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British Columbia

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British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

Home to the country's third-largest city, Vancouver, British Columbia is also one of the most diverse provinces in all of Canada. British Columbia's economy focuses on a strong natural resources sector, with an emphasis on forestry and mining. Its natural environment, with expansive forests and a unique coastal climate, is renowned as one of the most beautiful in Canada, and indeed the world

The BC PNP is British Columbia's Provincial Nominee Program. Through this program, prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province may receive a British Columbia Provincial Nomination Certificate, which will allow that foreign national to apply for Canadian permanent residence with processing times that are faster than other Canadian immigration classes.

The BC PNP accepts applications under two main immigration streams:

  • Skills Immigration (including Express Entry)
  • Entrepreneur Immigration

These streams are further divided into categories. Below we provide you with additional information about each to help you determine if the BC PNP is right for you.

Skills Immigration

BC PNP Skills Immigration is divided into the following categories:

  • Skilled Worker Category
  • Health Care Professional Category
  • International Graduate Category
  • International Post-Graduate Category


Skilled Worker Category - This category is for individuals who have received an eligible job offer in a skilled occupation. Workers are expected to have several years of experience in their skilled occupation. This category is open to workers with post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a skilled occupation.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under the Skilled Worker Category, applicants must::

  • Have at least two years of full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience in the skilled occupation offered to them, and the credentials and qualification requirements of the position, if applicable;
  • Be in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A, or B;
    • For occupations classified as NOC level B, applicants must demonstrate sufficient language proficiency in English or French by submitting language test results showing a minimum score of benchmark 4 under the Canadian Language Benchmark 2000 (CLB) in all competencies.
    • For occupations classified as NOC level 0 or A, no language test results are necessary - the BC PNP, however, may require valid language test results at its discretion.
  • Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. employer;
  • Demonstrate the ability to meet minimum income requirements and pay for housing and living expenses in British Columbia by showing:Annual wage in the province;Location of residence in the province;Number of dependents.

Minimum Requirements for Employers

Additionally, the employer offering the job must meet the following requirements:

  • The business must be established in British Columbia;
  • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
  • The business must show a history of good business practices;
  • The employer must meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;
  • The employer must sign an employer declaration stating that all of these requirements are met;
  • A written and elaborate offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must be signed and dated by employer and the applicant.


Under this category, an eligible job offer must be acquired for one of 11 qualifying health occupations.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

To be eligible under the Health Care Professional Category, applicants must:

  • Be a professional as Physician, Specialist, Nurse, midwife or Allied health professional such as physiotherapist, clinical pharmacist medical radiation technologist etc.
  • Have at least two years full-time (or full-time equivalent) work experience in the skilled occupation offered to them, and the credentials and qualification requirements of the position, if applicable;
  • Be in an occupation classified as NOC level 0, A, or B with adequate language proficiency in English or French.;
  • Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. employer;
  • Demonstrate the ability to meet minimum income requirements and pay for housing and living expenses in British Columbia by showing:Annual wage in the province;Location of residence in the province;Number of dependents.

Minimum Requirements for Employers

The employer offering the job must meet the following requirements:

  • The business must be established in British Columbia;
  • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
  • The business must show a history of good business practices;
  • The employer must meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;
  • The employer must sign an employer declaration stating that all of these requirements are met;
  • A written and elaborate offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must be signed and dated by employer and applicant.


This category is for individuals who have graduated from an eligible Canadian university or college in the last two years. A job offer must be obtained from a BC employer to be eligible under this sub-category. While applicants do not necessarily need prior work experience, applicants are required to obtain a job offer from a B.C. employer.

