Overview: BC PNP and its 2026 status
British Columbia nominates workers and entrepreneurs who fit provincial labour-market and economic priorities. A nomination is not permanent residence: the province issues the nomination, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes the final admissibility and permanent residence decision.
Two worker streams
Skilled Worker and Health Authority are the current Skills Immigration streams. Each has an Express Entry BC option for candidates who are also in the federal Express Entry pool.
200-point registration
Skilled Worker registrations are ranked on a 200-point grid of human-capital and economic factors. BC can also select by occupation, wage and region.
Three entrepreneur routes
Entrepreneur Immigration has a Base stream, a Regional stream and Strategic Projects for foreign corporations. They use separate scoring, verification and performance agreements.
Regional goal
BC expects at least 35% of nominations to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver.
Important changes announced in 2026
- January 22, 2026: the Skills Immigration application fee rose from $1,475 to $1,750.
- April 23, 2026: BC announced its Care, Build and Innovate objectives. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream is officially closed (its last invitations were issued December 10, 2024). No new student streams will launch, although studying in B.C. or Canada still earns registration points. The final priority technology draw was held December 3, 2024. The lists of ineligible occupations and employers are being expanded.
- May 28, 2026: updated Skills Immigration guides took effect (the Program Guide and the Application Guide, which was formerly called the Technical Guide). Applications are assessed under the rules in force on the day they are submitted.
- June 10, 2026: a further edition of the Skills Immigration Program Guide took effect; it is the edition in force today. Its ineligible-occupations list applies to applications submitted after June 13, 2026. The Skills Immigration Application Guide now in force is dated June 25, 2026.
- June 15, 2026: registration opened for the one-time Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative (up to 250 nominations). Registration was extended to October 7, 2026 because of wildfires, so it is now closed.
- August 18, 2026: the 2026 allocation rose to 6,254.
Technology occupations remain eligible for the Skilled Worker stream, but there are no technology-specific draws. Technology candidates are now selected mainly through the Innovate (High Economic Impact) invitations.
Choose the worker stream
Start with the employer and the job offer. The Health Authority stream is a direct-application route; most other eligible workers use Skilled Worker registration and selection.
| Stream | Who it is for | Job offer | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Experienced worker with an eligible B.C. job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 | Full-time, indeterminate offer from an eligible B.C. employer, with a completed Employer Declaration | Required; an invitation is normally needed before applying |
| Health Authority | Health professional with an offer from a B.C. public health authority | Regular, full-time, indeterminate offer in a health-authority-eligible occupation, supported by authorized health authority staff | Not required; eligible candidates apply directly |
| Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative | One-time 2026 initiative for health authority cleaning or security workers in rural or remote communities | Criteria are in the Skills Immigration Program Guide | Closed: registration ran until October 7, 2026 (extended from August 31); up to 250 nominations |
Express Entry BC (EEBC)
EEBC is an option inside both main worker streams. The candidate must be in the federal Express Entry pool and eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Trades or Canadian Experience Class program, and selects the stream that starts with "Express Entry BC" at registration. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points. The temporary rural/remote initiative has no EEBC option.
Non-Express Entry route
A candidate who registers without the EEBC option, or who is not in the Express Entry pool, applies to IRCC for permanent residence outside Express Entry after nomination. A candidate cannot convert a registration to EEBC later: changing the route means withdrawing and starting again.
Care, Build and Innovate
BC's 2026 selection follows three objectives under the provincial Look West strategy. The registration score matters, but BC can select by occupation, wage, region, professional designation and strategic priorities. A score from a previous round is not a permanent cut-off.
Care
Skilled workers in public services and community well-being: 36 in-demand occupations in health care, education, childcare and veterinary care, including certified early childhood educators, French-speaking K-12 teachers, veterinarians and veterinary technologists. Health Authority direct applications continue.
Build
Certified workers in nine in-demand skilled trades. Recent Build rounds have been held for construction trades.
Innovate
High Economic Impact invitations continue to attract top talent across all sectors, including technology. In recent rounds BC has invited some candidates by wage threshold and others by registration score.
Regional
Job location and regional experience or alumni points favour candidates outside Metro Vancouver. BC expects at least 35% of nominations to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver.
Eligibility comes before points
The 200-point grid only ranks a Skilled Worker registration. These minimum requirements decide whether an application can qualify at all.
Eligible offer
The offer must be full-time (an average of at least 30 hours a week, year-round), indeterminate (no end date), signed and dated by the employer and the applicant, and in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. Independent-contractor and subcontractor positions are not approved. The Program Guide allows limited exceptions to the indeterminate rule, for example for university professors and lecturers (NOC 41200) at a public B.C. university.
