British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program | BC PNP 2024

British Columbia is the third-largest province and the fourth-largest economy in Canada. It is an urbanized, varied province on the west coast. Its dynamic economy is supported by mining, forestry, and services, which attract skilled professionals. However, with its economic growth, there is a growing demand for experienced professionals. 

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) plays a crucial role in addressing this demand by facilitating the immigration of competent individuals to become permanent residents of the province. Candidates who have applied for Canada Immigration through Express Entry can also apply for BC PNP. A provincial nomination will significantly boost their CRS Score by 600 points. 

If you are one of those candidates planning to immigrate to Canada through British Columbia PNP but don’t know much about it, don’t worry; we have your back. This comprehensive guide will provide every necessary detail about the British Columbia PNP Program. But before proceeding, let us explain the meaning of BC PNP to you. 

What Is The British Columbia PNP Program? 

BC PNP is an immigration pathway that allows the province to meet the demands of its local labour market and nominate skilled workers to become permanent residents. There are different immigration pathways for high-demand foreign workers, international students, and entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination.

Different Pathways Under The British Columbia Nominee Program 

The government authorities of British Columbia have created different immigration pathways according to labour market requirements and nominate prospective candidates to live and work in Canada as permanent residents. 

The following are different pathways under this Provincial Nominee Program: 

• Skilled Immigration Streams 

The Skills Immigration Stream caters to individuals seeking to enter British Columbia, Canada, including skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, post-graduates, and entry-level and semi-skilled workers with specific requirements.

The following tabular representation explains the sub-streams under the Skilled Immigration Streams. 

• Express Entry British Columbia Stream

For this, immigrants must be qualified for a federal economic immigration program and have registered under the Express Entry program.The following tabular representation explains the substream of Express Entry British Columbia Streams.

• Entrepreneur Streams 

For experienced business people worldwide who want to invest in and actively manage a business in British Columbia. 

The following are the three substreams under this stream: 

1. Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category. 
2. Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot 
3. Strategic Projects Category 

British Columbia PNP Eligibility Criteria 

You must fulfil specific requirements to apply for the British Columbia Nominee Program. However, the British Columbia PNP Requirements may differ according to the program. 

However, all the programs have specific basic British Columbia PNP requirements. These programs include;

1. Proof of legal document for immigrating to British Columbia 
2. A minimum of two years of experience working in a skilled field
3. Show that you intend to do the responsibilities that your BC employer has assigned you. 
4. Verification of an employment offer from a British Columbian company 
5. Demonstrate required English Language Proficiency. 

Documents Required For British Columbia PNP 

To get a provincial nomination for British Columbia’s government, candidates must provide the correct documents to the authorities. If you don’t know much about this, don’t worry; we have compiled a document checklist for you here. 

1. A written employment letter on the official company letterhead;
2. Proof of having sufficient funds required to support themselves and any accompanying family members;
3. A valid passport and travel documents;
4. Documents supporting legal immigration status in Canada;
5. Educational Qualification certificate (degree, diploma, and certificates) Educational Credential Assessment (ECA);
6. Work-related reference letters;
7. Language test result;
8. Police certificate and clearance;
9. Civil Identity Proof;

British Columbia PNP Process To Apply 

Here, we will provide an overview of the application process for the Express Entry BC (EEBC) stream of the British Columbia PNP (BC PNP). The steps to apply are as follows;

Step 1: Registration

The first step in applying for BC PNP provincial nomination is registering under the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). This province can assess the application based on candidates’ credentials, Such as their job, B.C. location, education, language ability, and wage. 

Candidates must ensure that they can complete their express entry profile with IRCC before registering under SIRS. 

Stage 2: Invitation

BC PNP EEBC – Skilled workers and International graduate eligible candidates will get an invitation that allows them to apply under the Express Entry BC stream. Based on the score in SIRS, candidates’ profiles are ranked along with those of the other candidates in the same category. Through a frequently held provincial draw, BC PNP invites higher-ranked profiles to submit their application for provincial nomination. 

These invitations are issued based on the BC PNP’s annual nomination allocation and processing capacity.

Stage 3: Application

Must submit your provincial nomination application through BC PNP Online. Once the EEBC – Skilled Worker and EEBC – International Graduate candidate gets an invitation to apply, they can submit their application online. 

EEBC – HealthCare Professional and EEBC – International Post-Graduate applicants do not require an invitation; they can apply directly through BC PNP Online. 

Stage 4: Nomination

In this step, the candidate gets the provincial nomination and can apply for a Canada PR visa to IRCC. When the candidate’s application is approved, the British Columbia PNP will nominate the candidate to apply for permanent residence through the IRCC express entry system. 

Candidates must accept the nomination via the IRCC express entry portal to receive a federal invitation to apply for a Canada PR Visa as a provincial nominee from IRCC.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Processing Time 

The following tabular representation explains the processing time of the BC PNP. 

British Columbia Nominee Program Processing Cost 

The cost of applying for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program varies because it depends on various immigration programs. However, we have compiled a detailed fee structure below. 

BC PNP Latest Draw Update 2024