British Columbia (BC) is the westernmost province of Canada, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains. British Columbia is leading the country in economic growth and continues to rely on economic immigration to meet labour market demand.

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the province’s only direct economic immigration program for bringing in new British Columbians. It provides a pathway to permanent residence for highly skilled, in-demand workers and experienced entrepreneurs, so they can settle in BC and raise a family.

BC PNP Streams

The BC Provincial Nominee Program offers three ways to become a permanent resident in BC. Each pathway contains different categories a candidate can apply under, depending on candidate’s National Occupational Classification skill level, job, or international student status.

Calculate your BC PNP Points

Skills Immigration (SI)

Skills Immigration is for skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in BC. It uses a points-based invitation system. The process involves registering and applying online for the BC PNP and a paper application process for permanent residency. You may not need prior work experience for some categories. Skilled workers may have work experience from abroad. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category applicants need BC work experience. Recent international graduates of a Canadian university or college may not need any work experience, depending on the job being offered.

Skilled Worker

This subcategory is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Candidates are expected to have several years of experience in their skilled occupation.

Program Requirements

Job Offer: Candidate must have permanent, ful11-time & indeterminate job offer in skilled (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B) occupation.

Education: The educational requirements vary as per NOC level. Usually university degree for NOC 0 & A occupations and high school and/or college diploma/certificate for NOC B occupation is required.

Experience: Minimum two years of directly- related ful11-time (or ful11-time equivalent) work experience is required in the skilled occupation that has been offered to the candidate.

Language Proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for Skill Level B occupations. Language test results are not required, if the occupation falls under NOC 0 or A unless, points are claimed at the time of registration.

International Graduate

This subcategory is for students who have graduated from an eligible Canadian University or college in the past 3 years and have a permanent and ful11-time job offer from BC employer.

Program Requirements

Job Offer: Candidate must have permanent, ful11-time & indeterminate job offer in skilled (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B) occupation.

Education: Degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada.
Diplomas and Certificates from private institutions are not eligible.

Experience: No experience is required. However, if the candidate has been offered a supervisor or management position, the onus is on the candidate and employer to demonstrate that the candidate has obtained experience that qualifies for the position.

Language Proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for Skill Level B occupations. Language test results are not required, if the occupation falls under NOC 0 or A unless, points are claimed at the time of registration.

International Post-Graduate

This subcategory is for recently graduated international students from a BC post-secondary institution with a master’s or doctorate degree in natural, applied or health sciences.

Program Requirements

Job Offer: The candidate does not require to have a job offer from a BC employer to apply under this category.

Education: The candidate must have master’s or doctorate degree from an eligible BC post-secondary institution. Graduate degree (master’s or doctorate) must be in one of the following programs of study in the natural, applied or health sciences:

Agriculture, Agriculture Operations and Related Sciences; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services; Engineering; Engineering Technology and Engineering-Related Fields; Health Professions and Related Programs; Mathematics and Statistics; Natural Resources Conservation and Physical Sciences.

Experience: No experience is required under this category.

Language Proficiency: No minimum language requirement under this category.

Healthcare Professional

This subcategory is for healthcare professionals with experience and, eligible job offers as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses, or allied health professionals.

Program Requirements

Job Offer: Permanent, ful11-time & indeterminate job offer from one of the qualifying health occupations is required:

Physician; Specialist Physician; Registered Nurse; Registered Psychiatric Nurse; Nurse Practitioner; Diagnostic Medical Sonographer; Clinical Pharmacist; Medical Laboratory Technologist; Medical Radiation Technologist; Occupational Therapist; Physiotherapist and midwife.

Education: The educational requirements vary as per NOC level. Usually university degree for NOC 0 & A occupations and high school and/or college diploma/certificate for NOC B occupation is required.

Experience: Minimum two years of directly- related ful11-time (or ful11-time equivalent) work experience is required in the skilled occupation that has been offered to the candidate.

Language Proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for Skill Level B occupations. Language test results are not required, if the occupation falls under NOC 0 or A unless, points are claimed at the time of registration.

Healthcare Professional

This subcategory is for candidates who are currently working in BC in an eligible occupation in the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or food processing industry.

