bc

British Columbia

Vancouver, the third-largest city in the nation, is located in British Columbia, one of the nation's most diversified provinces. The economy of British Columbia is centered on a robust natural resources sector, with a focus on forestry and mining. With its vast forests and distinctive coastal climate, its natural setting is regarded as among the most magnificent in all of Canada, if not the entire world.

If you wish to immigrate to British Columbia, then you have three options to choose from:

• Skills Immigration Stream
• Express Entry British Columbia Stream
• Entrepreneur Immigration

Skills Immigration Stream

BC PNP Skills Immigration is divided into the following categories:

1. Skilled Worker Category

This category is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Workers are expected to have several years of experience in their skilled occupation.

2. Healthcare Professional Category

Individuals who have experience and suitable job offer as doctors, nurses, psychiatric nurses, or other allied health professionals may apply under this category. There must be a job offer that qualifies for one of the 11 health occupations.

3. International Graduate Category

Individuals who graduated from an eligible Canadian university or institution in the previous three years fall under this group. To qualify for this sub-category, a job offer from a BC employer is required.

4. International Post-Graduate Category

Graduates in the natural, applied, or health sciences with Master or Doctoral degrees from a recognized educational institution in British Columbia are eligible for this category. A job offer is not necessary to apply for this subcategory.

5. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category

Workers in specific entry-level or semi-skilled positions in long-haul transportation, food processing, tourism/hospitality, or entry-level or semi-skilled positions who live and work in British Columbia's Northeast Development Region may qualify for immigration under this program.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have accepted a full-time job offer (except for the International Post-Graduate Category);
• Must have a wage offer in line with the provincial wage rates (except for the International Post-Graduate Category);
• Must show you can support yourself and your family (except for the International Post-Graduate Category);
• Must meet minimum language requirements (for NOC skill level B, or for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category);
• Must meet any additional requirements specific to your category;
• The employer must also meet eligibility criteria (except for the International Post-Graduate Category).

Express Entry British Columbia

Express Entry BC aligns with the federal government’s Express Entry immigration selection system, allowing eligible applicants to receive priority processing of both their BC PNP application and if nominated, their permanent residence application.

The following Skills Immigration categories may be processed through Express Entry British Columbia:

• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have a valid profile with the federal Express Entry system
• Must have a Job Seeker Validation Code from the Express Entry system
• Must have accepted a full-time job offer (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
• Must have a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
• Must be able to support yourself and your family (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
• Must meet minimum language requirements (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)
• Must meet additional requirements specific to your category
• The employer must also be eligible (except for the International Post-Graduate Category)

Entrepreneur Immigration

If you want to immigrate to British Columbia as an entrepreneur, you have three options to choose from:

1. Entrepreneur Immigration – Base Category

This category is for senior managers or business owners who intend to invest funds into a proposed business in British Columbia.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have a personal net worth of at least CAD $600,000
• Must demonstrate business or management experience
• Must meet language requirements in English or French (CLB level 4 or higher)
• Must establish a new business or purchase and improve an existing business
• Must make a personal investment of at least CAD $200,000 in the business
• Must create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident

2. Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot

This new pilot is for international entrepreneurs looking to establish a new business in a small community in British Columbia.

Minimum Requirements:

• Must have a personal net worth of at least CAD $300,000
• Must have three years of experience as an active business owner-manager, or four years of experience as a senior manager, or a combination of one year of experience as an owner-manager and two years of experience as a senior manager
• Must meet education requirements
• Must meet language requirements in English or French (CLB level 4 or higher)
• Businesses must meet additional requirements

Strategic Projects Category

This category allows businesses with foreign ownership to establish operations in British Columbia. For permanent residence in the province, up to five important foreign management, professional, or technical staff members may be nominated.

If the Entrepreneur Immigration Categories appeal to you, you must first register with BCPNP Online and submit a brief business plan.

Minimum Requirements:

• The company must be well established and in good financial standing
• Must demonstrate investment capacity to expand into B.C.
• Must provide significant economic benefit to the province