BCPNP New Draw August 20, 2024

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is an essential immigration pathway that enables the province to nominate individuals for permanent residency based on their skills and potential to contribute to the local economy. The program focuses on addressing labor shortages in specific sectors, supporting British Columbia’s economic growth and maintaining essential social services. The BC PNP has two main streams: Skilled Immigration, which targets workers with the qualifications and experience to fill labor gaps in various industries, and Entrepreneur Immigration, which is for individuals interested in starting or investing in a business in the province, requiring a substantial investment and a viable business plan.

On August 20, 2024, the Government of British Columbia conducted invitation draws under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP), issuing 156 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency. These draws targeted both general and specific categories, reflecting the province’s commitment to attracting skilled professionals across various sectors. In the general draw, 83 candidates were invited, requiring a minimum score of 110 points. The province also issued 38 ITAs in a childcare-targeted draw for early childhood educators (NOC 42202), with a minimum score of 85 points. In the healthcare-targeted draw, 15 candidates were invited, needing a minimum score of 99 points. Additionally, 20 invitations were extended to candidates in the construction sector, where a minimum score of 89 points was necessary. This draw highlights British Columbia’s focus on key sectors like healthcare, childcare, and construction, which are vital for economic growth and community support. So far this year, British Columbia has invited up to 4,477 candidates through the BCPNP.

Trends in BC Immigration: Sector Focus, Competitive Scores, and Evolving Streams

The immigration landscape in British Columbia (BC) is showing clear trends centered on specific sectors. Recent draws have consistently targeted professionals in healthcare, childcare, and construction, as evidenced by the August 20 draw, which highlighted the urgent need to fill positions in these areas, reflected in varying minimum scores. The minimum scores required for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) have been gradually increasing, with the score for skilled workers now at 130, indicating a more competitive selection process where candidates need to enhance their qualifications and experience to remain competitive. The BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) continues to evolve, introducing new streams and updating existing ones. For instance, the Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot has now become a permanent stream, underscoring BC’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship in rural and underserved areas. Looking forward, BC PNP is expected to maintain its regular draw schedule, focusing on meeting labor market needs. The government also plans to implement updates in January 2025 to clarify pathways for international workers, including clearer criteria for education and language skills, aiming to make the application process more transparent and accessible

Skills Immigration invitations

Entrepreneur Immigration invitations

Invitations to apply under the EI Regional stream are generally issued monthly to eligible entrepreneurs referred by a participating community.

For the EI Base stream, targeted invitations may consider factors such as the candidate’s registration score, the region where they plan to establish a business, the community’s population size, whether the business is a startup or an acquisition, and alignment with priority business sectors. While ITA draws based solely on scores will occur periodically, they may be restricted to focus on targeted invitations and ensure standard processing times are maintained.