Why Apply for the British Columbia PNP (BC PNP)?

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers a fast-track pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and graduates. With priority processing, access to high-demand job sectors, and a strong economy, BC PNP is an excellent choice for those looking to settle in British Columbia. The program supports economic growth, helping employers fill labour shortages while providing immigrants with stable career opportunities.
 

• 7,000 nominations issued in 2024, supporting skilled workers and entrepreneurs.
• 1,200 nominations allocated for tech professionals under BC PNP Tech.
• Processing time for Skills Immigration is 2-3 months, while Entrepreneur Immigration takes 4-6 months.
• Top countries of applicants: India, China, South Korea, Australia, and the UK.
• BC PNP Tech Pilot nominated 923 tech workers for permanent residency in 2024.
   

What is the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)?

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration program that allows British Columbia to nominate eligible candidates for permanent residency. It supports skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and graduates who contribute to the province’s economy. The program operates under Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration streams, prioritizing applicants in high-demand sectors. Nominees receive 600 additional CRS points, significantly increasing their chances of obtaining permanent residency.
 

*Want to apply for BC PNP? Sign up with Y-Axis to help you with the process.
 

Benefits of BC PNP

Some of the benefits of applying for BC PNP are as follows:

• BC PNP processes applications at a faster pace than federal immigration programs which enables successful candidates to secure permanent residency more promptly.
• The available job market in BC includes positions from the healthcare sector along with technological roles and construction opportunities which meet the demand of the province's expanding workforce.
• The Express Entry-linked streams grant nominees 600 extra CRS points which substantially increases their likelihood of obtaining an ITA.
• Students from international backgrounds can easily move from studying to working and obtaining permanent residency in British Columbia through graduate stream programs.
• Entrepreneurs who start businesses in BC help develop the province's economy while obtaining permanent residency pathways.
   

BC PNP Streams

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) operates multiple immigration pathways which assist skilled workers and entrepreneurs and graduates to obtain permanent residence in British Columbia.
 

The following are the main immigration pathways offered:
 

Skills Immigration (SI) Stream

This stream serves skilled workers alongside healthcare professionals and international graduates and entry-level workers who fulfill BC's labour market requirements. It consists of the following categories:
 

• Skilled Worker Category: This category targets candidates who have secured permanent full-time employment in a skilled occupational field.
• Healthcare Professional Category: This category targets healthcare workers such as doctors nurses and allied health professionals who have secured employment in British Columbia.
• International Graduate Category: This category targets recent graduates who earned their degrees from eligible Canadian institutions while having secured employment in British Columbia.
• International Post-Graduate Category: This category targets graduates who obtained their master's or doctoral degrees in BC in specific fields such as sciences and engineering.
• Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Category: This category targets workers who are employed in hospitality, tourism, food processing, and long-haul trucking sectors.
   

Express Entry BC (EEBC) Stream

This stream connects with the federal Express Entry system to provide quicker processing for qualified applicants. It includes:
 

• EEBC – Skilled Worker: This stream targets skilled professionals who have obtained a job offer in BC.
• EEBC – Healthcare Professional: This stream targets healthcare professionals who have secured a job offer in BC.
• EEBC – International Graduate: This stream targets graduates from Canadian educational institutions who have secured a job offer in BC.
• EEBC – International Post-Graduate: This stream targets graduates who earned advanced degrees in BC without requiring a job offer.
   

Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) Stream

Business owners together with investors who want to establish or expand their operations in BC should apply through this stream. The program consists of the following categories:
 

• Base Category: This category targets experienced entrepreneurs who want to start a business in British Columbia.
• Regional Pilot: This category targets entrepreneurs who want to make investments in smaller communities outside of Metro Vancouver.
• Strategic Projects: This category targets foreign companies which want to establish new operations in British Columbia.
   