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

Applicants who meet the following requirements may be eligible under the International Graduate Category:

  • Applicants must have obtained one of the following:
    • An undergraduate or graduate degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution; or
    • A diploma from a public post-secondary institution in Canada. Diplomas from private institutions are not eligible for this program.
    • A diploma program must be minimum eight months (two semesters) full-time study.
    • The diploma program is not eligible if more than one-quarter is co-op work or an internship.
  • The application must be submitted within two years of the date of completion shown on the official transcript;
  • Applicants must have the credentials and qualification requirements of the position, if applicable;
  • Applicants must provide evidence that they can support themselves and their dependents in Canada
  • Have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment that typically requires a post-secondary education from an eligible B.C. employer and candemonstrate sufficient language proficiency in English or French.

Minimum Requirements for Employers

In addition, the employer making the offer of employment must meet the following criteria:

  • The business must be established in British Columbia;
  • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees;
  • The business must show a history of good business practices;
  • The employer must meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements;
  • The employer must sign an employer declaration stating that all of these requirements are met;
  • A written and elaborate offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must be signed by employer and the applicant.
  • The employer may not make deductions from pay for recruitment, immigration fees, etc.
  • The wage offered must be at market rate and comparable to the average salary for that occupation in British Columbia.
  • Individuals originally hired on a Labour Market Opinion must receive an equal or greater wage than that stated on the Labour Market Opinion.


This category is for graduates with Masters or Doctoral degrees from an eligible educational institution in British Columbia in the natural, applied, or health sciences programs of study. No job offer is required to apply under this sub-category.:

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under this category, applicants must:

  • Have obtained a master`s or doctoral degree from an eligible British Columbia institution within two years of applying to the BC PNP in one of the following fields:
    • Agriculture;
    • Biological and biomedical sciences;
    • Computer and information sciences and support services;
    • Engineering;
    • Engineering technology;
    • Health professions and related clinical sciences;
    • Mathematics and statistics;
    • Natural resources conservation and research; or
    • Physical sciences.
  • Provide evidence that they intend to reside permanently in B.C., such as:
    • The length of current or previous periods of residence in B.C.;
    • The applicant`s connections to B.C. through work, study, or family; or
    • A description of any settlement activities that the applicant has undertaken.


This category is for individuals currently living and working in B.C. in an eligible occupation within the tourism/hospitality, long-haul trucking, or food processing industries, or in a NOC skill level C or D occupation in the Northeast Development Region of the province.:

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible under the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Category, applicants must:

  • Be currently employed in a full-time position, having been in that position for at least nine consecutive months before applying.
  • Maintain full-time employment throughout the application process. Work conducted during a program of study or with an Off-Campus Work Permit does not qualify.
  • Demonstrate the ability to meet minimum income requirements and pay for housing and living expenses in British Columbia by showing:Annual wage in the province;Location of residence in the province and Number of dependents.
  • Have completed a secondary education;
  • Have any licensing or certification required for the job;
  • Submit language proficiency test results showing a proficiency in English of at least “Benchmark 4” in all components (listening, speaking, reading, writing).
  • Entry level and semi-skilled applicants must have received an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from an eligible B.C. employer.Individuals working in the Northeast Development Region of B.C. in a C or D level occupation may apply to the BC PNP without first obtaining a job offer.

Minimum Requirements for Employers

In addition to the above, the employer must also fulfill certain criteria, as follows:

  • The business must be established in British Columbia.
  • The business must already have permanent, full-time employees.
  • The business must show a history of good business practices.
  • The employer must also meet domestic labour market recruitment requirements.
  • A written and elaborate offer of employment must be extended to the applicant on official company letterhead and must be signed by both employer and applicant.
  • The employer may not make deductions from pay for recruitment, immigration fees, etc.
  • The wage offered must be at market rate and comparable to average salary for the occupation in British Columbia.
  • Individuals originally hired on a Labour Market Opinion must receive an equal or greater wage than that stated on the Labour Market Opinion.

