British Columbia (B.C.) is the westernmost province of Canada. It is the hub of cultural diversity & economic growth. Here’s more on the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

Home to the country’s third-largest city, Vancouver, BC, is one of the most diverse provinces in all of Canada. 

The British Columbia economy focuses on a strong natural resources sector, emphasizing on mining & forestry. In addition, its natural environment, including its unique coastal climate & expansive forests, is one of the most beautiful places across the globe. 

British Columbia Immigration Streams 

If you are seeking to immigrate to British Columbia, then you have three alternatives, i.e.,

• Skills Immigration Stream
• Entrepreneur Immigration 
• Express Entry British Columbia Stream 

The Skills Immigration Stream is for healthcare professionals, skills professionals, international graduates, post-graduates, and entry-level & semi-skilled workers. All applicants need to have an employment offer letter or a job, except for international post-graduates. 

Moreover, the Express Entry BC Stream is for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, & post-graduates, & international graduates.

Skills Immigration 

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Skills Immigration is divided into the following categories: 

• Skilled Worker Category 

This category is for applicants with an eligible employment offer in a skilled profession. In addition, workers are expected to have a few years of work experience in the profession. 

• Healthcare Professional Category

Under this category, applicants having relevant work experience & job offers, like physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, etc., might apply. In addition, they must have an eligible/ suitable job offer for one of the 11 health professions. 

• International Graduate Category 

This category/ classification is for applicants who have graduated from a renowned Canadian university/ college in the last three years. Moreover, applicants must have a job offer from an employer in British Columbia in order to be eligible under this sub-category. 

• International Post-Graduate Category 

As the name suggests, this category is for applicants with Master’s or Doctoral degrees from a reputed educational institution in B.C. in natural, applied, or health science study programs. No employment offer is needed to apply under this category.  

• Entry Level & Semi-Skilled Worker Category  

Professionals in entry-level/ semi-skilled positions in tourism, food processing, long-haul trucking, etc., might be eligible for immigration via this program. 

Application Fee: $1,150 for processing. A request for review would result in an additional CAD 500. 

Processing time: 2-3 months

Minimum Requirements: 

• Applicants must have accepted a full-time job offer for a TEER 4 or 5 job.
• They should have a wage offer in line with provincial wage rates.
• They must show that they can support themselves & their families. 
• They should meet minimum language requirements for the entry-level & semi-skilled labor categories. 
• Employers must also meet eligibility criteria. 

How it Works 

You must first register with SIRS so that the province can review your job, location, education, language ability, & wage against the labor market needs. Afterwards, you can register by completing all registration sections with the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program online. 

Further, you will get a registration score depending on numerous factors. Through this, you will be able to enter into a selection pool for the selected category. Applicants who meet specific criteria & who have a score above a specific threshold can apply for a provincial/ regional nomination in a provincial draw. 

In addition, applicants will have around 30 days to apply via the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program. 

Finally, if you receive a provincial nomination, you can then apply for P.R.

Express Entry British Columbia 

Express Entry BC aligns with the Express Entry immigration selection system of the federal government, enabling eligible applicants to obtain priority processing of both their PNP application & if nominated, then their P.R. application. 

So, here are the Skills Immigration categories which might be processed via Express Entry BC:

• Skilled Worker Category
• Healthcare Professional Category 
• International Graduate Category 
• International Post-Graduate Category 

Application Fee: CAD 1,150

Processing Time: 2-3 months 

Minimum Requirements 

An applicant: 

• Must have a job seeker validation code from Express Entry System
• Should have a valid profile with the federal Express Entry system
• Should have a full-time offer of employment 
• Must have wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates
• Should meet minimum language requirements 
• Must meet additional requirements specific to the category 
• And finally, one must have an eligible employer 

How It Works 

Before you start, you must already have a valid Express Entry profile with IRCC. 

Further, you must register with SIRS so that the province can review your job, education, location, language ability, & wages against provincial labor market needs. You can complete all the registration sections with the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program online. 

Further, you will get a registration score depending on numerous factors. Through this, you will be able to enter into a selection pool for the selected category. Moreover, applicants who meet specific criteria & who have a score above a specific threshold can apply for a provincial/ regional nomination in a provincial draw. 

After that, applicants will have 30 days to apply via the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program online. 

In case you are selected, you will obtain a provincial nomination via the Express Entry system.

Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) 

SIRS is a point-based system that gives applicants a registration score that determines if they are invited to apply or not. The score is based on numerous factors, like education level, years of direct work experience, & a British Columbia employment offer. This reflects the individual’s ability to succeed in the labor market, thus contributing to the overall economy. 

SIRS Scoring 

The factors outlined below determine the points allocated to an applicant registered under SIRS. If & when an applicant is invited to apply, all the data provided in the registration will be verified against the information in the application.   

Scoring Sections

	Scoring Sections	Maximum Points
Economic Factors (80)	Hourly Wage of the B.C. Job Offer	55
	Regional District of Employment	25
Human Capital Factors (120)	Directly Related Work Experience	40
	Highest Level of Education	40
	Language	40
Total Points Available		200

 

What Is Express Entry? 

Express Entry is an application management system the federal government uses for the nation’s three main economic class immigration programs, i.e., CEC, FSTP, and FSWP. 

Moreover, many PNP streams also use the Express Entry system. 

Applicants in the Express Entry system are assessed based on multiple factors, like work experience, age, education, language abilities, etc. In addition, they are offered scores based on these factors according to CRS. Applicants with the highest CRS are then invited to apply for P.R. via an Express Entry draw in Canada.

