BC PNP Skilled Worker Stream: Requirements and How to Apply

Your job offer must be:

• Full-time: an average of at least 30 hours per week, year-round
• Indeterminate: no end date. BC lists some occupations that may qualify with a limited-term offer
• One regular position with an employer that pays you and directs your work. Independent contractor jobs aren't accepted
• Paid within the WorkBC or Job Bank range and comparable to what Canadians in the same job earn. Bonuses, tips, overtime and allowances don't count toward your wage
• Supported by your employer, who signs the BC PNP Employer Declaration Form

Ineligible occupations

These jobs can't be nominated through any Skills Immigration stream: executive assistants (12100), HR and recruitment officers (12101), accounting technicians and bookkeepers (12200), administrative officers (13100), administrative assistants (13110), legal and medical administrative assistants (13111, 13112), retail sales supervisors (62010), food service supervisors (62020), real estate agents (63101), and religious leaders and workers (41302, 42204).

Employer requirements

• Operating in BC for at least one year, with a real operational presence in BC
• At least 5 full-time employees in BC in Metro Vancouver, or 3 elsewhere in BC (two part-time employees count as one)
• Legally operating and following employment and other laws
• Genuine efforts to recruit locally first, with reasonable job ads
• A genuine need for the position
• Not an ineligible employer, such as a placement agency, a business that provides immigration services, or a business you or your family own 10% or more of

There are two different experience rules, and they're easy to mix up:

1. To qualify: at least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent) experience in any skilled job (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3). It doesn't need to be the same job as your offer. It must be paid, from the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad.
2. For points: experience that's directly related to your BC job offer (same NOC, or a closely related job at the same or a higher TEER) earns up to 20 points, plus 10 for a year of it in Canada.

Student work doesn't count. Work done on a study permit isn't accepted, except paid, full-time co-op terms in a skilled job, and only after you graduate. Unpaid work doesn't count either, except some doctoral research for graduates of Canadian public universities.

Your reference letters should include your title, duties, dates, hours per week and pay, on company letterhead with contact details.

Your regular annual wage (plus your spouse's BC wage, if they work in BC) must meet BC's minimum for your family size:

These amounts are from the June 2026 program guide and are based on 2024 LICO figures. Your spouse and dependent children count in your family size even if they aren't coming to BC.

If you use EEBC, keep your Express Entry profile valid until BC nominates you.

Your registration is scored out of 200:

Quick wins:

• Every $1/hour more in wage adds 1 point, up to $70/hour
• A job outside Metro Vancouver adds 5 or 15 points, plus 10 for regional work or study
• Already working for the employer full-time in the same job adds 10 points
• 1 year of directly related Canadian experience adds 10 points
• Education completed in BC adds 8 points (6 elsewhere in Canada)
• A BC professional designation for your job adds 5 points

Full points tables and calculator →

BC invites Skilled Worker registrants through its Care, Build and Innovate priorities:

• Care: priority health care jobs, early childhood educators, French-speaking K-12 teachers and veterinary care
• Build: certified construction trades, such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters
• Innovate (High Economic Impact): any sector, by a high score or a high wage

If your job isn't in a Care or Build group, Innovate rounds are your main route, and they've needed high scores or wages. Tech occupations are still eligible, but there have been no separate tech draws since December 2024.

Latest BC PNP draws and minimum scores →

1. Get a qualifying BC job offer and confirm the job and employer are eligible.
2. Check the wage against WorkBC or Job Bank for your NOC and location.
3. Prepare documents: language test, reference letters, education and licences.
4. (EEBC only) Create your Express Entry profile and note your profile number and Job Seeker Validation Code.
5. Register in BC PNP Online (free) and get your score.
6. Wait for an invitation. Your registration stays in the pool for 12 months.
7. Apply within 30 calendar days of the invitation, with all documents and the $1,750 fee.
8. BC review: BC may contact you and your employer, or visit the workplace.
9. Nomination: apply for PR with IRCC (or accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile).
10. Work permit support: if you need to keep working while PR is processed, BC can support a work permit.

You: passport, status documents, language results, education documents (and an ECA if BC asks for one), licences or certification, résumé, reference letters for 2+ years of skilled experience.

Job offer: signed BC PNP Employer Declaration Form, job offer letter, and job description with duties, wage, hours and benefits.

Employer: business licence, incorporation documents, proof of number of employees, financial statements or tax documents, and recruitment details.

• Job is on the ineligible occupations list, or the employer is ineligible
• Under 2 years of skilled experience, or experience gained on a study permit
• Wage outside the WorkBC or Job Bank range, or family income too low
• Employer has too few employees or hasn't operated in BC for a year
• Job offer seems not genuine or not needed by the business
• Registration claims can't be proven or don't match the application
• Not qualified for the job (missing licence or certification)

1. Eligibility review: job offer, experience, income and employer
2. Employer compliance check before you register
3. Score strategy: wage, area, language and experience
4. Registration and application
5. Employer documents and BC PNP forms
6. Responses to BC PNP requests
7. Work permit support and the PR application after nomination

Book a BC PNP Skilled Worker consultation