Maple News reports that the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has issued over 430 invitations to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence. The invitations were sent out during the latest draw conducted on September 1, 2021.
The draw targeted candidates from multiple streams, including Express Entry BC (EEBC), Skills Immigration (SI), and the Entrepreneur immigration categories. Eligible candidates in the Skilled Worker and International Graduate sub-streams under both EEBC and SI received invitations. Notably, the province continued to exclude occupations in sectors hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic—such as tourism, hospitality, retail, and personal services—due to ongoing economic recovery challenges.
To be considered under the EEBC stream, candidates must be registered in both the federal Express Entry system and British Columbia’s own Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Express Entry is a federal-level application management system that uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate candidates based on age, education, work experience, and language proficiency. A provincial nomination significantly boosts a candidate’s CRS score by 600 points, greatly enhancing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
For this specific draw, the minimum scores required ranged from 76 to 98 across five categories. Here is a breakdown:
– SI – Skilled Worker: 94
– SI – International Graduate: 98
– SI – Entry Level and Semi-Skilled: 76
– EEBC – Skilled Worker: 94
– EEBC – International Graduate: 98
These score thresholds reflect the competitive nature of the current labor market in British Columbia and the province’s ongoing efforts to meet economic and demographic needs by selecting highly qualified candidates.
British Columbia remains one of Canada’s most proactive provinces in leveraging immigration to support local labor markets. With its diverse economy and growing population, the province continues to be an attractive destination for skilled immigrants seeking permanent residence through provincial nomination.