British Columbia

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

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration initiative that enables the province to choose economic immigrants to settle in British Columbia and address job openings or establish businesses.

If nominated, you and your family members can submit an application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency in Canada

Situated on the westernmost coast of Canada, British Columbia is a thriving province celebrated for its cultural diversity and robust economic development. Vancouver, the third-largest city in Canada, is located here, contributing to the province's status as one of the most diverse in the nation. British Columbia's economy thrives on its rich natural resources, with significant contributions from the forestry and mining industries. Known for its breathtaking natural scenery, the province features vast forests and a unique coastal climate, making it one of the most picturesque regions in Canada and beyond.

B.C. Immigration Options

If you're considering immigrating to British Columbia, you have three pathways available:

1. Skills Immigration Stream: This stream caters to skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and post-graduates, including entry-level and semi-skilled workers. A job offer or current employment is required for most categories, except for international post-graduates.
2. Express Entry British Columbia Stream: Designed for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and post-graduates who are part of the federal Express Entry system.
3. Entrepreneur Immigration: Geared towards entrepreneurs seeking to invest in or start businesses in British Columbia.

______________________________________________________________________________

Ø Skills Immigration Stream

 British Columbia's Skills Immigration program offers various categories:

1.     Skilled Worker Category: Targets individuals with eligible job offers in skilled occupations, requiring several years of experience.

Eligibility

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have accepted a full-time, indeterminate* job offer from a B.C. employer.
• Ensure your job offer is classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Be qualified to perform the duties required for the job.
• Have at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Meet the minimum language requirements.
• Have a wage offer that aligns with B.C. wage rates for the occupation.
• Demonstrate your ability to support yourself and your dependants.

2.     Healthcare Professional Category: Open to experienced healthcare professionals with eligible job offers in specific health occupations.

Eligibility

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have one of the following:
• An indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. public health authority
• A letter from a health authority or midwife practice group confirming your status as a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in British Columbia
• Meet the education, training, experience, and qualification requirements specified by the public health authority.

3.     International Graduate Category: For recent graduates from Canadian institutions with job offers in BC.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have completed a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada within the past three years.
• Have accepted a full-time, indeterminate (no defined end date) job offer from a B.C. employer. The job must be classified under NOC TEER categories 1, 2, or 3. Management occupations (NOC TEER 0) are not eligible under this stream.
• Be qualified to work in your occupation in B.C.
• Meet the minimum language requirements.
• Have a wage offer that aligns with B.C. wage rates for the occupation.
• Demonstrate the ability to support yourself and your dependents.

4.     International Post-Graduate Category: Designed for graduates with Masters or Doctoral degrees from BC institutions in certain fields.

Eligible education comprises:

• Master’s degrees obtained in eligible programs within the disciplines of natural, applied, or health sciences from a post-secondary institution in British Columbia. Refer to the BC PNP IPG Programs of Study in Eligible Fields for detailed information.
• Doctoral degrees earned in any field of study from a public post-secondary institution in British Columbia.
• PhD students enrolled in any field of study who have achieved candidacy status at a public post-secondary institution in British Columbia.

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category: Available to workers in certain industries or regions with entry-level or semi-skilled positions.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have accepted a full-time, indeterminate (no defined end date) job offer from a B.C. employer.
• Your occupation must be listed as an eligible occupation for your sector, classified under NOC TEER 4 or 5.
• For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., you may apply if you are working in any NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupation, except for live-in caregivers.
• Have been working full-time for your employer for at least nine consecutive months before registering.
• Be qualified for the job offered, including meeting any certification or registration requirements in B.C.
• Meet the minimum language and education requirements.
• Have a wage offer that aligns with B.C. wage rates for the occupation.
• Demonstrate the ability to support yourself and your dependents.

Ø Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC)

Express Entry BC is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, facilitating priority processing for eligible applicants in both their BC PNP application and, if nominated, their permanent residence application.

The following Skills Immigration categories may be processed through Express Entry British Columbia:

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

Application Fee: CAD $1,150
Processing Time: 2-3 months

Minimum Requirements:

• Must possess a valid profile within the federal Express Entry system.
• Must obtain a Job Seeker Validation Code from the Express Entry system.
• Must have accepted a full-time job offer (excluding the International Post-Graduate Category).
• Must receive a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates (excluding the International Post-Graduate Category).
• Must demonstrate the ability to support yourself and your family (excluding the International Post-Graduate Category).
• Must meet minimum language requirements (excluding the International Post-Graduate Category).
• Must fulfill additional requirements specific to your category.
• Employer must also meet eligibility criteria (excluding the International Post-Graduate Category).

