BC PNP Gains 1,000 Nomination Spots, and It’s Not the Only PNP to Get More

The increase brings the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) allocation to 6,254 nominations for the year.

For anyone hoping to secure their permanent residence in BC, the news is likely to bring some hope that a nomination, or at least an invitation to apply, could be within their reach for 2026.

And – British Columbia is not the only province or territory to receive additional PNP allocations in the past few weeks. Alberta and the Northwest Territories have also recently announced additional slots, and it’s possible other provinces have also gotten a boost, but haven’t announced it publicly.

BC PNP Receives 1,000 Additional Nomination Spots

The federal government initially gave British Columbia 5,254 nomination spaces for 2026. With the additional 1,000 spots, the province now has 6,254 nominations available and says it plans to use its full PNP allocation by the end of the year.

BC says the extra nomination slots will support the recently updated BC PNP priorities which were announced in April. Those priorities are organized around three broad objectives: care, build and innovate.

What does this mean for BC PNP hopefuls? Well, expect a stronger focus on workers in healthcare, education, childcare, veterinary care, construction and skilled trades, along with other candidates who can support innovation and economic growth.

At least 35 percent of BC PNP nominations are also expected to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver. The BC PNP points system awards more points for candidates with job offers outside the major metro hub.

The province has said this is because the program is meant to address labour needs in smaller communities, rather than doling out nearly all nominations to the Lower Mainland.

The BC PNP still includes pathways for skilled workers and health authority employees (both via BC Skills Immigration), as well as a separate stream for entrepreneurs. Notably, the exact options and selection priorities vary. You can review our full guide to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program for a closer look at the categories, eligibility requirements and application process.

Other PNPs Have Seen Their Allocations Increase Recently, Too

The BC PNP is not alone in receiving additional PNP nominations slots. On August 10, Alberta announced that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had provided the province with 200 additional nominations, bringing the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program allocation to 6,603 for 2026.

The Northwest Territories also received 103 additional nominations, increasing its 2026 allocation from 197 to 300. That might sound small compared to the provincial figures, but it represents an increase of more than 50 percent for the sparsely populated territory.

These announcements do not necessarily mean British Columbia, Alberta, and the Northwest Territories are the only provinces and territories receiving extra space. PNPs don’t necessarily publish allocation updates. In fact, not a single one of the Atlantic provinces has publicly announced their 2026 PNP allocation figures. That includes New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and PEI.

More increases could still be announced before the end of the year.

Where PNP Allocations Stand for 2026

Here are the 2026 PNP allocations that have been made public so far:

• Ontario: 14,119 nominations
• Alberta: 6,603 nominations
• British Columbia: 6,254 nominations
• Manitoba: 6,239 nominations
• Saskatchewan: 4,761 nominations
• Northwest Territories: 300 nominations
• Yukon: 282 nominations

Together, these published targets account for 38,558 nomination spaces. Notably, Quebec is not included because it operates its own immigration programs, Nunavut does not have a PNP, and the Atlantic provinces haven’t published any figures so far this year.

How Many Provincial Nominees Will Canada Admit in 2026?

Canada’s 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan aims to admit 380,000 new permanent residents in 2026. Of those, 91,500 are being targeted through Provincial Nominee Programs.

Of course, it’s important to understand that nomination numbers and admissions are not the same thing. The provincial allocation numbers count the principal applicants a province or territory can nominate.

The federal admissions target counts everyone who becomes a permanent resident, including accompanying spouses, partners and dependent children. This means that oftentimes a single nomination can result in multiple admissions.

Receiving a provincial nomination does not guarantee that a person will be approved for permanent residence (though, it’s a very good sign). Applications for provincial nomination are intensive and detailed, often very similar to the federal PR application. For these reasons, most of the individuals who are approved for provincial nomination will also be approved for PR at the federal level. But, not everyone, so it’s important to be vigilant with your final application.

Timing is another critical piece of the process to keep in mind. IRCC currently reports an average processing time of seven months for PNP applications linked to Express Entry and 13 months for non-Express Entry PNP applications. Its inventory includes roughly 11,800 Express Entry PNP applications and 102,400 non-Express Entry applications.

If you’ve been paying attention, you’ll notice that the non-Express Entry inventory alone is larger than the entire 2026 PNP admissions target. So, IRCC already has plenty of candidates to choose from to meet its 2026 targets (and many of its 2027 targets, too).

Anyone receiving a provincial nomination this late in 2026 should plan on becoming a permanent resident in 2027, even you get your nomination before the end of 2026.

What This Means for PNP Candidates

In the context of Canadian immigration, an extra 1,000 spaces is not an earth-shattering number. However, it gives BC some additional wiggle room and it signals that IRCC remains committed to meeting the relatively high targets set for provincial nominees over the next few years. As well, now that we know BC plans to use its entire nomination allocation, prepare for a more active BC PNP through to the end of 2026.

Want to know if the BC PNP is a good option for you? Consider booking a consultation with our in-house immigration consultant. She’ll review your eligibility and help you build a timeline and plan for your application.