British Columbia’s PNP Saves PR Spots For Healthcare Workers

British Columbia’s PNP saves PR spots for healthcare workers. The province announced major changes to its Provincial Nominee Program, thus reducing the number of applications it will accept to 1,100 in 2025. 

The BC PNP has reserved most of these application spaces for healthcare workers, although a small portion has been set aside for entrepreneurs and other ‘high economic impact’ applicants. 

At the same time, the province tightened the eligibility rules for workers applying through the Health Authority stream. 

Which Healthcare Workers Are Eligible For PR Through The BC PNP?

Effective April 14 onwards, only workers who contribute directly to the provision of healthcare are eligible under the Health Authority stream. 

This is a shift from the previous criteria, under which anyone with a full-time job offer from a British Columbia public health authority – including support and administrative staff – could apply. 

To be eligible for the Health Authority stream, you must now work in one of the following professions: 

To qualify as an employee, you should have a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a BC health authority. 

Which Employers Are Eligible To Support Health Authority Applications? 

British Columbia’s PNP saves PR spots for healthcare workers. Well, applicants must have a job offer by one of the British Columbia’s public health authorities: 

• Provincial Health Services Authority
• First Nations Health Authority
• Fraser Health
• Interior Health
• Island Health
• Northern Health
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• Providence Health Care

The health authority must agree to submit your application.

Every health authority has its own process for endorsing British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program applications.

Can Self-Employed Healthcare Workers Still Qualify? 

Physicians, nurse practitioners, and midwives who are not directly employed by a health authority might still qualify if they have the support of a British Columbia public health authority or midwife practice and are ready to work in their profession in the province. 

These applicants must provide a recommendation letter and supporting document from a BC public health authority or midwife practice group that confirms: 

• Qualifications 
• Work location
• Support of the health authority or midwife practice group 
• They are presently working in their field in BC 

Other Professions Nominated Through The BC PNP In 2025 

As British Columbia’s PNP saves PR spots for healthcare workers, let us now discuss other professions nominated through BC PNP. 

The province will be setting aside a limited number of applications for entrepreneurs and ‘high economic impact applicants.’ 

The province has stated that invitations to apply will continue to be issued to entrepreneurs throughout 2025 without specifying how many ITAs have been allocated for this. 

Meanwhile, little information has been shared regarding who qualifies as high economic impact applicants. These could be applicants with strong work experience, high salaries, those qualified in sought-after professions, and/or contributing in other ways to the economy. 

The BC PNP will nominate approximately 100 such applicants from the registration pool in 2025. 

Why Has The BC PNP Restricted Its Nominations? 

British Columbia’s PNP saves PR spots for healthcare workers. However, the program has restricted its nominations. 

Earlier this year, the province’s nomination allocation for 2025 was slashed by 50% compared to last year. 

The province only obtained 4,000 spots for 2025. Meanwhile, the BC PNP already started the year with a backlog of 5,200, exceeding its annual nomination capacity. In order to manage this limited quota, the BC PNP has suspended opening certain streams and will process existing applications in its backlog while only accepting 1,100 new ones in 2025. 

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