Skills Immigration

Last updated: November 17, 2023
BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration is a way for workers and recent graduates with the skills, experience and qualifications needed by B.C. employers to permanently settle in B.C.
 
Skills Immigration is made up of five streams, each designed for people with different types of skills, experience and education. Four of these streams also have an Express Entry BC option.
 

Topics on this page

  • Process
    • How to apply to a Skills Immigration stream (including using the Express Entry BC option)

Skills Immigration streams and eligibility

Skills Immigration has five streams. Each one has a unique set of criteria.

Eligibility for many Skills Immigration streams is based in part on the federal government’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. The BC PNP uses the 2021 version of the NOC.
 

Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker stream is for experienced workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other occupations to gain permanent residence in B.C.
 

Eligibility

To qualify for this stream, you must:
  • Have accepted an indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time, job offer from a B.C. employer
    • Your job offer must be classified as NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
  • Be qualified to perform the duties of the job
  • Have a minimum of two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience at NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
  • Meet minimum language requirements
  • Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
  • Show you can support yourself and your dependants
Your employer must agree to support your application and must meet certain requirements. For more information, please see the Employer page.
 
This stream also has an Express Entry BC option.
 
* Your job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation or is in NOC 41200 (university professors and lecturers). 
 
For complete eligibility criteria for the Skilled Worker stream, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.

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Health Authority

The Health Authority stream gives a permanent residence pathway to people working for a health authority in B.C. If you are a physician, midwife or a nurse practitioner, you may also be eligible to apply under the Health Authority stream.
 
You do not need to register for this stream. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can submit an application directly to the BC PNP.
 

Eligibility 

To qualify for this stream, you must:
  • Have one of the following:
    • An indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. public health authority
    • A letter from a health authority or midwife practice group that confirms that you are a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in British Columbia
  • Meet the education, training, experience and qualification requirements outlined by the public health authority
The health authority must agree to support your application. 

This stream also has the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option.

* Your job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation.
 
For complete eligibility criteria for the Health Authority stream, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.
 
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Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is a way for workers in select occupations in the tourism/hospitality or food processing sectors to gain permanent residence in B.C.
 

Eligibility

To qualify for this stream, you must:
  • Have accepted an indeterminate (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. employer
    • Your occupation must be on the list of eligible occupations for your sector. All ELSS-eligible occupations are classified as NOC TEER 4 or 5
    • For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., you may apply if you are working in any NOC TEER category 4 or 5  occupation, other than live-in caregivers
  • Have been working full-time for your employer for a minimum of nine consecutive months before registering.
  • Be qualified to do the job offered to you, including meeting any certification or registration requirements in B.C.
  • Meet minimum language and education requirements
  • Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
  • Show you can support yourself and your dependants
Your employer must agree to support your application and must meet certain requirements. For more information, please see the Employer page.

Please note that this stream does not have the Express Entry BC option.

For complete eligibility criteria for the ELSS stream, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.
 

Eligible ELSS occupations

Occupations in travel and accommodation
64314 Hotel front desk clerks
 
Tour and recreational guides and casino occupations
64320 Tour and travel guides
64321 Casino workers
64322 Outdoor sport and recreational guides
 
Occupations in food and beverage service
64300 Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
64301 Bartenders
65200 Food and beverage servers
65201 Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
 
Cleaners (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
65210 Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services
65310 Light duty cleaners
65311 Specialized cleaners
65312 Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
 
Other service occupations (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
65320 Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
65329 Other service support occupations
 
*For the purposes of the BC PNP, a resort is defined as an accommodation facility that is associated with recreational activities. These activities can include skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, nature-based or interpretive tours, etc.
 
Food processing
94140 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
94141 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
94142 Fish and seafood plant workers
94143 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
95106 Labourers in food and beverage processing

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International Graduate

The International Graduate stream is a way for recent graduates with a degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution to get permanent residence and stay in B.C.
 

Eligibility

To qualify for this stream, you must: 
  • Have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years
  • Have accepted an indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. employer. The job must be classified as NOC TEER category 1, 2, or 3
    • management occupations (NOC TEER 0) are not eligible under this stream
  • Be qualified to work in your occupation in B.C.
  • Meet minimum language requirements
  • Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
  • Show you can support yourself and your dependants
Your employer must agree to support your application and must meet certain requirements. For more information, please see the Employer page.