Experience
Skilled Worker requires at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work experience in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, obtained within the last ten years, and the candidate must hold the qualifications for the offered job. Unpaid student work does not count.
Language
For a job offer in TEER 2 or 3, the Program Guide requires Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in each of listening, speaking, reading and writing from a valid test. For TEER 0 or 1, a test is not required unless you claim language points. Test results are valid for two years.
Wage and family income
The wage must fall within the normal range for the occupation and location and be comparable to what Canadians with similar qualifications earn. A minimum family income applies, set by family size and by whether the job is in Metro Vancouver. Bonuses, commissions, tips, overtime and housing allowances are not counted. An offer that looks inflated to meet the threshold is refused.
Status and intent
Candidates in Canada need legal status, and every candidate must show the ability and genuine intention to live, work and establish economically in B.C. Under the Program Guide, a candidate will not be nominated while out of status (including an expired status not restored within the 90-day window), working without authorization, holding an unresolved refugee claim, or under a removal order or needing an Authorization to Return to Canada.
Licensing and education
The candidate must have the minimum education credential for the occupation and any licence, registration or certification needed to work in B.C.
Minimum family income
Section 3.10 of the Program Guide (edition effective June 10, 2026) sets these annual minimums, based on 2024 Statistics Canada low-income cut-offs. Only the base wage of the B.C. job offer counts towards them.
| Family size | Metro Vancouver Regional District | Rest of B.C. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $31,264 | $26,057 |
| 2 | $38,922 | $32,437 |
| 3 | $47,851 | $39,878 |
| 4 | $58,096 | $48,418 |
| 5 | $65,892 | $54,914 |
| 6 | $74,315 | $61,935 |
| 7 or more | $82,739 | $68,955 |
Health Authority stream details
The offer must be regular, full-time and indeterminate with a B.C. public health authority, in an eligible health occupation (the Program Guide lists them; they are mainly NOC 3xxxx health occupations plus some others). Physicians, nurse practitioners and midwives who are not directly employed by a health authority may qualify with a supporting letter. Eligible candidates apply directly and do not register.
Occupations ineligible for Skills Immigration
BC does not accept these occupations in any Skills Immigration stream (the Program Guide applies the list to applications submitted after June 13, 2026), and has said the list is being expanded:
- Executive assistants (12100)
- Human resources and recruitment officers (12101)
- Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (12200)
- Administrative officers and assistants (13100, 13110, 13111, 13112)
- Retail sales supervisors and food service supervisors (62010, 62020)
- Real estate agents and salespersons (63101)
- Religious leaders and religious workers (41302, 42204)
Not sure which NOC applies? Use the NOC finder, then check the occupation against BC's current lists.
Skills Immigration registration is scored out of 200
A registration is scored on human-capital factors (work experience, education and language: up to 120 points) and economic factors (hourly wage and area of employment in B.C.: up to 80 points). Part 8 of the Program Guide in force (edition effective June 10, 2026) sets the grid. The human-capital values below are taken from that edition; for the wage bands and the area points, read sections 8.4 and 8.5 of the guide.
| Factor | Maximum | What earns points |
|---|---|---|
| Directly related work experience | 40 | 5 years or more 20; 4 years 16; 3 years 12; 2 years 8; 1 year 4; under 1 year 1; none 0. Plus 10 for at least one year of directly related experience in Canada, and 10 for currently working full-time in B.C. for the supporting employer in the offered occupation |
| Education | 40 | Doctorate 27; master's 22; bachelor's or post-graduate certificate or diploma 15; associate degree or post-secondary diploma or certificate (trades or non-trades) 5; secondary school or less 0. Plus 8 for post-secondary education completed in B.C. or 6 for post-secondary education completed elsewhere in Canada, and 5 for an eligible B.C. professional designation |
| Language | 40 | Lowest of the four abilities: CLB 9 or higher 30; CLB 8 25; CLB 7 20; CLB 6 15; CLB 5 10; CLB 4 5; below 4 or no test 0. Plus 10 for proficiency in both English and French |
| Hourly wage | 55 | The hourly rate stated in the B.C. job offer; only the hourly rate is considered (bands in section 8.4 of the guide) |
| Area of employment in B.C. | 25 | Job location (Metro Vancouver, Area 2 or Area 3) plus eligible regional experience or alumni points (section 8.5 of the guide) |
Read more about the BC PNP Skills Immigration registration score. Any estimate you make is only an estimate: BC verifies every claim after an invitation.
