Restrictions on job offers: As mentioned above, the three new BCPNP streams “will not be limited to a list of eligible occupations.”

*B.C. makes it clear that job offers will not be restricted, but they still need to fit the requirements for one of the three new streams in the province.

Restrictions on accepted programs: As long as they meet the necessary requirements, “recent graduates from degree programs in any field of study may be eligible for the new student streams” in British Columbia, which means that the state’s three new streams will not feature a list of permitted programs.

Competition for Invitations to Apply (ITAs): The government of British Columbia makes it clear that there won’t be any competition amongst students with various qualifications for ITAs because there are separate streams for qualified applicants holding bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Stated differently, applicants having a Bachelor’s degree “will [only] be considered alongside other” applicants in the “Bachelor’s stream.”

Does BC’s International Graduate stream accept me?

While each of the new streams will also have specific requirements, the broad requirements listed below apply to all BCPNP International Graduate programs.

To qualify through B.C.’s International Graduate stream, candidates must:

• Have obtained a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years
• Have accepted a qualifying full-time job offer from an employer* in B.C.
  • The job offer must have no defined end date (indeterminate)
    • A job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation
  • The job offer must be in one of the following National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) categories: 1, 2, or 3
    • NOC TEER 0 occupations are not eligible for the International Graduate stream
• Be qualified to work in their chosen occupation in B.C.
• Have a wage offer “in line with B.C. wage rates for the job they will be working
• Prove the ability to support themselves and any eligible dependents
• Meet minimum language requirements
  • UPDATE: B.C. recently raised the minimum language requirement for all BCPNP streams except its Health Authority stream (which was already previously adjusted)

*The employer must “agree to support [the candidate’s] application while themselves meeting certain Employer-focused requirements.

Important details about Skills Immigration in British Columbia

Skills immigration, which includes the BCPNP, uses a points-based system to rank and select eligible immigration candidates. Candidates who receive an ITA through the BCPNP have 30 calendar days to submit their application to the province.

Note: Once an applicant submits their application, they must pay the application fee and submit all required documents.

The BCPNP scores candidates, through its points system, based on human capital and economic factors. Human capital factors include related work experience and proficiency in Canada’s official languages (English, French). Meanwhile, economic factors include the wage of the candidate’s B.C. job offer and the candidate’s employment location in B.C.