British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)

BCPNP, Known for being home to Vancouver, the third-largest city in the country, British Columbia is recognized as one of Canada’s most diverse provinces. The economy of British Columbia thrives on its robust natural resources industry, particularly in forestry and mining. Renowned worldwide, the province boasts a stunning natural environment characterized by vast forests and a distinctive coastal climate, making it one of the most breathtaking regions in Canada and beyond.

If you wish to immigrate to British Columbia, then you have three options to choose from:

• Skills Immigration Stream;
• Express Entry British Columbia Stream;
• Entrepreneur Immigration.

The Skills Immigration Stream caters to a wide range of individuals, including skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, post-graduates, as well as entry-level and semi-skilled workers. To be eligible for this stream, all candidates must possess a job offer or be currently employed, except for international post-graduates.

On the other hand, the Express Entry British Columbia Stream is exclusively designed for skilled workers, healthcare professionals, international graduates, and post-graduates.

Skills Immigration

Express Entry British Columbia

Express Entry BC is designed to be in sync with the federal government’s Express Entry immigration selection system. This synchronization enables eligible applicants to benefit from expedited processing of both their BCPNP (British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program) application and, if nominated, their permanent residence application.

The following Skills Immigration categories may be processed through Express Entry British Columbia:

• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category

Application Fee: CAD $1,150

Processing Time: 2-3 months

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have a valid profile with the federal Express Entry system;
• Must have a Job Seeker Validation Code from the Express Entry system;
• Must have accepted a full-time job offer (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
• Must have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates (except for the International Post-Graduate Category);
• Must be able to support yourself and your family (except for the International Post-Graduate Category);
• Must meet minimum language requirements (except for the International Post-Graduate Category);
• Must meet additional requirements specific to your category;
• Employer must also be eligible (except for the International Post-Graduate Category).

How it works:

Before you begin, you must already have a valid Express Entry profile with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

To initiate the process, it is necessary to register with the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) for British Columbia (B.C.) to assess your job, education, location in B.C., language ability, and wage in accordance with the provincial labor market requirements. You can complete the registration by filling out all the sections of the registration form on BCPNP Online.

Please note that applicants in the International Post-Graduate Category and the Healthcare Professional Category do not need to register with the SIRS and can directly apply through British Columbia PNP Immigration.

Upon registration, you will receive a registration score based on multiple factors and be entered into a selection pool corresponding to the chosen category. Candidates who meet specific criteria and have a score above a certain threshold will be invited to apply for a provincial nomination through a provincial draw.

Once invited, candidates have a 30-day window to submit their application through BCPNP Online.

If you are selected, you will be granted a provincial nomination through the Express Entry system. It is mandatory to accept the nomination through the Express Entry system.

Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)

The Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) operates on a points-based system, where candidates receive a registration score that determines their eligibility for an invitation to apply. The score is calculated based on various factors, including level of education, years of direct work experience, and a job offer from B.C. These factors assess an individual’s potential to thrive in the labor market and make a positive contribution to the provincial economy.

SIRS Scoring

The following factors determine the allocation of points to candidates registered under SIRS. In the event of an invitation to apply, all the information provided during registration will be verified against the information provided in the application.

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian federal government to manage applications for the country’s primary economic class immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Moreover, the Express Entry system is also utilized by several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) through their “enhanced” streams. Streams that do not utilize the Express Entry system are referred to as “base” streams.

Candidates in the Express Entry system are evaluated based on multiple factors, including age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. These factors contribute to their score in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Candidates with the highest CRS scores receive invitations to apply for permanent residence in Canada through regular draws conducted by Express Entry.

Enhanced PNP streams, such as the Express Entry B.C. stream, are aligned with the Express Entry system. British Columbia (B.C.) searches the Express Entry pool to identify qualified candidates based on the information available in their profiles.

Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination from B.C. are awarded an additional 600 CRS points. This effectively ensures that they will be invited to apply for permanent residence in the subsequent Express Entry draw.

Entrepreneur Immigration

If you want to immigrate to British Columbia as an entrepreneur, you have three options to choose from:

Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category

This category is for senior managers or business owners who intend to invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia.

NOTE: As of now, new registrations under the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category have been temporarily suspended. The province is anticipated to announce the reopening date for this stream in early 2022.

Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot 

This new pilot is for international entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business in a small community in British Columbia.

Strategic Projects Category

Through this specific category, foreign-controlled companies have the opportunity to establish an operation in British Columbia. This allows for the nomination of up to five key foreign managerial, professional, or technical staff members to obtain permanent residence in the province.

Entrepreneur Immigration Fees:

• Registration: $300
• Application : $3,500
• Request for Review:  $500

Strategic Projects Fees:

• Registration : $300
• Application : $3,500
• Key Staff : $1,000 (each key staff )

Processing times:

• Registration score notification: 6 weeks (from date of registration submission)
• Application decision notification: 4 months (from date of application submission)

How it works:

If you are interested in the Entrepreneur Immigration Categories, the first step is to complete your registration and provide a brief business concept through BCPNP Online.

Based on the provided information, you will receive a score, and eligible candidates will be placed in the qualified pool. Periodically, the highest-scoring candidates will be invited to apply.

Once invited, you will have four months to submit a comprehensive application through BCPNP Online. Subsequently, an authorized accounting firm approved by the BC PNP will review your personal net worth.

If your application is successful, you will be granted a two-year work permit, allowing you to establish your business in British Columbia. You will have a maximum of 20 months to implement your business plan. Upon completion, you will be eligible to receive a provincial nomination from B.C. and apply for permanent residence.

If you are interested in the Strategic Projects Category, the initial step is to ensure that your company and key staff meet the eligibility criteria.

You will be required to make an exploratory visit to British Columbia to familiarize yourself with the local business environment. Subsequently, you must contact the BC PNP to discuss your business proposal.

The next step is to register your company’s interest to apply. During this stage, you will need to provide details about the company, your proposed investment in British Columbia, and the qualifications of the key staff members.

The BCPNP will review your registration, and if successful, you will be invited to submit an application within 90 days. Upon approval, you and each key staff member must sign a corporate Performance Agreement with the province.

Once the Performance Agreement is in place, each individual will receive a work permit support letter, which can be used to apply for a work permit through IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada).

After arriving in Canada and fulfilling your obligations under the Performance Agreement, you must submit a final report to the BC PNP. Upon completion, you will receive a provincial nomination and have 180 days to submit your application for permanent residence with IRCC.