British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

Under the BC PNP Program, Skills Immigration, there are 6 different streams:

1. Skilled Worker Stream
2. Skilled Worker Stream- Express Entry option
3. Health Authority Stream
4. International Graduate Stream
5. International Post-Graduate Stream
6. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) Stream

The previously used National Occupational Classification (NOC) system developed by the Government of Canada to classify occupations is replaced with TEER system (Training, Experience, Education and Responsibilities) as of November 16, 2022. Jobs are grouped according to the education requirements and experience necessary to perform those job duties.  The BC PNP uses the 2021 version of the NOC for applications submitted on or after this date. 

There are six TEER categories:

• TEER 0 – Management jobs
• TEER 1 – Jobs that usually require university degree
• TEER 2 – Jobs that usually require some college education or more then 2-year apprenticeships or related supervisory positions
• TEER 3 – Jobs that usually require some college education or less then 2 year apprenticeships or less then 6 months on-the-job training
• TEER 4 – Jobs that usually require high school education or several weeks on-the-job training TEER 5 – Jobs with no education requirement and training will be provided at work

Requirements for all Skills Immigration Applicants:

1. You will need to prove your intention to live permanently in BC. You will also need to prove that you will benefit BC Economy by transferring your skills and maintaining or creating jobs for Canadians.

2. Immigration Status in Canada. The BC PNP will not consider your application if you are:

• Out of status in Canada. This means that your status has either expired or you cannot demonstrate that you have applied for restoration of status within the 90-day eligibility period. Under those circumstances, you will be considered out of status and ineligible for the program.

• Are working in Canada without authorization. You will have to submit a copy of your work permit or a proof of implied status.

• Have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada; or are under a removal order in or outside of Canada, or require an Authorization to Return to Canada

3. Language Proficiency. Depending on the classification of the job you have been offered:

• Language requirements for occupations classified under NOC TEER 2, 3, 4 or 5 you must provide a valid English or French language test demonstrating proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading and writing. Approved language tests are IELTS General, CELPIP, TCF and TEF. Test have 2 years validity.

• If the offered position is classified under TEER 0 or 1, you are not required to submit valid language test results at the time of registration. However, you will not be able to claim any points and your application will be less competitive in the pool of candidates.

4. Signed Job Offer Letter You must submit a signed job offer letter from an eligible B.C. employer.

1. Skilled Worker Stream

• the paid co-op work term was full-time (minimum 30 regular hours per week or more)
• the paid co-op experience was in a skilled occupation
• you have successfully completed your program of study
• This work experience requirement is separate from the directly related work experience that is scored at the registration.
• Student work experience that is not part of a paid co-op work term does not count towards this requirement.

• The position offered to you must align with – and be needed to maintain or grow – your employer’s existing line of business. New lines of business may not be supported.

Employer:

Your employer will need to satisfy several criteria such as:

• Years in business. An employer must have operated in B.C. for at least one year (two years if you are applying under the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream). An employer may be required to provide additional documentation, such as business incorporation or tax returns as evidence that the company meets this requirement.

• Employer needs to be incorporated in BC or extra-provincially registered. There is a requirement to possess a Business Licence.

• Minimum Number of Full-Time Employees in British Columbia: If your employer is located within the Metro Vancouver Regional District, an employer must have at least five indeterminate, full-time employees (or full-time equivalents) who are performing their work from within B.C. If an employer is located outside of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, it must have at least three indeterminate, full-time employees (or full-time equivalents) who are performing their work from within B.C.

• Ownership. An applicant or his/her family can’t possess more then a 10% stake in the company.

Recruitment Activities

Your employer must demonstrate that your employment will not affect the employment of Canadians and PRs. Therefore, employers will need to demonstrate genuine recruitment activities for a min of 14 days. If an applicant possesses a valid work permit or employment authorization and is currently working full-time for your supporting employer in B.C. in the occupation identified in the job offer, the employer will be exempted from this requirement. If you started working for your supporting employer while you were a student, you must have graduated from your program of study before recruitment may be considered met, even if you are currently working for your employer in B.C. Your employer may be asked to provide evidence of a genuine and bona fide effort to recruit from the domestic labor market.

2. Skilled Worker Stream- Express Entry option

All mentioned criteria apply to this category. In addition, an applicant will need to possess an Express Entry registration number.

3. Health Authority Stream

You will need to show proof of a full-time and permanent employment offer. In addition, you would need to be hired by one of the BC Health Authorities.  If you are a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife and are not directly employed by a B.C. public health authority, you may also be eligible to apply under the Health Authorities stream.

