Immigrate to British Columbia

British Columbia is one of the most popular provinces in Canada among immigrants. Beautiful nature, mild climate, access to the mountains and Pacific Ocean, and picturesque cities such as Vancouver and Victoria attract thousands of foreign nationals to the province each year.

British Columbia has its own Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) - an economic immigration program administered by the Government of British Columbia’s Immigration Programs Branch. This program allows BC to select and issue nominations to foreign workers, international students, and entrepreneurs to help meet local labour market needs and grow the economy in British Columbia. If you receive a nomination from British Columbia under the BC PNP you and your family can apply to IRCC to become a permanent resident of Canada.

BC Provincial Nominee Program Streams

If British Columbia is your province of choice when planning your move to Canada, there are three immigration pathways available under the BC PNP – Skills Immigration, Express Entry BC, and Entrepreneur Immigration – each with its own eligibility criteria, which will be explored further below.

BC’s Skills Immigration is broken up into a range of different skill categories with varying eligibility, offering opportunities for both experienced and entry level workers. All the categories, except the International Post-Graduate, require a valid job offer. Below, you may find a detailed breakdown of each of the Skills Immigration categories:

The Skilled Worker category recognises BCs growing economic needs by offering a pathway to Permanent Residence to workers in professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupations. To qualify as a Skilled Worker, you must:

Skilled Worker Category

  • Have accepted a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date), from an eligible BC employer, in a skilled occupation Skill Type/Level 0, A or B (TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3);

  • Be qualified for the job;

  • Have a minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in any skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B / TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3);

  • Demonstrate you can support yourself and your dependants;

  • Have legal status or be admissible to Canada;

  • Meet minimum language requirements for occupations under skill level B (TEER 2-3); and,

  • Have a wage offer in line with BC wage rates for the occupation.

For this category, you must also have the support of your employer, who must:

  • Be an established employer in BC;

  • Meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;

  • Provide a signed job offer;

  • Offer a wage in line with industry standards;

  • Provide documents to support your BC PNP application including completing and signing the Employer Declaration Form and submitting documents about the business; and

  • Follow local laws and regulations.

The Health Authority category addresses BC’s need for physicians, midwives, and nurses. To qualify for the Health Authority category, you must:

  • Have a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from a BC public health authority; OR a letter from a health authority that confirms you are a physician or nurse practitioner in BC; OR a letter from an established midwife practice group in BC that confirm your acceptance into the group as an affiliated midwife for a period of at least six months;

  • Meet general BC PNP requirements; and

  • Meet the qualification, experience, education and training requirements of the public health authority for your profession.

Health Authority

This category provides a pathway for entry level and semi-skilled workers in select in-demand occupations in British Columbia. To qualify for this category, you must:

  • Have a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from a BC employer in the tourism/hospitality, healthcare, long-haul trucking or food processing sector in an eligible occupation for your sector (except in the Northeast Development Region of BC, where Skill Level C and D (TEER 4 and 5) occupations are accepted).

  • Have been working full-time for your employer for at least nine consecutive months before applying;

  • Be qualified for the job offered to you (including meeting licensing/registration requirements for select professions);

  • Have a wage in line with BC wage rates for the occupation;

  • Meet minimum language and education requirements;

  • Demonstrate you can support yourself and your dependants;

  • Already have legal immigration status in Canada; and

  • Have the support of your employer, who must meet the same requirements outlined above under the Skilled Worker category.

The list of eligible occupations for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Workers changes from time to time depending on the needs of the province. You may see the full list of in-demand occupations on the official BC PNP website.

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker

The International Graduate category applies to recent graduates from eligible Canadian universities and colleges. To qualify for the International Graduate category, you must:

  • Have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years;

  • Have a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from a BC employer, that is classified as Skill Level A or B (TEER 1, 2 or 3);

  • Be qualified to work in your occupation in BC;

  • Meet minimum language requirements for occupations under skill level B (TEER 2-3);

  • Have a wage offer in line with BC wage rates for the occupation;

  • Demonstrate you can support yourself and your dependants;

  • Have legal status or be admissible to Canada; and

  • Have the support of your employer, who must meet the same requirements outlined above under the Skilled Worker category.

