Are you considering immigrating to Canada? If so, the British Columbia Provincial Program (BC PNP) might be an excellent option for you. In this blog post, we will explore the streams pertaining to British Columbia PNP and help you determine if it is the right choice for your immigration goals.
What is the BC PNP?
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is designed to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and graduates who can contribute to the province's economic growth. It allows the province to select and nominate individuals with the skills and experience needed to fill specific labour market gaps.
The British Columbia Provincial Program offers immigration opportunities to the following categories of foreigners:
Skills Immigration Streams for skilled workers, international students, and semi-skilled workers.
Entrepreneur Immigration Streams form foreign businessmen interested in running the business in the province.
Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot for skilled refugees, whose skills may be in demand in British Columbia.
Each category has its own set of requirements and eligibility criteria. It is essential to carefully review the BC PNP's streams to determine which aligns with your qualifications and goals. In this blog, we are going to concentrate on Skills Immigration Streams.
Available Streams of the BC PNP
BC PNP streams are divided into two main categories: those linked to Express Entry and those who are not.
Skills Immigration (SI)
The Skills Immigration category is excellent both for skilled and semi-skilled workers. This stream is a good option for individuals with high-demand skills and occupations in British Columbia. Its various categories offer flexibility for different qualifications and experience levels:
SI Skilled Worker
SI International Graduate
SI International Post-Graduate
SI Health Authority
SI Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
Almost all streams of the BCPNP except for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker stream have two options via Express Entry and not via Express Entry.
Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC)
EEBC Skilled Worker
EEBC International Graduate
EEBC International Post-Graduate
EEBC Health Authority
What is the difference between Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI)?
The main difference between the two is in the way of applying for PR after being nominated by the province.
Nominees of the EEBC streams can claim an additional 600 points in the Express Entry, which guarantees them the invitation to apply in the next PNP-specific or all-programs Express Entry round after the nomination. Nominees of the SI streams used to submit their PR applications on paper. Yet, since the introduction of the new PR portal, they must submit the application online.
The PR portal for SI nominees does not have the points system. The EE PR application immediately gets a file number after application submission, while in non-EE PR applications, you can wait several months before you get the file number. Without it, you cannot monitor the progress of your application.
The main advantage of the EEBC streams compared to IS streams is faster processing time at the federal level – 8 months vs 16 months as of October 2023. The authorities of the British Columbia Provincial Program usually process the applications within 3 to 6 months on average. Therefore, for the EEBC nominees, the way to PR can take about 1 year in total, while for the SI nominees, it can take closer to 2 years.
What is the Skills Immigration Registration System?
Every stream of the BCPNP has some basic eligibility requirements. Along with those minimal requirements, in order to be nominated, you also need to get enough points to be invited. British Columbia stepped into the digital era among the first in Canada and established the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Just like the federal Express Entry system, SIRS is a provincial online Expression of Interest (EOI) system, which allocates points for each candidate based on a number of factors.
What factors British Columbia Provincial Program consider?
The Skill Immigration Registration System (SIRS) allocates points to the candidates for the five main factors:
Work Experience – the maximum is 40 points.
Education – the maximum is 40 points.
Language Proficiency – the maximum is 40 points.
Hourly Wage of the B.C. Job Offer – the maximum is 55 points.
Area Within B.C. – the maximum is 25 points.
The maximum total in SIRS is 200 points. Typically, you need to get at least 90-120 points to secure the invitation. However, it also depends on the stream you are qualifying for.
It is worth noting that, that age is not a factor for points which is a great advantage for those loosing points in the CRS – Express Entry. We can conclude that your job is the biggest factor for the British Columbia Provincial Program. The province targets the best specialists in their fields and pays major attention to what you do and how much your employer values your expertise, i.e., how high is your salary. The location of your job offer is also important.
The invitation rounds in BC PNP are held every week. This also allows the province to efficiently select the best candidates.
What are the BCPNP Skills Immigration Streams?
Skilled Worker
British Columbia's economy is in need of skilled workers. The Skilled Worker stream provides an opportunity for workers in various skilled occupations to obtain permanent residence. To be eligible for this stream, you must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a British Columbia employer in a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) and have at least two years of skilled work experience inside or outside Canada. This experience does not need to be under the same NOC of your job offer.
