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Care
Healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary care are among the areas B.C. has identified as important to public services and community well-being.
BRITISH COLUMBIA IMMIGRATION
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
The BC Provincial Nominee Program helps British Columbia nominate skilled workers, health professionals, entrepreneurs and businesses that can support the province’s labour-market and economic priorities.
2026 program direction
B.C. is prioritizing three core objectives: Care, Build and Innovate. Selection is increasingly targeted toward high-impact workers, priority occupations and regional economic needs.
Last updated: October 2026
Current 2026 framework
Worker + entrepreneur pathways
Express Entry BC option
BC PNP 2026
Care • Build • Innovate
Skills Immigration + Entrepreneur Immigration
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
What Is the BC PNP?
The BC Provincial Nominee Program is British Columbia’s economic immigration program. It allows the province to nominate eligible workers, entrepreneurs and business applicants who can contribute to B.C.’s labour market and economic development.
The program currently has two main pathways: Skills Immigration for workers and Entrepreneur Immigration for experienced entrepreneurs and businesses. A provincial nomination is an important step toward permanent residence, but the final immigration decision is made by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
!
Older BC PNP information may no longer reflect the current program.
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream has closed, B.C. is not launching the previously proposed new student streams, and the program has shifted toward targeted Care, Build and Innovate priorities.
2026 PROGRAM PRIORITIES
B.C. Is Focusing on Care, Build & Innovate
Priority occupations and invitation criteria can change. In 2026, B.C. has focused nominations on workers who support public services, infrastructure and high economic impact.
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Build
Certified construction trades and workers supporting major infrastructure projects may receive targeted consideration.
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Innovate
B.C. continues to select highly qualified candidates who can create strong economic impact across a range of industries.
CURRENT BC PNP PATHWAYS
Choose the Pathway That Matches Your Situation
The right stream depends on your employment, employer, occupation, experience, qualifications and long-term plans in British Columbia.
WORKER PATHWAY
PATHWAY 01
Skilled Worker
For workers with a full-time, indeterminate B.C. job offer in an eligible NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
View key requirements
- Eligible full-time, indeterminate B.C. job offer.
- Employer support and completed Employer Declaration Form.
- At least 2 years of full-time equivalent work experience.
- Required education, licensing and occupational qualifications.
- Minimum language and wage/income requirements.
- Intent to live and work in British Columbia.
HEALTHCARE PATHWAY
PATHWAY 02
Health Authority
For eligible workers with a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a British Columbia health authority employer.
View key requirements
- Eligible position with a B.C. health authority.
- Support from authorized health-authority personnel.
- Required professional licence, registration or certification.
- Required work experience and education for the position.
- Minimum language and wage/income requirements.
BUSINESS PATHWAY
PATHWAY 03
Entrepreneur Immigration
For experienced entrepreneurs who want to establish, acquire or actively manage an eligible business in British Columbia.
View current streams
- Base Stream: generally requires at least $600,000 net worth and a minimum eligible investment of $200,000.
- Regional Stream: generally requires at least $300,000 net worth, $100,000 investment, community referral and an exploratory visit.
- Both streams generally require business experience, CLB 4 language ability and creation of at least one qualifying job.
- Strategic Projects is available to qualifying foreign corporations establishing operations in B.C.
SKILLS IMMIGRATION ELIGIBILITY
Core Factors B.C. Reviews
Eligible Job Offer
The Skilled Worker stream requires a full-time, indeterminate offer in a NOC TEER 0–3 occupation from an eligible B.C. employer.
Employer Support
Your employer must support the application and provide the required employer declaration and supporting business information.
Work Experience
Skilled Worker applicants generally need at least two years of full-time equivalent work experience.
Qualifications
You must meet the education, licence, registration, certification or professional requirements of your occupation.
Language
Current Skills Immigration rules include a minimum CLB 4 requirement, subject to program rules and stream-specific details.
Wage & Income
The job offer must meet applicable wage requirements, and the applicant must meet the program’s income requirements.
Not sure whether your occupation or employer qualifies?
We can review your job offer, NOC, employer support and current
BC PNP pathway options.
