Provincial Nominations – Immigrating to BC: An Overview of the BC PNP
As the pandemic has come to an end and Express Entry draws have resumed this summer, many foreign nationals are now resuming their attempts to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents. Although it is good news that the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class Express Entry draws are back in full swing, following the programs being paused throughout much of the pandemic, the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) cut-off is currently particularly high and likely to remain above 500 for the foreseeable future. This means that many candidates in the pool will not receive an invitation to apply (ITA) anytime soon.
As such, it is a good time to explore alternative routes to obtaining permanent residency (PR) in Canada or ways to increase your CRS score, in the hopes of obtaining an ITA through Express Entry. One of the best options to do this is by obtaining a nomination through a provincial nominee program (PNP). We recently released blog posts about the Ontario and Alberta provincial nomination programs, and in this blog post, we will give an overview of the PNP program in another popular province – British Columbia (BC).
Recap: key things to know about the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Canada’s PNP program is designed for PR applicants who have identified a specific province in which they want to settle, and possess skills and experience which is in high demand in that province. To obtain a nomination from your province of choice, you must intend to live in that province, thereby contributing to the province’s economic growth.[1]
Introduction to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
If BC is your province of choice when planning your move to Canada, there are three immigration pathways available under the BC PNP – Skills Immigration, Express Entry BC, and Entrepreneur Immigration – each with its own eligibility criteria, which will be explored further below.
Skills Immigration
BC’s Skills Immigration is broken up into a range of different skill categories with varying eligibility, offering opportunities for both experienced and entry-level workers. The categories comprise Skilled Workers, Health Authority, Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Workers, International Graduates, International Post-Graduate, and the BC PNP Tech Pathway. All the categories, except the International Post-Graduate, require a valid job offer. An overview of the eligibility requirements for each is outlined below:
Skilled Worker
The Skilled Worker category recognizes BCs growing economic needs. This is to qualify as a Skilled Worker, you must:
Have accepted a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from an eligible BC employer and be in a skilled occupation Skill Type/Level 0, A or B (note – in November 2022 the National Occupational Classification will switch from the current system to the new TEER system, and the equivalent skilled occupations will be TEER 0, 1, 2 and 3);
Be qualified for the job;
Have a minimum of two years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in any skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B / TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3);
Demonstrate you can support yourself and your dependants;
Have legal status or be admissible to Canada;
Meet minimum language requirements for occupations under skill level B (TEER 2-3);
Have a wage offer in line with BC wage rates for the occupation; and
For this category, you must also have the support of your employer, who must:
Be an established employer in BC;
Meet domestic labor market recruitment requirements;
Provide a signed job offer;
Offer a wage in line with industry standards;
Provide documents to support your BC PNP application including completing and signing the Employer Declaration Form and submitting documents about the business; and
Follow local laws and regulations.
Health Authority
The Health Authority category addresses BC’s need for physicians, midwife,s and nurses.
To qualify for the Health Authority category, you must:
Have a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from a BC public health authority; OR a letter from a health authority that confirms you are a physician or nurse practitioner in BC; OR a letter from an established midwife practice group in BC that confirm your acceptance into the group as an affiliated midwife for a period of at least six months;
Meet general BC PNP requirements; and
Meet the qualification, experience, education, and training requirements of the public health authority for your profession.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker
This category provides a pathway for entry-level and semi-skilled workers in select in-demand occupations in BC.
To qualify for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category, you must:
Have a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from a BC employer in the tourism/hospitality, healthcare, long-haul trucking, or food processing sector in an eligible occupation for your sector (except in the Northeast Development Region of BC, where Skill Level C and D (TEER 4 and 5) occupations are accepted).
Have been working full-time for your employer for at least nine consecutive months before applying;
Be qualified for the job offered to you (including meeting licensing/registration requirements for select professions);
Have a wage in line with BC wage rates for the occupation;
Meet minimum language and education requirements;
Demonstrate you can support yourself and your dependants;
Already have level immigration status in Canada; and
Have the support of your employer, who must meet the same requirements outlined above under the Skilled Worker category.
International Graduate
The International Graduate category applies to recent graduates from eligible Canadian universities and colleges.
To qualify for the International Graduate category, you must:
Have completed a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years;
Have a valid job offer that is full-time and ongoing (has no end date) from a BC employer, that is classified as Skill Level A or B (TEER 1, 2, or 3);
Be qualified to work in your occupation in BC;
Meet minimum language requirements for occupations under skill level B (TEER 2-3);
Have a wage offer in line with BC wage rates for the occupation;
Demonstrate you can support yourself and your dependants;
Have legal status or be admissible to Canada; and
Have the support of your employer, who must meet the same requirements outlined above under the Skilled Worker category.
International Post-Graduate
The International Post-Graduate category is for science or engineering graduates from an eligible BC institution.
To qualify for the International Post-Graduate category, you must have graduated in the past three years with a Master’s or Doctorate degree from an eligible post-secondary institution in BC, in an eligible natural, applied, or health sciences discipline. You must also demonstrate that you have the ability and intent to live, work, and economically establish yourself in BC.
BC PNP Tech
BC PNP Tech provides a pathway for select skilled workers in in-demand tech occupations in BC. Although it is not a separate category and instead provides administrative measures that allow workers to be processed more quickly and easily through the BC PNP process. Applicants who are eligible for BC PNP Tech must apply under the Skilled Worker or International Graduate categories (see overviews above for eligibility criteria).
One key difference to note for BC PNP Tech is that if you apply with a valid job offer in an eligible tech occupation, your job offer does not need to be ongoing, as is required for other applicants under the Skilled Worker and International Graduate categories. However, your job offer must be for at least one year and have at least 120 days remaining at the time you apply.
How to Apply – Skills Immigration
There are three steps to applying for a skills immigration nomination:
1. Registration
You must submit a registration if you are applying under the Skilled Worker, International Graduate or Entry Level and Semi-Skilled categories.
You will get a registration score based on various factors and will be placed in a pool of candidates for your chosen category to await an invitation to apply.
Registration remains active for 12 months or until you receive an invitation to apply.
If you meet the requirements for the Health Authority or International Post-Graduate categories, you can apply directly in BCPNP online.
2. Invitation
The BC PNP will periodically invite applicants in the registration pool to submit an application for a nomination.
Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are based on the information provided in registrations;
ITAs may target specific factors in applicant profiles, such as region or occupation
If you receive an ITA you have up to 30 calendar days to submit a complete application via BCPNP Online.
If you don’t submit your application, your ITA will expire after 30 days you will need to submit a new registration to stay in the pool.
3. Application
Once you receive an ITA, to submit your application you will need to log into your profile with BCPNP Online, complete all sections of the application, submit your application, and pay the processing fee, which is currently $1,150 CAD.
After you apply, the BC PNP will assess your application and make a decision according to the criteria specific to your category and the relevant legislation.
Express Entry BC
The Express Entry BC pathway allows applicants to obtain an expression of interest to apply for a BC nomination through their Express Entry profile. This pathway is available under the Skilled Worker, Health Authority, International Graduate, and BC PNP Tech categories described above. To be eligible for Express Entry BC, you must meet the criteria for one of these categories,:
Meet the criteria for at least one of the Express Entry programs (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, or Canadian Experience Class);
Submit an Express Entry profile into the pool, and in doing so:
obtain a valid Express Entry Profile Number;
obtain a Job Seeker Validation Code; and
Indicate your interest in immigrating to BC.
If you have met the above criteria and are identified by the province as suitable for a nomination, you will receive an invitation to apply from the province. If you wish to accept the invitation, you must submit your application and pay the $1,150 CAD application fee. If you are successful in being granted a nomination, you will receive 600 additional CRS points, which should see you drawn in the next round of invitations for Express Entry.
Entrepreneur Immigration
The final pathway through the BC PNP is Entrepreneur Immigration. The purpose of this pathway is to enable international entrepreneurs to set up businesses that support the innovation and economic growth of BC. This pathway is not a direct path to permanent residency like the Skills Immigration and Express Entry pathways. Instead, if approved, it allows you to first come to Canada as a temporary resident, and then to apply for permanent residency later, if you have successfully started a business.
There are currently three categories for Entrepreneur Immigration: Base category, Regional Pilot, and Strategic Projects.
Base Category
To qualify for the Base Category, you must:
Have a personal net worth of at least $600,000 CAD;
Have business experience OR a combination of management experience and the equivalent of a 2-year post-secondary diploma;
Speak basic English or French (equivalent to at least CLB level 4);
Have been lawfully admitted in the country where you now live
Have legal status or be admissible to Canada;
Establish an eligible new business or buy and improve an existing business in BC;
Make a personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD in the business; and
Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
To apply for the Base Category you will need to:
Create a comprehensive business proposal;
Register your proposal with the BC PNP and pay a $300 registration fee; Get a work permit
If you meet the minimum requirements you will enter the qualified pool where, if the province identifies your business as suitable, you will receive an ITA and have 4 months to submit your application.
If invited to apply, a BC PNP-authorized accounting firm will need to review your net worth and verify your funds.
You may be required to attend an interview as part of the application process.
If your application is approved by the BC PNP, you will receive a letter of support.
Get a work permit
You will need to apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving your letter of support.
Once granted your work permit you must arrive in BC within 12 months.
Get a work permit
Once you arrive in BC you will have up to 20 months to implement your business plan, manage your business, and meet performance expectations agreed upon with the province.
Get a BC PNP Nomination
You must submit a final business report and proof of language skills between 18 to 20 months after you arrive in BC in order to be nominated.
If the BC PNP is satisfied with your report they will issue you a nomination to apply for permanent residence.
Apply for permanent residence to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.
Regional Pilot
The criteria for the Regional Pilot is similar to the Base Category, with the key difference being that the business will operate in a community where your type of business is a required priority. As such, prospective candidates must have an exploratory visit in the community, if the community identifies the business proposal as a possible match with their priorities. If the community visit is a success you may request a referral from the community to register and apply for the Regional Pilot.
Another notable difference to the Base Category is that the Regional Pilot has a smaller personal net worth requirement of at least $300,000 CAD, of which at least $100,000 CAD must be invested into the business.
Strategic Projects
The final category of Entrepreneur Immigration is Strategic Projects which is for foreign corporations to permanently transfer key staff to BC, to apply their corporate knowledge and expertise where strategic investment opportunities are identified in BC.
More information on the BC PNP
With various programs and categories to choose from, navigating the provincial nomination process can be a daunting task. To discuss your eligibility for a PNP, if you have questions or want assistance in navigating this process, we recommend you book a consultation to speak to one of our lawyers who will be happy to help.
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About the author:
Mark Holthe
Canadian Immigration Lawyer, CEO