Program Requirements

Job Offer: Permanent and ful11-time job offer for an indeterminate period in a qualified occupation from a BC employer. The candidate may be eligible for this category if they are currently working in the Northeast Development Region of the province in any entry level or semi-skilled occupation, other than live-in caregivers, listed as Skill Level C or D in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Education: At a minimum, the candidate must have successful11y completed secondary education (graduated from high school) either within or outside of Canada.

Experience: The candidate must be employed & working ful11-time with the BC employer supporting BC PNP application in an eligible occupation for at least 9 consecutive months immediately prior to registering to the BC PNP.

Language Proficiency: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.

Tech Pilot

This program is for skilled tech workers to immigrate to BC through jobs that are noted by the Ministry of Jobs, Trade and Technology as being in demand. The program aims to attract talented workers and international students by speeding up the permanent residence application.

The program has been extended to June 2021 due to its phenomenal success and to ensure that companies can meet their hiring requirements for the future. The program also has weekly draws that allow the province to choose qualified applicants.

Permanent and ful11-time job offer for at least one year in eligible occupations from a BC employer is required to qualify under Tech Pilot program.

Express Entry BC

Express Entry British Columbia is aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system, which result in significantly reduced Permanent Residency application processing times.

Express Entry BC is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to BC. Candidate must also qualify for a federal economic immigration program. It uses a points-based invitation system and is an entirely web-based registration and application process for both the BC PNP and permanent residency process. Candidate do not require BC work experience. However, candidate must have relevant work experience as well as meet other requirements such as education and language. The federal economic immigration programs require candidates to meet a mandatory language proficiency level and demonstrate sufficient funds to support the applicant and their family on arrival in Canada. Candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Program are also required to submit the results of an Educational Credential Assessment

In addition, candidates must be eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programs (Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades & Canadian Experience Class) to enter the Express Entry pool.

The following skills immigration categories are processed through Express Entry BC:

• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category

Program Requirements

• The candidate must have Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker Validation Code.
• Candidates applying under Skilled Worker, Health Care Professional and International Graduate Category must have a ful11-time, permanent, and indeterminate job offer in a skilled occupation from a BC employer. Candidates with a job offer in a regulated occupation that requires mandatory certification or licensing must demonstrate that they meet provincial requirements for the occupation when they make their application under this category. Candidates applying under International Postgraduate do not required to have a job offer from BC employer. However, they must meet other requirements of the program.
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What are the main differences between the Express Entry BC and the Skills Immigration stream?

General Employer Requirements

The Skills Immigration and Express Entry British Columbia streams of the BC PNP are largely employer-driven and are designed to help BC businesses attract and retain international workers and students to meet BC’s labour market needs. An employer must meet specific requirements to support your BC PNP application.

Established as an employer in good standing in BC

• Your employer must be permanently established in BC as defined by the federal Income Tax Act.
• Your employer must have operated in BC for at least one year (two years if you are registering under the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category, including employment in the Northeast Development Region of BC.
• Your employer must be in good standing and must have one of the following business structures:
  
  • Incorporated or extra-provincially registered
  • Registered as a limited liability partnership in BC
  • An eligible public sector or non-profit employer
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  Indeterminate, ful11-time employees

  • If your employer is located within the Greater Vancouver Regional District, your employer must have at least five indeterminate, ful11-time employees (or ful11-time equivalents) in BC.
  • If your employer is located outside of the Greater Vancouver Regional District, your employer must have at least three indeterminate, ful11-time employees (or ful11-time equivalents) in BC.
  • Only individuals who are on the company’s payroll will be considered employees of the company. Your employer may be asked to submit a T4 Summary of Remuneration Paid to demonstrate that this requirement is met.

  History of good workplace and business practices

  Your employer must be financially sound and have a history of good workplace and business practices, including complying with all applicable BC. and federal employment, labour, immigration, health and safety laws and regulations. Your employer may be asked to provide financial statements prepared by a certified professional accountant.

  Offer of employment

  The employer must provide a job offer for a ful11-time (minimum 30 hours per week) and indeterminate (no end date) position. Contract positions are not eligible. The onus is on the employer to demonstrate that the job offer is bona fide.

  Wage/Salary

  The wage stated in offer of employment must be at market rate and comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in BC and consistent with the wage compensation structure of the employer. The BC PNP do not consider bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing distributions, tips/gratuities, overtime wages, housing allowances, room and board, or other similar payments to be part of your wage.

