British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province, is defined by its Pacific coastline and mountain ranges. Nature areas like Glacier National Park offer hiking and biking trails, as well as campgrounds. Whistler Blackcomb is a major ski resort that hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. The scenic Sea-to-Sky Highway links Whistler with Vancouver, a city known for its film industry, at the province’s southern U.S. border.

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) aims to accelerate the process for those wishing to obtain Canadian permanent resident status and who intend to settle permanently in British Columbia.

The program is operated by the British Columbia government in partnership with the federal immigration department, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Interested candidates must follow a two-stage process: apply for a nomination to the provincial government, and then, if nominated, apply for permanent residence to the federal government.

IRCC allocates to BC PNP a limited number of nominations each year.

BC PNP Streams

1. Skills Immigration Streams:

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) targets individuals who meet the province’s labour market needs and who intend to settle permanently in British Columbia. The BC PNP accepts skilled worker applications under two pathways: Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC, each with their own sub-streams. The Skills Immigration (SI) category targets skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in BC and is further divided into five components:

  • Skilled Workers
  • Healthcare Professionals
  • International Graduates
  • International Post-Graduates
  • Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Workers

2. Express Entry Streams:

The Express Entry streams, through periodic draws, enable the province to nominate qualified candidates for admission to Canada under the federal Express Entry immigration system. The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) promotes its own Express Entry stream, enabling the province to nominate qualified candidates for admission to Canada under the federal Express Entry immigration system. To qualify under any of the BC Express Entry streams, you must first meet the minimum eligibility criteria for one of the applicable federal Express Entry programs below:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class

In addition, potential candidates must qualify for one of the British Columbia Express Entry streams. Although a job offer is not necessary to qualify for the federal program listed above, in order to qualify under British Columbia’s Express Entry streams, a

3. British Columbia Business Immigration:

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program offers an excellent immigration process for qualified candidates wishing to permanently settle in B.C. The BCPNP Business category is aimed at high net worth individuals who wish to invest and operate a business in British Columbia and eventually settle in the province. The streams include:

  • Entrepreneur Immigration
  • Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot
  • Strategic Projects
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration Stream:

As the province establishes nomination targets for the program, priority is given to candidates demonstrating the highest potential under a scoring system, to create a successful business and to contribute significant economic benefits to the province. The Entrepreneur Immigration stream targets senior managers or business owners who wish to invest in British Columbia businesses.

The BC PNP Tech Pilot:

The BC PNP Tech Pilot allows British Columbia immigration officials to expedite the processing of immigration candidates for in-demand technology occupations. Through weekly draws, invitations are issued to candidates with work experience in one of 29 eligible occupations in the BC technology sector. The BC PNP Tech Pilot prioritizes technology sector applications under existing BC immigration streams. Candidates must still meet the basic requirements of an applicable British Columbia immigration category or stream, including a minimum one-year job offer from a B.C. employer.

Eligible categories: Skilled Workers, Healthcare Professionals, International Graduates, International Post-Graduates and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Workers.