British Columbia Provincial Program

In British Columbia, the nomination program is points-based, meaning that to receive an invitation, you need to accumulate a certain number of points. Moreover, to receive a nomination from the province of British Columbia, you need a job offer from an employer in this province. Exceptions are made for graduates of Master's programs (in certain disciplines) and PhD programs. They do NOT need a job offer.

Requirements for the employer providing you with job offer:

•       Be located in British Columbia
•       Have a valid business license
•       Sign a job contract
•       The employer must have been operating in British Columbia for at least one year (for unskilled specialists - two years)
•       The employer should have from 3 to 5 employees on staff
•       The salary must not be lower than the set for your specialty in your region
  
  

1. Skilled Worker Immigration Program - skilled worker BC. The passing score at the beginning of 2024 was 125-126 (out of a maximum of 200), and let me note, this is a very high score. You need to have a qualified work experience, a job contract in British Columbia, diploma evaluation, knowledge of English. Additional points can be allocated for a job contract outside of Vancouver area, a high salary, knowledge of French, and a certificate in one of the construction specialties, medical, veterinary industry, or a childcare worker certificate. To assess the possibility of immigration through this program, you must calculate your points before applying to understand through which factor they can be increased.

2. Immigration Program for College and University Graduates in British Columbia.

Under this stream, it is necessary to graduate an educational institution in BC within the last three years, at a public educational institution (private ones will not be recognized), with a study duration of at least 8 months and provide a job offer for a permanent skilled position. The list of authorized public institutions is here. NOTE, this program will close in January 2025.

3. Immigration Program for Graduates at the Master's level (in certain fields) or PhD level (any) in British Columbia.

Bachelor's level fields:

•       Agriculture
•       Biology and biomedical direction
•       Computer technologies
•       Engineering
•       Engineering technologists
•       Health care specialists
•       Mathematicians and statisticians
•       Conservation of natural heritage
•       Specialists in the field of physical sciences

Note, the condition to score the passing points remains (as of the beginning of 2024, this score was 125 out of a maximum of 200):

IMPORTANT: From 2025, the program for graduates in British Columbia will change. From January 2025, only bachelor's, master's, and doctoral graduates will be able to apply for PR. Bachelor's graduates will need to provide a contract for permanent employment, master's graduates will need to provide a contract for employment for at least 1 year, while doctoral graduates will not need an employment contract (as before).

Moreover, from January 2025, graduates will need to present English language test results at level 8.

And now, I will introduce you to the priority specialties that will guarantee you priority processing with lower scores and fast track PR.

4. Immigration for specialists in the technology sector and computer technologies – BC Tech Pilot.

Four years ago, British Columbia launched a new provincial immigration project for those who have a job contract from a list of 35 professions. This is a priority program, with point requirements that are 15-20 points lower than the standard. Moreover, under this program, you do not need to have a contract for permanent employment; it is enough to have a contract for at least one year. This is because the list of professions is already in high demand, and even if a specialist loses their job in the process, they will easily find a new employer. The PR review period under this program is faster than usual. Here is the list:

•       Telecommunication carriers managers
•       Computer and information systems managers
•       Physicists and astronomers
•       Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
•       Data scientists
•       Cybersecurity specialists
•       Business systems specialists
•       Information systems specialists
•       Database analysts and data administrators
•       Computer systems developers and programmers
•       Software engineers and designers
•       Software developers and programmers
•       Web designers
•       Web developers and programmers
•       Civil engineers
•       Mechanical engineers
•       Electrical and electronics engineers
•       Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
•       Chemical engineers
•       Other professional engineers
•       Biological technologists and technicians
•       Computer network and web technicians
•       User support technicians
•       Information systems testing technicians
•       Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
•       Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
•       Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
•       Authors and writers (except technical)
•       Technical writers
•       Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
•       Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
•       Broadcast technicians
•       Audio and video recording technicians
•       Graphic designers and illustrators
•       Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators

5. PR for construction workers BC

These specialists are selected with scores of 80-85. This is significant, but much less than the standard program for skilled worker immigration (as a reminder, there it's 120 and above). To accumulate these points, it is enough to have one year of experience in the province, a contract for permanent employment, higher education, and knowledge of the English language. Here is the list of specialists under this program:

•       Landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists
•       Sheet metal workers
•       Boilermakers
•       Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
•       Ironworkers
•       Welders and related machine operators
•       Electricians (except industrial and power system)
•       Industrial electricians
•       Plumbers
•       Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
•       Gas fitters
•       Carpenters
•       Cabinetmakers
•       Bricklayers
•       Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
•       Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
•       Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
•       Crane operators
•       Concrete finishers
•       Tilesetters
•       Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
•       Roofers and shinglers
•       Glaziers
•       Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
•       Floor covering installers

To be invited for the above stream, you also need to have a license to perform certain construction works or an apprentice certificate issued by Skilled Trades BC.

6.  Immigration for daycare educators and their assistants.

These applicants have been invited without changes for several years in a row. The passing score has increased, but it is still low – only 80. Moreover, for this category, you must have a certificate (obtaining it takes a couple of months), and the province awards additional points for this certificate.

7. Immigration for veterinarians and their assistants.

A very stable group that will always be in a priority. There is also a certificate for which points are awarded. The passing score is only 80.      

8. Healthcare stream - Priority immigration program for medical professionals and healthcare specialists.

A. The medical specialists who have a contract with Public Health of British Columbia.

The Ministry includes 8 departments, and if you have a contract for ANY position from these departments, you can apply for PR (the score is extremely low, only 80).

•       Provincial health service authority
•       First Nations Health Authority
•       Frazer Health
•       Interior Health
•       Island health
•       Northern health
•       Vancouver coastal health
•       Providence Health care

B. A specific list of specialists who have a job offer in British Columbia for an eligible employer. The passing score is the same 80.

•         Managers in health care
•         Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
•        Specialists in surgery
•         General practitioners and family physicians
•         Dentists
•         Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
•         Pharmacists
•         Dietitians and nutritionists
•         Psychologists
•         Chiropractors
•         Physiotherapists
•         Occupational therapists
•         Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment
•         Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating
•         Nursing coordinators and supervisors
•         Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
•         Nurse practitioners
•         Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals
•         Licensed practical nurses
•         Paramedical occupations
•         Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
•         Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
•         Denturists
•         Dental hygienists and dental therapists
•         Dental technologists and technicians
•         Medical laboratory technologists
•         Medical radiation technologists
•         Medical sonographers
•         Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists
•         Pharmacy technicians
•         Other medical technologists and technicians
•         Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists
•         Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants
•         Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations
•         Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
•         Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
•         Social workers
•        Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies
•         Social and community service workers

9. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is a way for workers in select occupations in the tourism/hospitality or food processing sectors to gain permanent residence in B.C. with a minimum points of 95-100. You must have mandatory 9 months of work experience for this employer in eligible position:

Occupations in travel and accommodation
Hotel front desk clerks
 
Tour and recreational guides and casino occupations
Tour and travel guides
Casino workers
Outdoor sport and recreational guides
 
Occupations in food and beverage service
Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
Bartenders
Food and beverage servers
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
 
Cleaners (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services
Light duty cleaners
Specialized cleaners
Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
 
Other service occupations (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
Other service support occupations
 
Food processing
Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
Fish and seafood plant workers
Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
Labourers in food and beverage processing

For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., you may apply if you are working in any occupation, other than live-in caregivers