International Graduate

The International Post-Graduate category is for science or engineering graduates from an eligible BC institution. To qualify for the International Post-Graduate category, you must have graduated in the past three years with a Master’s or Doctorate degree from an eligible post-secondary institution n BC, in an eligible natural, applied or health sciences discipline. You must also demonstrate that you have the ability and intent to live, work and economically establish yourself in BC.

International Post-Graduate

BC PNP Tech provides a pathway for select skilled workers in in-demand tech occupations in British Columbia. Although it is not a separate category and instead provides administrative measures that allows workers to be processed more quickly and easily through the BC PNP process. Applicants who are eligible for BC PNP Tech must apply under the Skilled Worker or International Graduate categories. One key difference to note for BC PNP Tech is that if you apply with a valid job offer in an eligible tech occupation, your job offer does not need to be ongoing, as is required for other applicants under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories. However, your job offer must be for at least one year and have at least 120 days remaining at the time you apply.

BC PNP Tech

Skills Immigration Stream

How to apply for Skills Immigration Stream?

STEP 1. Registration

The first step, if you are applying under the Skilled Worker, International Graduate or Entry Level and Semi-Skilled categories, is to create a profile and register in BCPNP Online.

  • You will receive a registration score based on various factors and will be placed in a pool of candidates for your chosen category to await an invitation to apply.

  • Your registration remains active for 12 months or until you receive an invitation to apply.

 If you meet the requirements for the Health Authority or International Post-Graduate categories, you can apply directly in BCPNP online.

2.     Receive an Invitation to Apply

The BC PNP will periodically invite applicants in the registration pool to submit an application for BC PNP nomination. These Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are based on the information provided in registrations and they may target specific factors in applicant profiles, such as region or occupation. If you receive an ITA you have up to 30 calendar days to submit a complete application via BCPNP Online. If you don’t submit your application within the allocated time, your ITA will expire and you would need to submit a new registration to stay in the pool.

3.     Apply for BC PNP Nomination

Once you receive an ITA, you must submit your application in BCPNP Online Portal within 30 days. You will need to complete all sections of the application, submit your application, and pay the processing fee, which is currently $1,150 CAD. After you apply, the BC PNP will assess your application and make a decision according to the criteria specific to your category and the relevant legislation.

The Express Entry BC pathway allows for applicants to obtain an expression of interest to apply for a BC nomination through their Express Entry profile. This pathway is available under the Skilled Worker, Health Authority, International Graduate and BC PNP Tech categories described above.

Express Entry BC

To be eligible for Express Entry BC, you must meet the criteria for one of these categories, and:

  • Meet the criteria for at least one of the Express Entry programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program or Canadian Experience Class);

  • Submit an Express Entry profile into the pool, and in doing so:

    • obtain a valid Express Entry Profile Number;

    • obtain a Job Seeker Validation Code; and

    • Indicate your interest in immigrating to BC.

If you have met the above criteria and are identified by the province as suitable for a nomination, you will receive an invitation to apply from the province. If you wish to accept the invitation, you must submit your application and pay the $1,150 CAD application fee. If you are successful in being granted a nomination, you will receive 600 additional CRS points, which should see you drawn in the next round of invitations for Express Entry.

The purpose of this pathway is to enable international entrepreneurs to set up businesses that support the innovation and economic growth of British Columbia. This pathway is not a direct path to permanent residency like the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC pathways. Instead, if approved, it allows you to first come to Canada as a temporary resident, and then to apply for permanent residency later, if you have successfully started a business.

There are currently 3 categories for Entrepreneur Immigration: Base category, Regional Pilot, and Strategic Projects.

