British Columbia Immigration

Who can apply for the BC PNP?

Eligibility criteria for the BC PNP vary depending on which specific stream you intend to apply for. A broad outline of the main eligibility criteria for each stream is below.

If you would like more detail or advice on which stream may be best for your specific situation, you may wish to contact one of our expert advisors who will be able to offer you comprehensive, personalised advice.

Skilled Worker Stream

This stream is targeted at skilled workers across a range of sectors. Applicants for this stream should:

• have a full-time job offer from an employer in British Columbia
  • this job offer must have no fixed end date unless you are a university lecturer or professor, or in a priority technology occupation
• have the qualifications required to work in this role
• have been offered a wage or salary in line with similar roles in British Columbia
• have at least two years’ full-time work experience in a management or skilled role
• speak English or French to a sufficient level
• be able to prove they can support themselves and any dependants when they arrive in British Columbia

Health Authority Stream

This stream is targeted at healthcare workers working for a public health authority in British Columbia. Applicants for this stream should:

• have a full-time job offer from a public health authority in British Columbia
  • this job offer must have no fixed end date
• provide confirmation from a health authority or midwife practice group that they are a doctor, nurse or midwife in British Columbia
• have the qualifications and experience required to practice in British Columbia by the public health authority

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream

This stream is targeted at tourism, hospitality and food processing sector workers who are seeking permanent residence in British Columbia. Applicants for this stream should:

• have a full-time job offer from an employer in British Columbia with no fixed end date, and in one of the following occupations:
  • Hotel front desk clerks
  • Tour and travel guides
  • Casino workers
  • Outdoor sport and recreational guides
  • Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
  • Bartenders
  • Food and beverage servers
  • Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
  • Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services
  • Light duty cleaners
  • Specialized cleaners
  • Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
  • Hotel/resort dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations and other service support occupations
  • Food and beverage processing control and machine operators
  • Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
  • Fish and seafood plant workers
  • Food and beverage testers and graders
  • Food and beverage labourers
  • ANY occupation requiring a high school diploma or less which is in British Columbia’s Northeast Development Region
• have been working for their employer for at least the previous nine consecutive months
• have been offered a wage or salary in line with similar roles in British Columbia
• have any necessary qualifications, certifications or registrations necessary to do their job in British Columbia
• speak English or French to a sufficient level
• be able to prove they can support themselves and any dependants when they arrive in British Columbia

International Graduate Stream

This stream is targeted at individuals who have recently graduated from a Canadian university or college and who want to get permanent residence in British Columbia. Applicants for this stream should:

• have received a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognised and eligible post-secondary educational institution in Canada within the last three years
• have a full-time job offer from an employer in British Columbia
  • this job offer must be in a skilled role which relates to your qualification
  • the job offer must have no fixed end date, unless it is in a priority technology occupation
• have been offered a wage or salary in line with similar roles in British Columbia
• meet any qualification, registration or certification requirements for their role in British Columbia
• speak English or French to a sufficient level
• be able to prove they can support themselves and any dependants when they arrive in British Columbia

International Post-Graduate Stream

This stream is targeted at individuals who have recently received an eligible master’s or doctoral degree from an eligible post-secondary educational institution in British Columbia. Applicants for this stream should:

• have graduated from an eligible post-secondary institution in British Columbia within the last three years
• have received either:
  • a master’s degree in the natural, applied or health sciences;
  • a doctoral degree in any field of study; or
  • candidacy as a PhD student at a public post-secondary instutition in British Columbia
• be prepared to demonstrate that they intend to live, work and settle in British Columbia

Entrepreneur Base Stream

Individuals wishing to set up or purchase a business in British Columbia may be able to apply for the Entrepreneur stream. Potential applicants should:

• be willing to start or buy a business in British Columbia
  • they must be able to invest at least CAD $200,000 into the business
  • the business must create at least one new job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• have a personal net worth of no less than CAD $600,000
• have experience of running a business, management experience, or at least the equivalent of a two-year post-secondary diploma
• speak English or French to a sufficient level

Entrepreneur Regional Stream

Individuals who want to set up a business in one of British Columbia’s smaller communities may be able to apply for this stream, which has a lower minimum investment requirement but requires a referral following direct engagement with the community in which they intend to establish their business. Applicants should:

• be willing to start a new business in a smaller community in British Columbia
  • they must be able to invest at least CAD $100,000 into the business
  • the business must create at least one new job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• have sufficiently engaged with the community in which they wish to establish their business and received its written support for their plans
• have a personal net worth of no less than CAD $300,000
• have experience of running a business or of management
• speak English or French to a sufficient level

Entrepreneur Regional Stream

This stream is targeted at businesses which want to transfer up to five key staff to British Columbia on a permanent basis in order to set up and/or manage expansion or investment in the province.

Businesses must intend to start or purchase a registered business in British Columbia, invest at least CAD $500,000 into it, and create a minimum of three new jobs for Canadian citizens or permanent residents for each member of staff they wish to sponsor for this stream.