Check Your Eligibility
EXPRESS ENTRY BC
You May Be Able to Connect Your BC PNP Nomination to Express Entry
The Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams currently have an Express Entry BC option for eligible candidates who are already in the federal Express Entry pool and meet the applicable stream criteria.
Why it matters
- Your provincial nomination can be linked to your Express Entry profile.
- A nomination adds significant points to the federal Express Entry profile.
- The federal permanent-residence stage may be processed more quickly.
SKILLS IMMIGRATION PROCESS
From Registration to Permanent Residence
The exact process depends on your stream. Registration and invitations apply where required.
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Choose Your Stream
Confirm whether Skilled Worker, Health Authority or another pathway matches your situation.
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Register Online
Create a BC PNP Online profile and register where the selected stream requires registration.
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Wait for an Invitation
Eligible registrations are ranked. B.C. can issue general or targeted invitations based on provincial priorities.
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Submit Your Application
If invited, most Skills Immigration candidates currently have up to 30 calendar days to submit a complete application.
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Nomination Decision
B.C. assesses your eligibility, employer support and supporting documentation before issuing a nomination decision.
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Apply to IRCC
If nominated, submit your federal permanent-residence application before your Confirmation of Nomination expires.
FEES & PROCESSING
Current BC PNP Program Costs
Fees are paid through BC PNP Online and are separate from federal IRCC fees.
SKILLS IMMIGRATION
$1,750
Application fee
SKILLS REGISTRATION
$0
No registration fee
ENTREPRENEUR REGISTRATION
$300
Registration fee
ENTREPRENEUR APPLICATION
$3,500
Application fee
Published processing estimate
WelcomeBC currently indicates that around 80% of Skills Immigration applications are processed in approximately three months. Processing times can vary based on case complexity, volume and available nomination capacity.
EMPLOYER SUPPORT
Your B.C. Employer Has an Important Role
For employer-supported Skills Immigration applications, the employer must meet BC PNP requirements and provide supporting information. A federal LMIA is not required simply to support a BC PNP application.
Employer Declaration
Completed and signed BC PNP employer declaration.
Job Offer & Duties
Signed offer and detailed job description.
Recruitment Evidence
Evidence of recruitment efforts where required.
Business Documents
Corporate, licensing and company information requested by the program.
HOW AVEROU CAN HELP
Build a Stronger BC PNP Strategy
BC PNP selection is increasingly targeted. We can help you understand the current stream rules, review your NOC and job offer, identify employer-side requirements and prepare your supporting documents.
Stream Assessment
Identify the worker or entrepreneur pathway that may fit your profile.
NOC & Job Offer Review
Review occupation, duties, wage and job-offer factors.
Employer Coordination
Clarify required employer declarations and supporting records.
Document Planning
Organize evidence before an invitation or application deadline.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
BC PNP Questions
What are the main BC PNP pathways in 2026?
The program has two main pathways: Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration. Skills Immigration currently includes the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams, with an Express Entry BC option for eligible candidates.
Do I need a job offer for BC PNP Skills Immigration?
The Skilled Worker stream requires a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible B.C. employer. The Health Authority stream requires an eligible offer from a B.C. health authority employer. Entrepreneur Immigration follows different business-based criteria.
Is the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream still open?
No. B.C. announced in 2026 that the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is officially closed.
Are there new BC PNP student streams?
B.C. announced that it will not launch the previously proposed new student streams. Canadian and B.C. education can still affect registration scoring under current Skills Immigration rules.
How much is the Skills Immigration application fee?
The current BC PNP Skills Immigration application fee is $1,750 CAD. There is no fee to submit a Skills Immigration registration.
Does meeting the minimum requirements guarantee an invitation?
No. Most registrations enter a selection pool. B.C. may issue targeted or general invitations based on ranking, labour-market priorities, occupations, wages, professional designations and other selection factors.
CHECK YOUR BC PNP OPTIONS
Could British Columbia Be Your Path to Permanent Residence?
Start with a review of your job offer, NOC, experience, employer, language, qualifications and current B.C. immigration goals.
Information notice:
BC PNP eligibility, occupation priorities, invitation thresholds,
fees and processing times can change. This page is general information
reviewed against official WelcomeBC information in October 2026 and is
not a guarantee of eligibility, invitation or nomination.