Article Navigation
- Why Choose British Columbia for Permanent Residency?
- What Is the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)?
- What Are the BC PNP Streams in 2026?
- BC PNP Allocation and Priorities in 2026
- Skills Immigration
- BC PNP Program Priorities: Which Occupations Are Prioritized?
- Pilot Programs and Temporary Initiatives
- How Do You Apply to Skills Immigration?
- BC PNP Fees
- Entrepreneur Immigration
- How should I prepare for 2027?
- Which BC PNP Pathway Is Right for You?
- What Do the Common BC PNP Terms and Abbreviations Mean?
Worker streams
Skilled Worker (TEER 0-3 job offer) and Health Authority (job offer from a BC health authority). Both can be paired with Express Entry BC.
Job offer
Full-time and indeterminate (no end date) from an eligible BC employer that supports your application.
Requirements
At least two years of full-time-equivalent experience (Skilled Worker), CLB 4 or higher, the required qualifications, and the minimum wage and income for your job.
Priorities
Care (36 in-demand occupations), Build (9 construction trades) and Innovate (High Economic Impact invitations for top talent in any sector). At least 35% of nominations are expected to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver.
Registration
Free, valid for up to 12 months. After an invitation you have 30 calendar days to apply.
Fees
Skills Immigration application CAD $1,750 (raised from $1,475 on January 22, 2026) and CAD $500 for a request for review. Entrepreneur Immigration charges $300 to register and $3,500 to apply.
Processing
About 3 months for Skills Immigration applications, with around 80% decided within that time.
2026 allocation
6,254 nominations, after a 1,000-nomination top-up announced on August 18, 2026. It began the year at 5,254, and BC says it plans to use all of it by December 31, 2026.
No longer available
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, the international graduate streams, and separate technology-priority draws. BC says it will not launch new student streams.
2027 outlook
BC's 2027 allocation has not been announced. The three priorities are expected to continue.
Why Choose British Columbia for Permanent Residency?
What Is the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)?
Does a BC nomination guarantee permanent residence?
No. A provincial nomination significantly improves your chances, but Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final decision. After you receive a Confirmation of Nomination, you apply to IRCC before that document expires. If you apply through Express Entry BC, the nomination adds 600 points to your federal Express Entry profile.
What Are the BC PNP Streams in 2026?
The BC PNP has two categories:
- Skills Immigration: for workers with a BC job offer. It has the Skilled Worker stream and the Health Authority stream, and each has an Express Entry BC option.
- Entrepreneur Immigration: for experienced business owners and managers. It has the Base stream, the Regional stream and, for foreign corporations, the Strategic Projects stream.
Earlier worker pathways, including Entry Level and Semi-Skilled and the international graduate streams, no longer accept applications. International students who complete their studies in BC or Canada still earn extra registration points, and they can apply through the existing worker streams.
BC PNP Allocation and Priorities in 2026
How many nominations does BC have in 2026?
IRCC confirmed an initial allocation of 5,254 nominations for 2026, well below the roughly 8,000 BC had in earlier years. BC had asked for 9,000. On August 18, 2026, the federal government added 1,000 nominations, bringing the total to 6,254. The province says these will be applied to its updated program objectives and that it plans to use the full allocation by December 31, 2026.
What are the Care, Build and Innovate priorities?
On April 23, 2026, BC announced updated priorities tied to its Look West strategy:
- Care: skilled workers who support public services and community well-being, including 36 in-demand occupations in healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary care. The Health Authority stream continues, and certified early childhood educators, veterinarians and veterinary technologists working toward Canadian certification are prioritized. French-speaking teachers in the public K-12 system are prioritized too, using additional federal francophone allocations.
- Build: certified workers in 9 in-demand construction trades, to support infrastructure and major projects.
- Innovate: High Economic Impact invitations for top talent across all sectors, including experienced entrepreneurs and highly qualified professionals.
At least 35% of nominations are anticipated to go to candidates working in communities outside Metro Vancouver. The program also expanded its lists of ineligible occupations and employers to focus nominations on its priorities and to protect program integrity.
Do I need to work in a priority occupation to be invited?
No, but it matters a great deal. Applicants in other eligible occupations can still register, but invitations are targeted, so you may not be invited unless your occupation fits a priority or you qualify for a High Economic Impact invitation. Invitations are issued in rounds, and each priority group has its own minimum score. The BC PNP invitations page (last updated September 24, 2026) shows recent results:
- Care: Childcare (early childhood educators): minimum score 99, 182 invitations.
- Care: Health (priority health care occupations): minimum score 76, 143 invitations.
- Care: Veterinary care: minimum score 90, fewer than 5 invitations.
- Build: Construction trades: minimum score 94, 104 invitations.
- Innovate: High Economic Impact: 426 wage-based invitations (minimum $52 an hour and $105,000 a year, TEER 0-3) and 288 points-based invitations (minimum score 131).
- Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative: minimum score 60, 33 invitations.
Scores move from round to round, so treat these as examples, not targets.
What happened to the technology priority?
Skills Immigration
Skills Immigration offers two streams for workers. Eligibility depends on the 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) system and its TEER categories.
What is the Skilled Worker stream?
This stream is for experienced workers in professional, technical, management, trade and other skilled jobs who want to settle permanently in BC.
Eligibility
- You have a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible BC employer, in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
- You have at least two years of full-time-equivalent work experience.
- You meet the minimum education credential and any licence, registration or certification required for the occupation.
- You meet the minimum language requirement of CLB 4.
- You meet the minimum wage and income requirements for your job.
- Your employer supports your application. You must have that support before registering and submit a completed Employer Declaration Form.
There are exceptions to these criteria, so read the Skills Immigration Program Guide. The stream has an Express Entry BC option.
What is the Express Entry BC option?
Which occupations are not eligible for Skills Immigration?
- Administrative professionals: executive assistants (12100), human resources and recruitment officers (12101), accounting technicians and bookkeepers (12200), administrative officers (13100), administrative assistants (13110), legal administrative assistants (13111) and medical administrative assistants (13112).
- Sales and service workers: retail sales supervisors (62010), food service supervisors (62020) and real estate agents and salespersons (63101).
- Religious occupations: religious leaders (41302) and religious workers (42204).
Discuss Your Immigration Options
BC PNP Program Priorities: Which Occupations Are Prioritized?
Certain occupations are in higher demand and are more likely to be invited. The lists below reflect the April 2026 update. Confirm your NOC code on the official selection list before you register.
Which occupations are included under Care?
Health care
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 32200 Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
- 33101 Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
- 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (only registered BC Care Aides and Community Health Worker health care assistants and aides)
- 41300 Social workers
Veterinary care
- 31103 Veterinarians
- 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
Education and childcare
- 41220 Secondary school teachers (French-speaking only)
- 41221 Elementary and kindergarten teachers (French-speaking only)
- 42202 Early childhood educators and assistants (recent childcare invitations were limited to early childhood educators)
Teachers must work in BC’s public K-12 system and reach CLB 5 or higher in French.
Which trades are included under Build?
- 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
- 72310 Carpenters
- 72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- 72402 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
Which occupations are included under Innovate?
No fixed occupation list applies. BC issues High Economic Impact invitations to top talent in all sectors, including technology and experienced entrepreneurs. These rounds have two parts: a wage-based group (full-time employees in TEER 0-3 jobs earning above a set hourly wage and annual salary) and a points-based group.
The wage threshold has come down during 2026, from $62 an hour in April to $52 an hour and $105,000 a year in the September 24 round, and the points group had a minimum score of 131 in that round. Thresholds change from round to round, so check the invitations page.
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Pilot Programs and Temporary Initiatives
What is the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative?
This is a one-time initiative to nominate up to 250 workers already employed by a health authority in a cleaning or security role in a rural or remote community. Registration opened on June 15, 2026 and was extended to 11:59 pm on October 7, 2026 to account for wildfire disruptions.
The first invitations were issued on September 17, 2026 (33 invitations, minimum score 60). Eligibility criteria are in the Skills Immigration Program Guide. The initiative is time-limited, so do not plan on it being repeated.
