British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) FAQ

1. What is the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program?

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a process that allows the province of British Columbia to nominate immigrants to fill the economic and labour market needs of the province. There are two streams under the British Columbia PNP: the Strategic Occupations Stream and the Business Immigrants Stream.

2. What is the Strategic Occupations Stream?

This stream is for applicants who have a job offer from an employer in British Columbia that cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and are either:

• A skilled worker;

• A health care professional;

• An international graduate; or

• A semi-skilled worker.

3. Who is considered a skilled worker under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program?

To be considered a skilled worker under the British Columbia PNP, an applicant must have a job offer in an eligible occupation in levels 0, A, and B of Canada's National Occupational Classification Matrix (NOC).

4. Who is considered a health care professional under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program?

Physicians, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, and midwives are considered health care professionals under the British Columbia PNP.

5. Who is considered an international graduate under the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program?

To qualify as an international graduate under the British Columbia PNP, an applicant must have graduated from a recognized British Columbia post-secondary institution, and have completed the required portion of their degree/diploma in BC.

6. Who is considered a semi-skilled worker under the British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program?

To qualify as a semi-skilled worker under the British Columbia PNP, you must work in select Tourism/Hospitality occupations, Long-Haul Trucking occupations, and Food Processing occupations. Note: this Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled category is currently a pilot project.

7. What is the Business Immigrants Stream of the British Columbia PNP?

This stream is for experiences business people who intend to invest in a British Columbia business and actively manage it. There are three categories of the Business Immigrants Stream: Business Skills, Regional Business, or Strategic Projects.
Applicants, who meet the requirements for one of the three categories, must also meet the following eligibility criteria:

• The primary purpose of the business is to earn profits from active income from the supply of products/services;

• The business' sustained commercial viability must be probable;

• The business must provide economic benefit to BC by contributing to one of the following:

1. increasing the exports of goods/services;

2. increasing value-added manufacturing, processing, or primary resource activity;

3. increasing BC tourism;

4. increasing research and development and technology commercialization;

5. creating innovative approaches to traditional businesses;

6. servicing an unserved regional market;

7. transferring skills, technology, and know-how to BC.

8. What are the requirements of the Business Skills Category under the Business Immigrants Stream?

Applicants in the Business Skills Category must have:

• A minimum net worth of CDN $800,000;

• A minimum investment of CDN $400,000 to establish the eligible business;

• A minimum ownership of 1/3 of the equity of the business;

• A business plan to create a minimum of 3 new jobs for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents;

• The skills and experience necessary, successful business experience, and an active on-going management role in the business.

9. What are the requirements of the Regional Business Skills Category under the Business Immigrants Stream?

Applicants in the Regional Business Category must have:

• A business project located outside the Vancouver and the Abbotsford Metropolitan Areas;

• A minimum net worth of CDN $400,000;

• A minimum investment of CDN $200,000 to establish the eligible business;

• A minimum ownership of 1/3 of the equity of the business;

• A business plan to create a minimum of 1 new job for a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;

• The skills and experience necessary, successful business experience, and an active on-going management role in the business.

10. How is the Strategic Projects Category of the Business Immigrants Stream different from the other two categories?

The Strategic Projects Category allows foreign firms who are establishing a presence in British Columbia to bring in key foreign professional, managerial, or technical staff (up to 5) intending to become Canadian Permanent Residents.

11. What are the requirements for the Strategic Projects Category under the Business Immigrants Stream?

Companies in this category must:

• Make a minimum equity investment of CDN $500,000;

• Create a minimum of 3 new jobs for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents for every nominee applicant put forward by the company;

• Demonstrate that the nominee applicants are essential to the proposed business;

• Demonstrate that they have a record of good business practices.

12. Can I fast-track my application under the Business Immigrants Stream?

Business Skills and Regional Business applicants can seek fast-track nomination by posting a $125,000 performance deposit and signing a Deposit Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.

For more information about British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program please call us 03-6361761.