Eligible Occupations

Occupations in the Tourism and Hospitality Industry
NOC Occupation
6525 Hotel Front Desk Clerks
6531 Tour and Travel Guides
6532 Outdoor Sport and Recreational Guides
6533 Casino Occupations
6511 Maitres d'hotel and Hosts/Hostesses
6512 Bartenders and Food and Beverage Servers
6711 Food Counter Attendants, Kitchen Helpers and Related Occupations
6731 Light Duty Cleaners
6732 Specialized Cleaners
6733 Janitors, Caretakers and Building Superintendents
6721 Support Occupations in Accommodation, Travel and Facilities Set-Up Services
6741 Dry Cleaning, Laundry and Related Occupations
6742 Other Service Support Occupations

 

Occupations in the Food Processing Industry
NOC Occupation
9461 Process Control and Machine Operators, Food and Beverage Processing
9462 Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters, Poultry Preparers and Related Workers
9463 Fish and Seafood Plant Workers
9465 Testers and Graders, Food, Beverage and Associated Products Processing
9417 Labourers in Food, Beverage and Associated Products Processing
9418 Labourers in Fish and Seafood Processing

 

Occupations in the Trucking Industry
NOC Occupation
7511 Long-Haul Truck Driver


On January 27, 2016, the government of British Columbia announced a new Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) for the BC PNP. This points-based system gives candidates a registration score that determines whether they may be invited to apply. The score is based on a number of factors — such as level of education, years of direct work experience and a B.C. employment offer — that reflect an individual’s ability to succeed in the labour market and contribute to the provincial economy. Potential candidates must first accept an offer of indeterminate, full-time employment from a B.C. employer who is willing to support the candidate through the BC PNP process. (The only exception to the job offer requirement under the BC PNP is if the candidate has a graduate degree from a B.C. university in the natural, applied or health sciences. However, candidates under this International Post-Graduate category do not register under the SIRS.)If the candidate and the employer meet the program requirements and the employer is prepared to support an application, the candidate can submit a registration to the BC PNP.

Please note that candidates interested in and eligible under the following categories do not need to register and may proceed directly to the application via BCPNP Online:

  • Skills Immigration - Health Care Professional
  • Skills Immigration - International Post-Graduate
  • Express Entry BC - Health Care Professional
  • Express Entry BC - International Post-Graduate

Once a candidate submits a registration through SIRS, he or she will receive a registration score and will be entered into a selection pool for the category in which he or she has registered (candidates may register under one category only). The registration, which is free of charge, will remain in the selection pool for a maximum of twelve months from the date of submission.Periodically, the BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants from each category to apply for provincial nomination.A registration into the Skills Immigration Registration System is not an application to the BC PNP or a guarantee that a candidate will be invited to apply.

If a candidate is invited to submit an application to the BC PNP, he or she will then be asked to pay a fee as part of the online application process.The BC PNP reserves the right to make changes to the Skills Immigration Registration System without prior notice, including changes to the scoring grids, the length of time a registration can remain in the selection pool, and the number and frequency of invitations to apply issued.

Category Minimum score
Skills Immigration - Skilled Worker 135
Skills Immigration - International Graduate 105
Skills Immigration - Entry Level and Semi-Skilled 95
Express Entry BC - Skilled Worker 135
Express Entry BC - International Graduate 105

A candidate's registration will be assessed according to the scoring factors applicable at the time of submission.

SIRS Scoring

The factors outlined below determine the number of points allocated to a candidate who has registered under SIRS. If and when a candidate is invited to apply, all the information provided in the registration will be verified against the information provided in the application.


Scoring Sections Maximum Points
Economic Factors(120)
Skill Level of the B.C. Job Offer 60
Wage of the B.C. Job Offer 50
Regional District of Employment 10
Human CapitalFactors(80)
Directly Related Work Experience 25
Highest Level of Education 25
Language 30

Total Points Available 200

Invitations to Apply

Candidates who have entered the selection pool will be ranked alongside other registrants in the chosen category. Periodically, the BC PNP will invite candidates from the selection pool for each category to apply. The number and frequency of Invitations to Apply is based on annual nomination allocations and processing capacity.Candidates who are invited to apply will have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application via the BC PNP online system. Candidates who are invited to apply but do not submit a complete application within 30 days will have their registration removed from the selection pool and invitation cancelled.An invitation to apply does not guarantee that an application will be approved for nomination.