This stream also has the Express Entry BC option.

* Your job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation. 

For complete eligibility criteria for the International Graduate stream, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.

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International Post-Graduate

The International Post-Graduate stream is for recent graduates of an eligible B.C. post-secondary institution with an eligible master’s or doctoral degree. PhD candidates at a public B.C. post-secondary institution may also be eligible.
 
You do not need a job offer from an employer to apply to this stream. 
 
You do not need to register for this stream. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can apply directly to the BC PNP.
 

Eligibility

To qualify for this stream, you must have obtained eligible graduate-level education from an eligible program of study at a post-secondary institution in B.C. in the last three years.
 
Eligible education includes:
  • Master’s degrees in an eligible program in the natural, applied or health sciences disciplines from a B.C. post-secondary institution. Please see the BC PNP IPG Programs of Study in Eligible Fields for more information
  • Doctoral degrees in any field of study from a public B.C. post-secondary institution
  • PhD students in any field of study who have been admitted to candidacy at a public B.C. post-secondary institution
You must also demonstrate that you have the ability and intent to live, work and economically establish in B.C.

This stream also has the Express Entry BC option.

For complete eligibility criteria for the International Post-Graduate stream, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.

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Process

There are four main steps to the BC PNP process: registration (if applicable), invitation (if applicable), application, and decision. Each step of the process has unique requirements.

You should carefully review the information on this website and in the Skills Immigration Program Guide before getting started.
 

How to apply to a Skills Immigration stream including the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option

  1. Choose your stream and if you will use the EEBC option 
  2. Register
  3. Wait for an invitation to apply
  4. Apply
  5. Decision
  6. Permanent Residence

1.Choose your stream and if you will use the EEBC option

Before you begin, carefully review the information about the Skills Immigration streams to find the stream that best fits your situation.

Four of the Skills Immigration streams also have the EEBC option. You might be eligible for the Express Entry BC option if you are in the federal Express Entry pool and you meet the criteria for one of the Skills Immigration streams. 

If you are nominated using the Express Entry BC option, your federal profile will receive more points and your federal permanent residence application may be processed faster.

When you have chosen your Skills Immigration stream, and you have decided if you will use the EEBC option, you are ready to register.
 

2.Register

A registration is how you tell the BC PNP that you want to apply to the program. It must be submitted using BCPNP Online. Registration to Skills Immigration is free.
 
Once you have signed in, create a profile and select your stream.  You must meet program criteria at the time of registration, and throughout the BC PNP process.
 
If you decide to use the EEBC option, select the stream that starts with Express Entry BC. This ensures your nomination will connect to your IRCC profile in the Express Entry system.
 
Once you have selected a stream, complete all sections of the registration for that stream.
 
After submitting your registration, you will receive a score based on the information you provide. Your registration will be scored on human capital factors (such as your work experience, education and language proficiency) and economic factors (such as your wage and location in B.C.).
 
You will then be placed in a registration pool for your chosen stream. Your registration will remain active in the pool for up to 12 months, or until you receive an invitation to apply.
 
For a step-by-step tool for registering and applying online, please refer to the Skills Immigration Technical Guide.
 
For more information about registrations and how points are awarded, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.
 

3.Wait for an invitation

You need an invitation to apply to most Skills Immigration streams. If you are invited to apply, you have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application via BCPNP Online. 
 
If you no longer want to apply to the BC PNP, or you no longer meet the criteria, you should not submit an application. If you no longer meet the criteria, your application may be refused.
 
If you do not submit an application within 30 calendar days, your invitation will expire and your registration will be removed from the pool. If you would like to stay in the pool, you must submit a new registration.
 
You can find more details about how we issue invitations in the Skills Immigration Program Guide.
 
Visit the invitations to apply page for more information and recent invitations to apply.
 

4.Apply

Your application is your chance to show the BC PNP that you meet the criteria for the stream you have selected. When you are ready to submit your application, log into your profile in BCPNP Online, and complete all sections of the application.
 
Before you submit your application, you must pay the application fee and ensure you have included all required documents.
 