Entrepreneur Immigration

Base Category

Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category is designed for experienced entrepreneurs who intend to establish new businesses or take over and grow existing businesses in British Columbia. To qualify for the Base Category, you must:

  • Have a personal net worth of at least $600,000 CAD;

  • Have business experience OR a combination of management experience and the equivalent of a 2-year post-secondary diploma;

  • Speak basic English or French (equivalent to at least CLB level 4);

  • Have been lawfully admitted in the country where you now live;

  • Have legal status or be admissible to Canada;

  • Establish an eligible new business or buy and improve an existing business in BC;

  • Make a personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD in the business; and

  • Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

If you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for Base Category you can begin the application process. Overall, to apply for the Base Category you will need to:

  • Create a comprehensive business proposal;

  • Register your proposal with the BC PNP and pay a $300 registration fee;

    • If you meet the minimum requirements you will enter the qualified pool where, if the province identifies your business as suitable, you will receive an ITA and have 4 months to submit your application.

    • If invited to apply, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm will need to review your net worth and verify your funds.

    • You may be required to attend an interview as part of the application process.

    • If your application is approved by the BC PNP, you will receive a letter of support.

  • Get a work permit

    • You will need to apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving your letter of support.

    • Once granted your work permit you must arrive in BC within 12 months.

    • Once you arrive in BC you will have up to 20 months to implement your business plan, manage your business and meet performance expectations agreed upon with the province.

  • Get a BC PNP Nomination

    • You must submit a final business report and proof of language skills between 18 to 20 months after you arrive in BC in order to be nominated.

    • If the BC PNP is satisfied with your report they will issue you a nomination to apply for permanent residence.

    • Apply for permanent residence to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.

Regional Pilot

The criteria for the Regional Pilot is similar to the Base Category, with the key difference being that the business will operate in a community where your type of business is a required priority. As such, prospective candidates must have an exploratory visit in the community, if the community identifies the business proposal as a possible match with their priorities. If the community visit is a success you may request a referral from the community to register and apply for the Regional Pilot.

Another notable difference to the Base Category is that the Regional Pilot has a smaller personal net worth requirement of at least $300,000 CAD, of which at least $100,000 CAD must be invested into the business. Here is a list of communities participating in BC Regional Pilot:

Regional Pilot Communities in the Cariboo

  • 100 Mile House

  • Mackenzie (temporarily paused)

  • Prince George

  • Quesnel

  • Williams Lake

Regional Pilot Communities in Kootenays

  • Castlegar & Central Kootenay (Areas I & J)

  • Columbia Valley & East Kootenay

  • Cranbrook

  • Kimberley

  • Nelson & Central Kootenay (Areas E & F)

  • Rossland

  • Trail

  • West Boundary (Area E)

Regional Pilot Communities in Lower Mainland / Southwest region

  • Lillooet

Regional Pilot Communities in North Coast

  • Regional District of Kitimat-Stikine (Areas B, C, E)

  • Terrace

Regional Pilot Communities in Northeast

  • Fort St. John

  • Tumbler Ridge

Regional Pilot Communities in Thompson Okanagan

  • Chase

  • Clinton (Temporarily paused)

  • Penticton

  • Salmon Arm

  • Vernon

Regional Pilot Communities in Vancouver Island/Coast region

  • Campbell River

  • Comox

  • Mount Waddington

  • Port Alberni

  • Powell River

Strategic Projects

Strategic Projects is a category for foreign corporations who want to permanently transfer their key staff to British Columbia, to apply their corporate knowledge and expertise in establishing operations that are integral to the growth and expansion of their core business in BC. Strategic Projects category allows foreign corporations apply for nomination from BC to support the permanent residence of up to five current senior employees who will actively manage operations in British Columbia.

To be eligible, the foreign corporation must meet the following requirements:

  • be well-established and be in good financial standing,

  • demonstrate investment readiness and capacity for international expansion into British Columbia, and

  • provide significant economic benefit to the province by making a high value investment in B.C.