BC PNP Skills Immigration

BC-PNP-Skills-Immigration

The BC PNP Skills Immigration pathway is designed for skilled workers and recent graduates and offers them five streams for nomination. Under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), there are two pathways that cater to two different sets of applicants:

  1. Skills Immigration – for skilled workers and recent international graduates 
  2. Entrepreneur Immigration – for entrepreneurs only

Under BC PNP’s Skills Immigration pathway, there are 5 other streams that offer a provincial nomination to those who qualify for it. These are:

  1. Skilled Worker
  2. Health Authority
  3. International Graduate
  4. International Post-Graduate (IPG)
  5. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS)

All streams cater to different types of applicants who are equipped with different sets of skills, training, and work experience. Understand how these different streams work and what are their eligibility requirements. 

Obtaining a nomination through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) makes it easier for applicants to obtain Canadian permanent residency

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BC PNP Skills Immigration Streams: Overview

Let’s understand how the different BC PNP Skills Immigration streams work.

1. Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker stream offers a way for skilled workers to immigrate to British Columbia, if they are in a professional, technical, managerial, trade, or other occupation. The BC PNP Skilled Worker stream nominates those who have at least 2 years of full-time work experience in an occupation which must be in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. 

This stream requires the applicants to have a job offer in the same NOC TEER as mentioned above. The applicant also has to meet minimum language requirements and show that they are financially capable of supporting themselves as well as their dependents in British Columbia.

The BC PNP Skills Immigration’s Skilled Worker stream offers the EEBC option, which means, if an applicant has an Express Entry profile, they may be eligible to apply for PR through it. 

2. Health Authority

Through the Health Authority stream, healthcare professionals with an indeterminate job offer may obtain PR. This stream allows only those who are already working for a health authority. 

This stream also permits midwives, nurse practitioners, and physicians to obtain provincial nomination. 

The applicant has to meet the NOC TEER category requirements according to their job. The authority needs to support the applicant’s application. 

Similar to the Skilled Worker stream, the BC PNP Skills Immigration’s Health Authority stream also offers the EEBC option.

3. International Graduate

The BC PNP’s International Graduate stream is designed for international students who have recently graduated from a Canadian institution. The student must have graduated with a degree/diploma from a post-secondary institution. 

To be eligible, the graduate needs a job offer in NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3; meet language and financial requirements. They must have graduated from a post-secondary institution within the last 3 years. 

The applicant’s employer has to support them throughout the application process. The BC PNP Skills Immigration’s International Graduate offers the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option as well. 

4. International Post-Graduate (IPG)

The International Post-Graduate or IPG stream is also for recent graduates of a post-secondary institution. However, these graduates must have completed their studies from a British Columbia post-secondary institution, that too, in a master’s or doctoral program. 

Those with a PhD degree may qualify if they meet the requirements. 

The eligibility criteria of the International Post-Graduate stream requires graduates to obtain an eligible degree from an eligible study program. 

  • For master’s degree – the applicant must have studied in an applied, natural or health sciences discipline 
  • For doctoral degree – the applicant must have studied in a public BC post-secondary institution
  • For PhD students – they obtained candidacy at a public post-secondary institution in the province

Like other BC PNP Skills Immigration streams, the IPG stream also has the EEBC option for applicants. 

5. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS)

Entry level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream offers a nomination pathway for low-skilled workers with a job offer in occupations in NOC TEER 4 and 5. It particularly targets applicants to hire for the province’s tourism, hospitality as well as food processing sectors. 

To be eligible for this stream, the applicant must have a job offer in an eligible occupation in NOC TEER 4 or 5. The applicant must have been employed under the same employer for at least 9 months before they register for this stream.

The same employer should also support you throughout the process. The Entry level and Semi-Skilled stream of the BC PNP Skills Immigration pathway is the only stream that doesn’t offer the EEBC option. 

