The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) allows British Columbia to nominate foreign nationals for Canadian permanent residence based on the province's economic and labour market priorities. A provincial nomination from BC PNP is a key step toward permanent residence — after receiving a nomination, candidates apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the final decision.
In April 2026, BC restructured the program significantly, removing several streams (including BC PNP Tech and dedicated international graduate streams) and consolidating pathways around three stated priorities: healthcare and social services, construction trades, and high-skilled occupations with strong economic impact. BC's 2026 nomination allocation from IRCC is 5,254 spaces — a 31% increase over its initial 2025 allocation — supporting frequent draws through the year.
Temporary initiative: BC PNP is running a time-limited Rural/Remote Health Support initiative (registration open June 15–August 31, 2026) to retain up to 250 workers already employed by a health authority in a cleaning or security role in a rural or remote community. Details are in the updated Skills Immigration Program Guide, effective May 28, 2026.
Program streams
The BC PNP operates two main categories: Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration.
Skills Immigration
Most Skills Immigration streams use a registration-based system. Candidates submit a registration and receive a score; the province periodically invites the highest-scoring registrants to apply. Some pathways are outside the registration system and accept direct applications.
| Stream | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | The primary pathway for workers with a valid, full-time job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0–3) from a BC employer. This is the main Skills Immigration stream and covers the broadest range of occupations. |
| Health Authority | Employees working with a BC public health authority in a qualifying position. This stream is a direct-application pathway and does not use the registration system. |
Entrepreneur Immigration
The Entrepreneur Immigration category is for experienced business owners and managers who want to establish a new business or acquire and grow an existing one in BC.
| Stream | Who it's for |
|---|---|
| Base Stream | Entrepreneurs intending to start or acquire a business anywhere in BC, including Metro Vancouver. Generally requires a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 and a minimum investment of $200,000. |
| Regional Stream | Entrepreneurs establishing a business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District. Generally requires a minimum personal net worth of $300,000 and a minimum investment of $100,000. |
Both entrepreneur streams require business owner-manager experience, a post-secondary credential, and minimum language proficiency.
How to apply
Check eligibility
Review the specific requirements for the stream you are targeting on the official BC PNP website (welcomebc.ca).
Register or apply directly
Skills Immigration streams typically require creating a registration in the BC PNP online system and receiving an invitation before submitting a full application. The Health Authority stream uses a direct application process.
Receive an invitation
For registration-based streams, the province issues invitations to apply based on registration scores during scheduled draws.
Submit a full application
Once invited, complete and submit the full nomination application with supporting documents.
Apply to IRCC for permanent residence
After receiving a provincial nomination, nominees typically have six months to submit their federal permanent residence application.
Processing times
Processing times for Skills Immigration streams vary with application volume. Entrepreneur Immigration files take longer due to the work permit phase and business performance period that must be completed before nomination. Because BC PNP publishes current processing estimates on its website, confirm timelines directly at welcomebc.ca before providing estimates to applicants.
Related links
- Alberta PNP - Saskatchewan PNP - Manitoba PNP - Ontario PNP
--- *Sources: Government of British Columbia, WelcomeBC BC PNP program pages, current as of July 2026. Stream structure changed significantly in April 2026; verify current stream availability before advising applicants, as further changes are possible.*