BC PNP Draws- 24 June 2024

Insights from the June 25, 2024 BC PNP Immigration Draws

The recent British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) immigration draws on June 25, 2024, offer valuable insights into the province’s current immigration priorities and labour market requirements.

General Draw

In the general draw, several categories namely Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker – EEBC Option, International Graduate and International Graduate – EEBC option had a minimum score requirement of 134 points. This included the Skilled Worker, Skilled Worker – EEBC (Express Entry British Columbia), International Graduate, and International Graduate – EEBC categories. A total of 35 invitations were issued in the Skilled Worker category.

Interestingly, the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled category had a lower minimum score requirement of 110 points, suggesting a slightly less competitive threshold for candidates in this group.

Targeted Draw

The targeted draw on the same day underscored specific labour market needs in British Columbia. Different categories within this draw had varied minimum scores and numbers of invitations issued, reflecting the province’s targeted approach to addressing labour shortages in key areas:

• Childcare (NOC 42202): With a minimum score of 97 points, 6 invitations were issued, indicating a focused need for childcare professionals.
• Construction: This category also required a minimum score of 97 points, but with a higher number of 11 invitations issued, highlighting a stronger demand in the construction industry. The table below shows a priority list for construction occupations.

• Healthcare: Reflecting the critical demand for healthcare professionals, this category had a higher minimum score of 106 points, with 11 invitations issued. The table below shows a list of priority for the healthcare occupations.

* Only health care workers / aides are eligible for the BC PNP (NOC 33102).
The occupations mentioned above are not the only ones that qualify for the BC PNP. Priority occupations may receive a tailored invitation after registering.

• Veterinary Care: This category had the lowest minimum score at 80 points, with fewer than five invitations issued, indicating a very targeted need for veterinary care professionals.

These draws demonstrate British Columbia’s strategic approach to meeting its labour market needs through targeted immigration.

Canada’s future economic growth is linked to immigration boom. Canada’s recent immigration growth, as evidenced in permits and residence programmes, may bring early problems, but it is expected to result in long-term economic rewards. Canada welcomes around 500,000 new permanent residents each year, accounting for 20% of the population, with temporary residents reaching 2.5 million in 2023. According to studies, a strong labour market encourages immigration. BMO analysts feel that increased immigration improves Canada’s tight job market and ageing workforce by sustaining employment growth and labour balance. However, the present housing issue is linked to an increase of temporary residents, resulting in a cap in 2024. Despite challenges, previous immigration surges have resulted in long-term economic advantages following early slowdowns.

Qualified applicants who register before the draw date will be invited to apply. Invitations for the Skills Immigration streams may be based on various factors, including the level and field of education and where it was obtained, professional designations eligible in B.C., language abilities, occupation, length and skill level of work experience, job offer’s wage and skill level, intention to live and work in a specific region, and strategic priorities addressing B.C.’s labor market needs or supporting government projects and initiatives.

Skills Immigration streams and eligibility

Skills Immigration has five streams. Each one has a unique set of criteria.

• Skilled Worker
• Health Authority
• Entry Level and Semi -Skilled (ELSS)
• International Graduate
• International post-graduate

Eligibility for many Skills Immigration streams is based in part on the federal government’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. The BC PNP uses the 2021 version of the NOC.

• Skilled Worker

The Skilled Worker stream is for experienced workers in a professional, management, technical, trade or other occupations to gain permanent residence in B.C.

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have accepted an indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time, job offer from a B.C. employer. Your job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation or is in NOC 41200 (university professors and lecturers).
• Your job offer must be classified as NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
• Be qualified to perform the duties of the job
• Have a minimum of two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience at NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
• Meet minimum language requirements
• Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
• Show you can support yourself and your dependants

This stream also has an Express Entry BC option.

• Health Authority

The Health Authority stream gives a permanent residence pathway to people working for a health authority in B.C. If you are a physician, midwife or a nurse practitioner, you may also be eligible to apply under the Health Authority stream.

You do not need to register for this stream. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can submit an application directly to the BC PNP.

To qualify for this stream, you must have one of the following:

• An indeterminate (no defined end date), full-time job offers from a B.C. public health authority. Your job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation.
• A letter from a health authority or midwife practice group that confirms that you are a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in British Columbia
• Meet the education, training, experience and qualification requirements outlined by the public health authority
• The health authority must agree to support your application.

This stream also has the Express Entry BC (EEBC) option.

• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

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.

