Eligibility Requirements for the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (BC PNP)

Skills Immigration Stream

Skilled Worker Category

This category is open to workers with post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a skilled occupation.

 

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under the Skilled Worker Category, applicants must:

• Have at least two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience in the skilled occupation offered to them, and the credentials and qualification requirements of the position, if applicable;
• Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. employer;
• Be in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A, or B;
  • For occupations classified as NOC level B, applicants must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency in English or French by submitting language test results showing a minimum score of benchmark 4 under the Canadian Language Benchmark 2000 (CLB) in all competencies.
  • For occupations classified as NOC level 0 or A, no language test results are necessary - the BC PNP, however, may require valid language test results at its discretion.
• Demonstrate the ability to meet minimum income requirements and pay for housing and living expenses in British Columbia by showing:
  • Annual wage in the province;
  • Location of residence in the province;
  • Number of dependents.

 

Minimum Requirements for Employers

Additionally, the employer offering the job must meet the following requirements:

• The business must be established in British Columbia, and have been operating for at least one year;
• The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
  • If the business is located in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least five permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
  • If the business is located outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least three permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
• The business must show a history of good business practices;
• The employer must meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;
• The employer must sign an employer declaration stating that all of these requirements are met;
• A written offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must meet all of the following requirements:
  • The offer must be signed and dated by both the employer and applicant.
  • The offer must include:
    • A description of job duties;
    • The rate of pay;
    • The working hours for the position (minimum of 30 hours per week);
    • A statement that position is permanent and full time;
    • A list of additional benefits; and
    • A mention of any applicable collective bargaining agreements, if relevant.

Health Care Professional Category

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

To be eligible under the Health Care Professional Category, in addition to meeting the general requirements, applicants must:

• Be a professional in one of the following fields:
  • Physician;
  • Specialist;
  • Registered nurse;
  • Registered psychiatric nurse;
  • Nurse practitioner;
  • Midwife; or
  • Allied health professional such as a:
    • Diagnostic medical sonographer;
    • Clinical pharmacist;
    • Medical laboratory technologist;
    • Medical radiation technologist;
    • Occupational therapist; or
    • Physiotherapist.
• Have at least two years full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience in the skilled occupation offered to them, and the credentials and qualification requirements of the position, if applicable;
• Be in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A, or B;
  • For occupations classified as NOC level B, applicants must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency in English or French by submitting language test results showing a minimum score of benchmark 4 under the Canadian Language Benchmark 2000 (CLB) in all competencies.
  • For occupations classified as NOC level 0 or A, no language test results are necessary - the BC PNP, however, may require valid language test results at its discretion.
• Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. public health authority;
• Demonstrate the ability to meet minimum income requirements and pay for housing and living expenses in British Columbia by showing:
  • Annual wage in the province;
  • Location of residence in the province;
  • Number of dependents.
• Midwives must:
  • Have a letter of confirmation from an established practice group in the province confirming acceptance into the group for at least six months, written on official group letterhead and signed by the head of the practice group and the applicant; and
  • Be registered, or eligible to be registered, with the College of Midwives of British Columbia.

 

Minimum Requirements for Employers

The employer offering the job must meet the following requirements:

• The business must be established in British Columbia, and have been operating for at least one year;
• The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
  • If the business is located in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least five permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
  • If the business is located outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least three permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
• The business must show a history of good business practices;
• The employer must offer the candidate a wage that meets industry standards;
• The employer must meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;
• The employer must sign an employer declaration stating that all of these requirements are met;
• A written offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must meet all of the following requirements:
  • The offer must be signed and dated by both the employer and applicant.
  • The offer must include:
    • A description of job duties;
    • The rate of pay;
    • The working hours for the position (minimum of 30 hours per week);
    • A statement that position is permanent and full time;
    • A list of additional benefits; and
    • A mention of any applicable collective bargaining agreements, if relevant.
• The employer may not make deductions from pay for recruitment, immigration fees, etc.
• The wage offered must be at market rate and comparable to the average salary for that occupation in British Columbia.
• Individuals originally hired on a Labour Market Opinion must receive an equal or greater wage than that stated on the Labour Market Opinion.

 

International Graduates – Canadian Universities or Colleges

This category is for international students who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within two years of applying to the BC PNP. While applicants do not necessarily need prior work experience, applicants are required to obtain a job offer from a B.C. employer.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

Applicants who meet the following requirements may be eligible under the International Graduate Category:

• Applicants must have obtained one of the following:
  • An undergraduate or graduate degree from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution; or
  • A diploma from an eligible public post-secondary institution in Canada. Diplomas from private institutions are not eligible for this program.
  • A diploma program must be minimum eight months (two semesters) full-time study.
  • The diploma program is not eligible if more than one-quarter is co-op work or an internship.
• The application must be submitted within two years of the date of completion shown on the official transcript;
• Applicants must have the credentials and qualification requirements of the position, if applicable;
• Applicants must provide evidence that they can support themselves and their dependents in Canada, including the following:
  • Income and employment prospects;
  • Location of intended residence in British Columbia; and
  • Information on number of dependents.
• Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment that typically requires a post-secondary education from an eligible B.C. employer;
  • The offer may be for an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A, or B; or
  • The offer may be for an occupation that is NOC level C or D, where the employer can sufficiently demonstrate a structured plan of career progression with that employer to an NOC 0, A, or B level occupation.
• For for NOC level B, C, or D occupations, applicants must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency in English or French by submitting language test results showing a minimum score of benchmark 4 under the Canadian Language Benchmark 2000 (CLB) in all competencies.
  • No language test results are required for NOC level 0 and A occupations - the BC PNP, however, may request valid language test results at its discretion