Job offer and employer requirements
A genuine job offer is not enough. The employer, the workplace and the supporting documents must meet BC PNP rules, and an ineligible employer can make the application ineligible on its own.
Operating history
Normally at least one year of operation in B.C., legally incorporated or registered (or registered as a partnership), with a fixed place of business in B.C. where employees report regularly, and a valid municipal business licence or exemption. Child care employers must be licensed.
Employees
At least five indeterminate full-time employees (or full-time equivalents) working from within B.C. if the business is in the Metro Vancouver Regional District, or at least three outside it. Full-time means an average of at least 30 hours a week. Contractors and staff working outside B.C. are not counted.
Ownership rule
The applicant, and the applicant's immediate or extended family, must not have controlled the supporting company in the five years before applying or during the process. Control includes a 10% or greater equity stake, or acquiring the business or its assets.
Ineligible employers
BC can refuse support from sexually oriented businesses, placement and staffing agencies (including professional employer organizations), and businesses whose activities would bring the BC PNP or the Government of B.C. into disrepute.
Genuine recruitment
The employer must make genuine efforts to recruit in the local labour market, and the job must be real, with the wage and hours described in the offer.
Compliance and change reporting
Penalties, investigations or charges related to the business or to immigration can lead to refusal. Employers must notify BC PNP within 30 days of changes such as demotions, terminations, layoffs, extended leaves, delayed start dates, closure or a change of ownership (Program Guide s. 6.14). Applicants must report changes to the job offer, such as a new employer, job title or duties, a lower salary or hours below 30 a week, within 15 calendar days (Application Guide).
The business location decides which employee threshold applies. The employer must sign an Employer Declaration; incomplete or vague answers, such as "not applicable", may lead to refusal.
Worker process and deadlines
- Choose the stream and federal routeConfirm Skilled Worker or Health Authority, and decide whether the Express Entry BC option is available.
- Register when requiredCreate the profile in the BC PNP Online User Portal. Skilled Worker registration is free and stays in the pool for up to 12 months or until you are invited.
- Wait for selectionBC may issue general or targeted invitations. Health Authority candidates who meet the direct-application rules do not wait in the registration pool.
- Submit the provincial application within 30 calendar daysAn invited candidate has 30 calendar days from the invitation date to submit a complete application with all documents and the $1,750 fee. If you miss the deadline, the invitation expires and the registration is removed from the pool; a new registration is needed.
- Receive the nomination decisionBC verifies eligibility, the invitation factors, the employer and the documents. If the application is approved, BC issues a nomination package with a Confirmation of Nomination. If it is refused, the applicant may request a review ($500) or consider other options.
- Apply to IRCCSubmit the federal permanent residence application before the Confirmation of Nomination expires, and keep meeting all nomination conditions while you wait.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Registration validity | Up to 12 months in the pool |
| Application deadline after invitation | 30 calendar days, no extension |
| Re-entering the pool | Submit a new registration. Declining an invitation cancels the registration, and registering again does not guarantee another invitation. |
| Applications BC may refuse to accept | The Program Guide allows BC to refuse to accept an application if a nomination was cancelled in the previous 2 years, or if the applicant or employer was found to have made a misrepresentation in an application within the previous 2 years. Misrepresentation can also lead to refusal of future applications for up to two years, or cancellation of a nomination. |
| Contact details | Keep your BC PNP Online contact details current for the whole process, including after nomination. Missed notices can lead to refusal or cancellation. |
| Changes after you apply | Report changes to your job offer or circumstances to BC PNP within 15 calendar days (Application Guide); failure to do so may lead to refusal. |
| Processing times | BC's published estimates (about 80% of cases): application about 3 months, post-nomination request about 1 month, request for review about 6 months. Times start when a complete application is received and depend on volume, complexity and available nominations. |
| Payment | Only through the BC PNP Online User Portal. BC PNP does not accept cheques, bank transfers, wire transfers or gift cards. |
Recent invitations and the registration pool
BC publishes every Skills Immigration round on welcomebc.ca. Care and Build rounds use registration scores; Innovate rounds use either a wage threshold or a score. As of October 6, 2026 the pool held 7,695 Skills Immigration registrations.