  Entrepreneur Immigration (Base Category)

  The BC PNP has temporarily paused the intake of new registrations to the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) – Base category since July 19, 2021. The Government will post an update early in 2022 to notify people when registrations will likely resume. The temporary pause does not affect individuals who have already submitted a registration or application. They will remain active in the system and will continue to be processed through to final decisions. However, registrations have an expiry date. Should a registration expire without having received an invitation to apply, a new registration cannot be submitted during this pause.

  The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for high-net-worth businesspeople who can invest in and actively manage a valid business in BC. It is a points-based system. This stream provides a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for experienced businesspeople who can establish themselves in BC and invest in and operate a commercially viable business that can provide significant benefits to the provincial economy.

  British Columbia has introduced a mandatory online registration system, known as Entrepreneur Immigration Registration (EIR), for all prospective applicants to the Entrepreneur Immigration stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). A maximum of 200 registrations may be accepted per month, and the BC PNP will periodically invite the highest-scoring registrants to submit applications. Successful applicants will obtain a work permit and, if the business operation in British Columbia fulfills the requirements of the stream on an ongoing basis, they will be able to apply for permanent residence in Canada through the BC PNP.

  The BC PNP encourages applicants to make an exploratory visit to BC to learn more about opportunities and the local business environment before they register. Registrants and applicants are not advised to make any investments or financial commitments prior to signing a Performance Agreement with the BC PNP and obtaining a valid work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Any investment made before an applicant obtains a valid work permit is solely at his or her own risk.

  Program Requirements

  Applications are assessed on various factors, including

  • Business and/or work experience.
  • Personal net worth and source of funds.
  • Adaptability; and
  • Business proposal, which includes proposed investment and job creation in BC

  Minimum Personal Requirements

  • Active and ongoing management of the day-to-day business operations in BC
  • Demonstrated residence in BC within 100 kilometers of the business. The applicant must demonstrate BC residence for at least 75 percent of the time while on a work permit.
  • Admissibility to Canada. The applicant must not be prohibited from entering Canada; have been in Canada illegally; have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada or under a removal order in Canada
  • Personal net worth of at least $600,000 CAD (including cash, assets in bank accounts, fixed deposits, real properties, investments, etc.) under the candidate’s name and/or candidate’s spouse’s name. The net worth must be legally obtained and verifiable.
  • A minimum of 2 years of post-secondary education or experience as an active business owner-manager with 100 percent ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years. The 100 percent ownership may be shared between the applicant, the applicant’s spouse, and any dependent children.
  • Work experience
    
    • The candidate must have enough knowledge and experience to successful11y establish business in BC.
    • The candidate must have a minimum of more than three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or
    • The candidate must have more than 4 years of experience as a senior manage, or a combination of at least one year of experience as an active business owner/manager and at least 2 years of experience as a senior manager.

  Minimum Business Requirements

  The registration must include a brief business concept that will be assigned points based on proposed commercial transferability, viability of the candidate’s skills, and economic benefits. If the candidate is subsequently invited to apply, he/she will be required to submit a comprehensive business plan. The BC PNP will consider registrations to establish a new business, purchase an existing business, form a partnership with an existing business, and partner with a local or foreign entrepreneur to establish a new business.

  The proposed business must be operated for the primary purpose of earning profits by providing products and/or services. Additionally, the business must have strong potential for sustained commercial success. The BC PNP does not pre-approve or endorse business proposals.

  Franchises may be considered as eligible businesses by demonstrating that the proposed franchise is well-established. The BC PNP will only consider the purchase of an existing franchise location as an eligible business if it includes an expansion/improvement plan that is consistent with franchiser requirements. The BC PNP will not consider a business proposal for a seasonal business unless the proposed business operates for at least eight months per year.