Express Entry applicants who obtain a provincial nomination from British Columbia are granted an additional 600 CRS scores. As a result, this guarantees an ITA for P.R. in the Express Entry draw. 

Entrepreneur Immigration 

If you wish to immigrate to B.C. as an entrepreneur, you have three alternatives, i.e., 

• Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category

This category is for senior managers/ business owners who intend to invest funds into an established/ proposed business in B.C. 

• Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot

This new pilot is for international entrepreneurs seeking to establish a new business in a small/ minor community in B.C. 

• Strategic Projects Category

Foreign-controlled companies/ industries can set up an operation in British Columbia through this category. Moreover, up to five key foreign managerial, professional, & technical staff members can be nominated for P.R. in the province.

Application Fees

• Entrepreneur Immigration Fees

• Registration: $300
• Application:$3,500
• Request for Review: $500

• Strategic Projects Fee

• Registration: $300
• Application: $3,500
• Key Staff: $1,000

• Processing Times

• Registration score notification: 6 weeks 
• Application decision notification: 4 months

How It Works: 

If you are interested in Entrepreneur Immigration Categories, you must first complete your registration & provide a short business concept through British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program online. 

Then, based on the data provided, you will obtain a score. Eligible applicants will be placed in the pool & as a result, the candidates who have scores the highest will be invited to apply.

Once invited, you will have around 4 months to submit a complete application via BC PNP online. After that, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm will review your net worth. 

If you are successful, you will further be given a two-year work permit & will be allowed to establish your business in the province. In addition, you will have up to 20 months to implement your business plan. Finally, then you will be able to get a provincial nomination from B.C. & apply for P.R. 

Thus, if you are interested in Strategic Projects Category, you must ensure that your company & critical staff are eligible. 

First, you have to make an exploratory visit to the province to learn more about the local business environment. Further, you must contact the BC PNP to discuss the business proposal. 

Then, you have to register the company’s interest to apply. At this stage, you have to give the details of the company, the proposed investment, & qualifications of the staff. 

Further, the province will review your application & if successful, you will be invited to apply. You should submit your application within 90 days. Finally, if the application is approved, you, along with staff members, will sign a Corporate Performance Agreement with the province.

Each of you will further obtain a work permit support letter which will help you apply for a work permit via IRCC. 

As you fulfill all your obligations under the performance agreement, you will then submit a final report to BC PNP. After that, you will obtain a provincial nomination & will have around 180 days to submit your application for P.R. with IRCC. 

 

Category	Additional Requirements
Entrepreneur Immigration	Should have a net worth of at least CAD 600,000. Should be able to demonstrate business/ management experience. Must be able to meet language requirements in English/ French. Must establish a new business/ purchase and improve the pre-existing business. Should make a personal investment of CAD 200,000 (min.) in the business Should create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen/ permanent resident.
Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot	Must have a net worth of a minimum of CAD 300,000 Must have three years of work experience as an active business owner-manager, four years of work experience as a senior manager, or a combination of one year of work experience as an owner-manager and two years of work experience as a senior manager. Must meet education requirements. Must meet language requirements in English/ French (CLB level 4 or higher). Businesses must meet additional requirements.
Strategic Projects Category	The company must be well-established and in sound financial standing. Must showcase investment capacity to expand into B.C. It should provide major economic benefits to the province.

 

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – Tech   

British Columbia frequently holds tech draws, thus inviting eligible skilled professionals to apply for a provincial nomination. 

The initiative began as a pilot program in 2017 to address the labor shortages in the province in the tech sector. Moreover, in June 2021, British Columbia made it a permanent program. 

This program is for skilled professionals with employment offers in one of the 29 eligible professions in the province. In addition, the job also has to be at least one year in duration, along with 120 calendar days remaining at the time of submitting the application. 

Conclusion 

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program is integral for skilled professionals, healthcare workers, graduates, entrepreneurs, etc., seeking immigration to Canada. 

Through its numerous streams & categories, the program caters to the needs of the candidates, aligning them with opportunities that match their experience & skills. 

By contributing to the economic growth of the province, its cultural enrichment as well as economic development, the BC PNP has solidified its prominence. As an effective immigration program, it continues to attract applicants, thus fostering a prosperous & inclusive society in British Columbia. 

 

FAQs

• Is it easy to immigrate to British Columbia? 

Immigrating to B.C. might be easy for one applicant but difficult for another. Therefore, it is advisable to select a stream that is right for you, depending on your situation. 

For instance, if you have received an employment offer in a skilled profession & you have an Express Entry profile, then you might want to consider applying for the Skilled Worker category under the Express Entry BC stream. 

• Is it expensive to live in British Columbia? 

The cost of living in B.C. depends upon where you live. The provinces have their own cost of living calculator, which enables you to see the costs of healthcare, taxes, transportation, housing, utilities, etc., in different areas of the province. 

• Does BC have less snow as compared to the rest of Canada? 

Yes, areas, including Vancouver Island, have mild winters. The temperature never goes below 0 degrees Celsius & does not snow often. 

• Does BC PNP guarantee P.R.? 

If you obtain a provincial nomination, you will have the opportunity to apply for P.R. with the government of Canada. 

In addition, if you obtain a provincial nomination via the Express Entry system, you are granted an additional 600 CRS points, guaranteeing you will receive an ITA for P.R.

Receiving a provincial nomination puts you in an excellent position as you apply for P.R. with IRCC. 

Finally, IRCC reviews your application & ensures that you pass an admissibility test/ check to decide whether to give you P.R. or not!