What is the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)?
BC takes part in a federal pilot that helps skilled refugees find work and settle in Canada. Check the pilot’s current details with IRCC and the BC PNP before you apply.
How Do You Apply to Skills Immigration?
The process has four components: registration, invitation, application and decision.
- Choose your stream. Pick Skilled Worker or Health Authority, and decide whether to use the Express Entry BC option.
- Register online. Register through the BC PNP Online User Portal. Registration is free. Your registration is scored on human capital factors, such as work experience, education and language, and on economic factors, such as your wage and job location in BC. You then wait in a registration pool for up to 12 months or until you are invited.
- Wait for an invitation to apply. If you are ranked highly enough, you receive an invitation. You then have up to 30 calendar days to submit a complete application. If you miss it, the invitation expires and your registration is removed from the pool, so you would have to register again.
- Submit your application. Pay the fee and include all documents.
- Nomination decision. If approved, you receive a nomination package with a Confirmation of Nomination letter and instructions for IRCC. If refused, you can request a review or consider other options.
- Apply to IRCC. Submit your permanent residence application before the Confirmation of Nomination expires, and follow the conditions of nomination while you wait.
Processing Times
Processing times show how long a decision may take. Around 80% of cases are processed within these timelines:
- Skills Immigration application: 3 months.
- Post-nomination request: 1 month.
- Request for review: 6 months.
The actual time depends on when the BC PNP receives your complete application, the complexity and volume of cases, program capacity and the number of nominations available. If your situation is time-sensitive, apply well before these estimates.
BC PNP Fees
All fees are paid through the BC PNP Online User Portal only. The BC PNP does not accept cheques, bank transfers, wire transfers or gift cards. If anyone asks you to pay another way, report it to PNP.fraud.tips@gov.bc.ca. Fees are refunded only if you withdraw before the BC PNP begins assessing the application, and review fees are non-refundable.
Skills Immigration fees:
- Registration: no fee
- Application: CAD $1,750
- Request for review: CAD $500
Entrepreneur Immigration fees:
- Registration: CAD $300
- Application: CAD $3,500
- Request for review: CAD $500
- Strategic Projects stream: an extra CAD $1,000 for each additional key staff member reviewed
IRCC fees. When you apply to IRCC for permanent residence, you pay separate federal fees, and you may also pay to apply for or extend a work permit. See IRCC’s fees page for current amounts.
Entrepreneur Immigration
What is Entrepreneur Immigration?
What is the Base stream?
- Personal net worth of at least CAD $600,000.
- At least 3 years of experience as a business owner-manager in the last 10 years. Applicants without this experience may instead submit an eligible post-secondary degree for consideration.
- An eligible personal investment of at least CAD $200,000 in the business.
- At least one new full-time job created for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- Language ability of CLB 4 or higher.
- An exploratory visit is recommended but not required.
What is the Regional stream?
- Personal net worth of at least CAD $300,000.
- At least 3 years of experience as a business owner-manager in the last 5 years (or an eligible degree).
- An eligible personal investment of at least CAD $100,000, in a new business that fits the host community’s economic priorities.
- At least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
- CLB 4 or higher.
- A completed community referral form, which is valid for 90 days, and a required exploratory visit to the community.
What is the Strategic Projects stream?
This stream is for foreign corporations that want to expand into BC. It offers permanent residence to key employees of the corporation. Requirements:
- An equity investment of at least CAD $500,000 directed to the corporation’s BC operations.
- Proof the business is well established, in good financial standing and ready to expand internationally.
- Key staff who work permanent full-time and have the experience to manage the BC business.
- At least three new full-time jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for each key staff member proposed, up to a maximum of five.
A senior representative must first attend an information meeting with the BC PNP, and the company must apply within 90 days of an invitation.
How does the entrepreneur process work?
- Develop a business proposal. For the Regional stream, first find a participating community, make an exploratory visit and obtain a referral.
- Register online. Your registration is scored on human capital and economic factors, and BC PNP staff score the business concept within about six weeks. If you qualify, you stay in a pool for up to six months.