The BC PNP may refuse an application if:

  • the information in the registration is different from the information submitted in the application;
  • the candidate is not eligible to receive the points assigned to him or her at the time of registration; or
  • the application does not meet applicable category requirements in effect at the time the application was made.

Candidates who have not been invited to apply within 12 months of registration will be automatically removed from the selection pool. A new registration may be made at this point.

Under the Skills Immigration Section British Columbia will nominate up to 1,350 skilled applicants for Canadian permanent residence in 2015 under through its Express Entry British Columbia stream, which aligns with the federal government's Express Entry System. The British Columbia Express Entry stream allows eligible applicants to receive priority processing of both their BC PNP application, and if nominated, their permanent residence application.

The following Skills Immigration categories may be processed through Express Entry British Columbia:

  • Skilled Worker Category
  • Health Care Professional Category
  • International Graduate Category
  • International Post-Graduate Category

Application and Nomination Decision

Candidates are invited to apply will have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete application via the BC PNP online system. If the application is approved, candidates then have six months from the date of confirmation of the provincial nomination to apply to IRCC for permanent resident status.Candidates who have obtained a provincial nomination from the BC PNP may be eligible to receive a work permit support letter so that they can apply to IRCC to obtain or renew a work permit to start or continue working in B.C. for their employer while awaiting the decision on their permanent residence application.

The BC PNP may only accept requests for work permit support letters to provincial nominees if ALL of the following conditions are met:

  • The candidate has been nominated by the BC PNP;
  • The candidate has submitted an application for permanent residence to IRCC within the six-month period after he or she was nominated;
  • The candidate continues to meet the conditions of nomination; and
  • The candidate's current work permit expires within 120 days.

Express Entry British Columbia

Express Entry British Columbia is aligned with the federal Express Entry selection system, which should result in significantly reduced application processing times.The British Columbia Express Entry stream allows eligible applicants to receive priority processing of both their B.C. PNP application, and if nominated, their permanent residence application. Potential candidates are required to meet minimum provincial eligibility criteria for one of the following categories under the B.C. PNP

  • International Post Graduate
  • International Graduates
  • Skilled Workers (including health care professionals)

In addition, candidates must be eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programs FSW, FST or CEC in order to enter the Express Entry pool.

The federal economic immigration programs require candidates to meet a mandatory language proficiency level and demonstrate sufficient funds to support the applicant and their family on arrival in Canada. Candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Program are also required to submit the results of an Educational Credential Assessment.

Apply without a job offer: The International Post Graduate Category

B.C. employers have made it known that they are seeking workers with graduate degrees in the sciences, and the government of B.C. has reacted accordingly.

Individuals with a master’s or doctoral degree in the sciences received within the past two years from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution in B.C. may be eligible to apply under the International Post Graduate category, as long as the post graduate degree was obtained in one of the following natural, applied or health sciences:

  • Agriculture
  • Biological and biomedical sciences
  • Computer and information sciences and support services
  • Engineering
  • Engineering technology
  • Health professions and related clinical sciences
  • Mathematics and statistics
  • Natural resources conservation and research
  • Physical sciences

Candidates must provide evidence of their intention to reside in B.C. This evidence may include:

  • the length of any previous and/or current period of residence in B.C.;
  • connections to B.C. through work, study or family; and/or
  • a description of any actions taken to settle in B.C., such as finding a job or place to live.
Category Employment Education Other requirements
International Post Graduate Job offer not required Master's or doctoral degree from an eligible B.C. institution. Only open to natural, applied or health sciences graduates. Candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration program

International Graduates Category

International graduates who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within the past two years may be eligible to apply under the International Graduates category. Candidates applying under the International Graduates category must have a full-time permanent qualifying job offer in a skilled occupation from a B.C. employer.

