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Amer Rehman, RCIC #R515343 | Member, CICC
Provincial Nominee Program

British Columbia PNP

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers two pathways: Skills Immigration, through the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams, and Entrepreneur Immigration. Most Skills Immigration candidates register, receive a score, and apply only if invited.

B.C.'s 2026 allocation is 6,254 nominations, after an additional 1,000 announced on August 18, 2026. Since April 23, 2026, the program has focused on three objectives: Care, Build and Innovate.

Express Entry BC Option — 600 CRS Points

The Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams each have an Express Entry BC (EEBC) option for candidates in the federal Express Entry pool who also meet a federal economic program's criteria. A nomination through EEBC is a provincial nomination in the federal Comprehensive Ranking System, which awards 600 points for it. For the latest draw information, see the BC PNP's Invitations to apply page.

BC PNP Streams

  • "You must be offered a job in an eligible skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3)"; some occupations are on the Skills Immigration ineligible list (Skills Immigration).
  • Job offer: "Must have a full-time, indeterminate (no end date) job offer from an eligible B.C. employer," and "Must have the support of your employer before registering and submit a completed Employer Declaration Form."
  • Work experience: "You must have a minimum of two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience in any skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3)." "This experience may be from work performed within Canada or abroad and must have been obtained within the last ten years."
  • Language: for a job offer in NOC TEER 2, 3, 4 or 5, "you must demonstrate English or French language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading, and writing." For TEER 0 or 1, "you are not required to submit valid language test results at the time of registration unless you are claiming points for language."
  • Education and qualifications: the minimum education credential and any licence, registration or certification required for the occupation
  • "Must meet minimum wage and income requirements." The offered wage must be within the range posted on WorkBC or the federal Job Bank for the occupation and location.
Processing: Candidates register online and are scored on human capital factors (work experience, education, language) and economic factors (wage and job location in B.C.). A registration stays in the pool for up to 12 months or until an invitation is issued; invited candidates have up to 30 calendar days to submit a complete application.
Strategic note: Express Entry BC is an option within this stream, not a separate stream. To use it, "you must have a valid IRCC Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code." Invitations are targeted to Care, Build and Innovate priorities listed on the BC PNP's selection of workers list.

Recent Official Changes

August 18, 2026: The BC PNP "received an additional 1,000 nominations from the federal government, resulting in an allocation of 6,254 for 2026" (BC PNP news).

May 28, 2026: A new edition of the Skills Immigration Program Guide took effect, reflecting the April 23 changes. BC PNP applications are assessed against the criteria in place when the application is submitted.

April 23, 2026: The BC PNP announced its Care, Build and Innovate objectives. It stated: "The Entry Level and Semi Skilled (ELSS) stream is officially closed" and "The BC PNP will not be launching new student streams." Completion of studies in B.C. or Canada continues to earn registration points.

Eligibility Points to Check

Occupation on the Skills Immigration ineligible occupations list, which includes administrative, retail and food service supervisor, real estate and religious occupations
"Placement agencies, employment agencies, staffing firms, professional employment organizations (PEOs), and similar firms, are not eligible to support an application to the BC PNP."
"Independent contractor or subcontractor positions will not be approved."
Skilled Worker: less than two years of full-time skilled work experience within the last ten years
Language test results more than two years old: "Test results will be considered valid for the two years from the date of issuance."
Family income below the minimum for family size and area of residence in B.C.
Express Entry BC: no valid Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code
Related pathways: B.C. graduates on a Post-Graduation Work Permit can explore the existing Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams; the BC PNP has stated it will not launch new student streams. Workers whose employer is recruiting from abroad may also need an LMIA-supported work permit to start working in B.C.
Assess BC PNP eligibilityAll PNP programs

Sources: Government of British Columbia (welcomebc.ca) — The BC Provincial Nominee Program, Skills Immigration (For workers, last updated May 28, 2026), Skills Immigration Program Guide (effective June 10, 2026), Entrepreneur Immigration, Invitations to apply (last updated October 8, 2026), and BC PNP news of April 23 to August 26, 2026; canada.ca — Comprehensive Ranking System criteria. This page is general information provided by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant and is not a substitute for the official requirements at welcomebc.ca. Last reviewed by Amer Rehman, RCIC (R515343): October 13, 2026.

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Amer Rehman, RCIC #R515343 | Member, CICC