British Columbia, one of Canada’s most dynamic provinces, offers multiple pathways to permanent residency through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). This program attracts skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and international graduates who can contribute to the province’s growing economy. The BC PNP operates several immigration streams, including Skills Immigration, Express Entry BC, and Entrepreneur Immigration.

Learn more about these pathways with our guides and look into how to immigrate to British Columbia via the BC PNP.

What is the British Columbia PNP?

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) stands as a cornerstone of economic immigration in Canada, specifically designed to attract individuals who can contribute significantly to the province's economic growth. This program empowers the Province of British Columbia to select economic immigrants prepared to live, work, and establish businesses within its borders, addressing critical labor market needs and fostering economic prosperity.

Nomination through the BC PNP provides a direct pathway to permanent residence in Canada, as nominees and their families can apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for federal approval. This dual-layered approach ensures that individuals selected by the province meet provincial and federal immigration standards.

BC PNP Skills Immigration

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The BC PNP Skills Immigration stream is tailored to attract workers and recent graduates whose skills, experience, and qualifications align with the demands of British Columbia employers. This stream is segmented into five distinct categories, each catering to individuals with varying expertise and backgrounds.

Skills Immigration Streams and Eligibility

The BC PNP Skills Immigration streams offer diverse pathways for skilled individuals to obtain permanent residency in British Columbia, each with distinct eligibility requirements tailored to specific occupations and experience levels.

Skilled Worker

This stream targets experienced professionals in management, technical, trades, and other skilled occupations. Eligibility hinges on securing an indeterminate, full-time job offer from a BC employer in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system’s Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations.

Applicants must demonstrate at least two years of full-time work experience in a relevant NOC TEER category, meet language requirements, and possess a competitive wage offer. The Canadian employer's support is also crucial, and they must meet specific criteria. This stream also has an Express Entry BC (EEBC) option.

Health Authority

This stream provides a direct pathway for individuals working within BC's public health authorities, including physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners. Applicants require a full-time job offer from a BC public health authority or confirmation of their practice from a relevant authority. This stream also has an EEBC option.

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream caters to workers in select occupations within the tourism/hospitality and food processing sectors. Eligibility necessitates a full-time, indeterminate job offer in an eligible NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupation, with a minimum of nine months of continuous employment with the offering employer. This stream does not have an EEBC option.

International Graduate

This stream is now closed to new registrations.

International Post-Graduate

This stream is now closed to new applications.

Process of Skills Immigration

The Skills Immigration process involves several key stages.

  • Stream Selection: Applicants must carefully choose the stream that best aligns with their qualifications and job offer.
  • Registration: Eligible applicants register their profile in the BC PNP Online system, receiving a score based on human capital and economic factors.
  • Invitation to Apply: Based on their scores, applicants may receive an ITA, granting them 30 days to submit a complete application.
  • Application Submission: Applicants submit their detailed application, including supporting documents and payment of the application fee.
  • Nomination: Successful applicants receive a nomination package, enabling them to apply for permanent residence through IRCC.
  • Permanent Residence: IRCC processes the permanent residence application.

Program Priorities

The BC PNP prioritizes applications that address critical labor shortages in key sectors.

  • Childcare: Early childhood educators and assistants are prioritized.
  • Construction: Certified tradespeople in designated construction occupations are given preference.
  • Healthcare: Healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and allied health workers, are prioritized.
  • Technology: Skilled workers in in-demand technology occupations are targeted.
  • Veterinary Care: Veterinarians and animal health technologists are prioritized.

BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration

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The BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration stream is designed to attract experienced entrepreneurs who can establish and manage businesses that contribute to British Columbia's economic growth. This stream operates on a "temporary to permanent" pathway, requiring entrepreneurs to develop their business on a work permit before applying for Canadian permanent residency.

Entrepreneur Immigration Streams and Eligibility

For ambitious individuals looking to build a business and a life in British Columbia, the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration streams offer pathways tailored to various investment levels and community needs. Here are the streams that provide a structured process for experienced entrepreneurs to establish their business ventures in British Columbia and contribute to securing Canadian permanent residency.

Base Stream

Applicants must possess a minimum net worth of 600,000 CAD and demonstrate relevant business or management experience. A minimum personal investment of 200,000 CAD in the business is required, along with creating at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Regional Stream

The Regional Stream stream targets entrepreneurs wishing to establish businesses outside major urban centers in smaller communities. Applicants must have a net worth of at least 300,000 CAD and invest a minimum of 100,000 CAD in the industry. A community referral is required.

