Maple News reports that the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has invited more than 430 candidates to apply for provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residency in a new draw conducted on September 1.
The invitations were issued across multiple streams, including the Express Entry BC (EEBC), Skills Immigration (SI), and Entrepreneur Immigration categories. These streams are designed to attract experienced professionals, recent graduates, and business-minded individuals who can help meet British Columbia’s labor market needs and support economic development.
As with recent draws, this round continued to exclude candidates from sectors hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic—specifically those in tourism, hospitality, retail, and personal services—due to ongoing challenges in employment within these industries.
The selection targeted both skilled workers and international graduates, with minimum score requirements ranging from 76 to 98, depending on the category. The minimum scores were as follows:
– SI – Skilled Worker: 94
– SI – International Graduate: 98
– SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 76
– EEBC – Skilled Worker: 94
– EEBC – International Graduate: 98
To be eligible under the EEBC categories, candidates must be registered in both the federal Express Entry system and British Columbia’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Express Entry is Canada’s main federal pathway for skilled immigration, assessing candidates based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language ability in English or French.
Candidates in Express Entry who receive a provincial nomination from British Columbia gain an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This significantly boosts their chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence at the federal level.
The continued activity of the BC PNP reflects the province’s focus on attracting talent to key growth sectors while adapting its admissions to current labour market dynamics. With this latest draw, British Columbia reaffirms its commitment to strategic immigration as a cornerstone of its economic recovery and long-term prosperity.