British Columbia issued 370 invitations to immigration candidates through two separate Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draws held on May 25, Maple News reports.
The province has been conducting dual draws under the BC PNP since February 2021. These simultaneous rounds include a general draw and a targeted one aimed at addressing specific labor market needs. The targeted draw focuses on professions such as retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621), and restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631), occupations with a high number of registrants in the provincial Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
In the general draw, 323 candidates were invited under both the Skills Immigration (SI) and Express Entry BC (EEBC) streams. Eligible sub-categories included Skilled Workers, International Graduates, and Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled Workers. Minimum scores for invitations in this draw ranged from 76 to 94 points, depending on the category.
The second, occupation-specific draw targeted candidates under the same SI and EEBC categories but was limited to those with work experience in the targeted NOC codes. A total of 47 invitations were issued in this round, and candidates required a minimum score of 111 points to qualify.
Together, these two draws form part of British Columbia’s ongoing strategy to balance labor needs across diverse economic sectors, especially in industries that are currently seeing high demand.
So far in 2021, British Columbia has issued a total of 4,808 invitations through various pathways under the BC PNP, reflecting the province’s proactive approach to attracting global talent.
The BC PNP is designed to help British Columbia meet its economic development goals by allowing it to nominate foreign nationals for Canadian permanent residency. The program consists of two main streams: Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC. Each stream is further divided into sub-categories tailored to different skill levels and education backgrounds.
Applicants must first register a profile under the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), where they receive a score based on factors like education, language proficiency, and work experience. High-scoring candidates are invited to apply for a provincial nomination, which enhances their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence via Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
British Columbia’s consistent draws signal its commitment to addressing labor shortages and supporting economic recovery by targeting critical occupations. Maple News will continue to monitor BC PNP activity and provide timely updates on upcoming draws and program changes.