Priority Occupation Stream BC PNP Canada Immigration
BC PNP – Current Pathways, Care, Build & Innovate
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an economic immigration program that allows B.C. to nominate eligible workers, entrepreneurs and businesses that support the province's labour-market and economic-development needs.
The current BC PNP is organized around two main immigration pathways: Skills Immigration for eligible workers and Entrepreneur Immigration for eligible entrepreneurs and businesses. For worker selection, B.C. currently focuses its strategic priorities on Care, Build and Innovate.
2 Main PathwaysSkills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration.
2 Worker StreamsSkilled Worker and Health Authority are the current core Skills Immigration streams.
Care • Build • InnovateB.C.'s current strategic worker-selection priorities.
No Guaranteed InvitationEligibility and priority occupation status do not guarantee selection or nomination.
How the Current BC PNP Is Structured
SKILLS IMMIGRATION
For Workers
Skills Immigration is for workers with the experience, education and qualifications needed to address workforce needs in British Columbia.
- Skilled Worker stream – for eligible workers with a qualifying B.C. job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- Health Authority stream – for eligible health professionals with the required support from a B.C. public health authority
- Eligible applicants may also use the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option when they meet federal Express Entry requirements
ENTREPRENEUR IMMIGRATION
For Entrepreneurs & Businesses
Entrepreneur Immigration is for experienced entrepreneurs and businesses that can contribute to B.C.'s economy by establishing, purchasing, expanding or managing eligible business operations.
- Base stream – for eligible entrepreneurs starting a new business or taking over and growing an existing business
- Regional stream – for eligible entrepreneurs establishing a new business in participating communities outside Metro Vancouver
- Strategic Projects stream – for eligible foreign corporations establishing operations in B.C. and proposing key foreign staff
A BC PNP nomination is a provincial nomination. A successful nominee must still submit the appropriate permanent-residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
BC PNP Priorities: Care, Build & Innovate
B.C. uses targeted selection to support sectors and candidates that can provide strong labour-market and economic outcomes. Current priorities are grouped under three objectives.
CARE
Care Economy
B.C. prioritizes selected workers who support public services and community well-being, including qualifying occupations in:
- Health care
- Childcare
- Education
- Veterinary care
BUILD
Construction & Infrastructure
B.C. may target certified skilled-trade workers needed for construction, infrastructure and major projects.
For current targeted construction occupations, applicants must meet the applicable trade-certificate or registered-apprenticeship requirements.
INNOVATE
High Economic Impact
B.C. can target highly skilled candidates across sectors who are expected to create high economic impact and support innovation, productivity and long-term economic growth.
Innovate is not a replacement name for the former fixed BC PNP Tech occupation list.
Important: Old BC PNP Pathways That Should Not Be Used as Current Programs
Entry Level & Semi-Skilled (ELSS)
The ELSS stream is closed. It should not be advertised or shown in the active BC PNP program menu as an available stream.
New Student Streams
B.C. confirmed that the proposed new student streams will not be launched. International graduates should assess eligibility under current pathways such as Skilled Worker when applicable.
Old Priority-Tech Draws
The former priority technology draw model ended. Technology occupations from the former list can still be eligible for BC PNP if they meet current stream requirements, but they no longer receive invitations through the old fixed Tech-priority model.
For international graduates: studying in B.C. or Canada can still contribute registration points where the current scoring system allows, but completion of a B.C. credential is not itself a separate active student nomination stream.
Which Current Worker Stream May Apply?
Skilled Worker
- Eligible B.C. job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- Generally full-time and indeterminate employment
- Employer support required before registration
- Minimum two years of full-time-equivalent skilled work experience
- Current minimum language requirement of CLB 4
- Must meet qualification, licensing, wage and family-income requirements
- Registration and Invitation to Apply are generally required
Health Authority
- Must fit an eligible Health Authority occupation/professional situation
- Required support from an eligible B.C. public health authority
- Direct employees generally need eligible full-time, indeterminate employment
- Must meet occupational licensing, certification and qualification requirements
- Must meet applicable language, wage and income requirements
- Regular Health Authority applicants can apply directly without a Skills Immigration registration or draw
There are exceptions and occupation-specific rules. The current Skills Immigration Program Guide should be used for the final eligibility assessment.
How BC PNP Selection Works
For streams that use registration, meeting minimum eligibility only allows a candidate to enter the registration pool. The BC PNP can then issue Invitations to Apply based on one or more selection factors.
Selection Factors Can Include
- Registration score
- Occupation
- Wage and skill level of the B.C. job offer
- Work experience
- Education
- Language ability
- Professional designation
Strategic Factors Can Include
- Regional location in British Columbia
- Current labour-market needs
- Priority sectors and occupations
- High Economic Impact considerations
- Time-limited or strategic initiatives
- Program integrity and nomination capacity
There is no permanent guaranteed cutoff. Previous draw scores, wage thresholds or occupation-targeting criteria are historical results only. Future invitations may use different factors.
Priority Occupation Does Not Mean Automatic BC PNP Eligibility
A worker can appear on a current targeted occupation list and still be ineligible if the applicant, job offer, employer, professional certification, wage, immigration status or stream requirements are not met.
Occupation
Your correct NOC must match the actual duties of the B.C. job, not only the job title.
Certification
Some targeted occupations require specific B.C. professional registration, certification or apprenticeship status.
Employer & Job Offer
The supporting employer and employment arrangement must meet current BC PNP requirements where employer support is required.
Occupations Currently Ineligible for Skills Immigration
The BC PNP currently identifies certain occupations as ineligible for all Skills Immigration streams.
Administrative / Sales & Service
- NOC 12100 – Executive assistants
- NOC 12101 – Human resources and recruitment officers
- NOC 12200 – Accounting technicians and bookkeepers
- NOC 13100 – Administrative officers
- NOC 13110 – Administrative assistants
- NOC 13111 – Legal administrative assistants
- NOC 13112 – Medical administrative assistants
- NOC 62010 – Retail sales supervisors
- NOC 62020 – Food service supervisors
- NOC 63101 – Real estate agents and salespersons
Religious Occupations
- NOC 41302 – Religious leaders
- NOC 42204 – Religious workers
Occupation eligibility can change. Check the current Skills Immigration Program Guide before registering or applying.
Express Entry BC (EEBC)
Eligible applicants in a current BC PNP worker stream may be able to use the Express Entry BC option if they also qualify under a federal Express Entry economic immigration program.
An EEBC applicant must maintain a valid Express Entry profile while the BC PNP application is being assessed. If the Express Entry profile is no longer valid or visible to the BC PNP, the province may be unable to issue the nomination through EEBC.
Current Skills Immigration Government Fees
Registration
$0 Current Skills Immigration registration feeApplication
$1,750 Current BC PNP Skills Immigration application feeRequest for Review
$500 Current request-for-review fee
Government fees can change. Federal permanent-residence and work-permit fees are separate from BC PNP fees.
Employer Support Is More Than a Job Offer
Where a BC PNP stream requires employer support, the employer must meet current program requirements and provide the required supporting documents.
Employer Requirements Can Include
- Operating an established business in B.C.
- Meeting minimum staffing requirements where applicable
- Demonstrating genuine need for the offered position
- Meeting recruitment requirements where applicable
- Complying with employment, business and immigration laws
- Completing the current BC PNP Employer Declaration
Applicant Responsibilities
- Ensure all information is accurate and complete
- Maintain eligible immigration status where required
- Continue meeting employment and stream requirements
- Report material changes to the BC PNP within required timelines
- Maintain professional licensing or registration where applicable
Typical Skills Immigration Process
1
Choose the Correct Stream
Assess Skilled Worker, Health Authority or another current initiative that may apply.
2
Confirm Applicant & Employer Eligibility
Review NOC, job offer, experience, language, licensing, wage, employer and family-income requirements.
3
Register If Required
Skilled Worker generally uses the registration system. Regular Health Authority applicants apply directly.
4
Receive an Invitation If Required
For registration-based pathways, the BC PNP selects candidates according to current priorities and selection factors.
5
Submit the BC PNP Application
Provide complete evidence and pay the applicable provincial application fee.
6
After Nomination
Submit the appropriate permanent-residence application to IRCC and continue complying with all nomination conditions.
Explore Current BC PNP Information
Priority Occupations
Check current Care and Build targeted occupation lists and occupation-specific requirements.
Latest Invitations
Review the latest published BC PNP invitation results and historical draw information.
BC PNP FAQs
What are the main BC PNP pathways?
The BC PNP currently has two main immigration pathways: Skills Immigration for eligible workers and Entrepreneur Immigration for eligible entrepreneurs and businesses.
What worker streams are currently available under Skills Immigration?
The current core worker streams are Skilled Worker and Health Authority. The program may also operate temporary or strategic initiatives with separate eligibility and intake periods.
What are Care, Build and Innovate?
They are the BC PNP's current strategic objectives. Care targets selected workers in the care economy, Build supports construction and infrastructure needs, and Innovate focuses on highly skilled candidates and entrepreneurs who can create high economic impact.
Is BC PNP Tech still an active priority stream?
The old fixed priority-Tech invitation model is no longer current. Former technology occupations can remain eligible for BC PNP if all current stream requirements are met, and highly qualified technology workers may still be selected through broader High Economic Impact selection.
Is the BC PNP International Graduate stream still available?
The current worker structure does not include a separate International Graduate stream, and B.C. confirmed that the proposed new student streams will not be launched. Graduates may still qualify through current BC PNP pathways if they meet the applicable requirements.
Is ELSS still open?
No. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is closed and should not be presented as a current active BC PNP stream.
Does a priority occupation guarantee an Invitation to Apply?
No. Targeted occupation status does not replace the underlying eligibility requirements and does not guarantee an invitation or nomination.
Do all BC PNP applicants need a registration and draw?
No. Skilled Worker generally requires registration and an Invitation to Apply. Eligible applicants under the regular Health Authority stream can apply directly once they meet the requirements and have the required health-authority support.
Can I use Express Entry with BC PNP?
Eligible applicants may use the Express Entry BC option if they meet the requirements of the applicable BC PNP stream and an eligible federal Express Entry program.
Does a BC PNP nomination guarantee permanent residence?
No. A nomination allows the applicant to proceed to the appropriate federal permanent-residence stage. IRCC still assesses federal admissibility and other applicable requirements.
Find the Right Current BC PNP Pathway
BC PNP eligibility depends on much more than occupation or a previous draw score. Your job offer, employer, work experience, language, qualifications, professional certification, wage, family income and current provincial selection priorities should be reviewed together.
Sia Immigration Solutions can assess your circumstances and help identify which current B.C. immigration pathway may be appropriate.
Important: BC PNP streams, occupation lists, strategic priorities, scoring, invitation criteria, employer requirements, temporary initiatives and government fees can change. Meeting minimum eligibility or working in a priority occupation does not guarantee an Invitation to Apply, provincial nomination or permanent residence. Current official BC PNP and IRCC requirements should be reviewed before taking immigration action.
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