Your application will be assessed according to the Provincial Immigration Programs Act and Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation, and against the criteria specific to your stream outlined in the Skills Immimgration Program Guide.
 
Please note that if you qualify for the Health Authority stream or the International Post-Graduate stream you do not need to register. You can submit an application directly.
 
For more step-by-step information about applying in BCPNP Online, please refer to the Skills Immigration Technical Guide.
 

5.BC PNP nomination

If your application is approved, you will receive a nomination package containing documents that you can use to apply for permanent residence.
 
You must apply to IRCC to become a permanent resident of Canada before your Confirmation of Nomination document expires.
 
As a Nominee, you must comply with the conditions of nomination while you are waiting for a decision on your permanent residence application. Conditions of nomination can be found in the Skills Immigration Program Guide, and will be issued with your nomination package.
 
As a Nominee, you also have access to post-nomination support – such as a work permit support letter to help you apply for a work permit.
 
For more information about what to do after you receive a provincial nomination: If your application is refused, you may request a review of the decision, or you may consider other immigration options.
 

6.Permanent residence

If IRCC approves your application, you will become a permanent resident of Canada!
 
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Program priorities

This section contains priority occupations and additional criteria that support the BC PNP’s strategic initiatives.
 

Childcare

Workers with a job offer in the following occupation may benefit from targeted invitations to apply:
 
42202 Early childhood educators and assistants
 
Occupations listed here are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP.  Priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
 
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Construction

Workers in the construction sector must meet the following requirements to benefit from targeted invitations to apply: 
  • The job offer must be for an indeterminate, full-time job in one of the priority construction occupations
  • You must have a valid trade certificate issued by, or an apprenticeship registered with SkilledTradesBC
    • Your trade certificate must correspond with the job you have been offered

Priority construction occupations:

22114 Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists 
72102 Sheet metal workers
72103 Boilermakers
72104 Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
72105 Ironworkers
72106 Welders and related machine operators
72200 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
72201 Industrial electricians
72300 Plumbers
72301 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
72302 Gas fitters
72310 Carpenters
72311 Cabinetmakers
72320 Bricklayers
72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
72402 Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
72500 Crane operators
73100 Concrete finishers
73101 Tilesetters
73102 Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
73110 Roofers and shinglers
73111 Glaziers
73112 Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
73113 Floor covering installers
 
Occupations listed here are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP.  Priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.
 
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Healthcare

Workers who are direct employees of a provincial health authority or who are physicians, nurse practitioners, or midwives with the support of a provincial health authority can submit an application directly to the Health Authority stream.

Workers who are not employed by a health authority (and so must register in another stream) and who have a job offer in one of the following occupations may benefit from targeted invitations to apply.
 

Priority healthcare occupations:

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

*For the purposes of the BC PNP, only health care assistants / health care aides are eligible under NOC 33102.
 
Occupations listed here are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP.  Priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.

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Technology

The BC PNP offers skilled workers in select, in-demand technology occupations a pathway to permanent residence. To meet the unique needs of B.C.’s technology sector, priority technology occupations are not required to have a permanent job offer.

Workers in the technology sector must meet the following requirements to benefit from targeted invitations to apply: 
  • the job offer must be in one of the priority technology occupations
  • the job offer must be at least one year in duration (365 days)
  • there must be at least 120 calendar days remaining on the job offer at the time of application

Priority technology occupations:

10030 Telecommunication carriers managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21100 Physicists and astronomers
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business systems specialists
21222 Information systems specialists
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21231 Software engineers and designers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21233 Web designers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21320 Chemical engineers
21399 Other professional engineers
22110 Biological technologists and technicians
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221 User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
51112 Technical writers
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52119 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
52112 Broadcast technicians
52113 Audio and video recording technicians
52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators
 
Occupations listed here are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP.  Priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.

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Veterinary care

Workers with job offers in one of the following occupations may benefit from targeted invitations to apply. 
 

Priority veterinary care occupations:

31103 Veterinarians
32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians

Occupations listed here are not the only ones eligible for the BC PNP.  Priority occupations may receive a targeted invitation once a registration is submitted.

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Pilot Programs

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

B.C. is a partner in this federal pilot to provide an economic pathway for skilled refugees.

Find complete information about this pilot, including eligibility criteria for workers, and how to get started.

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