The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC-PNP) is an immigration program through which a broad range of workers, graduates, and entrepreneurs can settle in British Columbia permanently.
The BC-PNP is one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). It is one of the most varied of all the PNPs, with two broad streams for workers and graduates — Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration — plus an additional stream for entrepreneurs.
These streams are further divided into various categories. Some BC-PNP 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.
Furthermore, some BC-PNP 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.
The BC-PNP also offers a Tech Pilot program, introduced in 2017, whereby tech and IT workers may immigrate to BC and obtain Canadian permanent residence.
