The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) nominates ~4,000 skilled workers per year across Skilled Worker, Healthcare, Tech, International Graduate, and Entry Level/Semi-Skilled streams. BC heavily prioritizes tech and healthcare.
BC PNP at a glance
- Annual allocation: ~4,000 nominations
- Processing time: 2–3 months after invitation
- Application fee: CAD $1,150
- Tech-focused: Tech draws every 1–2 weeks
- Calculator: Free BC PNP calculator
BC PNP streams
| Stream | Best for | Job offer needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Worker | Workers with 2+ yrs experience in eligible occupation | Yes (indeterminate, full-time) |
| Healthcare | Healthcare professionals (priority) | Yes (BC health authority) |
| Tech | Tech workers in 29 priority NOC codes | Yes (12+ months remaining on permit) |
| International Graduate | Recent BC post-secondary grads | Yes |
| International Post-Graduate | Recent BC master's/PhD in natural/applied sciences | No |
| Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) | Long-haul truckers, tourism/hospitality, food service (Northeast BC only) | Yes |
| Entrepreneur Immigration | Business owners investing CAD $200K+ | N/A |
BC Tech Stream — priority NOC codes
Most-targeted tech occupations:
- NOC 21231 — Software engineers and designers
- NOC 21232 — Software developers and programmers
- NOC 21311 — Computer engineers
- NOC 21222 — Information systems specialists
- NOC 21233 — Web designers
- NOC 50011 — Managers — publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting
BC Tech cutoffs in 2025–2026 have ranged 108–115 SIRS points (BC's internal scoring system).
Step-by-step BC PNP application
- Get a BC job offer (indeterminate, full-time, in an eligible NOC)
- Register a profile in the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)
- Wait for an invitation to apply — BC issues ITAs in regular draws based on SIRS score
- Submit complete application within 30 days of invitation
- Receive provincial nomination — 600 CRS points if you're also in the Express Entry pool
- Federal PR application within 60 days (Express Entry stream) or directly via BC PNP base stream
SIRS scoring (BC's internal system)
| Factor | Max points |
|---|---|
| Economic factors (job offer wage, NOC TEER) | 140 |
| Human capital (education, work experience, language) | 60 |
| Regional factors (job outside Metro Vancouver = +10) | 10 |
Total max: 200 points. Cutoffs typically range 75–130 depending on stream.
Common BC PNP refusal reasons
- Job offer doesn't meet BC's "settlement potential" test
- Wage below market rate for the occupation/region
- Job duties don't match claimed NOC at 51%+ overlap
- Recent BC graduates applying without 1+ year of credential-aligned work
Useful official resources
Try our calculator: Check all 7 BC PNP streams with our free BC PNP calculator.