Candidates eligible under this category must have a degree, diploma or certificate from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada. Candidates with a diploma or certificate must have obtained the diploma or certificate from a public post-secondary institution in Canada. Private institutions are not eligible. The program must have entailed at least eight months (two semesters) of full-time study. The program is not eligible if the candidate spent more than one-quarter of the program time in a co-op work term or internship.

Category Employment Occupation Experience Education Other requirements
International Graduate Full-time job offer from an eligible B.C. employer Occupation Skill Level 0, A or B Not required Eligible degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university Candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration program

Skilled Worker Category (including Health Care Professionals Category)

The Skilled Worker category is for international skilled workers who have post-secondary education or training and employment experience in a professional, management, technical, trade or other skilled occupation. The candidate’s occupation must be classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) matrix as skill level 0, A, or B.

Candidates applying under the Skilled Worker category must have a full-time permanent qualifying job offer in a skilled occupation from a B.C. employer. Candidates with a job offer in a regulated occupation that requires mandatory certification or licensing must demonstrate that they meet provincial requirements for the particular occupation when they make their application under this category.

Category Employment Occupation Experience Education Other requirements
Skilled Worker Full-time job offer from an eligible B.C. employer Occupation Skill Level 0, A or B Minimum 2 years of directly related work experience Applicable credentials or qualifications Candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration program

 

Category Employment Occupation Experience Education Other requirements
Health Care Professionals Full-time job offer from a Public Health Authority in B.C. Physicians, specialists, nurses, psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives and allied health professionals Directly related work experience Applicable licensing or registration Candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration program


Individuals who intend to settle and invest in British Columbia may be eligible for Canadian permanent residence under Entrepreneur stream.

BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration Requirements

Applications are assessed on a number of factors, including

  • Business and/or work experience;
  • Personal net worth and source of funds;
  • Adaptability; and
  • Business proposal, which includes proposed investment and job creation in B.C.

Minimum Personal Requirements

  • Active and ongoing management of the day-to-day business operations;
  • Demonstrated residence in B.C. within 100 kilometres of the business;The applicant must demonstrate B.C. residence for at least 75 percent of the time while on a work permit
  • The applicant must not be inadmissible as per regulations.
  • Personal net worth of at least $600,000 (including cash, assets in bank accounts, fixed deposits, real properties, investments, etc) under the candidate's name or candidate's spouse's name. The net worth must be legally obtained and verifiable;
  • A minimum of two years of post-secondary education or experience as an active business owner-manager with 100 percent ownership of the business for at least three of the past five years; The 100 percent ownership may be shared between the applicant, the applicant's spouse, and any dependent children.
  • Work experience — the candidate must demonstrate that he or she has sufficient knowledge and experience to successfully establish his or her business in B.C. The candidate must have a minimum of:

Minimum Business Requirements

The registration must include a short business concept that will be assigned points based on proposed commercial viability, transferability of the candidate’s skills, and economic benefits. If the candidate is subsequently invited to apply, he or she will be required to submit a comprehensive business plan. The BC PNP will consider registrations to establish a new business, purchase an existing business, form a partnership with an existing business, and partner with a local or foreign entrepreneur to establish a new business.

Minimum Investment Requirements

In order to register, the candidate must demonstrate that he or she will make an eligible personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD in the proposed business. If proposing a Key Staff Member, the candidate must demonstrate that he or she will make an eligible personal investment of $400,000 CAD.

Minimum Job Requirements

Candidates must demonstrate that they will create at least one permanent new full-time equivalent job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in the proposed business as well as the likelihood of supporting long-term employment of Canadians or permanent residents in the business. Job creation requirements differ for candidates who proposed to include a Key Staff member on their application.

The Invitation to Apply

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee that a candidate will be invited to submit a complete application.If a candidate has entered into the selection pool, his or her final registration score will be ranked along with other registrants. Periodically, the BC PNP will invite the highest-ranked registrants to apply to the Entrepreneur Program. If a candidate is invited to apply, he or she will receive an email notification and will have up to four months from the date of invitation to submit a complete application.At this stage, the applicant must pay a $3,500 CAD processing fee to the province. His or her spouse and dependent children are included in the application fee.If requested, he or she will be required to attend an in-person interview at the BC PNP office in Vancouver. Interviews are conducted in English or French only.

If an application is approved, the BC PNP will issue a Letter of Confirmation. This serves as a work permit support letter in order to apply for a two-year work permit to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This will enable the applicant, along with his or her family, to move to B.C. and implement the business plan. The applicant will sign a Performance Agreement and will have up to 20 months to implement the business proposal in B.C.Applicants who are invited to apply will need to engage a qualified supplier to verify their personal net worth and accumulation of funds as part of the nomination process.

Transition to Permanent Residence

If the individual meets the requirements of the Performance Agreement within the 20 months, the BC PNP will nominate him or her for permanent residence. He or she, along with his or her dependent family members can then apply for permanent residence under the BC PNP with IRCC.Once the entrepreneur completes the terms of the Performance Agreement, he or she can submit a Final Report to the BC PNP to be issued a nomination certificate. The entrepreneur must demonstrate to the BC PNP that he or she:

  • is actively managing a business (i.e., be accountable for the day-to-day operations of the business) in British Columbia;
  • resides within 100 kilometers of the business;
  • has been physically present in BC for at least 75 percent of the time that he or she was on a work permit; and
  • has complied with any other terms of the Performance Agreement.

Scoring

Each section of the registration has a minimum eligibility score. Candidates must meet the minimum scores in each section in order to be entered into the selection pool. The maximum score available is 200.

Scoring Sections Points
1. Experience 24
2. Net worth 12
3. Personal investment 30
4. Jobs 36
5. Adaptability 18
6. Business Concept 20
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE 200

Experience

Candidates will receive points based on their business ownership and/or senior management work experience. Details of the candidate's business/work experience for the last 10 years should be included. Details of work experience should not be duplicated in both sections. For example, if a candidate owned 100 percent of a business but also worked at the business as the General Manager, he or she may only select Business Owner-Manager Experience. The transferability and relevance of the candidate's background to his or her proposed business in B.C. will be assessed as part of the BC PNP scoring of the Business Concept.The maximum score available for this section is 24. Candidates must score at least eight points to meet the minimum requirements for this section.

Experience Total Duration Points
Business Owner-Manager Experience
Less than 12 months 0
12 to 24 months 4
25 to 36 months 6
37 to 48 months 12
49 to 60 months 15
61 months or more 20
Senior Manager Work Experience
Less than 24 months 0
24 to 48 months 4
49 to 60 months 8
61 months or more 12

Net Worth

Candidates will receive points based on their total net worth including that of their spouse or common-law partner, if applicable.The maximum score available for this section is 12. Candidates must score at least 1 point to meet the minimum requirements for total personal net worth.

Personal Net Worth
Points
Total current assets (cash and liquid funds)
Less than $50,000 0
$50,000 to $199,999 1
$200,000 to $399,999 3
More than $400,000 6
Total personal net worth
Total personal net worth 0
$600,000 to $799,999 1
$800,000 to $1,999,999 3
$2,000,000 to $4,999,999 5
$5,000,000 or more 6

Personal Investment

Candidates will receive points based on their proposed eligible personal investment for the business, including proposed total investment and eligible investment for the proposed investments. If a candidate is proposing a partnership with a co-registrant, he or she must include the names of each partner with the registration. The maximum score available for this section is 30. Candidates must score at least six points, or 20 points if they are proposing a Key Staff Member, to meet the minimum requirement for this section.

Eligible Personal Investment Points
Less than $200,000 0
$200,000 to $399,999 6
$400,000 to $999,999 20
$1,000,000 or more 30

Jobs

Candidates will receive points based on their proposed job creation, and job maintenance if they are purchasing an existing business. For the proposed business, candidates must identify the number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions that will be created and maintained.

The maximum score available for this section is 36. Candidates must score at least two points, or 12 points if they are proposing a Key Staff Member, to meet the minimum requirements for this section. In addition, candidates will not qualify if they do not create at least one FTE. If proposing a Key Staff Member, candidates must create a minimum of three FTEs.

Number of FTE Job Positions Created and Maintained Points
Less than 1 0
1 2
2 6
3-4 12
5-6 20
7-8 28
9-10 32
11 or more 36

Adaptability

Candidates will receive points based on their self-declared adaptability factors. Language test results or certificates are not required with the registration or application, if invited to apply.

The maximum score available for this section is 18. There is no minimum required score for this section.

Factor
Points
English language proficiency
None or minimal, similar to CLB 3 and below 0
Basic understanding, similar to CLB 4 2
Intermediate and advanced, similar to CLB 5 and above 4
Education level
Less than two years of post-secondary education 0
Two years or more of post-secondary education 3
Age
Less than 20 0
21 - 39 3
40 - 60 4
61 - 64 2
65 or older 0
Business exploratory visits to British Columbia
No 0
Yes, 1 or more years ago 1
Yes, less than 1 year ago 2
Canadian work experience,business experience, or studies
No 0
from within Canada for at least 12 months
Yes 5

Business Concept

Candidates must provide a brief business concept of approximately 1,000 words - not exceeding 1,500 words - specific to their proposal. The Business Concept may address topics covered in other sections of the registration.

The proposed Business Concept will be evaluated by the BC PNP and must include an overview of the following:

  • description of business and its operations;
  • competitive analysis;
  • elaboration of proposed investments, and rationale for major investment items;
  • human resources, including job creation/maintenance details;
  • the candidate's skill set and experience and an assessment of business viability under his or her management;
  • the candidate's proposed role in the business;
  • due diligence activities; and
  • potential risk factors.

Additionally, candidates planning to purchase an existing business,whether wholly or partially, must:

  • identify and describe the business, including staffing;
  • summarize the company’s financial performance, with approximate annual revenue, net profit, and total wages paid from the past three years;
  • comment on business history and financial health;
  • explain how they established the value of the business; and
  • provide a description and rationale of the expansion plan.

General market research should not be included in the Business Concept.

The Business Concept will be scored on the following factors. A candidate must score at least 32 points overall, but there is no minimum requirement in each category.

Business Concept Points
Commercial viability Up to 80
Transferability of skills Up to 24
Economic benefits Up to 28

As part of the Economic Benefits factor, points are awarded for the location of the proposed business based on the population sizes of B.C.’s Regional Districts.

There is no minimum required score for this part of the Business Concept.

Population of BC Regional District Points
More than 500,000 people 0
200,000 to 500,000 1
100,000 to 200,000 3
70,000 to 100,000 6
60,000 to 70,000 8
35,000 to 60,000 10
Fewer than 35,000 people 12

Final Scoring and the Selection Pool

The BC PNP will assign scores to the Business Concept and calculate the candidate's final score.

If the candidate qualifies for the selection pool, he or she will receive an email confirmation from the BC PNP. Candidates are able to view their final registration score, including scores for each section.

  • Registrations that meet the minimum points total in every section will be entered into the selection pool.
  • Registrations that qualify for the selection pool are valid for up to six months.
  • If a candidate is not invited to apply to the BC PNP within six months of qualifying, the registration will expire. At that time, he or she may submit a new registration to the BC PNP.
  • Registrants may only have one active BC PNP registration at any given time.
  • If the candidate is proposing a partnership with a co-registrant, the total score of the lowest-scoring registrant(s) will be applied to all co-registrants.