BC Provincial Nominee Program
British Columbia, on Canada's west coast, is known for its scenery, which includes the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Because of the province's economic growth and labour shortages, it is a popular immigration destination in Canada. Read on for all the requirements for immigrating through the BC Provincial Nominee Program.
What is the BC Provincial Nominee Program or BC PNP?
The economic growth of British Columbia is dependent on having enough trained and qualified workers to meet labour market demands. The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) allows skilled foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs to become permanent residents of the province.
While there are several substreams, the main two categories are British Columbia Skills Immigration and British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration.
Invitation to Apply to BC PNP
The program will periodically ask the top applicants in each category to apply to the BC PNP) The successful applicants are then nominated to apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Skills Immigration
This category has four pathways: Skilled Worker, Healthcare Professional, International Graduate and Post-Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker (ELSS).
British Columbia Skilled Worker
Immigrants with an offer of employment and a high possibility of contributing to the province’s labour market are given priority in the BC Skilled Worker program. Candidates do not need an Express Entry profile to be eligible for the BC Skilled Worker stream. Candidates who match the qualifying criteria for this stream and have an active Express Entry profile may be able to apply for accelerated processing through Express Entry.
British Columbia Healthcare Professional
Immigrants who have been offered a job by a public health authority in British Columbia and who will be able to make a long-term contribution to the healthcare workforce have priority under the Healthcare Professional stream. Candidates must have a valid work offer from a BC public health authority for full-time, indefinite employment as a healthcare professional. There is no need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Only the following job roles are eligible: Physician/Specialist Physician, Registered Nurse / Registered Psychiatric Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Midwife and allied health professionals; including diagnostic medical sonographers, clinical pharmacists, medical lab technologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, etc.
British Columbia International Graduate
This scheme prioritizes the nomination of immigrants who have a job offer and have completed their post-secondary education in Canada.
British Columbia International Post-Graduate
Immigrants who have recently finished graduate-level education at a British Columbia university are given priority in nominations for the International Post-Graduate scheme. Candidates must have earned a master's or doctoral degree in one of BC's qualifying programs, which must be from one of BC's qualified institutions.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker (ELSS)
Nominations of immigrants having semi-skilled work experience in the province and a job offer from a BC business are given priority in this scheme. Candidates must have a valid job offer from a BC company for full-time, indefinite employment. When compared to average provincial wages for the occupation, the position's pay must be competitive. Work at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level C or D must be offered. See the list of NOC code to see if your particular job is eligible for this category. It’s also important to note that persons with semi-skilled working experience in British Columbia's Northeast Development Region are eligible for this program with specific lower eligibility standards.
Express Entry BC
For eligible individuals with an active Express Entry profile, the majority of the programs that fall under the BC Skills immigration offer an accelerated route to permanent residence. There is no need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Entrepreneur Immigration under BP PNP
This program is aimed towards foreign nationals and foreign businesses with a track record of success in company ownership, management, and investment. Individual entrepreneurs with a high personal net worth and international companies with high yearly revenue can immigrate to BC by starting a new business in the province. There are three subcategories, the regular Entrepreneur, the new Entrepreneur Regional Pilot, and British Columbia Strategic Projects.
Fees
When you submit your application for permanent residence to IRCC, you will also have to pay a fee. Other fees, such as applying for or extending your work visa, may be required.
Fees must be paid at the time of registration or application using the BCPNP Online application system.
Fees must be paid using the BCPNP Online application system. Other types of payment are not taken, for example, cheques, bank or wire transfers.
Fees by category are as follows: