British Columbia Immigration Stream
Skilled Worker Stream
The Skilled Worker stream offers experienced professionals, managers, technicians, tradespeople, and other skilled workers a pathway to gain permanent residence in British Columbia.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for this program, you must meet the following criteria:
Job Offer:
- Have an indeterminate, full-time job offer from an eligible employer in British Columbia.
- The job must be classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 categories.
Qualifications:
- Be fully qualified to perform the duties outlined in the job offer.
Work Experience:
- Possess at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) work experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.
Language Proficiency:
- Meet the minimum language requirements for your occupation.
Wage Standards:
- Receive a wage offer that aligns with the prevailing wage rates in British Columbia for your occupation.
Financial Capability:
- Demonstrate that you can financially support yourself and any dependents.
The Skilled Worker stream is designed to help you build a successful future in B.C. while contributing your expertise to the local workforce.
Health Authority Stream
The Health Authority stream provides a pathway to permanent residence for individuals working for a health authority in British Columbia. If you are a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife, you may also qualify to apply under this stream.
Key Features:
- Direct Application: No registration is required. Eligible applicants can submit their application directly to the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
- Express Entry Option: This stream also offers an Express Entry BC (EEBC) pathway for eligible candidates.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the Health Authority stream, you must meet the following requirements:
Job Offer or Confirmation Letter:
- Have an indeterminate, full-time job offer from a B.C. public health authority.
- OR possess a letter from a health authority or midwife practice group confirming your role as a physician, nurse practitioner, or midwife in British Columbia.
Qualifications:
- Meet the education, training, experience, and qualification requirements specified by the B.C. public health authority.
Employer Support:
- Your B.C. public health authority employer must agree to support your application.
- If your employer decides to support your BC PNP application, they will provide the necessary documentation.
Priority Technology Occupations:
- For jobs in priority technology occupations, the job offer does not need to be indeterminate.
Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) Stream
The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream offers workers in specific occupations within the tourism/hospitality and food processing sectors a pathway to permanent residence in British Columbia.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply under the ELSS stream, you must meet the following criteria:
Job Offer:
Have an indeterminate, full-time job offer from a B.C. employer.
Eligible Occupation:
Your job must be on the list of eligible occupations classified under NOC TEER 4 or 5 for your sector.
For the Northeast Development Region of B.C., all NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupations (except live-in caregivers) are eligible.
Work Experience:
Have worked full-time for your employer for at least nine consecutive months before registering.
Qualifications:
Be qualified for the job, including meeting certification or registration requirements in B.C.
Language and Education:
Meet the minimum language and education requirements for your occupation.
Wage Standards:
Receive a wage offer that aligns with B.C. wage rates for the role.
Financial Capability:
Demonstrate that you can support yourself and your dependants.
Eligible ELSS Occupations
Occupations in Travel and Accommodation
64314: Hotel front desk clerks
Tour and Recreational Guides & Casino Occupations
64320: Tour and travel guides
64321: Casino workers
64322: Outdoor sport and recreational guides
Occupations in Food and Beverage Service
64300: Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
64301: Bartenders
65200: Food and beverage servers
65201: Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and related support occupations
Cleaners (Employed by Hotels/Resorts)
65210: Support occupations in accommodation, travel, and facilities set-up services
65310: Light duty cleaners
65311: Specialized cleaners
65312: Janitors, caretakers, and heavy-duty cleaners
Other Service Occupations (Employed by Hotels/Resorts)
65320: Dry cleaning, laundry, and related occupations
65329: Other service support occupations
Resorts must be accommodation facilities associated with recreational activities such as skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, or nature-based tours.
Food Processing Occupations
94140: Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
94141: Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers
94142: Fish and seafood plant workers
94143: Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
95106: Labourers in food and beverage processing