Immigration

Provincial Nominee Program

What is Provincial Nominee Program(PNP)

Each province and territory in Canada has its own Provincial Nominee Program, with specific streams and criteria tailored to the unique economic and demographic needs of the region. Provincial governments nominate individuals who have the skills, work experience, and/or connections to the province and who are likely to contribute to its economy and community.

BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration program. It lets the Province select economic immigrants who will live in B.C. and help fill job vacancies or operate businesses.
If you are nominated, you and your family can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence in Canada.

The BC PNP has two main components: Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration.

Skilled Worker stream

The Skilled Worker stream is for experienced workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other occupations to gain permanent residence in B.C.

Have accepted an indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time, job offer from a B.C. employer
- Your job offer must be classified as NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
Be qualified to perform the duties of the job
Have a minimum of two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience at NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
Meet minimum language requirements – CLB 4
Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
Show you can support yourself and your dependants

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream

The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is a way for workers in select occupations in the tourism/hospitality or food processing sectors to gain permanent residence in B.C.

Have accepted an indeterminate (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. employer
- Your occupation must be on the list of eligible occupations for your sector. All ELSS-eligible occupations are classified as NOC TEER 4 or 5
- For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., you may apply if you are working in any NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupation, other than live-in caregivers
Have been working full-time for your employer for a minimum of nine consecutive months before registering.
Be qualified to do the job offered to you, including meeting any certification or registration requirements in B.C.
Meet minimum language and education requirements
Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
Show you can support yourself and your dependants

Please note that this stream does not have the Express Entry BC option.

International Graduate stream

The International Graduate stream is a way for recent graduates with a degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution to get permanent residence and stay in B.C.

Have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years
Have accepted an indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. employer. The job must be classified as NOC TEER category 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 minimum language requirements
Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
Show you can support yourself and your dependants

International Post-Graduate stream

The International Post-Graduate stream is for recent graduates of an eligible B.C. post-secondary institution with an eligible master’s or doctoral degree. PhD candidates at a public B.C. post-secondary institution may also be eligible.
You do not need a job offer from an employer to apply to this stream.
You do not need to register for this stream. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can apply directly to the BC PNP.

Master’s degrees in an eligible program in the natural, applied or health sciences disciplines from a B.C. post-secondary institution. Please see the BC PNP IPG Programs of Study in Eligible Fields for more information
Doctoral degrees in any field of study from a public B.C. post-secondary institution
PhD students in any field of study who have been admitted to candidacy at a public B.C. post-secondary institution

Priority Occupations

This section contains priority occupations and additional criteria that support the BC PNP’s strategic initiatives.

Childcare

Workers with a job offer in the following occupation may benefit from targeted invitations to apply:
42202 Early childhood educators and assistants

Construction

Workers in the construction sector must meet the following requirements to benefit from targeted invitations to apply:

The job offer must be for an indeterminate, full-time job in one of the priority construction occupations
You must have a valid trade certificate issued by, or an apprenticeship registered with SkilledTradesBC
- Your trade certificate must correspond with the job you have been offered

Healthcare

Workers who are direct employees of a provincial health authority or who are physicians, nurse practitioners, or midwives with the support of a provincial health authority can submit an application directly to the Health Authority stream.

Technology

The BC PNP offers skilled workers in select, in-demand technology occupations a pathway to permanent residence. To meet the unique needs of B.C.’s technology sector, priority technology occupations are not required to have a permanent job offer.
Workers in the technology sector must meet the following requirements to benefit from targeted invitations to apply:

the job offer must be in one of the priority technology occupations
the job offer must be at least one year in duration (365 days)
there must be at least 120 calendar days remaining on the job offer at the time of application

Veterinary care

Workers with job offers in one of the following occupations may benefit from targeted invitations to apply.

Priority veterinary care occupations:

31103 Veterinarians
32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

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