British Columbia

Capital: Victoria

Population: 5,286,528

Climate: Coastal regions see summers around 20° C and winters rarely below 0°C. Inland temperatures can hit 30°C in the summer and drop as cold as -14°C in the northern regions.

Must see: Tofino, Whistler

Known for: Rainforests, mountains and beaches

Learn more at www2.gov.bc.ca or at www.hellobc.com

British Columbia is the most western province in Canada bordering the Pacific Ocean, and is packed full of things to see and do. The magical Haida Gwaii islands hold old growth rainforest with ancient Haida First Nations totems, the Rockies and town of Whistler provide extraordinary mountain views (and skiing!), and the Pacific Coast provides diverse wildlife views including whales and dolphins. Where else in the world can you visit a rainforest to view an elusive white spirit bear? With the main city Vancouver so close to mountains and the ocean, the culture of BC is very active with surfing, hiking, kayaking and skiing being common "after work" activities. The province also offers the most mild climate in Canada. While it comes at a pricier cost of living, this province offers enormous potential for those who choose to call it home.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) offers an advantage to foreign workers and international graduates with ties to, or intentions to settle in British Columbia. Depending on the program, you will either register in BCPNP online and receive a score based on economic and human capitol factors, or some programs allow you to apply directly without receiving an invitation. Registrations will be active for 1 year and if you receive an invitation you will have 30 days to submit a complete application. If your application is approved, you will receive a nomination that can be used to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

British Columbia immigration starting guide

Skilled Worker

This stream gives foreign workers with a valid job offer in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) the opportunity to reside permanently in British Columbia.

Additional requirements for applicants include:

have accepted a full-time permanent job offer from a B.C. employer in a NOC skill level 0, A or B. The wage must be in line with B.C. wages for this occupation.
be qualified to perform the duties of the job.
minimum two years of full-time work experience in any NOC 0, A or B occupation.
meet language requirements if your occupation/NOC require.
have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada.
proof of financial support for yourself and any dependants.
a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

Employers and their job offer also have criteria that must be met including domestic recruitment efforts, submitting supporting documents about their business and a completed and signed Employer Declaration Form.

Health Authority

This stream gives eligible people working for a health authority in B.C. who have a valid job offer the opportunity to reside permanently in British Columbia. If you are a physician, midwife or a nurse practitioner, you may be eligible for this stream.

To be eligible for this stream you must have one of the following:

a full-time, permanent job offer from a public health authority in B.C.
a letter from a health authority that confirms you are a physician or nurse practitioner in B.C.
a letter from an established midwife practice group in B.C. The letter must confirm your acceptance into the group as an affiliated midwife for a period of at least six months.

Additional requirements for applicants include:

meet general BC PNP requirements.
meet the education, training, experience and qualification requirements outlined by the public health authority.
proof of financial support for yourself and any dependants.
a demonstrated genuine intention to settle in Ontario!

Healthcare professionals can contact Health Match BC if they would like assistance with job searching in this province.

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled

This stream gives eligible people working in an eligible occupation in the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, food processing or healthcare sectors with a valid job offer the opportunity to reside permanently in British Columbia.

Additional qualifications for applicants include:

have a full-time permanent job offer in an eligible occupation, with a wage in line with B.C. wage rates for the occupation
have been working full-time for your employer for at least nine consecutive months before applying.
be qualified to do the job, including any certification or registration requirements in B.C.
meet minimum language and education requirements.
proof of financial support for yourself and any dependants.
have legal immigration status in Canada.

Eligible occupations are:

Occupations in travel and accommodation

6525 - Hotel front desk clerks

Tour and recreational guides and casino occupations

6531 - Tour and travel guides

6532 - Outdoor sport and recreational guides

6533 - Casino occupations

Occupations in food and beverage service

6511 - Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses

6512 - Bartenders

6513 - Food and beverage servers

6711 - Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related occupations

Cleaners (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)

6731 - Light duty cleaners

6732 - Specialized cleaners

6733 - Janitors, caretakers and building superintendents

6721 - Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services

Other service occupations (employed directly by hotels/resorts*)

6741 - Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations

6742 - Other service support 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.

Food processing

9461 - Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing

9462 - Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers

9463 - Fish and seafood plant workers

9465 - Testers and graders, food, beverage and associated products processing

9617 - Labourers in food, beverage and associated products processing

9618 - Labourers in fish and seafood processing

Long-haul truck drivers

7511 - Long-haul truck driver

Occupations in healthcare

3413 - Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates*

3411 - Dental assistants

*for the purpose of the BC PNP, only health care assistants/health care aides are eligible under NOC 3413.