Minimum Requirements for Employers

In addition, the employer making the offer of employment must meet the following criteria:

• The business must be established in British Columbia, and have been operating for at least one year;
• The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
  • If the business is located in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least five permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
  • If the business is located outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least three permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
• The business must show a history of good business practices;
• The employer must offer the candidate a wage that meets industry standards;
• The employer must meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;
• The employer must sign an employer declaration stating that all of these requirements are met;
• A written offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must meet all of the following requirements:
  • The offer must be signed and dated by both the employer and applicant.
  • The offer must include:
    • A description of job duties;
    • The rate of pay;
    • The working hours for the position (minimum of 30 hours per week);
    • A statement that position is permanent and full time;
    • A list of additional benefits; and
    • A mention of any applicable collective bargaining agreements, if relevant.
• The employer may not make deductions from pay for recruitment, immigration fees, etc.
• The wage offered must be at market rate and comparable to the average salary for that occupation in British Columbia.
• Individuals originally hired on a Labour Market Opinion must receive an equal or greater wage than that stated on the Labour Market Opinion.

 

International Post-Graduates - B.C. Universities or Colleges

This category is for individuals who have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree in the natural, applied or health sciences from a British Columbia institution. No job offer is needed to apply to this program.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under this category, applicants must:

• Have obtained a master’s or doctoral degree from an eligible British Columbia institution within two years of applying to the BC PNP in one of the following fields:
  • Agriculture;
  • Biological and biomedical sciences;
  • Computer and information sciences and support services;
  • Engineering;
  • Engineering technology;
  • Health professions and related clinical sciences;
  • Mathematics and statistics;
  • Natural resources conservation and research; or
  • Physical sciences.
• Provide evidence that they intend to reside permanently in B.C., such as:
  • The length of current or previous periods of residence in B.C.;
  • The applicant’s connections to B.C. through work, study, or family; or
  • A description of any settlement activities that the applicant has undertaken.

 

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category

This category is for individuals currently living and working in B.C. in an eligible occupation within the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or food processing industries, or in a NOC skill level C or D occupation in the Northeast Development Region of the province.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category, applicants must:

• Have been employed in a full-time position in an eligible occupation in B.C., having been in that position for at least nine consecutive months immediately before applying. Work conducted during a program of study or with an Off-Campus Work Permit does not qualify. Eligible occupations are divided into three categories:
  • Tourism/Hospitality;
  • Long-haul Trucking (individuals employed in this industry must have had at least two years of experience as a long-haul truck driver in the last three years, in Canada or abroad, before registering with the BC PNP); and,
  • Food processing.
  • Individuals currently working in the Northeast Development Region of B.C. in any C or D level occupation (excluding live-in caregivers) may be eligible for this category. Eligibility in this region is not restricted to occupations in the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, of food processing industries;
• Maintain full-time employment throughout the application process. Work conducted during a program of study or with an Off-Campus Work Permit does not qualify;
• Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. employer, in an eligible occupation (see below);
• Demonstrate the ability to meet minimum income requirements and pay for housing and living expenses in British Columbia by showing:
  • Annual wage in the province;
  • Location of residence in the province;
  • Number of dependents;
  • Entry level and semi-skilled applicants must show a history of meeting this requirement for the previous nine months in the position;
• Have completed secondary education;
• Have any licensing or certification required for the job; and,
• Submit language proficiency test results showing a proficiency in English of at least CLB 4 in all components (listening, speaking, reading, writing).

If the applicant is no longer eligible to work for the supporting employer when he or she receives an Invitation to Apply for the BC PNP, but still has status in Canada (for example, as a visitor) or has left Canada, he or she may submit an application as long as:

• He or she met the conditions at the time of registration for the BC PNP; and,
• the job offer remains valid throughout the application process.

In this case, the employer must demonstrate recruitment efforts for the vacant position during the period when the candidate is not authorized to work.

Minimum Requirements for Employers

In addition to the above, the employer must also fulfill certain criteria, as follows:

• The business must be established in British Columbia, and have been operating for at least two years;
• The business must already have permanent, full-time employees.
  • If the business is located in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least five permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
  • If the business is located outside the Greater Vancouver Regional District, the business must have at least three permanent, full-time employees (or full-time equivalent) in B.C.;
• The business must show a history of good business practices;
• The employer must offer the candidate a wage that meets industry standards;
• The employer must also meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements.
• A written offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must meet all of the following requirements:
  • The offer must be signed and dated by both the employer and applicant.
  • The offer must include:
    • A description of job duties;
    • The rate of pay;
    • The working hours for the position (minimum of 30 hours per week);
    • A statement that position is permanent and full time;
    • A list of additional benefits; and
    • A mention of any applicable collective bargaining agreements, if relevant.

• The employer may not make deductions from pay for recruitment, immigration fees, etc.
• The wage offered must be at market rate and comparable to average salary for the occupation in British Columbia.
• Individuals originally hired on a Labour Market Opinion must receive an equal or greater wage than that stated on the Labour Market Opinion.

 

Eligible Occupations: