If you’re thinking about immigrating to B.C. through the Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), there’s a lot you need to know. After Ottawa slashed the number of immigrants B.C. can nominate this year, the province is making big moves to protect its labour market and take care of people already in line.
Last year, British Columbia nominated around 8,000 skilled workers and entrepreneurs through the BC PNP to fill critical gaps in areas like healthcare, housing, childcare, and construction. With labour shortages still an issue, the province had asked Ottawa to bump that number up to 11,000 for 2025. Instead, they got the opposite: a cut — and a major one. The federal government handed B.C. just 4,000 nomination spaces for the year, slashing the number by 50 per cent. That’s forced B.C. to rethink its immigration strategy. Rather than opening doors widely, the province is now focusing hard on only the most essential workers.
Here’s a breakdown of what’s happening — and what it means for future applicants.
Focus on backlog
Most of this year’s nominations will go toward processing the applications already in hand. Only about 1,100 new applications will even be considered.
And not just anyone can apply. B.C. is only opening the door for:
- Healthcare professionals working directly in patient care
- Skilled workers seen as having a high economic impact
- Entrepreneur applicants
If you were hoping for a regular skilled worker or international graduate draw this year, it’s not happening. Instead, the province will be sending out a limited number of targeted Invitations to Apply (ITAs) — strictly for people who match B.C.’s economic priorities.
Already applied?
If you submitted a job offer–based Skills Immigration application anytime in 2024, you’re still in the game — B.C. will continue processing these as normal. Same goes for International Post-Graduate (IPG) applications filed before September 1, 2024.
But if you submitted an IPG application between September 1, 2024, and January 7, 2025? You’re now on a waitlist. B.C. will only process your file if it gets more nomination spots from the federal government. The IPG stream actually had to close in early January 2025 because it had already received twice as many applications as the year before. B.C. is also talking with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) about helping post-grad applicants who risk having their work permits expire while they wait.
Check your eligibility
B.C. is tightening up its eligibility lists too. If you’re applying through the Health Authority stream, your job must directly involve healthcare service delivery. Eligible roles now include:
- All National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes beginning with 3
- Social workers (NOC 41300)
- Counsellors and therapists (NOC 41301)
- Community service workers (NOC 42201)
The province is also working with the Ministry of Health to set clearer standards for social and community service roles. Childcare workers face changes too: future draws will focus only on Early Childhood Educators (ECEs). ECE Assistants are no longer on the targeted list.
For more details go to: WelcomeBC – Immigrate to BC – WelcomeBC
