On April 5, 2017, the province of British Columbia (BC) invited 458 workers and international graduates to apply to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). Candidates in five sub-categories managed through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) were issued Invitations to Apply (ITA) for a provincial nomination certificate, with which they may then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status. This most recent draw represents the biggest so far in 2017 to be conducted upon the five sub-categories within the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams which are managed through the SIRS.
The SIRS is a points-based system that ranks and selects eligible candidates across a range of sub-categories. When an eligible candidate registers through SIRS, he or she is assigned a points score and enters a selection pool for the category in which he or she has registered (candidates may register under one category only). Top-ranking candidates are issued ITAs in periodic draws conducted by the province. 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 an Express Entry draw.
April 5 BC PNP Draw
| Stream/category | Minimum score | Number of invitations | Aligned with Express Entry? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker | 85 | 82 | Yes |
| Express Entry BC – International Graduate | 70 | 79 | Yes |
| Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker | 80 | 166 | No |
| Skills Immigration – International Graduate | 70 | 72 | No |
| Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 45 | 59 | No |
Express Entry BC Stream
This stream of the BC PNP is ed with the Express Entry system, and applications under this stream may receive priority processing at the provincial and federal levels. Consequently, individuals in this stream must be eligible for one of the three Federal economic programs — Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) — in order to enter the federal Express Entry pool. 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 ed with the federal Express Entry system.
Learn more about the Express Entry BC – Skilled Worker category.
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 ed with the federal Express Entry system.
Learn more about the Express Entry BC – International Graduate category.
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.
Learn more about the Skills Immigration – Skilled Worker category.
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.
Learn more about the Skills Immigration – International Graduate category.
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.
Learn more about the Skills Immigration – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category.