4. International Graduate Stream

• You would need to satisfy requirements for all Skills Immigration Applicants
• You must obtain a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada
• Your diploma or certificate must be from a public post-secondary institution in Canada. Diplomas and Certificates from private institutions are not eligible
• You must submit your registration to the BC PNP within three years of graduation
• You must be offered a job that is classified as NOC TEER category 1, 2 or 3. Management occupations (NOC TEER 0) are not eligible under this stream

5. International Post-Graduate Stream

• Requirements for all Skills Immigration Applicants.
• Graduates of eligible B.C. post-secondary institutions with a master’s or doctoral degree or Ph.D. candidates at a public B.C. post-secondary institution.
• You don’t need an employment offer
• Evidence that you are planning to live and work in BC

6. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) Stream

• You may be eligible for this stream if you are currently working in B.C. in an eligible occupation in the tourism/hospitality or food processing sectors.

• If you are currently working in the Northeast Development Region of the province, you may be eligible for this stream if you are employed in any NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupation other than live-in caregivers (NOC 44100)

The list of eligible occupations is here:

Occupations in travel and accommodation
64314 Hotel front desk clerks

Tour and recreational guides and casino occupations
64320 Tour and travel guides
64322 Outdoor sport and recreational guides
64321 Casino workers

Occupations in food and beverage service
64300 Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
64301 Bartenders
65200 Food and beverage servers
65201 Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations

Cleaners (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
65310 Light duty cleaners
65311 Specialized cleaners
65312 Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
65210 Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services

Other service occupations (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)
65320 Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
65329 Other service support occupations

Food processing
94140 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
94141 Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
94142 Fish and seafood plant workers
94143 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
95106 Labourers in food and beverage processing
94142 Fish and seafood plant workers

• Requirements for all Skills Immigration Applicants.
• You must be offered a full-time and indeterminate employment offer in the mentioned occupations
• Have been working for the same employer min 9 months.
• Have been working wages that are in line with BC wage rates and min income requirements
• Have min High-school degree
• Employer must meet standard requirements

Registration Factors for all Skilled Streams:

Human Capital Factors:

1. Directly related work experience

Full-time (minimum of 30 regular hours per week) and part-time work experience, as it directly relates to the job you have been offered in B.C. This experience may be from work performed within Canada or abroad.

Student work experience that is not part of a paid co-op work term does not count towards directly related work experience points. The co-op experience is accepted with conditions that is was gained after studies and it was a full time (30h per week or more)

The BC PNP defines directly related work experience as paid employment that is classified under the same NOC code as the B.C. job offer that you have accepted. Experience in a related occupation at a NOC TEER category equal to or higher than the NOC TEER category of the B.C. job offer may also be included if, at the time of application, you can satisfactorily demonstrate how this work experience is directly related.

If you were on a leave of absence or on extended leave, that time away from your position will not be counted towards your directly related work experience, even if you remained employed during that period. Reasonable vacation periods will not be deducted from your work experience.

2. Education

Points for education are based on your highest level of education indicated in the registration.

3. Language

Points for language proficiency are based on the lowest Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score obtained in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Language requirements for occupations classified under NOC TEER 2, 3, 4 or 5 If you are registering or applying with a job offer for an occupation classified under NOC TEER 2, 3, 4 or 5, you must demonstrate English or French language proficiency at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in each of the four competencies: listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Language requirements for occupations classified under NOC TEER 0 or 1 If the position offered to you is classified under NOC TEER 0 or 1, you are not required to submit valid language test results at the time of registration unless you are claiming points for language.

IELTS General, CELPIP, TEF and TCF

You can claim additional points for both English and French proficiency You may be eligible for additional points if you meet all of the following criteria: • you have completed both a valid English and French language proficiency test within the past two years • you scored CLB 4 or higher in each of the four competencies on both tests • you provide a copy of your valid English and French language proficiency tests at application.

4. Economic Factors

Points for a wage is based on the hourly wage outlined in your job offer. When assessing your wages, the BC PNP will only consider your hourly rate of pay. You will receive 0 point for $16/h or less, 1 point for income between $16-$16.99 and 1 point more for every additional 2 dollars you make. If you make $70/h and above, you will receive max 55 points.

5. Area of employment within BC

Additional points for regional experience To qualify for regional experience points, you must have completed at least one year of full-time (or full-time equivalent) paid employment in Area 2 or 3.

Additional points for regional alumni: to qualify for regional alumni points, you must have graduated from a public B.C. postsecondary institution, located outside of the MVRD