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British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

British Columbia is one of Canada’s fastest growing provinces with cities such Vancouver and Victoria. Job opportunities in British Columbia are an attractive option for many foreign workers seeking stable, long term employment. British Columbia boasts ample natural resources and opportunities in resource centric careers.

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for high-demand foreign workers to gain permanent residency and immigrate directly to British Columbia.

British Columbia PNP Streams Foreign Workers

  1. Express Entry BC
  2. Skills Immigration
  3. BC PNP Tech Pilot

 

  1. The Express Entry BC

The Express Entry BC (EEBC) stream of the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a faster way for eligible skilled workers in the federal Express Entry system to obtain permanent resident status in Canada.

Candidates do not require having work experience in B.C. However, they must have a job offer from a BC employer that cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The exception been given to applicants applying under the International Postgraduate category.

Category Job offer Basic criteria
Skilled worker required Job offer in a skilled position
International Graduate required Job offer in a skilled position; studied at post-secondary level in Canada
International Post-Graduate Not required Graduated Master’s/PhD program from an institution located within British Columbia in natural, applied or health sciences
Health care professional required Job offer in a listed health occupation

Successful applicants to the Express Entry BC category obtain a BC PNP provincial nomination certificate which offers them 600 additional points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent Express Entry draw from the pool.

  1. BC PNP Skills Immigration

The Skills Immigration stream of the BC PNP is for people with the skills, experience and qualifications needed by B.C. employers. It uses a points-based invitation system that allows a broad range of workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs to settle in British Columbia permanently.

Category Job offer Basic criteria
Skilled worker Required Job offer in a skilled position
International Graduate Required Job offer in a skilled position; studied at post-secondary level in Canada
International Post-Graduate Not Required Graduated Master’s/PhD program from an institution located within British Columbia in natural, applied or health sciences
Health care professional Required Job offer in a listed health occupation
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Required Job offer in tourism/hospitality, trucking, or food processing industry
  1. BC PNP Tech Pilot

Introduced in 2017, the BC PNP pilot offers a fast-track pathway to Canadian permanent residence for certain foreign tech and IT workers.

The draws have been conducted almost every week in order to minimize the wait for workers and their employers, who both have to meet program eligibility requirements.

B.C. prioritizes applications for the Tech Pilot. Once employees submit a complete application, their file will be assigned to a dedicated Tech Pilot processing team within the next business day. BC PNP usually processes Tech Pilot applications faster than other immigration programs, most of which take minimum 2-3 months.

HOW TO APPLY FOR BC PNP TECH PILOT

In order to apply through the Tech Pilot, immigration candidates need to have a job offer in one of 29 eligible occupations in the province. The job offer must be valid for a minimum of one year with at least 120 days remaining at the time of submitting the application.

The eligible candidates need to first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online portal and register under its Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). They must choose to apply through the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC immigration categories.

The BC PNP will then invite candidates who fulfill the minimum score requirements to apply for a provincial nomination through regular draws.

Invited candidates will then have 30 calendar days to submit their complete application for provincial nomination to BC PNP.

Those candidates, whose applications get approved, can then submit their Canadian permanent residence application with the federal government.

Nominees will receive a work permit support letter that will enable them to work until their immigration application gets processed.

List of 29 Eligible Occupations for the BC PNP Tech Pilot

NOC                                             Job Title

  • 0131                     Telecommunication carriers managers
  • 0213                    Computer and information systems managers
  • 0512                     Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
  • 2131                    Civil engineers
  • 2132                    Mechanical engineers
  • 2133                    Electrical and electronics engineers
  • 2134                    Chemical engineers
  • 2147                    Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
  • 2171                    Information systems analysts and consultants
  • 2172                    Database analysts and data administrators
  • 2173                    Software engineers and designers
  • 2174                    Computer programmers and interactive media developers
  • 2175                    Web designers and developers
  • 2221                    Biological technologists and technicians
  • 2241                    Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
  • 2242                    Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
  • 2243                    Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
  • 2281                    Computer network technicians
  • 2282                    User support technicians
  • 2283                    Information systems testing technicians
  • 5121                     Authors and writers
  • 5122                    Editors
  • 5125                    Translators, terminologists and interpreters
  • 5224                    Broadcast technicians
  • 5225                    Audio and video recording technicians
  • 5226                    Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
  • 5227                   Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts
  • 5241                    Graphic designers and illustrators
  • 6221                  Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade