British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) – Skills Immigration

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa / Program Name	BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration
Stay	Permanent residence pathway via federal IRCC application
Cost	Registration free; application fee unstated in source
Eligibility Timing	Register anytime; apply within 30 days of ITA
Work Rights	Requires federal work permit; LMIA-exempt support available
Study Rights	Not stated in the source
Medicare Access	Not stated in the source
Travel Facility	Not stated in the source
Citizenship Pathway	Not stated in the source
Family Sponsorship	Dependent family members included on PR application
Visa / Nomination Record	Provincial Confirmation of Nomination document issued
Job Offer Requirement	Full-time, indeterminate offer from eligible B.C. employer
Language Threshold	Minimum CLB 4 for TEER 2–5 occupations

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Purpose

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration streams enable British Columbia to nominate qualified foreign workers, health professionals, and international graduates to meet provincial labour market needs and gain permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

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General Eligibility Requirements

All candidates across the Skills Immigration streams must meet the following baseline requirements:

• Intention to Settle: Demonstrate a genuine intent to live, work, and economically establish in British Columbia.
• Economic Benefit: Provide a direct economic benefit to B.C. (e.g., critical skill fulfillment, job creation, or knowledge transfer for Canadians).
• Legal Immigration Status in Canada:
  • Must hold valid temporary status or demonstrate an active application for restoration submitted within the 90-day eligibility window.
  • Individuals who are out of status, working without authorization, inadmissible, holding an unresolved refugee claim, subject to a removal order, or requiring an Authorization to Return to Canada are ineligible.
• Job Offer Specifications:
  • Must be a single, full-time position averaging at least 30 hours per week year-round.
  • Must be indeterminate (permanent, non-seasonal, without an end date), except for designated limited-term positions outlined in Appendix A.
• Wages and Minimum Family Income:
  • Offered wage must be comparable to rates paid to Canadians/PRs with similar experience and meet the WorkBC/Job Bank prevailing rates. Bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime, and housing stipends cannot be counted.
  • Total gross annual family income (applicant plus authorized, employed spouse/partner) must equal or exceed the regional Low-Income Cut-Off (LICO) thresholds:

Family Size	Metro Vancouver Regional District (MVRD)	Rest of B.C.
1	$31,264 CAD	$26,057 CAD
2	$38,922 CAD	$32,437 CAD
3	$47,851 CAD	$39,878 CAD
4	$58,096 CAD	$48,418 CAD
5	$65,892 CAD	$54,914 CAD
6	$74,315 CAD	$61,935 CAD
7+	$82,739 CAD	$68,955 CAD

• Language Proficiency:
  • NOC TEER 2, 3, 4, or 5: Mandatory minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in all four competencies (Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing).
  • NOC TEER 0 or 1: Language test results not mandatory at registration unless claiming scoring points, though BC PNP may request proof at its discretion.
  • Accepted Tests (Valid for 2 years): CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training (One Skill Retake not accepted), PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada.
• Ownership Restrictions: The applicant and immediate or extended family members must not own or control a combined equity stake of 10% or greater in the supporting employer's business within the 5 years preceding application or throughout processing.
• Ineligible Occupations (submitted after June 13, 2026):
  • Administrative: NOCs 12100, 12101, 12200, 13100, 13110, 13111, 13112.
  • Sales & Service: NOCs 62010, 62020, 63101.
  • Religious: NOCs 41302, 42204.

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Stream-Specific Requirements

1. Skilled Worker Stream

• Target: Experienced managers, professionals, technicians, and tradespeople.
• Eligible Occupations: NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) paid work experience in any NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation within the last 10 years (Canada or abroad). Paid full-time co-op experience may count if the study program was completed.
• Express Entry BC (EEBC): Available for candidates with a valid IRCC Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code.

2. Health Authority Stream

• Target: Health professionals working directly for or supported by one of B.C.'s public health authorities.
• Registration: Excluded from the points registration system; candidates apply directly.
• Eligible Occupations: Any healthcare occupation (NOC starting with 3), Social Workers (NOC 41300), Counselors/Therapists (NOC 41301), Social & Community Service Workers (NOC 42201).
• Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Midwives: May apply without direct health authority employment if fully licensed in B.C. and supported by a B.C. health authority or midwife practice group.
• EEBC Option: Available for eligible health occupations in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

3. Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative

• Target: Direct health authority employees working in cleaning or security in non-metropolitan regions.
• Eligible Occupations: Security guards (NOC 64410), Light duty cleaners (NOC 65310), Janitors/caretakers (NOC 65312).
• Location: Outside Metro Vancouver, Central Okanagan, and Capital Regional District (except Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring, and Saturna Islands).
• Qualifying Work History: Minimum 9 consecutive months of full-time, year-round employment in the role with the supporting health authority immediately prior to registration/application, while meeting minimum income requirements throughout.
• Education: Completion of secondary school (high school) minimum.
• EEBC Option: Not available.