Eligibility Criteria for BC PNP

The eligibility requirements for British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) are as follows:
 

• The BC PNP requires applicants to hold a valid job offer which must come from a BC employer specifically for worker streams.
• Applicants must obtain minimum language proficiency through IELTS or CELPIP.
• The applicant needs to demonstrate appropriate work experience in a field that qualifies for eligibility.
• The educational qualifications must match the labour market demands of British Columbia.
• Applicants must have an Express Entry profile to be eligible for Express Entry-linked streams.
• Entrepreneurs who want to participate in business immigration streams need to make an investment.
• Applicants must demonstrate enough financial resources to maintain themselves and their family.
   

BC PNP Requirements

The table below has a complete overview of the requirements for the BC PNP program:

BC PNP Stream	Requirements
Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker	Full-time, permanent job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A, B), minimum language proficiency, relevant work experience.
Skills Immigration – Healthcare Professional	Job offer in healthcare (physician, nurse, allied health), minimum language proficiency, relevant work experience.
Skills Immigration – International Graduate	Graduation from an eligible Canadian institution, job offer in a skilled occupation, minimum language proficiency.
Skills Immigration – International Post-Graduate	Master’s or PhD from a BC institution in sciences, engineering, or healthcare—no job offer required.
Skills Immigration – Entry-Level & Semi-Skilled	Job offer in tourism, hospitality, food processing, or trucking, minimum language proficiency, relevant work experience.
Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker	Express Entry profile, full-time job offer in a skilled occupation, minimum language proficiency, and relevant work experience.
Express Entry BC – Healthcare Professional	Express Entry profile, job offer in healthcare, minimum language proficiency, relevant work experience.
Express Entry BC – International Graduate	Express Entry profile, graduation from an eligible Canadian institution, job offer in a skilled occupation.
Express Entry BC – International Post-Graduate	Express Entry profile, masters or PhD from a BC institution in sciences, engineering, or healthcare—no job offer required.
BC PNP Tech	Job offer in one of 29 eligible tech occupations, minimum one-year employment contract, minimum language proficiency.
Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category	Minimum investment of CAD $200,000, business ownership experience, job creation for Canadians.
Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot	Minimum investment of CAD $100,000, business ownership experience, job creation in smaller BC communities.
Entrepreneur Immigration – Strategic Projects	Foreign company investment in BC, job creation for Canadians, business expansion plan.

 

How to Apply for the BC PNP?

You can follow the below steps to apply for BC PNP:

Step 1: Determine your eligibility status for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) stream you want to apply to.

Step 2: Complete online registration and submit your Expression of Interest (EOI).

Step 3: Obtain an Invitation to Apply (ITA) which indicates your selection by the program.

Step 4: Present all required documents to complete your application package.

Step 5: Wait for nomination status to obtain a provincial nomination certificate.

Step 6: Submit your PR application to IRCC after receiving your provincial nomination
 

BC PNP Application Fees

The table below has a complete overview of the BC PNP fees:

Skills Immigration Fees
Registration	No fee
Application	$1,475
Request for review	$500
Entrepreneur Immigration Fees
Registration	$300
Application	$3,500
Request for review	$500
Strategic Projects Fees
Registration	$300
Application	$3,500
Key Staff	$1,000
Request for review	$500

 

BC PNP Processing Time

The table below has a complete overview of the average processing time for BC PNP:

BC PNP stream	Processing time
Skills Immigration Stream	2 – 3 Months
Express Entry BC	2 – 3 Months
Entrepreneur Immigration Stream	4 Months

 

Latest BC PNP Draws

Month	No. of draws	Total no. of Invitations
June	1	17
May	2	108
April	1	5
March	1	13
February	NA	NA
January	1	10

 

How can Y-Axis help you?

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Our team of experts will assist you with:

• Check free eligibility through the Y-Axis Canada Immigration Points Calculator
• Filling out the application form
• Assistance to migrate to Canada
• Arranging the requirements
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• Guidance to obtain Canada PR