The British Columbia of Canada launched their British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program intending to attract and hold on to the skilled and semi-skilled migrants coming to Canada. It also gives a chance to businessmen and students to have a chance & settle in this province. British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada and is the third most populous one. This has been possible due to the financial and healthcare benefits, standard of living, and many such advantages provided to its residents. The government of this province makes sure that its market and labor needs are always met and it even takes care of the students who wish to migrate and live permanently in Canada.

Pathways for British Columbia PNP

Skills Immigration

This program offered by British Columbia is specially designed for skilled/semi-skilled workers needed in a high-demand occupation. There is a point-based (CRS) ranking system to get accepted under this category. The application for BCPNP is submitted online but the application for permanent residency is paper-based (offline). You must have past work experience for some job categories under this program. The benefit is much more for international graduates who recently got a degree/certificate/ diploma from a Canadian university/college as they don’t necessarily need any prior work experience for some job categories.

Express Entry BC

This is a much quicker way for skilled workers to enter Canada, specifically British Columbia. This program is paired with the Express Entry System of IRCC to give a chance to applicants to settle in BC. It is specially designed for the provincial nomination of British Columbia and permanent residence in Canada. The requirement for work experience completely depends upon the category for which you are applying under express entry BC.

Entrepreneur Immigration

This program is for experienced entrepreneurs who wish to settle in the province of British Columbia. It is for those who are willing to buy/partner/ operate a business in this province.

1. It has a sub-category: Regional Pilot formulated for newcomers who want to start a new business in participating regional communities in British Columbia.

2. It has another sub-category devised for companies that want to expand in BC and gain Canadian Permanent Residency for their head employees.

Other Ways for British Columbia Immigration

Canadian Experience Class

It is a program that aids the skilled workers having Canadian working experience of at least 1 year to apply for permanent residency and be a citizen. This is a very attractive choice for the people working there because, within 6-12 months, the applicant’s visa usually gets approved.

Family Sponsorship

BC is giving a chance to the permanent residents of the province to invite their associated people to live in Canada under the status of Canadian permanent residency. This is a great opportunity for people who never wanted to leave behind their families.

Live-in Caregiver  Program

This program is for those who are willing and able to give primary care to children, old-age citizens, and people with disabilities in British Columbia.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

This visa comes under the category of Express Entry. It allows experienced and skilled people to directly apply for Canadian Permanent Residency. All you need to have is working experience in one of the fields mentioned in the NOC.

Federal  Skilled Trades  Program

BC allows all the workers who have working experience of at least 2 years in their respective fields of cooking, cleaning, HVAC, mechanical, etc. These workers can apply for PR based on their skilled trade experience.

Self-Employed

If you’re an athletic person or your job does not come under the category of mainstream careers, then you have a chance to get migrate to BC permanently. You just have to prove to the government that you’ll be an asset to their economy, have relevant experience, can survive as a self-employed person, and meet the medical and selection criteria.

Start-up  Visa

Canada Start-up Visa (SUV) Program is popular among entrepreneurs and business-minded people who have the time, knowledge, and resources to create something clever and imaginative. Under this program, people can enter the province, start a business and later apply for permanent residency for themselves and their families, if deemed eligible.

FEE Structure for BCPNP

Skills Immigration Fee

Entrepreneur Immigration Fee

Strategic Project Fee

NOTE: British Columbia only asks for fee submission through their online application system and no other way. If you are advised to pay through any other method, make sure you verify it beforehand.

Processing Time for BCPNP

Skills Immigration

The usual time for processing applications under this category is 2-3 months. Of course, this can vary according to the number of applications being submitted in that period or any other economic factor. The estimated time is calculated from the date your visa application is successfully submitted.

Express Entry BC

The usual time for processing applications under this category is 2-3 months. Of course, this can vary according to the number of applications being submitted in that period or any other economic factor. The estimated time is calculated from the date your visa application is successfully submitted.

Entrepreneur Immigration

The usual time for processing applications under this category is 6 weeks to 4 months. Of course, this can vary according to the number of applications being submitted in that period or any other economic factor. The estimated time is calculated from the date your visa application is successfully submitted.

Post Nomination Request

In case you find yourself in any of the given situations, you have the option to send a post-nomination request to get the necessary changes in your application.

• Change in employment status

• Expiration of work permit within 180 days

• Sudden change in family size

• If your application is returned by IRCC for being incomplete

Employer Requirements for British Columbia

General Employer Requirements

Your employer must:

• Be established as an employer in good standing in B.C.

• provide full-time, indeterminate (permanent or with no set end date) employment

• have a history of good workplace and business practices

• sign an employer declaration

• meet domestic labor market recruitment requirements, where applicable

• make you a full-time, indeterminate job offer

• offer you a wage in line with industry standards

Employer Responsibilities

As well as meeting the general employer requirements, your employer must:

• give you a written job offer

• complete the employer sections of the application forms

• Notify the BC PNP if there are any changes in your employment status. This includes promotion or termination; if you have been laid off or are on extended leave; or if the business has closed or changed ownership.

Public Sector & Non-Profit Employers

We accept applications from the following public sector and non-profit organizations with a permanent presence in B.C.:

• provincial and regional health care authorities and agencies

• public post-secondary education and training institutions

• private, non-profit post-secondary institutions that are accredited by, or registered with, The Private Career Training Institutions Agency of BC

• institutions supported by the Government of Canada or the Province of B.C. that conduct research in natural and applied sciences, engineering, computer and information systems, or health sciences

• provincial/federal/municipal government organizations and agencies

• other non-profit groups registered as charitable organizations and incorporated under the Society Act (RSBC 1996) or the Canada Corporations Act, Part II, 1970

Now that you have gone through the basic criteria for all the programs offered by this province of Canada, It is time to decide which of the following suits your profile the best. If you have any queries regarding BCPNP or Canada Immigration then you can book a free visa consultancy session today to get your profile assessed by one of our experts