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Employer Requirements

The supporting B.C. employer must:

1. Presence & Structure: Have an established physical workplace in B.C. and operate under an eligible business structure (incorporated, partnership, registered non-profit, or public sector agency).
2. Operating History: Have legally operated in B.C. for at least 1 full year.
3. Minimum Workforce:
   • Inside Metro Vancouver: At least 5 full-time indeterminate employees (or equivalent) in B.C. on payroll.
   • Outside Metro Vancouver: At least 3 full-time indeterminate employees (or equivalent) in B.C. on payroll.
   • Independent contractors do not count toward workforce minimums.
4. Domestic Recruitment Efforts: Demonstrate genuine efforts to hire Canadian citizens or permanent residents (e.g., minimum 14-day postings across at least 2 recognized platforms) prior to offering the job to the applicant.
5. Ineligible Employers: Placement/staffing agencies, sexually oriented businesses, and organizations offering immigration advice (with narrow corporate exceptions).
6. Commercial Transport: If operating commercial vehicles, the employer must hold an active National Safety Code (NSC) certificate with an Excellent, Satisfactory, or Satisfactory-Unaudited rating.

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Limited-Term Job Offers (Appendix A)

Indeterminate duration is waived for 1-year (365-day) minimum contracts—with at least 120 days remaining at application—for:

• Professors & Lecturers (NOC 41200): Public B.C. universities; doctoral degree required.
• Teachers (NOC 41220, 41221): Public K–12 schools in B.C.
• Designated Technology Occupations: Select engineering, IT, software, data science, and media production roles (e.g., NOCs 20012, 21211, 21231, 21232, 21300, 52120).

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Registration Scoring Summary (Max: 200 Points)

Registrants are ranked in the pool based on Human Capital and Economic factors:

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| HUMAN CAPITAL FACTORS (Max 120 pts)                                     |
|   • Directly Related Work Experience: Up to 40 pts                      |
|     (5+ yrs = 20 pts; +10 for 1 yr in Canada; +10 for current B.C. job) |
|   • Highest Level of Education: Up to 40 pts                            |
|     (Doctoral = 27; Master's = 22; Bachelor's = 15; B.C. bonus = +8)    |
|   • Language Proficiency: Up to 40 pts                                  |
|     (CLB 9+ = 30 pts; Bilingual English & French bonus = +10 pts)       |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ECONOMIC FACTORS (Max 80 pts)                                           |
|   • Hourly Wage of B.C. Job Offer: Up to 55 pts                         |
|     ($70.00+/hr = 55 pts down to $16.00-$16.99/hr = 1 pt)               |
|   • Area of Employment: Up to 25 pts                                    |
|     (Area 1 = 0 pts; Area 2 = 5 pts; Area 3 = 15 pts; Regional bonus=10)|
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------+

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Application Steps

1. Registration: Submit a free profile through BCPNP Online (valid for up to 12 months in the candidate pool). Health Authority stream applicants bypass registration.
2. Invitation to Apply (ITA): BC PNP conducts periodic draws based on scores, target occupations, or regional initiatives.
3. Application Submission: Submit a full application via BCPNP Online within 30 calendar days of receiving an ITA; pay the non-refundable processing fee.
4. Assessment & Verification: BC PNP reviews eligibility and may request further documents, conduct employer site visits, or interview applicants.
5. Nomination Decision: Approved applicants receive a Confirmation of Nomination.
6. Federal Permanent Residence Application: Apply to IRCC for permanent residency under the Provincial Nominee Class before the nomination certificate expires.

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Nominee Rights, Conditions, and Obligations

• Work Permit Support: Nomination does not automatically authorize work. Nominees without a valid permit must apply to IRCC within 3 months of nomination and make continuous efforts to begin employment. BC PNP may issue a work permit support letter for an LMIA-exempt federal permit.
• Mandatory Notification of Changes:
  • Pre-Decision: Inform BC PNP within 15 calendar days of any changes in employment, wage, family size, or contact details.
  • Post-Nomination: Inform BC PNP within 30 calendar days of any material changes (loss of job, reduction of hours below 30/week, promotion/demotion, employer restructuring).
• Nomination Cancellation: BC PNP may revoke nominations if conditions are breached, employment is terminated for cause, misrepresentation is identified, or the supporting employer becomes ineligible.

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Fees and Requests for Review

• Refunds: Application fees are only refundable if the applicant withdraws the application before assessment begins.
• Request for Review (Appeals):
  • Must be submitted within 30 calendar days of a refusal notice (if residing in Canada) or 60 calendar days (if residing abroad).
  • New evidence is not accepted; reviews assess whether the decision was procedurally fair and reasonable under the criteria at the time of assessment.
  • Review fees are strictly non-refundable.

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Important Warnings

• Misrepresentation: Providing false, misleading, or concealed information carries up to a 2-year ban from submitting future registrations or applications to the BC PNP for both the candidate and the employer.
• Single File Limit: Candidates may have only one active BC PNP registration or application open at any given time across all streams.
• Express Entry Visibility: EEBC applicants must maintain an active federal profile. If an ITA is accepted directly from IRCC before provincial nomination is finalized, the profile becomes invisible to B.C. and nomination cannot proceed unless the candidate declines the IRCC invitation.