British Columbia’s economic growth needs both skilled and semi-skilled workers, and the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) channels eligible workers to fulfill the demands of the labour market. People who are nominated by the BC PNP will be entitled to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence for themselves and their dependents. To be eligible for the BC PNP, an applicant must qualify based on one of the following categories:

Skilled Worker
These include professionals, managers, and skilled tradespeople

Healthcare Professionals
These are physicians, registered nurses and any other health care workers in the employ of provincial healthcare authorities

International Graduate
Any graduate with a degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university

International Post-Graduate
Any graduate from a B.C. university with a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied, or health sciences. A job offer is not a requirement for this category only.

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
These are the tourism/hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking workers

Northeast Pilot Project
This category applies to entry level or semi-skilled workers living in the Northeast region of the province.

The BC PNP also offers EXPRESS ENTRY into the province, under the previous categories, if candidates fulfil specific criteria.

The BC PNP will not nominate any candidates who:

• Are barred from entering Canada
• Have been illegal residents in their current country
• Have no legal status in Canada or whose status has expired and have no legal proof of application for re-instatement of status during the allowable 90-day period
• Are illegally working in Canada
• Have an unsettled refugee claim in Canada
• Are under an order of removal, inside or outside Canada