British Colombia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

Famous for its Strait of Georgia, the Della Falls, and of course, fresh seafood and salmon, this beautiful province is located in the most western part of Canada. It is the third largest province, 4 times the size of Great Britain, with breathtaking mountains and heavens and some of the mildest weather in Canada.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province, to receive a British Columbia Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will allow that foreign national to apply for Canadian permanent residence with processing times that are faster than other Canadian immigration classes.

Currently, The BC PNP accepts applications under two main immigration categories:

• Skills Immigration (including Express Entry British Columbia)
• Entrepreneur Immigration

Note: On June 18, 2019, the BC PNP issued invitations for qualified candidates to apply through the Skills Immigration and Express Entry stream and June 13, 2019, for the Entrepreneur Immigration stream.

Skills Immigration: For workers and recent graduates possessing the requisite skills, experience, and qualifications sought by employers in British Columbia.

Skilled Worker:

• Accepted an indefinite, full-time job offer from a BC employer.
• Job offer falls under NOC levels 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Have at least two years of full-time experience in NOC levels 0, 1, 2, or 3.
• Meet language requirements and wage standards.
• Ability to support yourself and dependents.

Health Authority:

• Indefinite, full-time job offer from a BC public health authority or confirmation letter from a health authority/midwife group.
• Meet education, training, and qualification criteria.

Entry Level and Semi-skilled:

• Accepted an indefinite, full-time job offer from a BC employer.
• Occupation listed as eligible under NOC levels 4 or 5.
• For the Northeast Development Region, NOC levels 4 or 5 apply excluding live-in caregivers.
• At least nine consecutive months of full-time work before registration.
• Meet job qualifications, language, education, and wage standards.
• Ability to support yourself and dependents.

International Graduate:

• Completed degree, diploma, or certificate from a Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years.
• Accepted an indefinite, full-time job offer in NOC levels 1, 2, or 3 from a BC employer.
• Management occupations (NOC level 0) not eligible.
• Meet job qualifications and language standards.
• Wage offer in line with BC standards.
• Ability to support yourself and dependents.

International Post-graduate:

• Obtained eligible graduate-level education in BC within the last three years (Master’s or Doctoral degrees).
• Demonstrated ability and intent to live, work, and establish economically in BC.

Entrepreneur Immigration: For seasoned entrepreneurs aiming to establish and actively oversee a business within the province.

Base Stream:

• Personal Requirements:
  • Personal net worth of at least CAD$600,000.
  • Business or management experience, or equivalent of a 2-year post-secondary diploma if no business experience.
  • Basic English or French language skills at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher.
  • Lawfully admitted in the country of residence.
  • Eligible for legal immigration status in Canada.
• Business, Job, and Investment Requirements:
  • Establish an eligible new business or enhance an existing one.
  • Invest at least CAD$200,000 personally into the business.
  • Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Regional Pilot:

• Designed for foreign entrepreneurs starting a new business in smaller communities.
• Must meet specific program criteria:
  • Establish an eligible new business aligned with community priorities.
  • Show business or management experience.
  • Personal net worth of at least CAD$300,000.
  • Invest at least CAD$100,000 personally into the business.
  • Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
  • Demonstrate language proficiency at CLB 4.
  • Eligible for legal immigration status in Canada.
  • Lawfully admitted in the current country of residence.

Strategic Projects:

• Eligible foreign corporations must:
  • Be well-established and financially sound.
  • Demonstrate readiness and capacity for international expansion into BC.
  • Provide significant economic benefit to BC through high-value investment.
  • Invest a minimum equity of $500,000 into operations in BC.
  • Establish or expand an eligible business in BC.
  • Create a minimum of three new full-time equivalent jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents per foreign key staff member proposed (maximum of five key staff).