Nomination Application Process – BC PNP Skills Immigration

Here’s an overview of the BC PNP Skills Immigration nomination application process:

  1. Find the most suitable stream that you qualify for
  2. After deciding which stream to apply through, register yourself on the BC PNP Online portal. Registration demonstrates that the applicant is interested in immigrating to the province via a particular stream. By registering yourself, you provide information regarding your education, work experience, language skills, etc. 
  3. Based on these factors you will receive a certain score and be placed in a pool of other eligible applicants. The profiles wait for BC PNP draws to be conducted to receive an invite. Your profile will remain active for about a  year in this pool.
  4. Once you receive an invite, apply for nomination through that stream. Within 30 days of being invited, submit a completely filled application.
  5. Submit a nomination application, after paying the application processing fee 
  6. If BC PNP approves your nomination, you can apply for permanent residency to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Priorities

There are some priority occupations that are in great demand for skilled workers. These occupations support BC’s strategic initiatives and hence, benefit from the targeted BC PNP’s draws. These are:

  1. Childcare
  2. Healthcare
  3. Technology 
  4. Construction
  5. Veterinary care 

Targeted draws help applicants with a job offer in certain NOC codes to receive an invite faster.

1. Childcare

There’s only one NOC code prioritized under the childcare category. 

  • 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants

Other NOC codes may also be eligible for BC PNP Skills Immigration. 

2. Healthcare

If you have a job offer in one of the following NOC codes, you may be able to receive an ITA in targeted draws. 

NOC CodeNOC Title
30010Managers in healthcare
31100Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101Specialists in surgery
31102General practitioners and family physicians
31110Dentists
31112Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120Pharmacists
31121Dietitians and nutritionists
31200Psychologists
31201Chiropractors
31202Physiotherapists
31203Occupational therapists
31204Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
31209Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
31300Nursing coordinators and supervisors
31301Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
31302Nurse practitioners
31303Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
32101Licensed practical nurses
32102Paramedical occupations
32103Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
32109Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
32110Denturists
32111Dental hygienists and dental therapists
32112Dental technologists and technicians
32120Medical laboratory technologists
32121Medical radiation technologists
32122Medical sonographers
32123Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
32124Pharmacy technicians
32129Other medical technologists and technicians
32200Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
33100Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
33101Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
33102Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
33103Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
41300Social workers
41301Therapists in counseling and related specialized therapies
42201Social and community service workers

3. Technology 

Though the applicants do not require a permanent job offer but it must last for at least 1 year. Moreover, it must be in one of the following NOC codes.

NOC CodeNOC Title
10030Telecommunication carriers managers
20012Computer and information systems managers
21100Physicists and astronomers
21210Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211Data scientists
21220Cybersecurity specialists
21221Business systems specialists
21222Information systems specialists
21223Database analysts and data administrators
21230Computer systems developers and programmers
21231Software engineers and designers
21232Software developers and programmers
21233Web designers
21234Web developers and programmers
21300Civil engineers
21301Mechanical engineers
21310Electrical and electronics engineers
21311Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21320Chemical engineers
21399Other professional engineers
22110Biological technologists and technicians
22220Computer network and web technicians
22221User support technicians
22222Information systems testing technicians
22310Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
22312Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
50011Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51111Authors and writers (except technical)
51112Technical writers
51120Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52119Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
52112Broadcast technicians
52113Audio and video recording technicians
52120Graphic designers and illustrators
53111Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators

4. Construction

The applicant needs to have a full-time, indeterminate job offer in one of the following NOC codes. They must also be certified to perform the job. 

NOC CodeNOC Title
22114Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
72102Sheet metal workers
72103Boilermakers
72104Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105Ironworkers
72106Welders and related machine operators
72200Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201Industrial electricians
72300Plumbers
72301Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302Gas fitters
72310Carpenters
72311Cabinetmakers
72320Bricklayers
72400Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72500Crane operators
73100Concrete finishers
73101Tilesetters
73102Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
73110Roofers and shinglers
73111Glaziers
73112Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113Floor covering installers

5. Veterinary care

If you have a job offer in any of the following NOC codes, you may obtain an ITA in targeted draws.

  • 31103 – Veterinarians
  • 32104 – Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

Don’t forget to fill out the form below for some insights and advice from our experts! 

Niyati Chaurasia

Niyati Chaurasia

Niyati’s specialty lies in Canadian immigration matters along with crafting helpful, user-oriented content.

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