THE BC PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (BC PNP)
The BC PNP has operated for many years and it has continually expanded its scope by adding new streams and categories. The program allows nomination of skilled workers with permanent job offers in BC, experienced business individuals seeking to invest in and establish new businesses in the province and healthcare professionals. BC PNP aims to nominate individuals who are committed to living and working in the province.
BC PNP is a points based system which gives candidates a registration score based on a number of factors. The score determines who is invited to apply for nomination.
There are three pathways to apply for permanent residence through BC PNP:
1) Skills Immigration
2) Entrepreneur Immigration
3) Express Entry BC
1. Skills Immigration
Skills Immigration stream is an economic immigration option intended for people with the skills, experience and qualifications needed by BC employers. You may not need prior work experience for some categories. Skilled workers may have work experience from abroad. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category applicants need B.C. work experience. Recent international graduates of a Canadian university or college may not need any work experience, depending on the job being offered.
To be eligible for the program, the candidate needs to satisfy the criteria in one of the following categories:
Skilled Worker Category - This category is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Workers are expected to have two years of experience in their skilled occupation.
Health Care Professional - Under this category individuals with experience and eligible job offers, as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses or allied health professionals may apply.
To be eligible under this category you must:
International Graduate -
Students who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last three years may apply in this category.
Eligibility:
International Post-Graduate -
You must have graduated in the last three years with a master's or doctorate (PhD) degree in the natural, applied or health sciences to qualify for this category. You do not need a job offer to apply.
Eligibility:
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category is one of the few routes available to permanent residence for workers in the following three sectors of the labour market: tourism and hospitality, long-haul trucking, and food processing. To qualify, you must have accepted a valid job offer from a BC employer.
Eligibility:
2. Entrepreneur Immigration
The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who want to actively manage a business in B.C. An applicant must first prepare and submit a registration application to the BC PNP. The BC PNP then selects the highest scoring registrants to apply to the program. Registrants are ranked based on several factors.
Key Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to:
3. Express Entry
Express Entry BC is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to B.C. You must also qualify for a federal economic immigration program such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience class.
The BC PNP has operated for many years and it has continually expanded its scope by adding new streams and categories. The program allows nomination of skilled workers with permanent job offers in BC, experienced business individuals seeking to invest in and establish new businesses in the province and healthcare professionals. BC PNP aims to nominate individuals who are committed to living and working in the province.
BC PNP is a points based system which gives candidates a registration score based on a number of factors. The score determines who is invited to apply for nomination.
There are three pathways to apply for permanent residence through BC PNP:
1) Skills Immigration
2) Entrepreneur Immigration
3) Express Entry BC
1. Skills Immigration
Skills Immigration stream is an economic immigration option intended for people with the skills, experience and qualifications needed by BC employers. You may not need prior work experience for some categories. Skilled workers may have work experience from abroad. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category applicants need B.C. work experience. Recent international graduates of a Canadian university or college may not need any work experience, depending on the job being offered.
To be eligible for the program, the candidate needs to satisfy the criteria in one of the following categories:
Skilled Worker Category - This category is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Workers are expected to have two years of experience in their skilled occupation.
Health Care Professional - Under this category individuals with experience and eligible job offers, as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses or allied health professionals may apply.
To be eligible under this category you must:
- Have the support of, or a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a public health authority
- Qualify to work in your occupation in B.C
- Have at least two (2) years of directly related work experience
- Show you can support yourself and your dependents
- Have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- For NOC skill level B occupations, meet minimum language requirements
- Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
International Graduate -
Students who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last three years may apply in this category.
Eligibility:
- Have accepted a full-time, permanent job offer from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B)
- Qualify to work in your occupation in B.C
- Show you can support yourself and your dependents
- Have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- Have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years
- For NOC skill level B occupations, meet minimum language requirements
- Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
International Post-Graduate -
You must have graduated in the last three years with a master's or doctorate (PhD) degree in the natural, applied or health sciences to qualify for this category. You do not need a job offer to apply.
Eligibility:
- Have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- Have completed a valid graduate program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution in B.C. in the last three years
- Show your intent and ability to live in B.C
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category is one of the few routes available to permanent residence for workers in the following three sectors of the labour market: tourism and hospitality, long-haul trucking, and food processing. To qualify, you must have accepted a valid job offer from a BC employer.
Eligibility:
- Have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer in a specific occupation in tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or the food processing industry
- Have been working full-time for your employer for a minimum of nine consecutive months before applying
- Meet minimum language and education requirements
- Qualify to do the job offered to you
- Show you can support yourself and your dependents
- Have legal immigration status in Canada
- Be earning a wage in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
2. Entrepreneur Immigration
The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who want to actively manage a business in B.C. An applicant must first prepare and submit a registration application to the BC PNP. The BC PNP then selects the highest scoring registrants to apply to the program. Registrants are ranked based on several factors.
Key Eligibility requirements include but are not limited to:
- $600,000 CAD in personal net worth, which must have been legally obtained and verifiable
- A business plan that has a strong likelihood of sustained commercial viability
- A minimum personal investment of $200,000 CAD in eligible expenses
- Creation of at least one new job in the proposed business
- If you are proposing a key staff as part of your application, the investment requirement increases to $400,000 and the job creation to three
- Demonstrate that you will have an active management role in the day-to-day operations of the business in B.C
3. Express Entry
Express Entry BC is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to B.C. You must also qualify for a federal economic immigration program such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience class.
