BC PNP International Graduates Streams

The main objective of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) International Graduates Streams is to attract foreign students who have completed their undergraduate or post-graduate education in British Columbia or in another Canadian province or territory, and would like to apply for a work permit and/or permanent residence in Canada.

There a are two streams for the BC PNP International Graduates program; the International Graduate and the International Post Graduate programs

Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate and International Post Graduate Categories

The Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate and International Post Graduate categories allows foreign skilled workers that also qualify, or have applied through the Federal Express Entry (EE) system to apply under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) Skills Immigration stream in conjunction with their Federal Express Entry system application and seek nomination by the province of British Columbia.

The advantage of applying under the Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate and International Post Graduate categories is a faster and more efficient processing for eligible skilled workers and significantly reduce their application processing time. In addition, the applicant gains 600 points (out of a maximum of 1200) in their EE Comprehensive Ranking System score by being nominated by the province of British Columbia.

The general requirements and eligibility factors are the same as for the regular BC PNP International Graduate and International Post Graduate programs, as indicated bellow, but applicants interested in applying under the Express Entry British Columbia – International Graduate and International Post Graduate categories will need to first be eligible to and register with the EE system by creating their profile and obtaining a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Express Entry Profile Number, and, if applicable, a Job Seeker Validation Code that indicates you meet the criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs subject to CIC’s Express Entry system.

BC PNP International Post-Graduate Program

This program is open only to foreign students who have graduated from a post-graduate program at a post-secondary institution in British Columbia.

Eligibility

To apply to the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) as a recent graduate of a master’s or doctoral program you must have the following:

1. A master’s or doctoral degree received within the past two years from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution in B.C.

  • Your graduate degree (master’s or doctorate) must be in one of the following programs of study in the 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
  • Further details regarding the classification of these programs of study can be found on Statistics Canada’s Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) website.
  • Your master’s or doctoral degree must be from an eligible B.C. post-secondary institution. (See the Education Planner for a list of degree programs offered by B.C. public post-secondary institutions. See the Ministry of Advanced Education website for a list of degree programs offered by B.C. private post-secondary institutions.)

2. Evidence that you intend to reside in B.C. You must provide us with evidence that you intend to live and work in B.C. once you obtain your permanent resident status in Canada. This evidence may include:

  • the length of any previous and/or current period of residence in B.C.,
  • your connections to B.C. through work, study or family, and
  • a description of any actions you’ve taken to settle in B.C., such as finding a job or place to live.

BC PNP International Graduate Program

This program is open to foreign students who have obtained a undergraduate or post-graduate diploma at a Canadian post-secondary institution. If you have a diploma or certificate, it must be from a public post-secondary institution in Canada; diplomas and certificates granted by private institutions are not eligible for this program.

Eligibility

To apply to the BC PNP International Graduates Program as a recent graduate of a Canadian institution, you must have the following:

1. A degree or diploma from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada.

  • Your undergraduate or graduate degree must be from a Canadian post-secondary institution authorized to grant degrees. If location is in B.C.,
    • See the Education Planner for a list of degree programs offered in B.C.
    • See the Ministry of Advanced Education website for a list of authorized degree programs offered by B.C. private post-secondary institutions.
  • If you have a diploma, it must be from a public post-secondary institution in Canada. Private institutions are not eligible. Your program must have been at least 12 months of full-time equivalent study. Your program of study is not eligible if you spent more than one-quarter of the program time in a co-op work term or internship.
    • See the Education Planner for a list of public post-secondary institutions in B.C.
  • You must submit your application to the BC PNP International Graduates program within two years of the date shown on your official transcript indicating that you have completed all requirements of the degree or diploma program.

2. A job offer for an indeterminate full-time position that typically requires a university or college education at a wage that allows you to establish yourself economically in B.C.

  • Your occupation must be classified as Skill Level 0, A or B in the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC).
  • If your current occupation is classified as Skill Level C or D and if your employer can demonstrate that there is a structured plan in place for your career progression to an occupation classified as Skill Level 0, A or B, you can apply to the BC PNP. In this case, you will also need to submit the results of a language proficiency test.
  • If you are working in a regulated occupation that requires mandatory certification, licensing or registration, you must provide documentation showing that you meet these requirements.
  • Your employer must provide you with a written offer of employment on official company letterhead. The letter must be:
    • signed and dated by a person authorized to hire employees, and
    • signed and dated by you, and stating that you accept the job offer.
  • Your employer cannot make any deductions from your pay (or require you to pay any fees) for recruitment or retention, including fees related to immigration.
  • The wage stated on your offer of employment must be at market rate and comparable to the rate paid to workers with a similar level of experience and training for equivalent jobs in B.C. We do not consider bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing distributions, tips/gratuities, overtime wages or other similar payments to be part of your wage.
  • If you were originally hired based on a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO), the wage you are currently earning must be equal to or greater than the wage stated in the offer of employment and on the LMO.
  • Your employer also needs to be eligible for the program.

3. Evidence that you can support yourself (and your dependants).

  • You must demonstrate that you have the ability to pay for your housing and living expenses in B.C. We will assess this using your:
    • income and employment prospects,
    • location of residence in B.C., and
    • number of dependants.

Process

  1. You complete and submit one of the BC PNP International Graduates programs and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) application forms to the PNP, along with the processing fee of CAD $550.
  2. The BC PNP reviews your application.
  3. If your application is approved under one of the BC PNP International Graduates programs, B.C. will nominate you for permanent residence. You will then need to apply to CIC for a permanent resident visa. You will have six months from the date of your nomination to apply to CIC.

Legal immigration requirements.

  • You will not be nominated under the BC PNP International Graduates stream if you:
    • you are prohibited from entering Canada,
    • you have not been lawfully admitted in the country where you currently reside,
    • you are in Canada illegally,
    • you have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada, or
    • you are under a removal order in Canada.

Please Contact Us for more information on these programs.

Global Immigration Consulting Services