Maple News reports that British Columbia invited 452 immigration candidates in a major Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw held on April 13, 2021. This marks the third-largest draw by the province so far that year, signaling British Columbia’s continued efforts to attract skilled talent amid growing labor market needs.
The invitations were extended under four draws through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), targeting candidates across the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams. Specific sub-categories included Skilled Worker, International Graduate, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled.
In the largest of the four draws, 420 candidates were invited with minimum scores ranging between 79 and 95, depending on the category. Simultaneously, B.C. conducted a targeted draw focusing on two in-demand National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes: retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621) and restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631). This specialized selection saw 21 invitations issued to candidates with a minimum score of 113.
In addition to these, 11 invitations were sent through the province’s Entrepreneur Immigration stream, which is geared towards individuals who plan to invest and actively manage a business in B.C.
With these latest rounds, British Columbia has now conducted 23 draws in 2021 alone, bringing the total number of provincial invitations issued to 3,441 so far this year, according to Maple News.
The BC PNP is designed to support the province’s labor market needs by attracting foreign workers and graduates with the skills and experience required in local industries. The program operates two main streams—Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC—managed through the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Applicants are assigned scores based on factors such as work experience, education, and language proficiency.
High-ranking candidates are subsequently invited to apply for a provincial nomination. Those who receive an invitation have 30 days to submit a completed application through the BC PNP’s online portal. A successful nomination enables candidates to apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency under the Provincial Nominee Class. Nominations typically remain valid for six months.
British Columbia’s ongoing draws reflect both its demand-driven immigration strategy and its responsiveness to changing labor force requirements, particularly in high-priority sectors like trade and food services. Provincial officials are expected to continue frequent draws throughout the year.