British Columbia Immigrant Nominee Program

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for high-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency in B.C.

There are a few pathways to explore to gain permanent residency in British Columbia.

• BC Provincial Nominee Program – Express Entry BC

• BC Provincial nominee Program – Skills Immigration

• BC Provincial Nominee Program – Entrepreneur Immigration

British Columbia Express Entry System

Express Entry BC connects to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's (IRCC) Express Entry system to speed up the permanent residence process.

The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – Skilled Worker category

To qualify for this category, you must:

• have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program

  • Federal Skilled Trades Program

  • Canadian Experience Class

• have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) 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  job 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

• meet minimum language requirements

• have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – International Graduate category 

To qualify for this category, you must:

• have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program

  • Federal Skilled Trades Program

  • Canadian Experience Class

• have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) 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

• meet minimum language requirements

• have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – Healthcare Professional category of the BC PNP

This helps physicians, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals put your valuable skills to work in the province and get permanent residence.

To qualify for this category, you must:

• have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program

  • Federal Skilled Trades Program

  • Canadian Experience Class

• 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 as a:

  • physician

  • specialist

  • registered nurse

  • registered psychiatric nurse

  • nurse practitioner   

  • allied health professional such as a:

    • diagnostic medical sonographer

    • clinical pharmacist

    • medical laboratory technologist

    • medical radiation technologist

    • occupational therapist

    • physiotherapist

• if you are a midwife, have a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in B.C.

• 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

• meet minimum language requirements

• have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

The Express Entry BC (EEBC) – International Post-Graduate category of the BC PNP

You don’t need a job offer.

You must have graduated in the last three years with a master's or doctorate (PhD) degree in the natural, applied or health sciences:

• agriculture

• biological and biomedical sciences

• computer and information sciences and support services

• engineering

• engineering technology

• health professions and related clinical sciences

• mathematics and statistics

• natural resources conservation and research

• physical sciences

​

Please see the BC PNP IPG & EEBC IPG Eligible Programs of Study Document for a complete listing of eligible programs of study.

To qualify for this category, you must:

• have received an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code from the IRCC Express Entry system. This shows you meet the minimum criteria for one of IRCC’s Express Entry programs:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program

  • Federal Skilled Trades Program

  • Canadian Experience Class

• 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.

BC PNP: Skills Immigration

This is a way for workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation to gain permanent residence in B.C. To qualify, you must first accept a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. You also need relevant training and experience.

To qualify for this category, you must:

• have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).

• be qualified to perform the duties of the job

• 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

The Skills Immigration (SI) – International Graduate category of the BC PNP 

To qualify for this category, you must:

• have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end date) 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

The Skills Immigration (SI) – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category of the BC PNP 

This is a way for workers in a valid tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking or food processing occupation to gain permanent residence in B.C. To qualify, you must first accept a valid job offer from a B.C. employer. Please note that this category is not eligible under the Express Entry BC stream.

To qualify for this category, you must:

• 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. For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., you may apply in any National Occupational Classification occupation (skill level C or D).

• 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

The Skills Immigration (SI) – Healthcare Professional category of the BC PNP

This category helps physicians, specialists, nurses and allied health professionals work in B.C. and gain permanent residence.

To qualify for 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 as a:

• physician

• specialist

• registered nurse

• registered psychiatric nurse

• nurse practitioner   

• allied health professional such as a:

  • diagnostic medical sonographer

  • clinical pharmacist

  • medical laboratory technologist

  • medical radiation technologist

  • occupational therapist

  • physiotherapist

• if you are a midwife, have a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in B.C.

• 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

The Skills Immigration (SI) – International Post-Graduate category of the BC PNP 

You don’t need a job offer to apply.

You must have graduated in the last three years with a master's or doctorate (PhD) degree in the natural, applied or health sciences:

• agriculture

• biological and biomedical sciences

• computer and information sciences and support services

• engineering

• engineering technology

• health professions and related clinical sciences

• mathematics and statistics

• natural resources conservation and research

• physical sciences

​

Please see the BC PNP IPG & EEBC IPG Eligible Programs of Study Document for a complete listing of eligible programs of study.