The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has invited 365 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination certificate in its latest immigration draw, which took place on May 24, 2017. A range of workers and international graduates in five sub-categories managed through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) are now in a position to apply for a provincial nomination certificate, with which they may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status.
It is important to note that the ITA with respect to the BC PNP is different to the ITA issued at the federal level in a federal Express Entry draw.
May 24 BC PNP Draw
Stream/category
Minimum score
Number of invitations
Aligned with Express Entry?
Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker
85
64
Yes
Express Entry BC – International Graduate
80
58
Yes
Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker
77
129
No
Skills Immigration – International Graduate
75
72
No
Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
50
42
No
Express Entry BC Stream
This stream of the BC PNP is aligned with the Express Entry system, and applications under this stream may receive priority processing at the provincial and federal levels. Individuals in the Express Entry pool who have a provincial nomination certificate from BC receive 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which means the individual will receive an ITA in a subsequent Express Entry draw.
Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker
The Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker category is for international skilled workers who have post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation. Candidates must be eligible to enter the federal Express Entry pool. This category is aligned with the federal Express Entry system.
Express Entry BC – International Graduate
International graduates who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within the past two years may be eligible to apply under the Express Entry BC – International Graduate category. Interestingly, this category is open to eligible graduates who graduated from a university or college in any location in Canada; it is not restricted to graduates from BC universities and colleges. This category is also aligned with the federal Express Entry system.
Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker
This base category is open to workers with post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a skilled occupation. A job offer is required.
Skills Immigration – International Graduate
This category is for international students who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within two years of applying to the BC PNP. While applicants do not necessarily need prior work experience, applicants are required to obtain a job offer from a B.C. employer.
Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
This category is open to candidates who may not be eligible for other Canadian immigration programs, as it allows certain non-skilled workers to apply for permanent residence. Candidates must work 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.