Strategic Projects

This stream allows foreign companies to establish a BC presence.

Process of Entrepreneur Immigration (Base Stream)

The BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream outlines a clear, multi-stage pathway from initial business proposal to securing permanent residency in British Columbia.

  • Business Proposal: Entrepreneurs develop a comprehensive business proposal.
  • Registration: The proposal is registered in the BCPNP Online system, and applicants receive a score based on human capital and economic factors.
  • Work Permit: Approved applicants receive a letter of support to apply for a Canadian work permit.
  • Business Establishment: Entrepreneurs establish and actively manage their business in BC for up to 20 months.
  • Nomination: Upon meeting the terms of their performance agreement, entrepreneurs can apply for provincial nomination.
  • Permanent Residence: IRCC processes the permanent residence application.

BC Strategic Initiatives

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The BC PNP is not merely a passive selection process; it actively supports the province's broader strategic goals. The program employs various selection and prioritization tools to maintain program integrity and ensure nominees' success. For instance, targeted invitations to apply may be issued for specific occupations deemed critical to the province's economic development.

Addressing Critical Sector Needs: Healthcare, Childcare, Veterinary Care, Construction, and Technology

The BC PNP prioritizes applications that address critical sector needs, ensuring that the province has access to essential services and a skilled workforce in key industries.

  • Healthcare, Childcare, and Veterinary Care: British Columbia faces critical needs in these sectors of the care economy. The BC PNP prioritizes occupations within these fields to ensure residents have access to essential care services.
  • Construction Sector: Recognizing the importance of housing, the BC PNP prioritizes certified workers in select construction occupations to support the province's residential housing demand.
  • Technology Sector: The BC PNP facilitates the recruitment and retention of international talent in tech occupations, ensuring that British Columbia's technology sector remains competitive on a global scale. The BC PNP Tech stream has successfully attracted tech workers to the province.

Processing Times

IRCC processing times for BC PNP applications vary depending on several factors, including the completeness of the application, the complexity and volume of cases, program capacity, and the number of available nominations. Notably, the federal government has reduced British Columbia's allocation of provincial nominees for 2025 by 50%, resulting in anticipated increases in processing times.

Skills Immigration

Processing times for Skills Immigration applications are variable; please check the BC PNP website for up-to-date information. Post-nomination requests typically take one month, and review requests take approximately six months.

Entrepreneur Immigration

Registration score notifications are typically issued within six weeks. Application decision notifications take approximately four months at the work permit and final report stages. Review requests take approximately six months.

Fees Associated With the BC PNP

The BC PNP charges fees to process applications, covering the program's administrative costs and supporting services to clients throughout the immigration process.

  • Skills Immigration Fees: The application fee is 1,475 CAD, and the request for review fee is 500 CAD.
  • Entrepreneur Immigration Fees: The registration fee is 300 CAD, the application fee is 3,500 CAD, and the request for review fee is CAD 500 CAD.
  • Strategic Projects Fees: The registration fee is 300 CAD, the application fee is 3,500 CAD, the key staff fee is 1,000 CAD, and the request for review fee is 500 CAD.

Besides BC PNP fees, applicants must pay separate fees to IRCC when submitting their application for permanent residence.

FAQs

How Long Does the Process of a BC PNP Application Take?

IRCC Processing times for BC PNP applications vary depending on the stream and the case's complexity. Generally, Skills Immigration applications have fluctuating processing times, so checking the BC PNP website for updates is essential. Entrepreneur Immigration applications typically take several months, with registration score notifications around six weeks and application decisions taking approximately four months. It's crucial to submit a complete application to minimize delays.

Do I Need an Express Entry Profile to Apply to the BC PNP?

Whether you need an Express Entry profile depends on the specific BC PNP stream you're applying under. While some Skills Immigration streams offer an Express Entry BC (EEBC) option, which requires an existing Express Entry profile, other streams, such as the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, do not. Therefore, it's vital to check the requirements of your chosen stream.

Does The BC PNP Target Any Specific Occupations or Sectors?

Yes, the BC PNP actively targets specific occupations and sectors to address critical labor shortages and support economic development. Priority is given to healthcare, childcare, construction, and technology occupations, among others. By focusing on these areas, the program ensures that British Columbia attracts skilled workers who can contribute to the province's key industries and services.