BC PNP

BC PNP, Mt. Robson, British Columbia

British Columbia, a beautiful Canadian province located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, ranks only behind Ontario and Quebec as the most popular destination for the immigrants.

Boasting the famous West Coast Trail, numerous mountains and lakes, British Columbia is home to Vancouver, which was named the third best city in the world to live in 2019.

The diverse economy of British Columbia focuses on a strong natural resources sector, with a special emphasis on forestry and mining.

The Provincial Nominee Program of British Columbia (BC PNP) provides an opportunity to prospective immigrants, who have the necessary skills and experience required by the province, to obtain a British Columbia Provincial Nominee Certificate. With this certificate, one is perfectly positioned to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Applications under BC PNP are generally accepted under two main streams:

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

Each stream is further divided into categories. Let’s look into these categories.

BC PNP: Entrepreneur Immigration

Entrepreneurs who wish to invest in the economy of British Columbia and settle there might be eligible for permanent residence in Canada.

  • Entrepreneur Immigration Category is for business owners or top managers who are willing to invest into a business in British Columbia;
  • Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot – This pilot program is aimed at entrepreneurs looking to set up a business in a small community in British Columbia;
  • Strategic Projects Category – Under this category, foreign companies can establish an operation in the province of British Columbia. Such companies can nominate up to five managerial, professional or technical stuff for permanent residence in the province.

BC PNP: Skills Immigration

This stream is divided into the following categories:

  • Skilled Worker Category – This category is for specialists with several years of experience in the skilled occupation, who received an eligible job offer in their skilled occupation;
  • Healthcare Professional Category – This category is for physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses and similar health professionals with experience and job offers. There are eleven eligible qualifying health occupations;
  • International Graduate Category – This category is for graduates of eligible Canadian universities or colleges, who completed their studies within the last three years. To be eligible under this category, the graduates must get a job offer from a BC employer;
  • International Post-Graduate Category – This category is for graduates from Master’s and Ph.D. programs of eligible educational institutions in BC. These programs should be related to natural, applied or health sciences. Job offer is NOT required under this category;
  • Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category – This category is for workers in certain entry-level or semi-skilled positions, who are employed in tourism/hospitality, food processing, long-haul trucking and for workers in entry-level or semi-skilled positions who live and work in the Northeast Development Region of British Columbia.

BC PNP: Express Entry British Columbia

Express Entry British Columbia with the general federal Express Entry system and its selection criteria. Eligible applicants receive priority processing of their BC PNP applications and their permanent residence applications if they are nominated.

Read about the latest Express Entry Draw.

Express Entry British Columbia processes individuals in the following Skills Immigration Categories:

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

BC PNP Point Calculation – Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)

On January 27, 2016, the government of British Columbia announced a points-based system to determine whether a candidate can be invited to apply for BC PNP. The system provides a score based on the information the applicants entered into their online profiles.

The score is based on such factors as education, work experience, a job offer from British Columbia, and language. Combined together, that score reflects the individual’s ability to succeed in the labour market of British Columbia and contribute to its economy.

Read more about the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Canadian Immigration Experts

At Jane Katkova & Associates, we are Immigration consultants.
For help with the BC PNP (British Columbia Immigrant Nominee Program), contact us and we will be glad to assist.