VANCOUVER – In a significant move to address labor shortages, the Federal Government has granted British Columbia an additional 960 provincial nominations. This increase brings the total allocation for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to 6,214 for the current cycle.
According to the provincial immigration department, a portion of these additional spots will be dedicated to clearing the waitlist for International Post-Graduate (IPG) applicants, providing a clearer pathway to residency for highly educated international students.
Strategic Focus on Key Sectors
The British Columbia government plans to utilize this expanded quota to target specific areas of the economy that require urgent staffing. Priority will be given to:
- Healthcare Professionals: To bolster the province’s medical workforce.
- High Economic Impact Candidates: Individuals with specialized skills that drive innovation.
- Entrepreneurs: Business owners capable of creating local jobs.
Utilization and Draw Trends
The immigration department has expressed confidence that the province will utilize its full nomination quota by the end of the year. While the majority of invitations have been issued through the Skills Immigration stream, there has been a notable push to attract investors.
So far, the province has conducted 14 separate draws under the Entrepreneur Immigration category, split across two distinct streams. This highlights B.C.’s ongoing strategy to balance skilled labor recruitment with robust business investment.
