British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
How the BC Provincial Nominee Program works — Skills Immigration, the Express Entry option and entrepreneur streams, explained by a licensed RCIC.
The BC Provincial Nominee Program nominates workers and graduates who have a job offer from a British Columbia employer, alongside separate entrepreneur streams. Skills Immigration applicants register a profile, receive a points score and are invited from that pool. Candidates already in the federal Express Entry pool can apply through the Express Entry BC option, which delivers a nomination that adds 600 CRS points.
Key facts
| Program | BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) |
|---|---|
| Main stream families | Skills Immigration (Skilled Worker, Health Authority, International Graduate, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled), Express Entry BC, Entrepreneur Immigration |
| Job offer | Required for most Skills Immigration streams, including the Express Entry BC option |
| Express Entry link | Enhanced through the Express Entry BC option, which mirrors the Skills Immigration streams |
| Selection basis | A registration score based on economic and human capital factors, with periodic invitation rounds |
| Health sector | A dedicated Health Authority stream for eligible positions with BC health employers |
| Current criteria and intake | Verify on the official BC PNP website before applying |
Who may qualify?
- Skilled workers with an indeterminate full-time job offer from a BC employer
- Recent graduates of eligible Canadian post-secondary institutions with a BC job offer
- Health professionals with an offer from a BC health authority
- Entry-level and semi-skilled workers in eligible sectors and regions
- Entrepreneurs planning to establish or purchase a business in British Columbia
Eligibility requirements
- Meeting the eligibility criteria of the specific stream you apply under
- Approved language test results at the minimum level that stream requires
- An educational credential assessment where the stream requires foreign education to be assessed
- Proof of settlement funds where the stream requires it
- Genuine intention to live and work in the nominating province or territory
How it works: step by step
- 1
Confirm your NOC and TEER
Provincial streams are built around National Occupational Classification codes, so confirm the code that matches your actual duties before anything else.
- 2
Check the current stream criteria
Open the official provincial page and confirm the stream is accepting applications and that you meet its current criteria.
- 3
Register or submit an expression of interest
Most jurisdictions ask you to register a profile first and issue invitations from that pool.
- 4
Apply for nomination
Submit the provincial application with supporting documents within the deadline stated in your invitation.
- 5
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
A nomination is not permanent residence. You then file a federal PR application — through Express Entry if the stream is enhanced, or on paper if it is a base stream.
Expert insight
In BC the job offer usually decides the file. Before you invest in language testing or credential assessment, confirm the offer is indeterminate, full time, and priced at the BC wage rate for that occupation and region.
Alternative pathways
Frequently asked questions
Immigration programs, fees and processing times change frequently. This page is general information, not immigration advice. Verify current requirements with official Government of Canada sources or speak with our RCIC.