On January 27th, 2016, the province of British Columbia launched a new intake system for the Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

The BC PNPs new Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) is a points-based system that gives candidates a registration score that determines whether they are invited to apply. Their score is based on a number of factors that reflect an individual’s ability to succeed in the labour market and contribute to the provincial economy such as level of education, years of direct work experience and a B.C. employment offer.

For example, B.C.’s tech sector is consistently growing faster than the overall economy. For many employers their need for talent is urgent, especially in highly specialized areas. The new registration system allows employers to access skilled labour quickly to bring highly-skilled newcomers into the Province to support continued growth in the industry.

General Requirements

The following are requirements in all categories of both the Express Entry BC and the regular Skills Immigration streams:

1. Offer of employment must be indeterminate, full-time employment in an eligible occupation (Exception: Skills Immigration – International Post-Graduate and EEBC – International Post-Graduate).

2. Be qualified for the position as according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) and industry standards to determine the minimum qualifications for an occupation.

3. The wage must be competitive with B.C. wage rates for the occupation.

4. For occupations under NOC level B, C and D occupation, one must demonstrate English/French proficiency at CLB level 4. Under NOC level 0 or A occupations, its at the discretion of BC PNP and they may request it to demonstrate proficiency to perform the duties of the position. (For regular Skilled Worker program)

5. Must meet the minimum income requirements.

6. Must not have an ownership/equity of more than 10 percent in the B.C. company.

7. Must provide economic benefit to B.C. Example:

– maintaining or creating jobs for Canadians
– transferring knowledge and skills to Canadians
– supporting the development of proprietary new products
– building the workforce for a major project

8. Have a federal Express Entry profile (For Express Entry BC PNP Skilled Worker only). In this case, the language requirement will have to match under the federal program you are qualified for.

Employer Requirement

The employer requirements will remain as before, with the major requirements being:

1. Have at least five full time employees within Metro Vancouver and three full-time employees outside of Metro Vancouver.
2. A Recruitment efforts should be made for at least 14 days

Point System

This new selection process has been adopted from the original Express Entry system (at least in Canada) started by the federal government in January of 2015.

Here is a brief rundown of the maximum points in each category:

Skill Level: 60
Wage: 50
Location: 10
Experience: 25
Education: 25
Language: 30

Each applicant has a chance to receive a guaranteed inviation if their score surpasses a minimum score designated to each category.

Process

1. Create a BCPNP Online profile and receive a registration score
2. Periodically, the BC PNP will invite the highest-scoring registrants from each category to apply
3. Once/if you are selected, you have 30 days to submit your application
4. Once/if you are accepted, you receive your nomination

Quick Facts

* The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the Province’s only direct economic immigration tool for bringing in new British Columbians.
* B.C.’s quota of PNP nominations is set by the federal government.
* For 2015, that allocation was 5,500 and the province negotiated an additional 300 to achieve 5,800 – more than any other province.
* The 2016 PNP allocation from the federal government has yet to be confirmed.
* B.C. continues to work with the federal government to increase economic immigration and receive more PNP allocations.
* Since the 2001 inception of the program, more than 34,000 workers and entrepreneurs have been attracted to the province through the PNP.
* In 2014, 80% of B.C.’s total immigrants came to British Columbia through federal immigration streams.