British Columbia, Canada’s westernmost province, is a hub of cultural diversity and economic growth.
Home to the country’s third-largest city, Vancouver. British Columbia is also one of the most diverse provinces in all of Canada. British Columbia’s economy focuses on a strong natural resources sector with an emphasis on forestry and mining. Its natural environment with expansive forests and a unique coastal climate is renowned as one of the most beautiful city in Canada and indeed the world.
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), is a collection of immigration pathways enabling foreign nationals to become Canadian permanent residents in BC. The PNP is strategically designed to attract immigrants in areas which will benefit the province: skilled workers, workers in sectors with labour shortages, entrepreneurs and investors. The province operates several immigration streams divided among two categories:
British Columbia Skills Immigration targets foreign nationals who have the skills to become meaningful members of BC’s workforce. The pathways within BC Skills Immigration emphasize on immigrants who have employment prospects in BC and who demonstrate the experience needed to secure and maintain employment as BC residents.
This category is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Workers are expected to have several years of experience in their skilled occupation.
Under this category individuals with experience and eligible job offers, as physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses or allied health professionals may apply. An eligible job offer must be acquired for one of 11 qualifying health occupations.
This category is for individuals who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last three years. A job offer must be obtained from a BC employer to be eligible under this sub-category.
This category is for graduates with Masters or Doctoral degrees from an eligible educational institution in British Columbia in the natural, applied, or health sciences programs of study. No job offer is required to apply under this sub-category.
Workers in certain entry-level or semi-skilled positions in tourism/hospitality, food processing or long-haul trucking or those in entry-level or semi-skilled positions living and working in the Northeast Development Region of British Columbia may be eligible for immigration through this program.
British Columbia Entrepreneur Immigration targets foreign nationals and foreign companies who have demonstrated track records of success in business ownership, management and investment. Individual entrepreneurs with significant personal net worth and international corporations with high annual revenues may immigrate to BC through the establishment of new enterprises in the province.
This category is for senior managers or business owners who intend to invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia.
The Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category have been temporarily closed. The province is expected to announce a reopening date for this stream in early 2022.
This new pilot is for international entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business in a small community in British Columbia.
Through this category, foreign-controlled companies can set up an operation in British Columbia. Up to five key foreign managerial, professional or technical staff members can be nominated for permanent residence in the province.
