BC PNP Skills Immigration offers a pathway for skilled workers and recent graduates to permanently settle in British Columbia, catering to the needs of local employers.
The program has 5 stream categoreis, each tailored to individuals with specific skills, experience, and education. Additionally, 4 of these streams also offer an Express Entry BC option for a more streamlined application process.
Skills Immigration Stream Categories
Skill immigration stream has 5 categories to choose from:
| Stream | Who is it for? | Eligible NOC TEERs | EEBC? | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Experienced managers, professionals, and skilled tradespeople | NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3 | Yes | Yes |
| Health Authority | Workers employed by B.C. provincial health authorities | Any NOC TEER category | Yes | No |
| International Graduate | Recent graduates with a degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university | NOC TEER 1, 2 and 3. | Yes | Yes |
| International Post-Graduate | Recent graduates with an eligible master’s or doctoral degree from a B.C. university. PhD candidates in B.C. may also be eligible | N/A | Yes | No |
| Entry Level and Semi Skilled | Workers in tourism, hospitality, and food processing | NOC TEER 4 and 5 | Yes | Yes |
Check out BC PNP Draws and check your eligibility through BC PNP Points Calculator
1. Skilled Worker Category
The Skilled Worker stream is designed for proficient individuals with experience in professional, management, technical, trade, or other occupations, providing a pathway to achieve permanent residence in British Columbia.
Eligibility Requirements
- Have a full-time job offer from a B.C. employer classified as NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Qualifications to perform job duties.
- A minimum of two years’ full-time work experience at NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
- Having language requirements.
- Must have a wage offer aligned with B.C. minimum wage.
- Able to show the ability to support oneself and dependents is required.
2. Health Authority Category
The Health Authority stream provides a route to permanent residence for individuals employed by a health authority in British Columbia.
Physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners may also qualify under this stream. Registration is not required; eligible individuals can submit an application directly to the BC PNP if they meet the requirements.
Eligibility Requirements
1. Candidate should have one of the following:
- An indefinite, full-time job offer from a B.C. public health authority.
- A letter from a health authority or midwife practice group confirming your role as a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in British Columbia.
2. Meet the education, training, experience, and qualification criteria established by the public health authority, with their agreement to support your application.
3. International Graduate
The International Graduate stream offers a pathway for recent graduates holding a degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution to obtain permanent residence and remain in British Columbia.
Eligibility Requirments
- Completed a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years.
- Have a full-time job offer from a B.C. employer classified as NOC TEER category 1, 2, or 3 (management occupations not eligible).
- Allowed to work in the B.C. occupation.
- Must meet minimum language requirements.
- Receive a wage offer aligned with B.C. rates.
- Demonstrating self and dependant support is essential.
4. International Post-Graduate
The International Post-Graduate stream is for recent graduates from a qualified B.C. post-secondary institution holding an eligible master’s or doctoral degree.
Additionally, eligible PhD candidates at a public B.C. post-secondary institution may apply. Notably, no job offer from an employer is required for this stream application.
Eligibility Requirements
- To qualify for this stream, you must have completed eligible graduate-level education from an applicable program at a B.C. post-secondary institution within the last three years.
- Eligible education encompasses master’s degrees in natural, applied, or health sciences from a B.C. institution,
- doctoral degrees from any field at a public B.C. institution
- PhD students admitted to candidacy at a public B.C. post-secondary institution.
5. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream of BC PNP targets workers in tourism/hospitality or food processing sectors with indeterminate, full-time job offers.
Eligibility Requirements
- Full-time job offer from a B.C. employer in an eligible occupation classified as NOC TEER 4 or 5.
- For the Northeast Development Region, eligibility includes NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupations (excluding live-in caregivers).
- Require a minimum of 9 consecutive months of full-time employment before registering.
- Qualifications for the job, meeting B.C. certification or registration requirements.
- Must meed minimum language and education criteria
- Must have minimum a wage offer aligned with B.C. rates.
- Must be able to show self and dependent support.
Eligible Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) occupations
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| Occupations in Travel and Accommodation | |
| 64314 | Hotel front desk clerks |
| 64320 | Tour and travel guides |
| 64321 | Casino workers |
| 64322 | Outdoor sport and recreational guides |
| 64300 | Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses |
| 64301 | Bartenders |
| 65200 | Food and beverage servers |
| 65201 | Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations |
| 65210 | Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services |
| 65310 | Light duty cleaners |
| 65311 | Specialized cleaners |
| 65312 | Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners |
| 65320 | Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations |
| 65329 | Other service support occupations |
| Food Processing | |
| 94140 | Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing |
| 94141 | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers |
| 94142 | Fish and seafood plant workers |
| 94143 | Testers and graders, food and beverage processing |
| 95106 | Labourers in food and beverage processing |
Application Process (Including Express Entry BC (EEBC))
1. Choose Your Stream and Decide on EEBC Option
- Before starting, thoroughly review the Skills Immigration streams to identify the best stream for your application.