  Ineligible businesses

  The following types of businesses are ineligible under the BC PNP

  • An immigration-linked investment scheme pursuant to Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation section 6(e) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) section 87(5)(b) and as defined in IRPR 87(9)
  • Any business where the terms of investment include a redemption option pursuant to IRPR 87(6)(d)
  • Bed and breakfasts, hobby farms and home-based businesses
  • Payday loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machine businesses
  • Pawnbrokers
  • Scrap metal recycling
  • Coin-operated laundries
  • Automated car wash operations
  • Businesses selling used goods (excluding businesses that provide value-added services such as repairs, refurbishing or recycling)
  • Real estate development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage
  • Businesses involved in producing, distributing, or selling pornography or sexually explicit products or services, or providing sexually oriented services
  • Any other type of business that by association would tend to bring the BC PNP or the Government of British Columbia into disrepute

  The BC PNP will not consider registrations for the following businesses proposed in Regional Districts with a population more than 300,000

  • Convenience stores
  • DVD rental stores
  • gasoline service stations
  • personal dry-cleaning services
  • tanning salons

  Minimum Investment Requirements

  To register, the candidate must demonstrate that he/she will make an eligible personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD in the proposed business within 610 days (approximately 20 months) of arriving in BC on a BC PNP supported work permit. If proposing a key staff member, the candidate must demonstrate that he or she will make an eligible personal investment of $400,000 CAD.

  Minimum Job Creation Requirements

  Applicant must demonstrate that the business in BC will create at least one permanent new ful11-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the proposed business as well as the likelihood of supporting long-term employment of Canadians or permanent residents in the business. Job creation requirements differ for candidates who proposed to include a key staff member on their application.

  Invitation to Apply

  Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee that a candidate will be invited to submit a complete application. If a candidate has entered the selection pool, his/her final registration score will be ranked along with other registrants. Periodically, the BC PNP will invite the highest-ranked registrants to apply to the Entrepreneur Program. If a candidate is invited to apply, he/she will receive an email notification and will have up to four months from the date of invitation to submit a complete application.

  At this stage, the applicant must pay a $3,500 CAD processing fee to the province. His or her spouse and dependent children are included in the application fee. If requested, the applicant will be required to attend an in-person interview at the BC PNP office in Vancouver. Interviews are conducted in English or French only. If an application is approved, the BC PNP will issue a Letter of Confirmation. This serves as a work permit support letter to apply for a 2-year work permit to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This will enable the applicant, along with his/her family, to move to BC and implement the business plan. The applicant will sign a performance agreement and will have up to 20 months to implement the business proposal in BC. Applicants who are invited to apply will need to engage a qualified supplier to verify their personal net worth and accumulation of funds as part of the nomination process.

  Transition to Permanent Residence

  If the applicant meets the requirements of the performance agreement within the 20 months, the BC PNP will nominate him/her for permanent residence. He/she, along with his/her dependent family members can then apply for permanent residence under the BC PNP with IRCC. Once the entrepreneur completes the terms of the performance agreement, he/she can submit a final report to the BC PNP to be issued a nomination certificate. The entrepreneur must demonstrate to the BC PNP that he/she:

  • Is actively managing a business (i.e., be accountable for the day-to-day operations of the business) in BC.
  • Resides within 100 kilometers of the business.
  • Has been physically present in BC for at least 75 percent of the time that he or she was on a work permit; and
  • Has complied with any other terms of the performance agreement.

  Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot

  Regional Pilot is for entrepreneurs who want to start a new business in participating regional communities across BC. To reflect the lower costs of starting a business and settling in regional communities with smaller populations, the personal net worth and investment criteria is lower than the existing Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category (EI – Base Category)

  Key features of the EI – Regional Pilot

  Active community role: Participating communities have a key role in the pilot. They are actively involved in attracting foreign entrepreneurs to their community and working with local partners and existing networks to provide support for entrepreneurs settling into their communities.
  Referral from the community: Participating communities may refer foreign entrepreneurs to the BC PNP whose business concept aligns with the community’s economic priorities. The foreign entrepreneur must be invited by the community to conduct an exploratory visit and present their concept to the community’s designated contact person prior to receiving a referral.
  Community concierge: A dedicated BC PNP concierge service supports communities with immigration program information.
  Invitations & prioritization: Foreign entrepreneurs who are referred by a participating community are placed in a separate registration pool dedicated to the pilot when they register. Regional pilot registrations and applications are prioritized.

  Requirements

  • Applicant must start a new business and settle in a regional community with a population of fewer than 75,000 people.
  • Applicant must complete an exploratory visit to the community.
  • Minimum investment of $100,000 CAD in a qualifying business.
  • Personal net worth of at least $300,000 CAD.
  • Must own at least 51% of the company.
  • Business must create at least one new job.
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