BC PNP Skills Immigration Stream

• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category
• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category - including employment in the Northeast Development Region of B.C.

The Skilled Worker, Health Care Professional, International Graduate, and International Post-Graduate categories may also be processed through an application to the Express Entry British Columbia stream, which is coordinates with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.

Skilled Worker Category

This category is for individuals with post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trade, or other skilled occupation.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

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;
• 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. employer;
• 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

The employer offering the job must meet the following requirements:

• The business must be established in British Columbia;
• The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
• 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, 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. employer;
  • 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 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;
      • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
      • 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.
        
        

        International Graduates – Canadian Universities or Colleges

        This category is for international students who have graduated from eligible Canadian post-secondary institution, with an eligible degree, diploma or certificate within the past two years. Applicants do not need prior work experience, however are required to obtain a job offer from a B.C. employer.

        Minimum Requirements for Applicants

        To be eligible under the International Graduate Category:

        • Applicants must have obtained one of the following:
          • An undergraduate or graduate degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution; or
          • A diploma from a 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 must be for an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A, or B; or
          • The offer must 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 A occupations - the BC PNP, however, may request valid language test results at its discretion
        
        

        Minimum Requirements for Employers

        The employer making the offer of employment must meet the following criteria:

        • The business must be established in British Columbia;
        • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
        • 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.
        • 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. The individual is NOT required to have a job offer to apply under this stream.

        Minimum Requirements for Applicants

        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 who have been 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

        To be eligible under the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category, applicants must:

        • Be currently employed in a full-time position, having been in that position for at least nine consecutive months before applying.
          • See below for industry-specific requirements.
        • 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.
        • 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 a secondary education;
        • Have any licensing or certification required for the job;
        • Submit language proficiency test results showing a proficiency in English of at least “Benchmark 4” in all components (listening, speaking, reading, writing).
        • Entry level and semi-skilled applicants must have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. employer.
          • Individuals working in the Northeast Development Region of B.C. in a C or D level occupation may apply to the BC PNP without first obtaining a job offer. All other requirements are the same as the Entry Level or Semi-Skilled Worker Category listed above.
        
        

        Minimum Requirements for Employers

        The employer making the offer of employment must meet the following criteria:

        • The business must be established in British Columbia.
        • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees.
        • The business must show a history of good business practices.
        • 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

        Occupations in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry

        NOC	Occupation
        6525	Hotel Front Desk Clerks
        6531	Tour and Travel Guides
        6532	Outdoor Sport and Recreational Guides
        6533	Casino Occupations
        6511	Maîtres d’hotel and Hosts/Hostesses
        6512	Bartenders and Food and Beverage Servers
        6711	Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations
        6731	Light Duty Cleaners
        6732	Specialized Cleaners
        6733	Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents
        6721	Support Occupations in Accommodation, Travel and Facilities Set-Up Services
        6741	Dry Cleaning, Laundry and Related Occupations
        6742	Other Service Support Occupations

        Occupations in the Food Processing Industry

        NOC	Occupation
        9461	Process Control and Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing
        9462	Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers and Related Workers
        9463	Fish and Seafood Plant Workers
        9465	Testers and Graders, Food, Beverage and Associated Products Processing
        9617	Labourers in Food, Beverage and Associated Products Processing
        9618	Labourers in Fish and Seafood Processing

        Occupations in the Trucking Industry

        NOC	Occupation
        7511	Long-Haul Truck Driver

        
        

        Must Not Apply

        Applicants must not apply if they:

        • Are prohibited from entering Canada;
        • Have not been lawfully admitted into their country of current residence;
        • Are currently in Canada without status;
        • Are currently working in Canada without authorization;
        • Have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada; or
        • Are under a removal order in or outside of Canada.