British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) on Sept. 24 invited 714 candidates to apply for provincial nomination for permanent residence, signalling another targeted push to attract experienced, high-earning workers to the province.
Who was selected and why it matters
Of the 714 invitations issued in the province’s 25th selection round of the year, 426 went to skilled workers holding job offers tied to a TEER 0–3 occupation with wages of at least $52 per hour (equivalent to $105,000 per year). The remaining 288 invitations were issued to candidates who scored at least 131 points under B.C.’s registration ranking system.
The BCPNP said these invitations were made under its “innovate” objective, a stream designed to favour skilled workers across a range of sectors. This was the eighth selection round in 2026 aligned with that objective and — among innovate rounds this year — the largest single issuance of invitations.
Process and timing for applicants
Invited candidates have 30 days to submit a complete application for provincial nomination. If a nomination is granted, applicants may then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.
Applicants already in Canada could be eligible for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) after filing their permanent residence application. The federal government introduced a temporary measure, effective June 9, 2026, which can make BOWP processing faster for nominees applying through a base provincial nominee stream by removing the requirement to first receive an acknowledgement of receipt for the PR application.
Scale of invitations in 2026
Through Sept. 24, the BCPNP has issued 3,974 invitations this year based on either wage/salary-plus-job-offer or registration score criteria. Across all province-managed worker and entrepreneur streams and selection criteria, the program has extended at least 6,128 invitations so far in 2026.
| Selection criterion | Number of invitations | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Wage/salary + job offer (TEER 0–3) | 426 | Offered wage ≥ $52/hr (≥ $105,000/yr) |
| Registration score | 288 | Minimum score: 131 |
What this means for B.C.’s labour market
Labour shortages in sectors such as technology, health care and skilled trades have prompted provincial immigration streams to prioritise well-paid, specialized talent. By focusing invitations on higher-paid positions and above-threshold ranking scores, the BCPNP is emphasising applicants who can quickly plug critical roles and contribute to higher tax revenue and local spending.
Municipalities and employers across the Lower Mainland and beyond have long argued that faster pathways and predictable nomination windows are essential to retain international talent already living in B.C. For employers, a confirmed nomination and the potential to access a bridging work permit can reduce the uncertainty that makes recruitment from abroad risky and costly.
Practical next steps for invited candidates
- Complete and submit a full provincial nomination application within 30 days of invitation.
- If nominated, apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
- Those in Canada should check BOWP eligibility and the faster federal processing measure announced in June 2026.
While the BCPNP does not publish the specific occupations or sectors of those invited under the innovate objective, the pattern of high-wage thresholds suggests a continuing tilt toward experienced professionals in fields where B.C. faces persistent recruitment gaps.
As the province moves through the rest of the year, employers, settlement agencies and municipal planners will be watching subsequent selection rounds to see whether this emphasis on high-earning candidates continues and how it translates into on-the-ground labour-market relief.
For applicants and employers seeking more detail, the BCPNP website provides the official draw results and application instructions, and immigration advisers can offer guidance on bridging permits and documentation requirements.
