British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – Full Guide

If you have always wished to immigrate to the Canadian province of British Columbia, BC Provincial Nominee is a program that can nominate you for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You can consider this article as your BC PNP guide to become a permanent resident at ease.

What is BC PNP?

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a program administered in collaboration with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in harmony with Canada-British Columbia Immigration Agreement (CBCIA) in 2015.

On a yearly basis, a certain number of nominations are availed by IRCC to applicants who are able to meet British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program requirements.

Through these nominations, trained entrepreneurs and in demand foreign workers are able to become BC’s permanent residents.

Moreover, these nominations determine the number of entrepreneurs and foreign workers that would receive Invitation to Apply for their PR.

If you are eligible for BC PNP, you are likely to be included in the next draw that would get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.

BC PNP pathways/streams

If you want to become a BC permanent resident, you need to apply under one of the available pathways/streams. Each of these BC PNP pathways/streams comprises of different categories.

Moreover, these BC PNP pathway categories are applicable based on your National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level, Job or studentship status.

Below are the available British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) pathways/streams.

• Skills Immigration
• Express Entry BC (EEBC)
• Entrepreneur Immigration

Skilled Immigration

Estimated processing time: ranges from 2 to 3 months

If you are a skilled or semi-skilled worker in sought-after jobs in BC, Skills Immigration BC PNP pathway can help you fulfill your desire to get a Canadian PR.

Moreover, Skills Immigration BC PNP utilizes a point-based invitation system. You need to apply for Skills Immigration pathway online.

In addition, you are required to apply for your Canadian permanent residency via paper application.

Furthermore, not all Skills Immigration pathway categories require you to have an initial work experience.

BC Skilled Immigration pathway categories

Below are the categories of Skills Immigration pathway.

• Skilled Worker (may have work experience outside country)
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (BC work experience is necessary)
• Health Care Professional
• BC PNP International Graduate (Based on the occupation, new graduates of Canadian post-secondary institutions may need a work experience)
• International Post-Graduate

Express Entry BC (EEBC)

Average processing time: 2 to 3 months

As an eligible skilled worker, you can implement Express Entry BC to change residency quickly to the province of British Columbia.

Furthermore, Express Entry BC employs a point-based invitation system. Under this pathway, you need to satisfy federal economic immigration program requirements.

One advantage of Express Entry BC pathway is that it involves easy application processes since you can apply online for your BC PNP and Canadian permanent residency. No paper application is required.

Another advantage of Express Entry BC is that a British Columbia work experience is unnecessary. You need any relevant work experience, among other requirements.

Express Entry BC (EEBC) pathway categories

Here are the categories of EEBC pathway.

• Skilled Worker
• International Graduate
• Health Care Professional
• International Post-Graduate

Entrepreneur Immigration

Entrepreneur Immigration is ideal for well-versed entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing a business in British Columbia.

Moreover, this BC PNP pathway involves a point-based invitation system similar to Skilled Immigration and Express Entry BC.

In addition, you must have certain amount of funds personal expenses and investment.

Entrepreneur Immigration BC PNP pathway also allows companies to establish themselves in BC. This offers an opportunity to their core workers in becoming permanent residents of British Columbia.

Entrepreneur Immigration pathway categories

The following are categories of Entrepreneur Immigration pathway.

• Base Category
• Regional Pilot

Above all, you need to make payments for BC PNP application processing. The application fee also covers the cost for your BC PNP work permit support letter.

Furthermore, the support letter is required to apply and extend work permit, which makes it unnecessary for your employer to apply for Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

BC PNP fees

Here are the application, registration and other fees required by BC PNP applicants.

Skills Immigration fees:

• Free registration
• Application fee: $1,150 Canadian Dollars
• Review Request: $500 Canadian Dollars

Entrepreneur Immigration fees:

• Registration: $300 Canadian Dollars
• Application fee: $3,500 Canadian Dollars
• Review Request: $500 Canadian Dollars

Strategic Projects fees:

• Registration: $300 Canadian Dollars
• Application fee: $3,500 Canadian Dollars
• Core Employee: $1,000 Canadian Dollars
• Review Request: $500 Canadian Dollars

In addition, you are required to make a specific payment to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) whenever you apply for your Canadian permanent residency.

BC PNP Tech pilot

If your occupation is one of the core technology occupations, you need a valid job offer to qualify under BC PNP Tech pilot.

Moreover, you can apply via BC PNP Tech even if your job is not among the core technology occupations.

Core Technology Occupations for BC PNP Tech pilot

The following are the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes for occupations eligible under BC PNP Tech pilot.

BC PNP Online System

Registrations and applications for BC PNP Online system are carried out using BC PNP Online System.

Moreover, BC PNP Online System is accessible only via supported Operating Systems and web browsers.

With the right device, BC PNP Online System is convenient and simple to use if you seek for how to apply for British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.

Compatible Operating Systems

You can log on to BC PNP Online System using an internet-enabled mobile device, laptop or desktop with any of the following OS.

• Android mobile devices: Google Android 5 and above
• Apple iOS mobile devices: iOS 5 and above

Supported web browsers

• Safari 7 at least
• Minimum of Internet Explorer 9
• Firefox 27 and above
• Google Chrome 43 and 44

With a compatible device and supported browser, you can connect to BC PNP login page.

Moreover, you will be required to fill in some information like your security information like email, user ID and password.

In addition, when registering, you need to provide certain information as stated below.

• Personal Information: Family name(s), given name(s), other family name(s), other given name(s), date of birth, country of birth, city of birth and sex.
• Passport Information: Passport number, country of citizenship, passport issue date, as well as passport expiry date.
• Primary Contact
• Residential Address
• And some other information.

Categories of BC PNP that needs an ITA

The following are the categories that require an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to apply and register for BC PNP.

• Skills Immigration: Skilled Worker, International Graduate, as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
• Express Entry BC (EEBC): Skilled Worker & International Graduate
• Entrepreneur Immigration: Base Category and Regional Pilot

FAQs about BC PNP

We hope that the following frequently asked questions are able to answer your inquiries and concerns regarding British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Applicants need to be cautious during your BC PNP online registration because there is usually a routine system maintenance that likely result to hindrance between 12am to 12:30am (PT).

In conclusion, you can subscribe to workstudyvisa.com to receive BC PNP latest draw news and updates at no cost.