| Date (2026) | Category | Selection | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 15 | Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative | Minimum score 54 | 16 |
| October 8 | Build: Construction Trades | Minimum score 94 | 115 |
| October 8 | Care: Childcare (early childhood educators only) | Minimum score 99 | 86 |
| October 8 | Care: Health | Minimum score 76 | 82 |
| October 8 | Care: Veterinary Care | Minimum score 86 | fewer than 5 |
| September 24 | Innovate: High Economic Impact | Wage of $52 an hour and $105,000 a year (TEER 0 to 3) | 426 |
| September 24 | Innovate: High Economic Impact | Minimum score 131 | 288 |
| September 10 | Care: Childcare | Minimum score 99 | 182 |
| September 10 | Care: Health | Minimum score 76 | 143 |
| September 10 | Build: Construction Trades | Minimum score 94 | 104 |
The wage threshold for Innovate rounds has moved over 2026: for example $62 an hour and $125,000 a year on June 18, $58 and $115,000 on July 16, $55 and $110,000 on August 20. Scores also change round to round, so a past minimum is evidence of a trend, not a rule. The official invitations page is the only complete record, and the draws page compares provinces.
Documents to prepare
BC PNP publishes the exact document checklist in its Skills Immigration Application Guide and in the portal. For a Skilled Worker file, expect to prepare:
- A signed and dated job offer, with a job description, wage, hours and location.
- The Employer Declaration, completed in full, and a recommendation letter from the employer.
- Employer evidence: incorporation or registration, business licence, proof of operating history and of employee numbers.
- Education credentials, with an educational credential assessment where required, and any licence, registration or certification for the occupation.
- Proof of directly related work experience: reference letters that match the job duties, dates and hours.
- Language test results that are valid on the date of registration.
- Passport, status documents and, where relevant, family information used for the family-income test.
Use the checklist in the portal as the final authority. Every fact in the registration must be supported by a document submitted after the invitation.
Entrepreneur immigration
Entrepreneur streams use separate eligibility, scoring, verification and performance-agreement processes. The worker calculator does not apply to them. BC's page for these streams was last updated on September 10, 2025, so confirm the figures before relying on them.
| Route | Starting figures | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Base stream | Net worth of at least $600,000; eligible personal investment of at least $200,000 | 3 years as an owner-manager in the last 10 years (or an eligible post-secondary degree); a new eligible business or the takeover of an existing one; CLB 4; at least one new full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. A community referral is not required and an exploratory visit is recommended. |
| Regional stream | Net worth of at least $300,000; eligible personal investment of at least $100,000 | 3 years as an owner-manager in the last 5 years (or an eligible post-secondary degree); a new business that matches the referring community's priorities; CLB 4; one new full-time job for a citizen or permanent resident; a completed community referral and an exploratory visit are required. The referral is valid for 90 days. |
| Strategic Projects | Foreign corporation with an equity investment of at least $500,000 in B.C. operations | An established corporation in good financial standing, with an investment-ready plan and key staff employed full-time with management experience; at least three new full-time jobs for each proposed key staff member, up to five staff. Registration is by BC PNP invitation after an information meeting; the application is due within 90 days of the invitation. |
How the entrepreneur process works
- Register ($300)Once the registration meets the criteria, it stays in the qualified pool for up to six months or until an invitation. BC ranks Base and Regional registrations by score.
- Apply within four months of the invitationA BC PNP-authorized accounting firm must verify your net worth and the accumulation of your funds before you submit. The application fee is $3,500.
- Interview and Performance AgreementAfter provincial approval, you sign a Performance Agreement tailored to your application, business plan and interview, and receive a Letter of Support.
- Work permit and arrivalApply for a work permit within 90 days of the Letter of Support and arrive in B.C. within 12 months of receiving the permit.
- Implement the businessYou have up to 20 months after arrival to implement the plan, and the final report is due 18 to 20 months after arrival.
- NominationAfter BC accepts the final report you sign a Conditions of Nomination Declaration and receive a Confirmation of Nomination to apply to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class.
For Strategic Projects, each approved key staff member gets a Letter of Support, has 90 days to apply for a work permit and must arrive within six months. The corporate Performance Agreement's final report is due 12 to 24 months after arrival.
Recent entrepreneur rounds
| Date (2026) | Stream | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 22 | Base | 119 | 10 |
| September 22 | Regional | 119 | fewer than 5 |
| August 25 | Base | 116 | 11 |
| August 25 | Regional | 116 | 5 |
| July 28 | Base | 117 | 10 |
The BC entrepreneur calculator gives a self-declared estimate for the Base or Regional score. The federal Start-up Visa and Self-employed Persons programs are separate; see the federal business programs guide.
