IMMIGRATE TO BRITISH COLUMBIA

The general process to apply for Permanent Residence under the Skills Immigration stream is as follows:

1. Obtain a job offer in BC
2. Create a an online profile with BC PNP & register for the program (not required for Health Care professional or International Post-Graduate)
3. Receive an invitation to apply based upon your score with BC PNP (not required for Health Care professional or International Post-Graduate)
4. Submit your BC PNP application online
5. Receive a BC Provincial Nomination Certificate
6. Apply for Permanent Residence to IRCC with a paper application

There are 5 categories of application under the Skills Immigration stream:

1. Skilled Worker

• You have a job offer in BC in NOC 0, A or B (no LMIA required)
• Min 2 years of work experience in same position
• Must meet min income requirements
• Job offer in NOC B requires min CLB 4 on a valid language test

2. Health Care Professional

• You have a job offer with a public health authority in BC as a physician, nurse, or other health professional such as lab tech, radiation tech, sonographer, pharmacist, occupational therapist, midwife or physiotherapist (no LMIA required)
• You have a min 2 years of work experience in same position
• You meet min income requirements

3. International Graduate

• You have graduated from a public Canadian University or College within the past 3 years, min 8 month program
• You have a job offer in BC for a position that normally requires post-secondary education (no LMIA required)
• You meet min income requirements
• Job offer in NOC B requires min CLB 4 on language test results

4. International Post-Graduate

• You have achieved a Masters degree or PhD in natural, applied or health sciences from a BC University within the past 3 years
• You don’t require a job offer

5. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

• You are currently working in BC in an eligible occupation in the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking or food processing industry, OR
• You are currently working in the Northeast Development Region in any NOC C or D occupation, except live in caregivers

• You have a job offer from an eligible BC employer (new LMIA not required)
• You have been working full time for at least 9 consecutive months before applying, with the BC Employer who has made you the job offer
• Long haul truck drivers require a min of 2 years previous work experience + 9 months with BC employer
• You meet min income requirements
• You have completed education that is equivalent to a Canadian High School Diploma
• You scored a min CLB 4 on a valid language test

In some situations, you may find that you could qualify under both the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams. To help you determine your best pathway, below is a summary of the major differences between the two categories:

The Express Entry BC program is connected with IRCC’s Express Entry system, and enables qualified individuals to gain the additional 600 CRS points for a Provincial Nomination if they are chosen by the BC PNP.

You must first qualify to submit a profile under Express Entry, which means you meet the minimum criteria for one of the 3 qualifying federal programs - the Federal Skilled Worker Program, The Federal Skilled Trades Program, or the Canadian Experience Class.

The general process to apply for Permanent Residence under Express Entry BC is as follows:

1. Submit an Express Entry Profile
2. Obtain a job offer in BC
3. Create an online profile with BC PNP & register for the program
4. Receive an invitation to apply based upon your score with BC PNP
5. Submit your BC PNP application online
6. Receive a BC Provincial Nomination in your Express Entry profile
7. Receive an invitation to apply for Permanent Residence through your Express Entry profile
8. Apply for Permanent Residence through Express Entry

All applicants must:

• Be qualified to perform the duties encompassed by their job offer,
• Meet minimum income requirements depending on family size, and
• Meet minimum language requirements

There are 4 categories of application under the EE BC stream:

Skilled Worker

• You have a job offer in BC in NOC 0, A or B (no LMIA required)

Health Care Professional

• You have a job offer in BC as a physician, nurse, or other health professional such as lab tech, radiation tech, sonographer, pharmacist, midwife, occupational therapist or physiotherapist
• You can apply directly to BC PNP, no invitation is required

International Graduate

• You have graduated from a Canadian University or College within the past 3 years
• You have a job offer in BC

International Post-Graduate

• You have achieved a Masters degree or PhD in natural, applied or health sciences from a BC University within the past 3 years
• You don’t require a job offer
• You can apply directly to the BC PNP, no invitation is required

In some situations, you may find that you could qualify under both the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams. To help you determine your best pathway, below is a summary of the major differences between the two categories:

This stream is for business people with significant financial resources who want to operate a business in British Columbia. 

To qualify you need at a minimum:

• Personal net worth CAD $600,000
• Previous business management experience: 3+ years as an active business owner-manager; or 4+ years as a senior manager; or a combination of at least 1 year as an owner and at least 2 years as a senior manager
• Min education requires a post-secondary credential or 3 years out of past 5 years as active business owner

And you must be willing/able to do the following:

• Establish a new business or purchase an existing business in BC (min 33 1/3 % ownership)
• Invest at least CAD $200,000 into the business
• Actively manage the business while living in BC
• Create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian resident

Application fees: CAD $300 registration, $3500 application fee, $1000 for each key staff application

Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot

The Regional Pilot stream is for experienced business people who would like to start a new business in a smaller community in BC (population less than 75,000).  Both the net worth and required investment are lower than the regular Entrepreneur stream.

To qualify you need at a minimum:

• personal net worth CAD $300,000
• community sponsorship – you must visit the community in BC where you plan to start your business and secure their recommendation of your plan
• min CLB 4 on official language test
• previous business management experience: 3+ years as an active business owner-manager; or 4+ years as a senior manager; or a combination of at least 1 year as an owner and at least 2 years as a senior manager
• min education requires a post-secondary credential or 3 years out of past 5 years as active business owner (100% owner)

And you must be willing/able to do the following:

• establish a new business in a BC community with fewer than 75,000 people (min 51 % ownership)
• invest at least CAD $100,000 into the business
• actively manage the business while living in the community
• create at least one new full-time job for a Canadian resident

Application fees: CAD $300 registration, $3500 application fee, $1000 for each key staff application

The BC Tech pilot is not a separate BC PNP stream – applicants need to apply to BC PNP under one of the existing categories detailed above. However, if you have a job offer in BC that is for one of the 29 identified tech occupations, then you qualify for expedited processing under the Tech Pilot

Min one-year job offer needed

Weekly invitations to apply, faster processing

Application fee: CAD $700