This stream is for applicants who have a job offer from an employer in British Columbia that cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and are either:
- A skilled worker;
- A health care professional;
- An international graduate; or
- A semi-skilled worker.
However, the BC government recently introduced a category for international graduates holding masters or doctorate degrees in the natural, applied and health sciences from eligible BC universities. These graduates must have obtained their degrees in the last two years, and do not require a job offer from a BC employer in order to apply for provincial nomination.
To be considered a skilled worker under the British Columbia PNP, an applicant must have a job offer in an eligible occupation in levels 0, A, and B of Canada's National Occupational Classification Matrix (NOC).
Physicians, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, and midwives are considered health care professionals under the British Columbia PNP.
To qualify as an international graduate under the British Columbia PNP, an applicant must have graduated from a recognized British Columbia post-secondary institution, and have completed the required portion of their degree/diploma in BC.
To qualify as a semi-skilled worker under the British Columbia PNP, you must work in select Tourism/Hospitality occupations, Long-Haul Trucking occupations, and Food Processing occupations. Note: this Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled category is currently a pilot project.
This stream is for experiences business people who intend to invest in a British Columbia business and actively manage it. There are three categories of the Business Immigrants Stream: Business Skills, Regional Business, or Strategic Projects.
Applicants who meet the requirements for one of the three categories, must also meet the following eligibility criteria:
- The primary purpose of the business is to earn profits from active income from the supply of products/services;
- The business' sustained commercial viability must be probable;
- The business must provide economic benefit to BC by contributing to one of the following:
- increasing the exports of goods/services;
- increasing value-added manufacturing, processing, or primary resource activity;
- increasing BC tourism;
- increasing research and development and technology commercialization;
- creating innovative approaches to traditional businesses;
- servicing an unserved regional market;
- transferring skills, technology, and know-how to BC.
Applicants in the Business Skills Category must have:
- A minimum net worth of CDN $800,000;
- A minimum investment of CDN $400,000 to establish the eligible business;
- A minimum ownership of 1/3 of the equity of the business;
- A business plan to create a minimum of 3 new jobs for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents;
- The skills and experience necessary, successful business experience, and an active on-going management role in the business.
Applicants in the Regional Business Category must have:
- A business project located outside the Vancouver and the Abbotsford Metropolitan Areas;
- A minimum net worth of CDN $400,000;
- A minimum investment of CDN $200,000 to establish the eligible business;
- A minimum ownership of 1/3 of the equity of the business;
- A business plan to create a minimum of 1 new job for a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
- The skills and experience necessary, successful business experience, and an active on-going management role in the business.
The Strategic Projects Category allows foreign firms who are establishing a presence in British Columbia to bring in key foreign professional, managerial, or technical staff (up to 5) intending to become Canadian Permanent Residents.
Companies in this category must:
- Make a minimum equity investment of CDN $500,000;
- Create a minimum of 3 new jobs for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents for every nominee applicant put forward by the company;
- Demonstrate that the nominee applicants are essential to the proposed business;
- Demonstrate that they have a record of good business practices.
Business Skills and Regional Business applicants can seek fast-track nomination by posting a $125,000 performance deposit and signing a Deposit Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.
