British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) for Skilled Workers

British Columbia (BC) is one of the most beautiful places in the world with a mild climate, rugged coastline and mountains, proximity to tranquil beaches and everything in between. It's also Canada's Pacific Gateway which makes it a key entry point for immigrants.

British Columbia has a healthy economy and is fast becoming an important centre for high-tech activities. It is one of the best job markets west of Ontario. Although housing costs are higher here than in most places, so is the pay. Skilled workers love to settle in British Columbia as it has a well-educated population, low unemployment rate, and high employment rate among immigrants.

It is ranked as having the strongest economy in Canada with over 60% of its economy coming from the service industry. Thus, it offers plenty of job opportunities for skilled workers.

The BC Provincial Nominee Program offers permanent residency to qualified applicants and allows them to live and work anywhere in the province. The Express Entry BC (EEBC) - Skilled Worker category allows skilled workers in high-demand professions to gain PR status in Canada quickly and easily.

Apart from relevant training and work experience, you also need a valid job offer from an authorized employer in British Columbia to be eligible for the BC PNP Program.

Are you eligible for the Express Entry BC - Skilled Worker category?

The Express Entry British Columbia pathway works at a faster pace than other pathways to settle in the province. But to qualify for it, you need to fulfill the following conditions:

• You must apply for Express Entry at the IRCC website and obtain the Express Entry Profile Number as well as the Job Seeker Validation Code. They showcase that you meet minimum requirements set for the Express Entry schemes, including Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Programme (FSTP), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream.
• You must be financially able to support yourself and your dependents in Canada.
• You must have at least 2 years of work experience in a relevant occupation.
• You must meet the minimum criteria set for your job in BC.
• You need a permanent job offer for an indeterminate period from an authorized British Columbian employer. This job has to be in a relevant occupation and at skill levels 0, A, or B as classified in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system. The pay offered to you must meet the established rates for your occupation in the province.
• You should be allowed to migrate to Canada legally.
• You will have to meet the minimum language requirements for your occupation.

Which employers are considered eligible for BC PNP?

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program requires employers to fulfill certain conditions to support BC PNP applicants. These include:

• The payment they offer to the right applicants must be according to the established rates for that employment in the province.
• They must follow good business practices and have reasonably good workplace setups.
• They must hand out permanent or indeterminate (not contractual) job offers.
• They need to agree to the employer declaration for the provincial nomination program of British Columbia.
• They should have a good standing in the province as a well-established recruiter.
• Wherever required, they must fulfill the mandatory recruitment conditions of the domestic labour market.

Get in touch with Visa2Immigration Canada immigration consultants to know which employers can help you win the provincial nomination in British Columbia.

How does British Columbia PNP work?

To apply for the Express Entry - BC stream, you first need to meet the minimum requirements for the Express Entry scheme as specified by the IRCC and get PRN and Job Validation Code.

Then, you must apply for BCPNP online. You will be given points based on your skills, job offer, and other selection criteria. Those with the highest points receive the ITA (Invitation to Apply) from British Columbia.

Once you receive the ITA, you have to apply for the Provincial Nomination Certificate from the BC administration. This certificate needs to be attached when you apply for the Canada PR status to the Canadian Federal Administration.

New: On August 24, 2021, 74 ITAs were extended to Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC applicants. The minimum score for this latest draw was 80. Till now, 7,516 ITAs have been granted in 2021 in this category.

What do you need to pay for the BC PNP application?

You need to pay BC PNP application fees which include payment for all immigration and employment-related requests you make while waiting to be granted permanent residency status. Once you pay the fees, you might be issued a BC PNP work permit support letter which allows you to apply for a new work permit and negates the need for your employer to go through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application process.

BC PNP Fees (in Canadian Dollars)

Skills Immigration Fees

Registration Fee	No fee
Application Fee	$1,150
Fee for Review Request	$500

Entrepreneur Immigration Fees

Registration Fee	$300
Application Fee	$3,500
Fee for Review Request	$500

Strategic Projects Fees

Registration Fee	$300
Application Fee	$3,500
Key Staff Fee	$1,000
Fee for Review Request	$500

Please note that the payment of fees is only accepted through the BCPNP Online application system. Any other form of payment (such as bank transfers, wire transfers, cheques, or gift cards) is not accepted.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) Fees

Apart from the fee mentioned above, you also have to pay the IRCC fee for permanent residence. Call our experts to know more about the IRCC PR process.