British Columbia is a diverse province with its economy mainly depending on natural resources sector, with emphasis on forestry and mining. British Columbia is world renowned for its natural environment, with expansive forests and coastal lines.
Like any other province in Canada, British Columbia also has their own provincial nomination program – British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BC PNP) that allows them to nominate highly skilled immigrants that meets the demand that are required in the labor market of the province.
If the candidate is selected for the provincial nomination program by the immigration office of the province, they will become eligible to apply for permanent residency in Canada through Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
How to apply for British Columbia PNP?
British Columbia immigration office uses a point-based system to select the skilled immigrants that matches the labor demand in the market. SIRS – Skills Immigration Registration System is the system that is adopted by BC PNP. Points are awarded based on the factors that determine the adaptability of the candidate into the province. Based on the score in SIRS, candidates are selected for provincial nomination by British Columbia province.
SIRS points’ requirement for each stream in British Columbia provincial nomination program:
- Express Entry – Skilled Worker: 105
- Express Entry – International Graduate: 135
- Skills immigration- Skilled Workers: 135
- Skills Immigration- International Graduate: 105
- Skills Immigration- Northeast Pilot Project: 95
- Skills Immigration- Entry Level & Semi skilled: 95
What are the streams under British Columbia PNP?
There are two main streams under BC provincial nomination program:
Skills Immigration (includes Express Entry BC)
Skills immigration also has sub-categories. They are as follows:
- Skilled Worker Category: Candidates who have a job offer from an eligible employer of the province in a skilled occupation can apply under this category. Candidates are expected to have a required amount of work experience in their skilled occupation.
- Health Care Professional Category: This category is for candidates who have worked as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses or allied health professional and have proper work experience and also a job-offer from the province. Eligible job offer must be acquired for one of 11 qualifying health occupations.
- International Graduate Category: Individuals who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in last three years can apply under this category. Job-offer is mandatory from an eligible employer of the province.
- International post-graduate Category: Individuals who have done graduation with Masters or Doctoral from a Canadian University in natural, applied or health sciences programs of study. Job-offer is not mandatory.
- Entry Level and Semi-skilled Worker Category: Candidates in entry level or semi skilled positions in tourism/hospitality, food processing, or long-haul trucking, or in entry level or semi skilled positions living and working in the Northeast Development Region of the British Columbia, are eligible to apply under this program.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Candidates need a full-time job offer from an eligible British Columbia employer.
- Job-offered must be of occupation classified in NOC skill level O, A or B.
- Minimum of two years of work experience is required in respective work of field.
- Candidate must be eligible for federal economic immigration program and must meet the minimum income requirements.
Entrepreneur Immigration
Candidates who want to settle and invest in the British Columbia province are eligible for provincial nomination under this immigration program. This program has two categories:
- Entrepreneur Immigration Category: Businessmen owners or senior managers who want to invest funds into a proposed business in the province can apply under this program.
- Strategic Projects Category: Via this category, foreign-controlled companies can set up an operation in the province. Five key foreign managerial, professional or technical staff members can be nominated for permanent residency under this program.
Express Entry British Columbia
Candidates who have created their profile in federal’s government express entry program can also apply for British Columbia provincial nomination program. They have to show Expression of Interest (EOI) in their express profile and then select British Columbia as the province they want to settle in. Once they are nominated by the province immigration office they are awarded 600 additional CRS points. These many points are more than enough for getting a permanent residence visa by Immigration, Refugee & Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Following are streams of British Columbia provincial nomination program that are covered by express entry program:
- Skilled Worker Category.
- Health Care Professional Category.
- International Graduate Category.
- International Post-graduate Category.
