BC PNP

The BC PNP is administered in partnership with the federal government in accordance with the 2015 Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement (CBCIA). The Government of Canada allocates a limited number of nominations each year to British Columbia. The BC PNP Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams are intended for workers or international graduates with the skills, education, and/or experience required for high-demand occupations in BC.

If an applicant is approved as a provincial nominee by BC PNP, they and their dependent family members can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to become a permanent resident of Canada in the Provincial Nominee Class.

The Two main pathways under BC PNP are:

Skills Immigration
Express Entry

Skills Immigration categories

Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker
Skills Immigration – Healthcare Professional
Skills Immigration – International Graduate
Skills Immigration – International Post-Graduate
Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (Including employment in the Northeast Development Region of B.C.)

Express Entry BC categories

Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker
Express Entry BC – Healthcare Professional
Express Entry BC – International Graduate
Express Entry BC – International Post-Graduate

The main difference between Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC PNP (EEBC) is that if a nomination is given by the BC PNP under Express entry category (which can be in any of the 4 sub- categories under Express Entry BC), then the applicant receives additional 600 points to the existing express entry profile in the express entry pool, therefore virtually guaranteeing the ITA when next express entry draw will happen. On the other hand, nomination by BC under Skills Immigration (SI) category (it could be in any of the 5 sub-categories under Skills Immigration), the applicant will not receive any additional 600 points and have to submit a paper-based (non-express entry) pr application under PNP, which may take longer processing time for PR application.

The sub-categories under BC PNP mainly includes:

1.) Skilled worker category that includes managers, skilled tradesperson, professionals, etc who had 2 years of directly related work experience in job offered to them by an eligible BC employer

2.) International Graduate category that includes graduates with a degree or diploma from a Canadian College or university

3.) Healthcare Professional category that includes physicians, registered nurses, and other allied health care workers employed with provincial health authorities

4.) International Post-Graduate category that includes applicants with a master’s or doctorate degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a B.C. university. Note that for this category only, a job offer is not required

5.) Entry Level and Semi-Skilled – (including employment in the Northeast Development Region of B.C.) that includes workers in tourism/hospitality, food processing, and long-haul trucking, OR entry-level and semi-skilled workers who are residing in the Northeast Development Region of the province.

Contact Us our office if you need any assistance in preparing your application.