The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) run by the province of British Columbia, is a collection of immigration streams that includes streams for skilled workers.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) run by the province of British Columbia, is a collection of immigration streams that includes streams for skilled workers. Workers and graduates from other countries who possess the knowledge, training, and/or work experience necessary to productively contribute to the BC economy may be nominated for permanent residence in Canada through the BC Skills Immigration stream.
According to BC Skills Immigration, the following streams are included:
BC Skilled Worker
The British Columbia Skilled Worker stream is intended for immigrants who have received a job offer from a BC company for a skilled occupation. Only those who rank highest in the BC Skills Immigration Ranking System are asked to apply for the PNP. Eligible candidates are given points based on this ranking system.
BC PNP-Priority Tech Occupations
0131 Telecommunication carriers’ managers
0213 Computer and information systems managers
0512 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting, and performing arts
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2134 Chemical engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2221 Biological technologists and technicians
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2242 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
2281 Computer network technicians
2282 User support technicians
2283 Information systems testing technicians
5121 Authors and writers
5122 Editors
5125 Translators, terminologists, and interpreters
5224 Broadcast technicians
5225 Audio and video recording technicians
5226 Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
5227 Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography, and the performing arts
5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
6221 Technical sales specialists-wholesale trade
BC Healthcare Professional
The British Columbia Healthcare Professional stream is intended to attract immigrants who have received a job offer from a BC healthcare organization for a qualified healthcare profession. A foreign national may apply at any time if they meet the program’s standards.
BC PNP – Care Economy: Priority Healthcare Occupations
0311 Managers in healthcare
3011 Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors
3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
3111 Specialist physicians
3112 General practitioners and family physicians
3113 Dentists
3122 Chiropractors
3124 Allied primary health practitioners
3125 Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
3131 Pharmacists
3132 Dietitians and nutritionists
3141 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
3142 Physiotherapists
3143 Occupational therapists
3144 Other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
3211 Medical laboratory technologists
3212 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
3214 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
3215 Medical radiation technologists
3216 Medical sonographers
3217 Cardiology Technologists and Electrophysiological Diagnostic Technologists, n.e.c.
3219 Other medical technologists and technicians (except dental health)
3221 Denturists
3222 Dental hygienists and dental therapists
3223 Dental technologists, technicians, and laboratory assistants
3232 Practitioners of natural healing
3233 Licensed practical nurses
3234 Paramedical occupations
3237 Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
3411 Dental assistants
3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates*
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social workers
4153 Family, marriage and other related counselors
4212 Social and community service workers*For the purposes of the BC PNP, only health care assistants/health care aides are eligible under NOC 3413.
BC International Graduates
Recent graduates from post-secondary institutions in Canada who have received an offer of employment in a skilled position from a BC company are eligible for the British Columbia International Graduate stream. Only those with the highest competitive ranking are asked to apply for the PNP. Eligible candidates are given points based on the BC Skills Immigration Ranking System.
BC International Post-Graduate
Recent graduates who hold a Master’s or Doctoral degree from a British Columbia university that qualifies are eligible for the British Columbia International Post-Graduate Stream. This pathway is only open to specific colleges and programs. A foreign national may apply at any time if they meet the program’s standards.
BC Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled
The British Columbia Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker (ELSS) stream is intended for people who have obtained a job offer from a BC business and have completed nine months of work in a low-skilled occupation in BC. The worker’s job experience must have been in one of the target occupations or a certain area of the province in order for them to be eligible. Only those with the highest competitive ranking are asked to apply for the PNP. Eligible candidates are given points based on the BC Skills Immigration Ranking System. Candidates that qualify for this stream cannot use Express Entry to submit their applications.
British Columbia Express Entry
To apply to the BC Skills Immigration Streams, candidates are not required to meet the requirements of Express Entry. But for qualified applicants who have an active Express Entry profile, the majority of the programs under BC Skills Immigration offer a faster route to permanent residency. Prior to receiving a nomination from the province and having to submit a federal application for permanent residency, the Express Entry application process, and Regular Entry application process are identical. The IRCC web page is used to submit federal applications, which are processed in about 6 months for Express Entry candidates.
Federal applications must be submitted to the proper processing center in hard copy as paper-based applications for non-Express Entry candidates. It takes about 18 months to process applications submitted on paper.
Please be aware that there is no Express Entry stream for the BC Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker streams.