How it works:

Before starting, ensure you have a valid Express Entry profile with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Register with the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) for B.C. to assess your job, education, location, language ability, and wage against provincial labor market needs. Note: Candidates for the International Post-Graduate Category and the Healthcare Professional Category can apply directly through BCPNP Online without SIRS registration.

Your registration will generate a score based on various factors, entering you into a selection pool for your chosen category. Those meeting specific criteria and having a score above a threshold may be invited to apply for provincial nomination through a draw.

If selected, you'll have 30 days to apply through BCPNP Online. Upon nomination, you must accept it through the Express Entry system.

Ø Entrepreneur Immigration

If you're considering immigrating to British Columbia as an entrepreneur, you have three options:

1. Entrepreneur Immigration - This category is for senior managers or business owners intending to invest funds in a proposed business in British Columbia.

Requirements-

1. Personal net worth of at least CAD $600,000
2. Demonstrate business or management experience
3. Meet language requirements in English or French (CLB level 4 or higher)
4. Establish a new business or purchase and improve an existing one
5. Make a personal investment of at least CAD $200,000 in the business
6. Create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Fees

1.     Registration: $300

2.     Application: $3,500

3.     Request for Review: $500

How it works-

Interested candidates must complete registration and provide a short business concept through BCPNP Online. Based on the provided information, eligible candidates are placed in the qualified pool. Periodically, the highest scoring candidates are invited to apply.

Once invited, applicants have four months to submit a complete application through BCPNP Online. Subsequently, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm must review personal net worth.

Successful candidates are granted a two-year work permit to establish their business in B.C. They have up to 20 months to implement their business plan and then can receive a provincial nomination from B.C. and apply for permanent residence.

2. Entrepreneur Immigration - Regional Pilot This pilot is for international entrepreneurs aiming to establish a new business in a small community in British Columbia.

Requirements-

1. Personal net worth of at least CAD $300,000
2. Three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or four years of experience as a senior manager, or a combination of one year of experience as an owner-manager and two years as a senior manager
3. Meet education requirements
4. Meet language requirements in English or French (CLB level 4 or higher)
5. Business must meet additional requirements.

3. Strategic Projects Category Through this category, foreign-controlled companies can establish operations in British Columbia. Up to five key foreign managerial, professional, or technical staff members can be nominated for permanent residence.

Requirements-

1. Company must be well established and in good financial standing
2. Demonstrate investment capacity to expand into B.C.
3. Provide significant economic benefit to the province.

Fees-

1.     Registration: $300

2.     Application: $3,500

3.     Key Staff: $1,000 (each key staff)

How it works-

Ensure your company and key staff are eligible. Begin with an exploratory visit to B.C. to understand the local business environment. Contact BC PNP to discuss your business proposal.

Register your company's interest to apply, providing company details, proposed investment in B.C., and qualifications of proposed key staff.

BC will review your registration, and if successful, you'll be invited to apply. Submit your application within 90 days. If approved, you and each key staff member must sign a corporate Performance Agreement with the province.

Upon receiving a work permit support letter, you can apply for a work permit through IRCC. Fulfill your obligations under the Performance Agreement, submit a final report to BC PNP, and receive a provincial nomination to apply for permanent residence with IRCC.

Processing times:

• Registration score notification: 6 weeks (from date of registration submission)
• Application decision notification: 4 months (from date of application submission)

Ø B.C. PNP Tech

 British Columbia regularly conducts Tech draws, inviting eligible skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination.

This initiative, which began as a pilot program in 2017 to address the province's tech sector labor shortage, was made a permanent program in June 2021.

The program targets skilled workers with a job offer in B.C. in one of 29 eligible occupations. The job offer must be at least one year in duration, with 120 calendar days remaining at the time of application.

Contact Visa Nexa for Immigration Assistance

Need Canadian immigration assistance for BC PNP? Visa Nexa Inc. is here to help. We can assess your eligibility and submit your application to the Canadian government. With over 10 years of expertise, Visa Nexa in Mississauga, Ontario has been helping clients achieve their dream of becoming Canadians. Our head offices are in Delhi (VISAWALK) and Chandigarh (The Mentors). Reach out to us today and take the first step toward your new life in Canada!

Click here to fill the CONTACT US form