British Columbia held two Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws on February 22. A total of 160 applicants from Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams were invited to apply for a provincial nomination in the latest BC PNP draw.
The selected candidates were from the Skilled Worker, International Graduate, as well as Entry Level and Semi-Skilled subcategories of SI and EEBC, streams under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP).
Out of 160, 145 immigrants were issued invitations through a general BC PNP draw. This included candidates from all three subcategories. The minimum score requirement varied according to the program (ranging between 77 and 125).
| NUMBER OF INVITATIONS (NOI) | CATEGORY | MINIMUM SCORE |
| 145 | SI – Skilled Worker | 112 |
| SI – International Graduate | 98 | |
| SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 77 | |
| EEBC – Skilled Worker | 125 | |
| EEBC – International Graduate | 111 |
The remaining 15 candidates were invited through a targeted draw. Applicants with occupations under retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) or restaurant and foodservice managers (NOC 0631) were invited through this BC PNP draw. These candidates were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories of SI and EEBC streams under BC PNP. The minimum score requirement was 125 for all programs.
| NUMBER OF INVITATIONS (NOI) to NOC 0621 and NOC 0631 | CATEGORY | MINIMUM SCORE |
| 15 | SI – Skilled Worker | 125 |
| SI – International Graduate | 125 | |
| EEBC – Skilled Worker | 125 | |
| EEBC – International Graduate | 125 |
A high number of candidates are registered in the labour market sectors of British Columbia’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Thus, since 2021 BC PNP has been holding a separate draw twice every month targeting these two occupations only.
Invited candidates now have 30 calendar days to submit their application for provincial nomination.
After the recent BC PNP draw, the total invitations issued this year reached 1,338, 624 in this month itself.
The BC PNP Draw
BC PNP is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of British Columbia which acts as a medium to eventually receive a Canadian permanent residence. The main objective of a PNP is to integrate qualified and eligible foreign workers who meet the labour market requirements of the province. Aspirants willing to settle and work in British Columbia can apply for a provincial nomination through the BC PNP.
There are two main streams in BC PNP – Skills Immigration Stream and Express Entry British Columbia Stream. These are further divided into various subcategories. The Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) of British Columbia is responsible for managing the BC PNP draw.
Candidates who qualify under any stream or subcategory can register online to apply through SIRS. The registered applicants are assigned scores based on their academic credentials, work experience, language skills, and other such factors.
Provincial Nomination and PR
BC PNP conducts regular draws inviting applicants with the highest scores under each subcategory. The candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) have to submit their application for provincial nomination within 30 calendar days.
It takes approximately two to three months for the processing of nomination applications. Candidates with approved applications get the provincial nomination which can be used to further apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
A candidate who receives a provincial nomination can get an additional 600 points added to their CRS base score. Hence, the high score enhances their chance to receive an ITA in the next federal Express Entry draw. A provincial nomination is valid for a period of six months, starting from the day it is confirmed.
Evaluate your eligibility and learn about different options to immigrate to British Columbia through a free assessment form by Canadian Visa News.
