Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

The trend of low points thresholds in immigration draws conducted by the government of British Columbia remains consistent, as more workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs received an invitation to apply for a provincial nomination under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) following the latest draws that took place on September 27 and October 4. 

A total of 377 invitations to apply to the (BC PNP) were issued over this period, including canidates invited under the program's recent Tech Pilot.

Many (BC PNP) categories are managed under British Columbia Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). In order to apply through the (SIRS), eligible candidates are required to register an account, whereupon they are assigned a score based on their economic and human capital credentials. Candidates with the highest scores are then invited to apply when the government of British Columbia conducts one of its periodic draws.

All (BC PNP) categories managed under the (SIRS) requires candidates to have a job offer from an employer in British Columbia.

Candidates invited through an Express Entry-aligned sub-category are now in a position to apply for and receive an enhanced (BC PNP) nomination certificate. A successful nomination results in applicants receiving 600 additional points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and an Invitation To Apply (ITA) at a subsequent draw from the federal Express Entry pool.

It is important to note that an invitation to apply under the (BC PNP) is not the same as the (ITA) issued at the federal Express Entry level.

The remaining skilled worker, graduate, and entrepreneur invitees will have their applications for permanent residence processed outside Express Entry after they receive a nomination from British Columbia.

Eligible individuals interested in applying for immigration to Canada through certain categories of the (BC PNP) are required to enter into the (SIRS) pool. Once in this pool, candidates are assigned a points score based on civil status, education, work experience, and other factors. 
 

Date	Category	Minimum Score Required	Number of ITAs Issued
September 27, 2017 (Includes tech-only draw on October 4)	EEBC – Skilled Worker	73	377
	EEBC – International Graduate	67
	SI - Skilled Worker	73
	SI – International Graduate	67
	SI - Entry Level and Semi-Skilled	40
September 27, 2017	Entrepreneur Immigration	119	12

 

Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker

The Express Entry British Columbia – Skilled Worker category is for international skilled workers who have post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation. Candidates must be eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool. A successful application under this category results in the candidate receiving 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and a subsequent (ITA) at the federal level.

Express Entry BC – International Graduate

International graduates who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within the past two years may be eligible to apply under the Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate category. Interestingly, this category is open to eligible graduates who graduated from a university or college in any location in Canada; it is not restricted to graduates from BC universities and colleges. This category is also aligned with the federal Express Entry system.

Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker

This base category is open to workers with post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a skilled occupation. A job offer is required.

Skills Immigration – International Graduate

This category is for international students who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within two years of applying to the (BC PNP). While applicants do not necessarily need prior work experience, applicants are required to obtain a job offer from a British Columbia employer.

Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

This category is open to candidates who may not be eligible for other Canadian immigration programs, as it allows certain non-skilled workers to apply for permanent residence. Candidates must work in an eligible occupation within the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or food processing industries, or in a NOC skill level C or D occupation in the Northeast Development Region of the province.

Entrepreneur Immigration

This stream provides a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for experienced business people who can establish themselves in British Columbia and invest in and operate a commercially viable business that can provide significant benefits to the provincial economy. 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). 
 
For further information on British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), please click here.

Feel free to fill out our Free Assessment, and find out if you qualify under any of the business immigration programs offered.