- Some streams offer an Express Entry BC (EEBC) option, providing additional points and faster processing for candidates in the federal Express Entry pool.
2. Register
- Inform the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) of your intent by submitting a free registration through BCPNP Online.
- Create a profile, choose your stream, and ensure you meet program criteria throughout the process.
- If opting for EEBC, select the stream starting with Express Entry BC for seamless integration with your IRCC profile.
3. Wait for Invitation
- Invitations are essential for most Skills Immigration streams. If invited, submit a complete application via BCPNP Online within 30 calendar days.
- If you no longer meet the criteria or wish to apply, refrain from submitting, and your application may be refused or removed. Stay in the pool by submitting a new registration.
4. Apply
- Your application showcases how you meet stream criteria. Log into BCPNP Online, complete all sections, pay the application fee, and include necessary documents.
- Some streams like Health Authority or International Post-Graduate allow direct application without registration.
5. BC PNP Nomination
- If approved, receive a nomination package for applying for permanent residence. Apply to IRCC before your Confirmation of Nomination document expires.
- Comply with nomination conditions while awaiting a permanent residence decision.
- Nominees access post-nomination support, such as a work permit support letter.
6. Permanent Residence
- Upon IRCC approval, attain permanent resident status in Canada! For detailed post-nomination guidance, explore the Nominees page and Post-Nomination Guide.
- In case of refusal, explore review options or consider alternative immigration pathways.
Priority Programs
Below are the priority occupations, applicants with these occupations can benefit from targeted draws:
Construction occupations
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 22114 | Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists |
| 72102 | Sheet metal workers |
| 72103 | Boilermakers |
| 72104 | Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters |
| 72105 | Ironworkers |
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators |
| 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians |
| 72300 | Plumbers |
| 72301 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 72302 | Gas fitters |
| 72310 | Carpenters |
| 72311 | Cabinetmakers |
| 72320 | Bricklayers |
| 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72402 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics |
| 72500 | Crane operators |
| 73100 | Concrete finishers |
| 73101 | Tilesetters |
| 73102 | Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers |
| 73110 | Roofers and shinglers |
| 73111 | Glaziers |
| 73112 | Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) |
| 73113 | Floor covering installers |
Healthcare Occupations
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 30010 | Managers in health care |
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31201 | Chiropractors |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31204 | Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 32109 | Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment |
| 32110 | Denturists |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 32112 | Dental technologists and technicians |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists |
| 32124 | Pharmacy technicians |
| 32129 | Other medical technologists and technicians |
| 32200 | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists |
| 33100 | Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants |
| 41300 | Social workers |
| 41301 | Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers |
Technology Occupations
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 10030 | Telecommunication carriers managers |
| 20012 | Computer and information systems managers |
| 21100 | Physicists and astronomers |
| 21210 | Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 21211 | Data scientists |
| 21220 | Cybersecurity specialists |
| 21221 | Business systems specialists |
| 21222 | Information systems specialists |
| 21223 | Database analysts and data administrators |
| 21230 | Computer systems developers and programmers |
| 21231 | Software engineers and designers |
| 21232 | Software developers and programmers |
| 21233 | Web designers |
| 21234 | Web developers and programmers |
| 21300 | Civil engineers |
| 21301 | Mechanical engineers |
| 21310 | Electrical and electronics engineers |
| 21311 | Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 21320 | Chemical engineers |
| 21399 | Other professional engineers |
| 22110 | Biological technologists and technicians |
| 22220 | Computer network and web technicians |
| 22221 | User support technicians |
| 22222 | Information systems testing technicians |
| 22310 | Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
| 22312 | Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
| 50011 | Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts |
| 51111 | Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 51112 | Technical writers |
| 51120 | Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations |
| 52119 | Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts |
| 52112 | Broadcast technicians |
| 52113 | Audio and video recording technicians |
| 52120 | Graphic designers and illustrators |
| 53111 | Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators |
Veterinary care Occupations
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
FAQs
What is the minimum score for Skills Immigration PNP?
The score required to qualify for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) varies by immigration stream and is based on factors like education, work experience, and language proficiency. Here’s average score from draws.
- Skilled Worker – 113
- Skilled Worker – EEBC option – 113
- International Graduate – 115
- International Graduate – EEBC option – 115
- Entry Level and Semi-Skilled – 94
What is the skills immigration BC PNP requirement?
The Skills Immigration stream of the BC PNP requires applicants to have a valid job offer from a BC employer, meet occupation-specific criteria, demonstrate language proficiency, and fulfill other program-specific requirements.
What is the processing time for skills immigration BC PNP?
The average processing time for Skills Immigration BC PNP is 4 weeks to 3 months and some categories could take up to 6 months.
