Employers

Last updated: November 16, 2022

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BC PNP’s Skills Immigration is a tool for British Columbia (B.C.) employers to attract and retain workers and recent graduates with the skills, education and/or experience that is needed in B.C. 

The BC PNP may be a good choice if you have been unsuccessful in finding a skilled permanent resident or Canadian worker to fill a permanent position.

If your employee is nominated by the BC PNP, they may receive a work permit support letter to start working with you as soon as possible.
 

General requirements

To be eligible, B.C. employers must meet certain requirements and responsibilities, including:
  • Be established in B.C.
  • Meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements
  • Offer full-time, permanent employment
    • BC PNP Tech occupations, university professors, lecturers and post-doctoral fellows working for a public university in B.C. do not need a permanent job offer
  • Offer a wage in line with industry standards
  • Provide a signed job offer
  • Complete and sign the employer declaration form
  • Submit supporting documents about your business
  • Follow laws and regulations

Responsibilities

As an employer supporting a BC PNP application, you have a responsibility to tell the BC PNP by email if there are any changes in your employee’s status.
 
For any employer, there are many reasons why an employee’s status may change. Your employee may find another job, they may quit or be terminated, or the business may close or change ownership.
 
If an employer misrepresents information and/or documentation, the BC PNP may refuse to accept an application supported by that business for up to two years.
 

Supporting an application

Supporting a BC PNP application means you’ve offered a job to worker who does not have permanent status in Canada, and you have decided to use the BC PNP  to retain them. It also means you agree to sign the Employer Declaration Form and provide required documents to ensure you and your employee meet all requirements.

Employers supporting BC PNP applicants don’t need a federal Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to hire a foreign worker.

Your employee can submit a registration to the BC PNP at any time. Once they get an invitation to apply, they have 30 days to gather the required documentation, submit their application, and pay the fee.

Employers must provide the following documents to support the employee’s application:
  • BC PNP employer declaration form
  • Recommendation letter
  • Copy of the signed job offer
  • Detailed job description
  • Evidence of recruitment efforts
  • Company information
  • Copy of the Certificate of incorporation (or legal equivalent)
  • Copy of municipal business license
  • National Safety Code Program number (commercial vehicle operators only)
We may contact you or visit your workplace to make sure your employee is working there and to make sure you meet employer requirements.

More information

Visit our Documents page for:
  • The Program Guide, which has complete program information, and criteria. It also includes complete employer requirements, as well as a list of ineligible employers
  • The Technical Guide, a self-help tool for applying in the BC PNP Online system. This guide also has lists of the documentation that you and your employee must provide
Visit our About page for estimated processing times for applications and post-nomination requests.

If you have further questions about employer requirements or supporting a worker through the BC PNP, please email PNPInfo@gov.bc.ca.

Note: This website provides a high-level overview of the program only. Please refer to the program guides for the most current and complete information. Check back often to ensure you have the latest version.

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