BC PNP
British Colombia PNP (BC PNP) offers three ways to become a permanent resident in B.C. Each pathway contains different categories you can apply under, depending on your National Occupational Classification skill level, job, or international student status. You need to meet all the BC PNP eligibility requirements.
The Skills Immigrations Stream - Includes BC Express Entry (EEBC)
The Skilled Worker category of the BC PNP is for experienced workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation to gain permanent residence in B.C.
Except for International Post-Graduate, all streams require a full-time, indeterminate job offer (the job offer must not be temporary or have a defined end date) from a B.C. employer.
- Skilled Worker – managers, professionals, and skilled tradespeople (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3) with at least 2 years relevant work experience within or outside Canada) during last 10 years.
Health Authority – workers employed by provincial health authorities.
International Graduate – recent graduates with a degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university. Management occupations (grouped under skill type 0 in the NOC) are not eligible under this category.
International Post-Graduate – recent graduates with a master’s or doctorate degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a B.C. university in an eligible program. For this category only, a job offer is not required. You may submit your application directly if you meets the edibilities without registration.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled – workers in tourism/hospitality and food processing,.
Priority Occupations:
Workers with a job offer in the following occupation may benefit from targeted invitations to apply:
- Early childhood educators and assistants 42202
- Construction occupations
- Healthcare
- Technology
- Veterinary care
*BC PNP Tech – BC PNP Tech offers skilled workers in select, in-demand tech occupations a pathway to permanent residence. It helps BC tech employers recruit and retain international talent when local skilled workers are unavailable.
BC PNP Tech is not a separate category. It is a series of administrative measures that help skilled tech workers move more quickly and easily through the BC PNP process, including tech-only draws for invitations to apply and a concierge service for employers.
You need to choose the BC PNP category that is right for you, within in-demand Tech occupations, and meet the general and category requirements:
- Skilled Worker (including Express Entry BC option)
- International Graduate (including Express Entry BC option)
Most streams require that you have accepted an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from a B.C. employer who is willing to support your BC PNP application. The only exception to the job offer requirement is through the International Post-Graduate stream.
- BC PNP Express Entry (EEBC)
EEBC is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to BC, and you need to meet the minimum criteria for both the BC PNP Skills Immigration stream and one of the federal Express Entry programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class).
The BC PNP has EEBC options for each of the following BC PNP streams:
- Skilled Worker
- Health Authority
- International Graduate
- International Post-Graduate
At the time of registration/application, you will need to select the EEBC option under the appropriate stream that applies to you.
BC PNP Entrepreneurs Immigration (EI)
BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) is a way for international entrepreneurs wishing to immigrate to British Columbia (B.C.) to set up businesses that support innovation and economic growth in the province.
Entrepreneur Immigration is a “temporary to permanent” immigration pathway. That means that if you are approved, you will initially come to B.C. as a temporary resident, and then apply to stay permanently once you have successfully started a business.
- EI Base stream
Personal requirements
- personal net worth of at least CAD$600,000
- business and/or management experience; if no business experience, must have the equivalent of a 2-year post-secondary diploma
- basic English or French language skill equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher
- have been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently live
- have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
Business, job and investment requirements
- establish an eligible new business or buy and improve an existing business
- make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD$200,000 in the business
- create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- EI Regional Pilot
Open a business in one of B.C.’s smaller communities. Through the EI Regional Pilot, the Province offers an immigration pathway for enterprising individuals.
To be qualified, you must:
- establish an eligible new business aligned with the priorities of the referring community
- show business and/or management experience
- have a personal net worth of at least CAD$300,000
- make an eligible personal investment of at least CAD$100,000 in the business
- create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- demonstrate a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4
- have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
- have been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently live
- EI Strategic Projects
This stream enables foreign corporations to permanently transfer key staff with the corporate knowledge and expertise to B.C. The foreign corporation may apply for provincial nomination to support the permanent residence of up to five of its current senior employees. These employees will actively manage the B.C. operation.
To be eligible, the foreign corporation must:
- make a minimum equity investment of at least $500,000 directed toward the corporation’s operations in B.C.
- establish new or purchase and expand an eligible business in B.C.
- create at least three new full-time equivalent jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for each foreign key staff member proposed (to a maximum of five key staff)
- Not in the list of ineligible businesses under the BC PNP EI program
To be eligible as key staff, the individual(s) must meet the following requirements:
- be current senior employees of the foreign corporation who have the qualifications and experience that are essential to establish and operate the business in B.C.
- is being appointed to an executive or senior managerial position, or has specialized knowledge essential to the proposed B.C. operation
- will be employed in a permanent full-time capacity at the B.C. operation
- is offered a wage commensurate with his/her expertise and consistent with industry and corporate compensation structures
The business will make an exploratory visit to BC and need to submit a comprehensive business proposal. After fulfilling its obligations under the executed Performance Agreement, the foreign corporation must submit a final report to the BC PNP to demonstrate how the company has met the terms and conditions of the Performance Agreement. The key staff(s) may apply for work permit and if they are nominated, for Permanent Residence.