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The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an immigration program for a broad range of workers and entrepreneurs to settle in British Columbia permanently.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program BCPNP

The BCPNP is one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). It is one of the most varied, with two broad streams Skills Immigration and one stream for entrepreneurs.

These streams are further divided into various categories. Some British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program categories are aligned with Canada’s federal Express Entry immigration selection system. Successful applicants under one of these categories obtain 600 additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence at a subsequent draw from the pool.

Skills Immigration

CategoryJob offer required?Aligned with SIRS?Basic criteria
Skilled workerYesYesJob offer in a skilled position
Health AuthorityYesNoJob offer from a BC health authority, or in a priority healthcare occupation

Skills Immigration - Express Entry

CategoryJob offer required?Aligned with SIRS?Basic criteria
Skilled worker - EEYesYesJob offer in a skilled position
Health Authority- EEYesNoJob offer from a BC health authority, or in a priority healthcare occupation

Entrepreneur Immigration

CategoryJob offer required?Aligned with SIRS?Basic criteria
Entrepreneur ImmigrationNo, but must create at least one jobNoHigh net worth; business proposal

Which BC PNP are open now?

You can find out which BC PNP categories are open right now in our PNP Canada Live Tracker.

 

How to Apply for British Columbia PNP?

To apply for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), you must first determine your eligibility under one of the program’s streams:

If you qualify for one of the programs, you can register online through the BC PNP portal by submitting a profile. This profile is scored based on factors such as work experience, education, and language proficiency. If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to apply, and you must complete and submit your application within 30 days. Successful nominees will receive a provincial nomination, which they can use to apply for permanent residence with the federal government.

Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) in the BCPNP

Some British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program categories are managed under a unique system, known as the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Under the SIRS, potential applicants are first required to register a profile and provide some personal information relating to their job offer in BC, work experience, language ability, and level of education. The SIRS works on an Expression of Interest / Invitation to Apply basis, whereby registered candidates are assigned a score (out of 200), and the BC government conducts periodic draws in which candidates who meet the cut-off threshold for their category in that draw are invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

Though some BC PNP categories require applicants to have a job offer from a BC employer, certain categories managed outside the SIRS do not require applicants to have a job offer.

What is the Minimum CRS Score for British Columbia PNP?

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) does not use the federal minimum score required to receive an invitation to apply (ITA); it varies by stream and draw. For example, in the most recent draw on August 6, 2026, candidates needed between 68 to 102 points under the Skills Immigration stream to receive an invitation.

Scores can differ significantly depending on the occupation (Childcare, Health, Education, Trades, etc), stream, and whether the draw is general or targeted. For Entrepreneur Immigration, recent draws have required scores ranging from 113 to 118 points, depending on the stream and region. It’s important to regularly check the official BC PNP invitations page for the latest draw results and minimum score requirements.

BC PNP Application Fees

On January 22, 2026, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) increased the Skills Immigration application fee from $1,475 to $1,750.

BC PNP Occupations to Qualify

BC PNP – Care – Healthcare Occupations

NOCDescription
30010Managers in health care
31100Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101Specialists in surgery
31102General practitioners and family physicians
31110Dentists
31112Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120Pharmacists
31121Dietitians and nutritionists
31200Psychologists
31201Chiropractors
31202Physiotherapists
31203Occupational therapists
31204Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy
31209Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
31300Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
31302Nurse practitioners
31303Physician assists, midwives and allied health profs
32101Licensed practical nurses
32102Paramedical occupations
32103Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32111Dental hygienists and dental therapists
32112Dental technologists and technicians
32120Medical laboratory technologists
32121Medical radiation technologists
32122Medical sonographers
32123Cardiology technologists and elect. diagnostic techs
32200Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
33101Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
33102Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates*
41300Social workers

BC PNP – Care – Childcare and Education Occupations

NOCDescription
42202Early childhood educators
41220Secondary school teachers (French-speaking only)
41221Elementary/Kindergarten teachers (French-speaking only)

BC PNP – Care – Veterinary Occupations

NOCDescription
31103Veterinarians
32104Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

BC PNP – Build – Construction Trades

NOCDescription
72106Welders and related machine operators
72200Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201Industrial electricians
72300Plumbers
72301Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72310Carpenters
72400Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics

BC Health Authority Stream Occupations

NOCDescription
30010Managers in health care
31100Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101Specialists in surgery
31102General practitioners and family physicians
31103Veterinarians
31110Dentists
31111Optometrists
31112Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120Pharmacists
31121Dietitians and nutritionists
31200Psychologists
31201Chiropractors
31202Physiotherapists
31203Occupational therapists
31204Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
31209Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
31300Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurse
31302Nurse practitioners
31303Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
32100Opticians
32101Licensed practical nurses
32102Paramedical occupations
32103Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32104Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians
32109Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
32110Denturists
32111Dental hygienists and dental therapists
32112Dental technologists and technicians
32120Medical laboratory technologists
32121Medical radiation technologists
32122Medical sonographers
32123Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
32124Pharmacy technicians
32129Other medical technologists and technicians
32200Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
32201Massage therapists
32209Other practitioners of healing
33100Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants1
33101Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
33102Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates2
33103Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
33109Other assisting occupations in support of health services
41300Social workers
41301Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
42201Social and community service workers

Resources to Help You Succeed in the BC PNPs

Moving2Canada partners with trusted organizations to help you succeed with provincial nomination—whether it's improving language skills, finding a job, or getting your application reviewed by a trusted professional.

About the author

Author moving2Canada

Indira Duarte

Indira specializes in creating clear, accessible, and culturally sensitive content for immigrant audiences. As an immigrant herself, she brings a personal understanding of the challenges newcomers face, crafting practical guides, informative articles, and inclusive resources that empower individuals at every stage of their immigration journey.
Read more about Indira Duarte
Citation Duarte, Indira. "British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program – BCPNP." Moving2Canada. Last modified August 14, 2026. https://moving2canada.com/immigration/pnp/provinces/british-columbia/. Copy for Citation
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