BC PNP: New Changes To Eligibility For Skills Immigration

Last Updated On 4 January 2023, 10:29 AM EST (Toronto Time)

On November 16, 2022, the province of British Columbia made several changes to the B.C. Provincial Nominee Program’s (BC PNP) Skills Immigration. These changes include updating the Skills Immigration registration scoring system to boost immigration to regions other than the Metro Vancouver Regional District.

In this article, you can learn about the new BC PNP changes in the Skill immigration stream that include the following:

• Highlights of BC PNP Skills Immigration New Changes  
• Implementation on NOC 2021 
• Summary of BC PNP Skills Immigration Changes 
• New Points Distribution

Highlights of B.C PNP Skills Immigration New Changes  

People who have worked or studied outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District may be eligible for additional points if they have a valid job offer in that region. 

The province has also revised the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) eligibility to include job offers from regional companies in British Columbia in any skilled occupation. Furthermore, for doctoral-level programs, eligibility for the International Post Graduate stream has been expanded to include any field of study.

 In addition, professors and post-doctoral fellows on fixed-term or limited-term employment contracts at British Columbia universities are now eligible for the Skilled Worker stream. 

Both criteria adjustments for international postgraduates, professors and post-doctoral fellows aim to attract more innovators and experts who can contribute their extensive knowledge to the province.

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Implementation on NOC 2021 

Following the overall implementation of NOC 2021, the BC PNP Online system has been updated to use the 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Applicants who submitted their application before November 16, 2022, will be handled and processed using NOC 2021. 

However, all registrations and applications submitted on or after November 16, 2022, must use NOC 2021.

Summary of B.C PNP Skills Immigration Changes 

• The province has updated the points structure to assist regional employers in retaining workers who have worked or studied outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District.
• Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) eligibility has been expanded to include any skilled occupation in the regions.
• The International Post-Graduate Program now includes doctoral graduates and Ph.D. candidates from any field of study.
• University professors and lecturers with NOC 41200, working at B.C. public universities on short-term or limited-time contracts, are now eligible for the Skilled Worker stream.
• The maximum number of points available for human capital factors such as education, work experience, and language ability has been increased.
• NOC skill level points have been removed.  
• Other criteria adjustments that protect British Columbians’ safety and strengthen the program’s integrity.

New Points Distribution

Below is the new points distribution for human capital, language abilities, wages and area of employment.

For more information on BC PNP Skills Immigration changes, refer to the updated program guide. 

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