For workers

Please review the table below to determine which Skills Immigration stream best suits to you:

Please note: there are exceptions to table above. For complete information about eligibility and requirements, please see the Skills Immigration Program Guide.

The BC PNP charges fees to process applications. These fees cover the cost of administering the program, including providing support services to nominees until they become permanent residents.

Please note:

• Fees will only be refunded if you withdraw your application before the BC PNP begins to assess it. Request for review fees are non-refundable.
• Fee payments can only be made in the BC PNP Online User Portal. The BC PNP does not accept payments any other way (e.g., cheques, bank transfers, wire transfers, or gift cards). If you are asked to pay fees in another way, please report this to PNP.fraud.tips@gov.bc.ca. For more information, visit the BC PNP’s fraud awareness page.
• You will need to pay a separate fee when you submit your permanent residence application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You may also have to pay fees to IRCC to apply for, or extend, your work permit. For more information, please visit IRCC’s fees page.

There are four key components to the Skills Immigration process: registration (if applicable), invitation (if applicable), application, and decision. Each process has its own unique requirements. Review the information on this website and in the Skills Immigration Program Guide before getting started. Once you are ready, follow the steps below:

1. Choose your stream 
2. Register online
3. Wait for an invitation to apply
4. Submit your BC PNP application
5. Wait for your nomination decision
6. Submit your IRCC application

Choose your stream 

Workers who meet specific eligibility criteria based on their occupation can choose to apply to one of the following streams: Skilled Worker, Entry Level and Semi-Skilled, and Health Authority. Review the eligibility and requirements of each stream to determine the best one that suits you.

Please note: the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams have Express Entry BC (EEBC) option. You might be eligible for the EEBC option if you are in the federal Express Entry pool and meet the criteria for one of these immigration streams. If you are nominated using the EEBC option, your federal profile will receive more points and your federal permanent residence application may be processed faster.

Once you have chosen your stream, and you have decided if you will use the EEBC option, you are ready to register.

Register online

Registering is your to way express interest in the program. You must do so using the BC PNP Online User Portal. Once you have signed in, create a profile and select your stream.

Please note: if you decide to use the EEBC option, select the stream that starts with Express Entry BC. This ensures that your nomination is connected to your IRCC profile in the Express Entry system. Once you have selected a stream, complete all sections of the registration.

After registering, you will receive a score based on the information you provided. Your registration will be scored based on human capital factors such as your work experience, education and language proficiency, as well as economic factors such as your wage and job location in B.C. During this step, you will be placed in a registration pool for your chosen stream. Your registration will remain active in the pool for up to 12 months, or until you receive an invitation to apply.

For step-by-step instructions on how to register online, please see the Skills Immigration Technical Guide. For more information about registration and how points are awarded, please refer to the Skills Immigration Program Guide.

Wait for an invitation to apply

An invitation is needed to apply to most Skills Immigration streams. If you are invited to apply after registering, you will have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application using the BC PNP Online User Portal. If you do not submit an application within 30 calendar days, your invitation will expire, and your registration will be removed from the pool.

If you would like to stay in the pool, you must submit a new registration. If you no longer wish to apply or no longer meet the criteria, you should not submit an application as your application may be denied.

You can learn more about how the BC PNP issues invitations in the Skills Immigration Program Guide. For more information, or to see recently issued invitations, visit the invitations to apply page.

Submit your BC PNP application

Submitting an application is your way to demonstrate to the BC PNP that you meet the criteria for the stream you have chosen. Before submitting your application, you must pay the application fee and ensure you have included all required documents.

When you are ready to submit your application, log in to your online profile and complete all sections of the application. Your application will be assessed according to the Provincial Immigration Programs Act, the Provincial Immigration Programs Regulation, and against the eligibility and requirements criteria specific to your stream.

For step-by-step instructions on how to submit your application using the BC PNP Online, please see the Skills Immigration Technical Guide.

Wait for your nomination decision

If your application is approved, you will receive a nomination package with instructions on how to submit your permanent residence application to IRCC. This includes a Confirmation of Nomination letter issued by the BC PNP.

If your application is refused, you may request a review of the decision, or consider other immigration options.

For more information about what to do after you receive a nomination, please visit the nominees page. 

Submit your IRCC application

Submit your application to IRCC to become a permanent resident of Canada before your Confirmation of Nomination document expires.

Please note: as a nominee, you must comply with all the conditions of nomination while you wait for IRCC’s decision.

If IRCC approves your application, you will become a permanent resident of Canada.

For inquiries about Skills Immigration eligibility, requirements and processes, email PNPInfo@gov.bc.ca.

Processing times

Processing times show how long it may take to make a decision on a BC PNP application, post-nomination request, or request for review. Generally, around 80% of cases will be processed within the following timelines: 

* The time it takes to make a decision depends on when the BC PNP receives your complete application; the complexity and volume of cases; the program’s capacity; and the number of available nominations.