British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) offers accelerated immigration for qualified skilled workers and experienced entrepreneurs who wish to settle in British Columbia (BC) and become permanent residents of Canada.
British Columbia PNP Strategic Occupations Stream
To qualify you must have a job offer from an employer in British Columbia that cannot be filled by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and be either:

• A skilled worker: Applications in the Skilled Worker category are limited to occupations in levels 0, A, and B of the Canada's National Occupational Classification Matrix (NOC);
• A health care professional, specifically physicians, registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses, and midwives; or
• An international graduate of a recognized British Columbia post-secondary institution, having completed the required portion of their degree/diploma in BC.
• A semi-skilled worker in select Tourism/Hospitality occupations, Long-Haul Trucking occupations, and Food Processing occupations. This Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled category is currently a pilot project.

You can begin your job search for employment in British Columbia with our free website www.optimumjobbank.com British Columbia PNP Business Immigrants Stream
To qualify under this stream must meet the following eligibility criteria and meet the requirements of one of the three categories of the Business Immigrants Stream (Business Skills, Regional Business, Strategic Projects):

1. The primary purpose of the business is to earn profits from active income.
2. The business' sustained commercial viability must be probable;
3. The business must provide economic benefit to BC by contributing to one of the following:
• increasing the exports of goods/services;
• increasing value-added manufacturing, processing, or primary resource activity;
• increasing BC tourism;
• increasing research and development and technology commercialization;
• creating innovative approaches to traditional businesses;
• servicing an un served regional market;
• Transferring skills, technology, and know-how to BC.

Applicants in the Business Skills Category must have:

1. Make a personal investment of at least $400,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in B.C.
2. Create at least 3 new jobs in the business for Canadians or permanent residents.
3. Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
4. Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business.
• Demonstrate that they have a personal net worth of at least $800,000 CAD obtained from legal sources
• sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment
• a viable business proposal
5. Sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.
6. Sign a Deposit Agreement with the Province of British Columbia, if they are seeking a Fast Track nomination.

Principal applicants in the Business Skills category may include one foreign key staff person as a co-applicant for nomination, but must still create three jobs for Canadians or permanent residents. Applications will not be accepted from individuals who have an unresolved refugee claim in Canada, are in Canada illegally, are under a removal order in Canada, or are prohibited from entering Canada. Applicants in the Regional Business Category must have:

A business project located outside the Vancouver and the Abbotsford Metropolitan Areas;
• A minimum net worth of CDN $400,000;
• A minimum investment of CDN $200,000 to establish the eligible business;
• A minimum ownership of 1/3 of the equity of the business;
• A business plan to create a minimum of 1 new job for a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident;
• The skills and experience necessary, successful business experience, and an active on-going management role in the business.

The Strategic Projects Category allows foreign companies establishing a presence in BC to bring in key foreign professional, managerial, or technical staff (up to 5) who intend to become Canadian Permanent Residents. Companies in this category must:
Companies applying in this category will be required to:

1. Make a minimum equity investment of $500,000.
2. Create at least three jobs for Canadians or permanent residents in B.C. for each nominee applicant put forward by the company.
3. Demonstrate a record of good business practices and successful business operations outside of Canada that are relevant to the proposed business.
4. Establish or purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in B.C.
5. Incorporate a Canadian subsidiary or register an extra-provincial company in B.C. to operate the proposed business.
6. Demonstrate that the nominee applicants are qualified senior personnel who are essential to establishing or expanding and operating the proposed business in B.C.
7. Sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia

Note: Business Skills and Regional Business applicants can seek fast-track nomination by posting a $125,000 performance deposit and signing a Deposit Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.