British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program

The economic growth of the province depends on having enough skilled and qualified
workforce to meet the labor market needs. The BC PNP is a way for high-demand foreign
workers and experience entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency in BC.

BC PNP Pathways

The BC PNP offers three ways to become a permanent resident in BC. Each way contains
different categories you can apply under, depending on your National Occupational
Classification skill level, job or international student status.

Skills Immigration

Skills Immigration is for skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations in B.C.
It uses a points-based invitation system. The process involves registering and applying
online for the BC PNP and a paper application process for permanent residency.

You may not need prior work experience for some categories. Skilled workers may have
work experience from abroad. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category applicants need B.C.
work experience. Recent international graduates of a Canadian university or college may not
need any work experience, depending on the job being offered.

Eligibility:

To qualify for this category, you must:

  • have accepted a full-time, indeterminate job offer (a permanent job, or one with no set end
    date) from a B.C. employer. The job must be in a National Occupational Classification
    (NOC) skilled occupation (Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B).
  • be qualified to perform the duties of the job
  • have at least two (2) years of directly related work experience
  • show you can support yourself and your dependents
  • have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada
  • for NOC skill level B occupations, meet minimum language requirements
  • have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation

Process:

To start the process, a profile must be created on their online application and registration
system, BCPNP Online. After submitting your registration, you will receive a score based on
your skills and job. Periodically, they invite people with the highest scores to apply through
BCPNP Online.

Express Entry BC

Express Entry BC is a faster way for eligible skilled workers to immigrate to B.C. You must
also qualify for a federal economic immigration program. It uses a points-based invitation
system, and is an entirely web-based registration and application process for both the BC
PNP and permanent residency process.

You do not require BC work experience. However, you must have relevant work experience
as well as meet other requirements such as education and language.

Step 1: Registration

The first step is registration with the Skill Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Registering allows them to assess your job, BC location, education, language eligibility ad
wage. This information is reviewed against BC labour market needs. Registration is free and
all registrations must meet minimum program and category requirements.

Only applicants under the EEBC — Skilled Worker and EEBC — International
Graduate categories need to register with SIRS. EEBC — HealthCare Professional and EEBC
— International Post-Graduate applicants can apply directly through BCPNP Online.
Applicants to all other categories must first register through BCPNP Online.

Before you register, please ensure that you have an Express Entry completed with IRCC
Express Entry system and you must meet the requirements of one of the following
immigration programs:

Federal Skilled Worker Program
Federal Skilled Trades Program
Canadian Experience Class

Once you have submitted your profiles with IRCC system and you meet the minimum
criteria, you will receive an Express Entry profile number and a job seeker validation code.
Post that, you can register with the BC PNP.

Once you have registered, a score is generated based on the various factors. You also go
into a selection pool for your chosen category. You stay in the selection pool for up to 12
months, or until you reive an invitation to apply.

Step 2: Invitation

Eligible applicants under the Express Entry BC system will receive an invitation to apply.
They are issued based on the BC PNP’s annual nomination allocation and processing
capacity. However, registration does not guarantee that you will be invited to apply.
If you are invited to apply, you will have 30 calendar days from the date of application to
submit a complete application via BCPNP Online. An invitation to apply does not guarantee
you will be approved for nomination.

Step 3: Application

To submit your Express Entry BC application BCPNP Online, you will have 30 calendar days
from the date of application and it also requires a $700 procession fee. After submission, it
will be assessed according to the Provincial Immigration Programs Act and Provincial
Immigration Programs Regulation and the criteria specific to the Express Entry BC category.
It may be declined, if the application details differ from the registration information.

Step 4: Nomination

Once your application is assessed successfully and approved, you will receive a provincial
nomination and you can apply to IRCC for permanent residence Express Entry system. You
must accept the nomination through IRCC Express Entry portal in order to receive a federal
invitation to apply for permanent residence as a provincial nominee from IRCC.

Entrepreneur Immigration

The Entrepreneur Immigration stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who want to
actively manage a business in B.C. It is a points-based invitation system. Applicants must
have the required personal and investment funds.

The Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot is for entrepreneurs who want to start a new
business in participating regional communities across B.C.

There is also an option for companies looking to expand into B.C., and who need to get
permanent residency for key employees.

Minimum Requirements for Candidates

  • Personal net worth of at least $600,000 (including cash, assets in bank accounts, fixed
    deposits, real properties, investments, etc). The net worth must be legally obtained and may
    be under the spouse or common-law partner’s name. This net worth must verifiable if
    invited to apply;
  • Post-secondary credential or experience as an active business owner-manager with 100
    percent ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years.
  • Eligible experience as an active business owner/manager and/or senior manager;
  • Submit a business concept that demonstrates an active and ongoing management role in
    the day-to-day operations of the proposed business and the creation of at least one new job
    in the proposed B.C. business; and
  • Personal investment of CAD $200,000 in eligible expenses.
  • Personal net worth of at least $600,000 (including cash, assets in bank accounts, fixed
    deposits, real properties, investments, etc). The net worth must be legally obtained and may
    be under the spouse or common-law partner’s name. This net worth must verifiable if
    invited to apply;
  • Post-secondary credential or experience as an active business owner-manager with 100
    percent ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years.
  • Eligible experience as an active business owner/manager and/or senior manager;
  • Submit a business concept that demonstrates an active and ongoing management role in
    the day-to-day operations of the proposed business and the creation of at least one new job
    in the proposed B.C. business; and
  • Personal investment of CAD $200,000 in eligible expenses.

Application Process

  • Prepare for registration by conducting business research. International entrepreneurs are
    encouraged to conduct an exploratory visit to B.C. to learn about business opportunities and
    the local business environment.
  • Individuals must register with the BC PNP by creating an online profile, paying fees and
    obtaining a registration score based on various factors, including business ownership/senior
    management experience, personal net worth, adaptability, business concept and others.
    Candidates will be assigned a score for the business concept within six weeks of creating a
    profile.
  • The highest-ranked candidates are invited during periodic draws held by the BC PNP.
    If invited to apply, candidates have four months (120 days) to submit a complete application
    under the BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Stream, obtain a review of the declared
    personal net worth and funds, and pay the required fees. Applications are assessed based
    on program criteria. Applicants may be invited to attend an in-person interview in
    Vancouver during the application assessment stage.
  • If an application is approved, international entrepreneurs sign a Performance Agreement
    and receive a Letter of Confirmation to apply for a two-year work permit with Immigration,
    Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • Once they arrive in B.C., international entrepreneurs have up to 20 months, or 610 days, to
    implement the business plan, actively manage their business, meet all the conditions of the
    signed Performance Agreement, and demonstrate residency within 100km of the business
    (for at least 75% of the work permit period).
  • Between 18 and 20 months after arriving in the province, entrepreneurs must submit a final
    report to the BC PNP describing their business activities while on a valid work permit.
  • The Government of British Columbia nominates approved entrepreneur applicants by
    issuing a confirmation of nomination, which enables entrepreneurs and their eligible
    dependent family members to apply for permanent residence with IRCC.
  • IRCC may review additional information in the application to ensure that the nominee
    continues operation of the business and residence in B.C.

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