direct employees of a provincial health authority or become doctors, nurse practitioners, or midwives with the support of a provincial health authority can apply for the direct Health Authority stream.
Workers not employed by a health authority must register in another stream, and workers who have a job offer in one of the following occupations may benefit from targeted invitations to apply.
Priority healthcare occupations:
- 30010 Managers in health care
- 31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- 31101 Specialists in surgery
- 31102 General practitioners and family physicians
- 31110 Dentists
- 31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
- 31120 Pharmacists
- 31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
- 31200 Psychologists
- 31201 Chiropractors
- 31202 Physiotherapists
- 31203 Occupational therapists
- 31204 Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
- 31209 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
- 31300 Nursing coordinators and supervisors
- 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 31302 Nurse practitioners
- 31303 Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
- 32101 Licensed practical nurses
- 32102 Paramedical occupations
- 32103 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
- 32109 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- 32110 Denturists
- 32111 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
- 32112 Dental technologists and technicians
- 32120 Medical laboratory technologists
- 32121 Medical radiation technologists
- 32122 Medical sonographers
- 32123 Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
- 32124 Pharmacy technicians
- 32129 Other medical technologists and technicians
- 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- 33100 Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
- 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 33103 Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- 41300 Social workers
- 41301 Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
- 42201 Social and community service workers
Only health care assistants/health care aides are eligible for the BC PNP under NOC 33102.
These occupations are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP; other priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
The BC PNP offers a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers in select, in-demand technology occupations. No permanent job offer is needed to meet the unique needs of B.C.’s technology sector, priority technology occupations. Besides that, the applicants in the technology sector must meet the following requirements to benefit from targeted invitations to apply:
- the job offer must be in one of the priority technology occupations
- the job offer must be at least one year in duration (365 days)
- there must be at least 120 calendar days remaining on the job offer at the time of application
Priority technology occupations:
- 10030 Telecommunication carriers managers
- 20012 Computer and information systems managers
- 21100 Physicists and astronomers
- 21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
- 21211 Data scientists
- 21220 Cybersecurity specialists
- 21221 Business systems specialists
- 21222 Information systems specialists
- 21223 Database analysts and data administrators
- 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
- 21231 Software engineers and designers
- 21232 Software developers and programmers
- 21233 Web designers
- 21234 Web developers and programmers
- 21300 Civil engineers
- 21301 Mechanical engineers
- 21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
- 21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
- 21320 Chemical engineers
- 21399 Other professional engineers
- 22110 Biological technologists and technicians
- 22220 Computer network and web technicians
- 22221 User support technicians
- 22222 Information systems testing technicians
- 22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
- 22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
- 50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
- 51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
- 51112 Technical writers
- 51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
- 52119 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
- 52112 Broadcast technicians
- 52113 Audio and video recording technicians
- 52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
- 53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators
These occupations are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP; other priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
In this category, the applicants with job offers in one of the following occupations may benefit from targeted invitations to apply.
Priority veterinary care occupations:
31103 Veterinarians
32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
These occupations are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP; other priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration (E.I.) is a way for international entrepreneurs wishing to immigrate to British Columbia to set up businesses that support innovation and economic growth in the province.
Entrepreneur Immigration is a pathway from temporary to permanent” immigration. That means when the applicants get approved, they will initially come to B.C. as temporary residents and then apply to stay permanently once they have successfully started a business.
Streams for entrepreneurs:
- Base stream
- Regional Pilot
- Strategic Projects
Base stream
There are some Personal requirements for this stream:
- must have a personal net worth of at least CAD$600,000
- Business and/or management experience: if the applicant has no business experience, then must have the equivalent of a 2-year post-secondary diploma
- The language skills in English or French must be equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher
- Have been lawfully admitted to the country where you currently live
- Have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada.
There are some requirements for Business, job and investment:
- establish 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
- Registration fees is $300, and application fees are $3,500.
Process for application
- Prepare a business proposal
The first step is to prepare a great business proposal well suited to your unique knowledge and experience and the needs of the B.C. economy. Research to help determine what kind of business to propose and which location in B.C. would suit your business well. There are government resources to help you, such as the Starting a Small Business Guide.
Consider proposing a business related to one of the critical sectors or significant economic benefits in the program guide. The Trade and Invest British Columbia website contains a wealth of information about the key industries and sectors and different regions and communities in B.C.
- Register your proposal with the BC PNP
Once you have prepared a business proposal, it will be time to contact the BC PNP. You must create a profile in BCPNP Online and complete the online registration. This includes providing a short business concept. You must pay the non-refundable registration fee of $300.
The system will award points based on human capital factors – such as your education, experience, and language – and economic factors such as the commercial viability of your proposal, the sector, the economic benefit and the region.
The system will auto-calculate your section scores based on the information you provide. The business concept section will be scored separately by the BC PNP staff within six weeks. You can find a scoring breakdown in the E.I. Base Program Guide.
If you meet the minimum requirements, you will enter the qualified pool. You stay in the pool for up to six months or 180 days or until you receive an invitation to apply. Registering does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply.
If you are invited to apply, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm must review your net worth and verify your accumulation of funds. This review must happen before you submit your application. Your invitation to apply will include a list of authorized accounting firms and instructions.
After you receive an invitation to apply, the deadline is four months to submit a complete application through BCPNP Online.
The province may invite you to attend an interview. You will be asked about your business/work experience and business plan.
The province will assess your application according to the information you provide in your application and interview.
If the application is approved, you will sign a performance agreement with the Province of B.C. Your performance agreement is unique to you. It is based on the information provided in your application, business plan and interview.
The province may only accept your application if your application details are consistent with your registration information.
If your application to the BC PNP is approved, the province will give you a letter of support that you can use to apply for a work permit. This will enable you and your dependents to move to B.C. You have 90 days to submit your work permit application to IRCC. After getting a work permit, you must arrive in B.C. within 12 months.
The applicant will have up to 20 months after the arrival in B.C to implement the business plan, actively manage the business, and meet all the performance expectations in the signed performance agreement.
To be nominated by the province, you must show that you have met the terms and conditions of your performance agreement by submitting a final report to the BC PNP between 18 and 20 months after you arrive in B.C.
You must also submit proof of language skill to show that your language ability meets a Canadian Language Benchmark Level 4.
We will review and evaluate your final report. When we are satisfied that you have met your performance agreement terms, you must sign a Conditions of Nomination declaration.
After you sign the declaration, you will be issued a confirmation of nomination as a provincial nominee. You are qualified to apply to become permanent residency to IRCC under the PNP.
Regional Pilot
British Columbia welcomes entrepreneurs worldwide to discover the many business opportunities across all regions of the province. Entrepreneurs can open a business in one of B.C.’s smaller communities and experience first-hand why many choose to live outside a large urban center for their families.
Through the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Regional Pilot, the Province offers an immigration pathway for enterprising individuals looking to start a new business in a small community and make B.C. their new home.
The EI Regional Pilot, introduced in March 2019, is extended to March 31, 2024.
The EI – Regional Pilot is designed for foreign entrepreneurs interested in starting a new business in a smaller community. Foreign entrepreneurs who want to settle in one not participating in the EI Regional Pilot or purchase an existing business are not eligible for this stream.
To be qualified for the EI Regional Pilot, there are certain criteria:
- establish an eligible new business aligned with the priorities of the referring community
- show business and/or management experience
- have a personal net worth of at least CAD$300,000
- make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD$100,000 in the business
- create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- meet the minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4
- have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- have been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently live
Meet the criteria and have the experience that the community is seeking. You can contact the designated community contact on the community’s profile page to learn more.
Strategic Projects
The Strategic Projects stream is for foreign companies identifying strategic investment opportunities in B.C. The aim of this initiative is to create operations integrated into the growth and expansion of its core business.
This flow allows foreign companies to permanently transfer key personnel with institutional knowledge and expertise to B.C. The foreign company may apply for provincial nomination to support the permanent residence of up to five of its current senior employees.
To be eligible, the foreign corporation must be well-established and in good financial standing, indicate investment readiness and capacity for international expansion into B.C., and provide significant economic benefit to the province by making a high-value investment in B.C.
The key staff must meet the following requirements as an individual (s):
- Be a current senior employee of the foreign corporation with the qualifications and experience essential to establishing and operating the business in B.C.
- is being appointed to an executive or senior managerial position, or has specialized knowledge essential to the proposed B.C. operation
- will be employed in a permanent full-time capacity at the B.C. operation
- is offered a wage commensurate with their expertise and consistent with industry and corporate compensation structures
The individuals who are prohibited from entering Canada, have not been lawfully admitted in the country of current residence or are in Canada and are out of status, are working in Canada without authorization, have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada, and are under a removal order in or outside Canada are not eligible and acceptable for this stream.
The requirements for foreign corporations:
- Must make a minimum equity investment of at least $500,000 toward the corporation’s operations in B.C.
- Must establish or purchase and expand an eligible business in B.C.
- Must create at least three new full-time equivalent jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for each foreign key staff member proposed, with a maximum of five key staff
Application process
1- Make an exploratory visit to B.C.
The province encourages the senior executives representing the company to visit B.C. This visit aims to explore and learn more about opportunities and the local business environment.
2- Discuss your proposal
Before making the application to the Strategic Projects stream, the company must contact the BC PNP to discuss the business proposal.
3- Register
The company must register to express its interest in applying. The company must provide the Company details, proposed investment in B.C. and Proposed key staff qualifications. There is also a registration processing fee of $300.
4- Invitation to apply
We will review the registration and determine if the foreign corporation can apply. The company must submit a complete application within 90 days if invited to apply. The invitation to apply will expire after 90 days; the corporation may choose to submit a new registration.
5- Applying to the BC PNP
The applicant must submit all the required forms with key staff forms and other supporting documentation. The company’s application processing fee is $3,500, and an additional $1,000 is proposed for each key staff member.
The province will review the application for completeness and may ask the foreign corporation clarifying questions or request additional documentation. Each key staff member may be invited to attend an in-person interview at the BC PNP offices in Vancouver if it is necessary.
6-Signing Performance Agreements
After the application is approved, the company must sign a corporate Performance Agreement with the Province of B.C. Each approved key staff member must also sign a Performance Agreement.
- Work Permit & Arrival Report
The province will issue a work permit support letter to each approved key staff member so they can apply to IRCC for a work permit. This work permit support letter is valid for 90 days.
After signing their Performance Agreement, each key staff must arrive in B.C. with their valid work permit within 180 days (6 months) from the date of their work permit support letter issuance.
Each key staff must submit a completed arrival report form to the BC PNP within 60 days (2 months) of arriving in B.C.
- Business Establishment & Nomination
The foreign corporation must submit a final report to the BC PNP to demonstrate After fulfilling its obligations under the executed Performance Agreement.
The province will review the report and may conduct site visits or interviews to verify information.
Suppose we determine that the company has met the terms and conditions of the Performance Agreement. In that case, each key staff member who has satisfied the terms and conditions of his/her Performance Agreement will be nominated for permanent residence.
9- Apply for Permanent Residence
Each key staff must submit their application within 180 days from the date of nomination for permanent residence to IRCC.