- Wait for an invitation. If invited, an authorized accounting firm reviews your personal net worth before you apply.
- Apply within four months of the invitation. You may be interviewed about your experience and business plan.
- Sign a Performance Agreement and receive a Letter of Support. Submit your work permit application to IRCC within 90 days and arrive in BC within 12 months of receiving the work permit.
- Run your business. You have up to 20 months to implement your plan and meet the Performance Agreement, and you submit a final report 18 to 20 months after arrival.
- Nomination. Once you meet the conditions, you sign a Conditions of Nomination Declaration and receive a Confirmation of Nomination. You then apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
Entrepreneur registration scores take about six weeks, and application decisions take about four months at the work permit stage and four months at the final report stage. Businesses such as passive investments, home-based businesses, pawnbrokers and real estate brokerage are ineligible.
BC’s most recent Entrepreneur Immigration round, on September 22, 2026, invited 10 Base stream candidates and fewer than 5 Regional stream candidates, with a minimum score of 119 in both.
Discuss Your Immigration Options
How should I prepare for 2027?
- Check whether your occupation is in Care or Build, or whether you can qualify for High Economic Impact invitations through a high wage.
- Secure a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible BC employer who will sign the Employer Declaration Form.
- Reach at least CLB 4, and aim higher, because language earns registration points.
- Document your two years of full-time-equivalent experience and your qualifications, licence or registration.
- Register once you are eligible, because a registration stays in the pool for up to 12 months.
- Consider a job outside Metro Vancouver, since regional candidates are favoured.
- If you are in the federal Express Entry pool, pair your registration with the Express Entry BC option.
- Watch the BC PNP news page and invitations page, and avoid scams. The BC PNP never asks for payment outside its portal.
Which BC PNP Pathway Is Right for You?
- Have a BC job offer in a TEER 0-3 occupation? Look at the Skilled Worker stream.
- Work for a BC health authority in an eligible healthcare role? Look at the Health Authority stream.
- In the Express Entry pool with a BC job offer? Add the Express Entry BC option.
- Experienced business owner with at least CAD $600,000 net worth? Look at the Entrepreneur Base stream. If you have CAD $300,000 and want a smaller community, look at the Regional stream.
- Part of a foreign corporation expanding into BC? Ask about the Strategic Projects stream.
- Graduate of a BC or Canadian school? Use the worker streams, where your studies earn extra registration points.
- Working in an entry-level occupation (TEER 4-5)? BC has no stream for you today, so look at other provinces or federal options.
Get Expert Support from LIVIN Immigration
If you are considering immigration through the BC PNP or need help navigating the application process, our team is here to support you. We offer personalized consultations to help you understand your options, gather the right documents and submit your application with confidence.
Whether you are just getting started or need help with a specific stage, reach out to our immigration specialists for guidance every step of the way. Let’s make your move to British Columbia as smooth and stress-free as possible.
What Do the Common BC PNP Terms and Abbreviations Mean?
- BC PNP: British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
- EEBC: Express Entry BC, the option that links a nomination to your federal Express Entry profile.
- HEI: High Economic Impact, the invitation category for top talent in any sector.
- ITA: Invitation to Apply.
- CLB: Canadian Language Benchmark, the scale for language test results.
- TEER: the NOC category (0 to 5) that groups occupations by training, education, experience and responsibilities.
- NOC: National Occupational Classification.
- IRCC: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the federal department that grants permanent residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the BC PNP still accepting applications?
How much does the BC PNP cost?
How long does the BC PNP take?
Do I need a job offer?
Can international graduates apply?
BC no longer has dedicated international graduate streams and has said it will not launch new student streams. Graduates can apply through the Skilled Worker or Health Authority streams if they have a qualifying job offer, and their BC or Canadian studies earn extra registration points.
Is there a pathway for entry-level or semi-skilled workers?
How many nominations does BC have in 2026?
BC has 6,254 nominations for 2026, after a 1,000-nomination top-up on August 18, 2026. The 2027 figure has not been announced.