Maple News reports that British Columbia is introducing three new immigration pathways under its Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) to support international graduates. Starting January 2025, the province will roll out three separate streams tailored to recent graduates of eligible Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate degree programs from recognized B.C. post-secondary institutions.
The new Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate streams aim to create clearer and more defined pathways for international graduates pursuing permanent residence (PR) in Canada. These streams align with British Columbia’s broader goals of attracting and retaining highly skilled talent to meet local labour market demands.
To qualify, applicants must have completed their degrees in the past three years and meet a revised minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 8. Notably, individuals holding diplomas or certificates will not be eligible for the new streams, although they may still qualify under other BCPNP categories.
Eligible applicants to the Bachelor’s stream must secure an indeterminate, full-time job offer in an eligible occupation. The Master’s and Doctorate streams are expected to target graduates in priority industries such as health care, technology, and education, although full stream-specific criteria will be announced later in 2024.
According to British Columbia’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs, these redesigned streams are part of the province’s long-term strategy to simplify and modernize its provincial immigration efforts. The updates are also intended to address feedback from immigrants and industry stakeholders for more transparent and predictable immigration pathways.
More comprehensive details on eligibility, in-demand occupations, and application guidelines will be published in a revised edition of the BCPNP Skills Immigration Program Guide before the streams officially open in January 2025.
With this move, British Columbia positions itself as one of Canada’s most proactive provinces for supporting international talent transitioning to permanent residency, particularly students who have already integrated into local communities via post-secondary education.
Maple News will continue to monitor these updates and provide timely guidance for international graduates planning to apply through B.C.’s new PNP streams.