Health Authority
The Health Authority stream offers a pathway to permanent residence for healthcare workers, including physicians, midwives, and nurse practitioners. To qualify for this stream, you must have a full-time, indeterminate job offer from a British Columbia public health authority or/and a confirmation letter from a health authority or midwife practice group in British Columbia. The letter should confirm your qualifications and work location, your current or upcoming work as a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in the province, and indicate the support of the health authority or midwife practice group for your BCPNP application.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream offers an opportunity for workers in 19 occupations related to tourism, hospitality, or food processing to obtain permanent residence in British Columbia. To be eligible for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, you must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a British Columbia employer in one of these sectors. You should have worked full-time for your employer for at least nine consecutive months. Remember, this stream is not aligned with Express Entry!
International Graduate
The International Graduate stream is for recent Canadian university or college graduates. This stream allows graduates to apply for permanent residence in British Columbia. To be eligible for this stream, you must have completed a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution within the past three years. Additionally, you must have accepted a job offer from a British Columbia employer in an eligible occupation (NOC TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3).
International Post-Graduate
The International Post-Graduate stream of the BC PNP is designed for recent graduates who have obtained a master's or doctoral degree from an eligible post-secondary institution in British Columbia. Unlike all other streams, applicants under this stream do not need to have a job offer. Examples of eligible graduate degrees include master's programs in the natural, applied, or health sciences and doctoral programs in any field of study. To be eligible, you must complete your graduate-level education in British Columbia within the past three years.
BC PNP Tech
Given the fast development of technology and the weight of technological spheres in the domestic economy, British Columbia Provincial Program introduced additional pathway for PR for specialists in 35 occupations. It helps British Columbia employers recruit and retain international talent.
BC PNP Tech is not a separate stream but a series of measures that expedite the BC PNP process for skilled tech workers. To be eligible for BC PNP Tech, you must secure a job offer from one of the eligible occupations. It also should be for at least one year and there must be at least 120 calendar days left on the job offer when you apply.
BC PNP Tech is available for the Skilled Worker or the International Graduate streams candidates.
The list of occupations for BC PNP Tech:
NOC 10030 – Telecommunication carriers managers
NOC 20012 – Computer and information systems managers
NOC 21100 – Physicists and astronomers
NOC 21210 – Mathematicians, statisticians, and actuaries
NOC 21211 – Data scientists
NOC 21220 – Cybersecurity specialists
NOC 21221 – Business systems specialists
NOC 21222 – Information systems specialists
NOC 21223 – Database analysts and data administrators
NOC 21230 – Computer systems developers and programmers
NOC 21231 – Software engineers and designers
NOC 21232 – Software developers and programmers
NOC 21233 – Web designers
NOC 21234 – Web developers and programmers
NOC 21300 – Civil engineers
NOC 21301 – Mechanical engineers
NOC 21310 – Electrical and electronics engineers
NOC 21311 – Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
NOC 21320 – Chemical engineers
NOC 21399 – Other professional engineers
NOC 22110 – Biological technologists and technicians
NOC 22220 – Computer network and web technicians
NOC 22221 – User support technicians
NOC 22222 – Information systems testing technicians
NOC 22310 – Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
NOC 22312 – Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
NOC 50011 – Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
NOC 51111 – Authors and writers (except technical)
NOC 51112 – Technical writers
NOC 51120 – Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations
NOC 52119 – Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
NOC 52112 – Broadcast technicians
NOC 52113 – Audio and video recording technicians
NOC 52120 – Graphic designers and illustrators
NOC 53111 – Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators
Canada Platform – the best choice for a new life in British Columbia!
Canada Platform can help you navigate the British Columbia Provincial Program and facilitate your immigration process to Canada. We can help you understand the eligibility criteria, choose the appropriate stream, and prepare a strong application.
We provide personalized guidance throughout the application process, ensuring you submit a comprehensive application. With our support, you can increase your chances of successfully immigrating to British Columbia. Contact us today to get started on your journey to a new life in Canada.
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