Current provincial fees
| Service | B.C. government fee |
|---|---|
| Skills Immigration registration | No fee |
| Skills Immigration application | $1,750 (since January 22, 2026; it was $1,475) |
| Entrepreneur registration (Base, Regional, Strategic Projects) | $300 |
| Entrepreneur application | $3,500 |
| Strategic Projects: each additional key staff member reviewed | $1,000 |
| Request for review | $500 |
Provincial fees are refunded only if the application is withdrawn before BC PNP begins assessing it. Review fees are not refundable. IRCC fees are separate: for permanent residence applications received since April 30, 2026, the economic-class fee is $1,590 for the principal applicant (a $990 processing fee plus the $600 right of permanent residence fee) and $1,590 for a spouse or partner, $270 for each dependent child, plus biometrics at $85 a person (maximum $170 for a family of two or more). Work permit fees are also separate.
After nomination
A nomination does not authorize work and does not guarantee federal approval. The nominee must keep meeting the nomination conditions until permanent residence is granted.
Express Entry nomination
Accept the nomination in the federal Express Entry profile. It adds 600 CRS points, which leads to an invitation to apply in a later round, and the permanent residence application is then filed online.
Non-Express Entry nomination
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence under the non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program process before the Confirmation of Nomination expires. See the non-Express Entry process.
Work permit support
BC PNP handles post-nomination requests, which can include support for a work permit, but the nominee must apply to IRCC and maintain legal status. Ask before your current permit expires.
Employment conditions
Keep the supporting B.C. job, authorized work, wage, hours, occupation and income, and your intention to live in B.C. Report material changes. BC may cancel a nomination if conditions are no longer met.
Federal decision
IRCC reviews admissibility (medical, criminal and security checks) and the permanent residence application, and approves or refuses it.
No guarantees
An invitation, an accepted application or a nomination never guarantees permanent residence or a work permit.
Common reasons for refusal and mistakes
- An ineligible employer. Too few employees, no fixed B.C. workplace, a staffing agency, or an applicant or family member who controls 10% or more of the company can end the file.
- An ineligible or mismatched occupation. The NOC must match the real duties, the TEER must be 0 to 3, and the occupation must not be on the ineligible list. An Express Entry BC file with a TEER 4 or 5 offer is refused.
- An inflated or non-comparable wage. Offers whose pay appears raised to meet the income threshold are refused, and bonuses, tips and overtime do not count.
- Vague employer declarations. Answers such as "not applicable" on the Employer Declaration may lead to refusal.
- Failing to report changes. A new employer, new title or duties, a pay cut or hours below 30 a week must be reported.
- Treating a score as a guarantee. BC selects by occupation, wage, region and priority, and one round's cut-off says little about the next.
- Missing the 30-day window. The invitation then expires and the registration is removed from the pool.
- Claiming points you cannot prove. Each registration claim must match the documents submitted after the invitation.
- Paying outside the portal. BC PNP takes payment only through the portal. Treat any request to pay another way as a possible scam.
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to BC PNP Skills Immigration without a B.C. job offer?
Not in the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams: both are built on an eligible B.C. job offer. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is closed.
Is the registration free, and does it guarantee an invitation?
Skills Immigration registration has no fee, but it never guarantees an invitation. A registration stays in the pool for up to 12 months.
Do I need Express Entry to apply?
No. Express Entry BC is an option for candidates who are also eligible for a federal Express Entry program. Other candidates apply to IRCC outside Express Entry after nomination.
Are technology workers still invited?
Technology occupations remain eligible for the Skilled Worker stream, but the last technology-specific draw was held on December 3, 2024. Technology candidates are now considered mainly in the Innovate (High Economic Impact) rounds.
Is the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative still open?
No. Registration ran until October 7, 2026 and has closed. BC continued to invite registered candidates on October 15.
Can the province refund the application fee?
Only if the application is withdrawn before BC PNP starts assessing it. Review fees are not refundable.
Does a nomination mean I am a permanent resident?
No. It allows you to apply to IRCC, which decides on admissibility and permanent residence.
Official sources
- WelcomeBC: BC Provincial Nominee Program
- WelcomeBC: BC PNP Skills Immigration for workers (streams, process, fees)
- WelcomeBC: Skills Immigration Program Guide (edition effective June 10, 2026)
- WelcomeBC: Skills Immigration Application Guide (edition effective June 25, 2026)
- WelcomeBC: Invitations to apply and registration pool
- WelcomeBC: BC PNP news and 2026 changes
- WelcomeBC: BC PNP documents and forms
- WelcomeBC: Entrepreneur immigration and Strategic Projects
- IRCC: Provincial nominees through Express Entry
- IRCC: Provincial nominees outside Express Entry
- IRCC: How the Provincial Nominee Program works
- IRCC: Fee list (permanent residence and biometrics)
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.