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have accepted an indeterminate (no defined end date), full-time job offer from a B.C. employer
• Your occupation must be on the list of eligible occupations for your sector. All ELSS-eligible occupations are classified as NOC TEER 4 or 5
• For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., you may apply if you are working in any NOC TEER category 4 or 5 occupation, other than live-in caregivers
• Have been working full-time for your employer for a minimum of nine consecutive months before registering.
• Be qualified to do the job offered to you, including meeting any certification or registration requirements in B.C.
• Meet minimum language and education requirements
• Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
• Show you can support yourself and your dependants

This stream does not have the Express Entry BC option.

• Eligible ELSS occupations

*For the purposes of the BC PNP, a resort is defined as an accommodation facility that is associated with recreational activities. These activities can include skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, nature-based or interpretive tours, etc.

• International Graduate

The International Graduate stream is a way for recent graduates with a degree or diploma from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution to get permanent residence and stay in B.C.

To qualify for this stream, you must:

• Have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years
• Have accepted an indeterminate* (no defined end date), full-time job offers from a B.C. employer. The job must be classified as NOC TEER category 1, 2, or 3. Your job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation.
• management occupations (NOC TEER 0) are not eligible under this stream
• Be qualified to work in your occupation in B.C.
• Meet minimum language requirements
• Have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
• Show you can support yourself and your dependants
• Your employer must agree to support your application and must meet certain requirements. For more information, please see the Employer page.

This stream also has the Express Entry BC option.

For complete eligibility criteria for the International Graduate stream, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.

• International post-graduate

The International Post-Graduate stream is for recent graduates of an eligible B.C. post-secondary institution with an eligible master’s or doctoral degree. PhD candidates at a public B.C. post-secondary institution may also be eligible.

You do not need a job offer from an employer to apply to this stream.

You do not need to register for this stream. If you meet eligibility requirements, you can apply directly to the BC PNP.

To qualify for this stream, you must have obtained eligible graduate-level education from an eligible program of study at a post-secondary institution in B.C. in the last three years.

Eligible education includes:

• Master’s degrees in an eligible program in the natural, applied or health sciences disciplines from a B.C. post-secondary institution. Please see the BC PNP IPG Programs of Study in Eligible Fields for more information
• Doctoral degrees in any field of study from a public B.C. post-secondary institution
• PhD students in any field of study who have been admitted to candidacy at a public B.C. post-secondary institution
• You must also demonstrate that you have the ability and intent to live, work and economically establish in B.C.

Other than Skill Immigration Invitation British Columbia offers another type of Invitation which is the Entrepreneur Immigration invitations.

On June 25, 2024, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) conducted a new draw for its Entrepreneur Immigration streams, issuing a total of 7 invitations to apply. In the Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional stream, the minimum score required was 141, with fewer than 5 invitations issued. Meanwhile, the Entrepreneur Immigration – Base stream required a minimum score of 116, and 5 invitations were issued. The previous draw, held on May 14, 2024, saw the Regional Pilot stream requiring a minimum score of 113 with fewer than 5 invitations issued, while the Base stream also had a minimum score of 116 with 5 invitations issued. The BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration program offers a pathway for international entrepreneurs to establish businesses and settle permanently in British Columbia, requiring eligible applicants to have business or management experience, a personal net worth exceeding $300,000 CAD, and an investment of at least $100,000 CAD in their new business.

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) provides an opportunity for foreign entrepreneurs to immigrate to British Columbia (B.C.) by developing firms that encourage innovation and economic growth in the province.

Entrepreneur Immigration employs a “temporary to permanent” approach, in which qualified individuals enter as temporary residents and then seek for permanent status after successfully launching a firm. Entrepreneurs can focus on three streams: base, regional, and strategic projects.

Invitations to apply for the EI Regional stream are sent out usually monthly to qualifying businesses who have been suggested by a participating community.

Targeted invitations to apply for the EI Base stream may be based on one or more of the following:

• The qualifying candidate’s registration score.
• The region in which an applicant intends to build a company.
• The population size of the community in which the candidate intends to start a company.
• Whether the planned business is a start-up or the acquisition of an established firm.
• Whether the business plan aligns with the designated priority business sectors.
• ITA draws based just on the score for the EI. Base will be conducted occasionally, although it may be limited based on targeted invitations and to maintain standard processing times.

BC Provincial Nominee Program draw history held since the of this year 2024 for both Skilled and Entrepreneur Immigration Invitation.

Skilled Immigration Invitation

Entrepreneur Immigration Invitations