International Graduate

This stream gives international graduates, who have a valid credential from an eligible college or university in Canada, the opportunity to reside permanently in British Columbia.

Additional requirements for applicants include:

have completed a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada in the past three years.
have accepted a full-time permanent job offer in a NOC A or B occupation (NOC 0, C and D level occupations are not eligible for this stream), with a wage in line with B.C. wage rates for that occupation.
be qualified to work in your occupation in B.C.
for NOC B level occupations, meet the minimum language requirements.
proof of financial support for yourself and any dependants.
have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada.

International Post-Graduate

This stream gives international graduates, who have a master's or doctorate degree in science or engineering from an eligible B.C. institution, the opportunity to reside permanently in British Columbia. No job offer is required for this stream.

Eligible graduate degrees for this stream are:

agriculture, agriculture operations and related sciences
biological and biomedical sciences
computer and information sciences and support services
engineering
engineering technology and engineering-related fields
health professions and related programs
mathematics and statistics
natural resources conservation
physical sciences

Additional requirements for applicants include:

have completed a valid graduate program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution in B.C. in the past three years.
have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada.
demonstrate that you have the ability and intent to live, work and economically establish in B.C.

BC PNP Tech

The BC PNP Tech gives skilled workers in select, in-demand tech occupations the opportunity to reside permanently in British Columbia. This is not a separate category, but administrative measures that help eligible skilled tech workers move more quickly and easily through the nomination process. To be eligible for BC PNP Tech you must meet the requirements of either the Skilled Worker category, or the International Graduate category. In order to qualify, you need a one year job offer in one of the below occupations, with a minimum of at least 120 days remaining on the offer at time of application.

Eligible occupations for this stream are:

0131 Telecommunication carriers managers
0213 Computer and information systems managers
0512 Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
2131 Civil engineers
2132 Mechanical engineers
2133 Electrical and electronics engineers
2134 Chemical engineers
2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)

2171 Information systems analysts and consultants
2172 Database analysts and data administrators
2173 Software engineers and designers
2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
2175 Web designers and developers
2221 Biological technologists and technicians
2241 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
2242 Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)
2243 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
2281 Computer network technicians
2282 User support technicians
2283 Information systems testing technicians
5121 Authors and writers
5122 Editors
5125 Translators, terminologists and interpreters
5224 Broadcast technicians
5225 Audio and video recording technicians
5226 Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
5227 Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts
5241 Graphic designers and illustrators
6221 Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade

Entrepreneur Immigration Regional Pilot

This pilot project created in 2019 and available until March 31, 2024 is an immigration pathway for entrepreneurs who are looking to start a business in a small community in B.C. Each community that has enrolled in this program has identified the type of business that is a priority for their community. The communities are active participants with their own administrative process for the pilot. Prospective candidates must visit the community and receive a referral from in order to participate.

Additional requirements for applicants include:

establish an eligible new business aligned with the priorities of the referring community.
demonstrated business and/or management experience.
personal net worth of at least $300,000 CAD.
make an eligible personal investment of at least $100,000 CAD in the business.
create at least 1 new full-time job for a Canadian PR or citizen.
valid language tests with minimum CLB 4.
have, or be eligible for, legal immigration status in Canada.
have been lawfully admitted to your current country of residence.

You can find information on the communities participating in this pilot project here.

Strategic Projects

This category is for foreign corporations who have identified strategic investment opportunities in B.C. to establish operations that are integral to the growth and expansion of their core business. Through this category the foreign corporation may apply for provincial nomination for up to five of its current senior employees so they can actively manage the B.C. operation.

To be eligible, the foreign corporation must meet the following requirements:

be well-established and in good financial standing
demonstrate investment readiness and capacity for international expansion into B.C.
provide significant economic benefit to the province by making a high value investment in B.C.

Additional requirements for the foreign corporation include:

make a minimum equity investment of at least $500,000 directed toward the corporation's operations in B.C.
establish new or purchase and expand an eligible business in B.C.
create at least three new full-time equivalent jobs for Canadian PR's or citizens for each foreign key staff member proposed (to a maximum of five key staff).

There are business and staff eligibility requirements for this category as well. The application process requires an exploratory visit to B.C, presentation of a business proposal, and submitting a Strategic Projects registration.