BC Provincial Nominee Program 2023

British Columbia PNP has different immigration pathways to cater to the needs of their labour market and nominate immigrants with different backgrounds to live and work in the province as permanent residents.

There are three BC PNP immigration streams:

• Skills Immigration: For semi-skilled and skilled workers with high-demand skills in the province. 
• Express Entry BC: For this, immigrants must be qualified for a federal economic immigration program and have registered under the Express Entry program.
• Entrepreneur Immigration: For experienced business people from around the world who want to invest in and actively manage a business in the province. 

Skills Immigration

British Columbia PNP -SI is for immigrants with skills, experience, and qualifications that are required by the provincial eligible employers. Here are the different categories:

Skilled Worker

You must meet the below-mentioned minimum requirements to apply under this stream:

• Must have got a job offer from an employer in the province. The offered job must be a skilled job categorized under NOC skill level 0, A, or B;
• Be qualified to perform the duties of the job;
• Have a minimum of 2 years of work experience that is directly related to your occupation;
• Demonstrate you can support yourself financially;
• Must be admissible to Canada;
• Also, must clear the minimum language requirements for NOC Skill level B;
• The wage offered for the job must be in line with the province’s wages rates;

Health Care Professional

This stream is for nurses, physicians, and allied health professionals. Here is the minimum requirement to be eligible for this immigration stream:

• Have the support of, or a full-time permanent job offer from a public health authority as a: registered nurse, physician, registered psychiatric nurse, and allied health professional like clinical pharmacist, diagnostic medical sonographer, medical laboratory technologist, occupational therapist, medical radiation technologist, physiotherapist;
• Have a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in the province (For midwives);
• Eligible to work in your profession;
• Minimum 2 years of work experience that is directly related to your occupation;
• Demonstrate you can support yourself financially or any accompanying family member;
• Must be admissible to Canada;
• Must clear the minimum language proficiency requirements for NOC Skill level B;
• The wage offered must be in line with the province’s wage rates;

International Graduate

Here are the minimum requirements for BC PNP SI – International Graduate immigration sub-category:

• Got a job offer from an eligible provincial employer under occupation categorized under NOC Skill Type 0 OR Skill Level A, B;
• Qualify to work in the occupation in the province;
• Demonstrate you can support yourself and any accompanying family member financially;
• Must be admissible to Canada;
• Have at least a diploma, degree, or certificate from a post-secondary institution in the country in the last three years;
• Must meet minimum language requirements for NOC Skill level B occupation;
• The wage offered must be in line with the province’s wage rates;

International Post Graduate

For this category, the candidate must have graduated in the last three years with a master’s or doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in natural, applied, or health sciences: agriculture, biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences, and support services, engineering, engineering technology, health professions and related clinical sciences, mathematics and statistics, natural resources conservation and research, physical sciences. Other than these, the candidate must:

• Must be admissible in Canada;
• Must have done graduation from an eligible postsecondary institution in the province in the last 3 years;
• Must demonstrate an intent to live in the province;

Entry-level and Semi-Skilled

This category provides a way for workers in a valid tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or food processing occupation to settle in the province as permanent residents. 

• Got a job offer from an eligible provincial employer under occupation categorized under NOC Skill Type 0 OR Skill Level A, B;
• Must be working with the same employer for at least 9 consecutive months before applying;
• Meet minimum language and education requirements;
• Qualify for the job offered;
• Demonstrate you can support yourself and any accompanying family member financially;
• Have legal immigration status in Canada;
• The wage offered must be in line with the province’s wage rates;

Express Entry BC

This pathway is in line with the federal government’s Express entry program that allows the eligible applicants to receive priority processing of both nomination applications and if successful for the nomination, their permanent residence application. Here are the different BC PNP categories that are in line with the BC PNP EEBC:

• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category