In January 2025, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) will introduce three new streams specifically for international graduates with recent degrees from eligible post-secondary institutions in British Columbia (B.C.). These new streams aim to provide clearer pathways for international graduates to obtain Canadian permanent residence (PR) and improve their employment prospects across the province.
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New PNP Streams Overview
The three new streams are:
Bachelor’s Stream
Master’s Stream
Doctorate Stream
International graduates are defined as students who have obtained a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada within the last three years. The new streams will be available to graduates from Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs.
Launch Details and Eligibility Criteria
Launch Date: January 2025Updated Language Requirement: Minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8
Ineligible Graduates: Diploma and certificate program graduates, who may still qualify for other BCPNP pathways.
Eligibility Criteria for Each Stream:
Bachelor’s Stream:
For recent graduates with Bachelor’s degrees from eligible post-secondary institutions.
Must have an eligible, full-time, indeterminate job offer.
Master’s Stream:
For recent graduates with Master’s degrees from eligible post-secondary institutions.
Must have a full-time job offer (at least one year) in a skilled occupation.
Doctorate Stream:
For graduates and PhD candidates from eligible post-secondary institutions.
Additional Details
Job Offer Restrictions:The streams will not be limited to a list of eligible occupations, but job offers must meet the criteria set by B.C.'s new streams.
Approved Program Restrictions:There will be no list of approved programs. Graduates from any field of study may be eligible if they meet the required criteria.
Competition for Invitations to Apply (ITAs):Applicants will be considered within their specific stream, preventing competition between different educational credentials.
General Eligibility for B.C.’s International Graduate Stream
While each stream will have unique eligibility criteria, general criteria for the International Graduate streams include:
Obtaining a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years.
Accepting a qualifying full-time job offer from a B.C. employer, with the job offer being indeterminate unless in a priority technology occupation.
Job offer must be in NOC TEER categories 1, 2, or 3 (TEER 0 occupations are not eligible).
Being qualified to work in their chosen occupation in B.C.
Having a wage offer in line with B.C. wage rates.
Proving the ability to support themselves and any eligible dependents.
Meeting minimum language requirements (recently raised for all BCPNP streams except the Health Authority stream).
Employer Requirements:
Employers must agree to support the candidate’s application and meet specific requirements.
Skills Immigration in British Columbia
Skills immigration through the BCPNP uses a points-based system to rank and select eligible candidates. Those who receive an ITA must submit their application within 30 calendar days, including paying the application fee and submitting all required documents.
Candidates are scored based on human capital factors (e.g., work experience, language proficiency) and economic factors (e.g., job offer wage, employment location).
These new streams are set to provide significant opportunities for international graduates aiming to establish their careers and lives in British Columbia, enhancing the province's economic and social landscape.
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