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Immigration to British Columbia, Canada via the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), Category Skilled Workers

Skilled workers seeking immigration to Canada that wish to reside in British Columbia can apply under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), category Strategic Occupations, Skilled Workers.

Skilled workers are those professions that require a formal education and/ or specialized training. The national occupation classification (NOC) defines these as professions that fall under the skills level 0, A or B.

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is designed to assist employers who are unable to recruit Canadian citizens or permanent residents to fulfil their recruitment needs.

Successful immigrant applications under this scheme pave the way for successful Canadian immigration to the province of British Columbia and the gaining of permanent residency status. In addition it meets the needs of attracting and retaining needed foreign workers.

General Requirements for Applying for the Strategic Occupations Component of the Provincial Nominee Program (except for the International Post-Graduate Pilot Project)

  • The employer has offered, and the nominee candidate has accepted, permanent, full-time employment in a skilled occupation whereby:
    • The candidate is suitably qualified to do the job and the remuneration package offered is commensurate with British Columbia wages.
    • The field of employment offers good long term prospects.
    • The employer must have a history of good practices, be financially sound and must have been operating in British Columbia for at least one year and have at least five full-time paid employees.
    • The employment of a foreign worker will be of significant economic benefit to British Columbia.
    • The potential for nominee candidates to become economically established in British Columbia.
    • The candidate can not own more than 10% of the employer's company
    • The employment will not affect collective bargaining / labour disputes or employment of involved parties
    • Local recruitment must have taken place
    • Intention to settle in BC
    • If applying from within Canada, must maintain immigration status and not be issued a removal order
    • If applying from outside Canada, must have legal status in country of residence and be admissible to Canada
    • May not apply if active refugee claim in process

Skilled Worker Classifications

Examples of skilled workers occupations that fall under skills level O
  • Administrative Services Managers
  • Managers in Financial and Business Services
    Managers in Communication
    (Except Broadcasting)
  • Managers in Engineering, Architecture, Science and Information Systems
  • Managers in Health, Education, Social and Community Services
  • Managers in Public Administration
  • Managers in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
  • Sales, Marketing and Advertising Managers
  • Managers in Retail Trade
  • Managers in Food Service and Accommodation
  • Managers in Protective Service
  • Managers in Other Services
  • Managers in Construction and Transportation
  • Facility Operation and Maintenance Managers
  • Managers in Primary Production (Except Agriculture)
  • Managers in Manufacturing and Utilities

Examples of skilled workers occupations that fall under skills level A
(Occupations usually require 18 to 72 months of apprenticeship training resulting in trade certification.)
  • Professional Occupations in Business and Finance
    • Auditors, Accountants and Investment Professionals
    • Human Resources and Business Service Professionals
  • Professional Occupations in Natural and Applied Sciences
    • Physical Science Professionals
    • Life Science Professionals
    • Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and Chemical Engineers
    • Other Engineers
    • Architects, Urban Planners and Land Surveyors
    • Mathematicians, Statisticians and Actuaries
    • Computer and Information
    • Systems Professionals
  • Professional Occupations in Health
    • Physicians, Dentists and Veterinarians
    • Optometrists, Chiropractors and Other Health Diagnosing and Treating Professionals
    • Pharmacists, Dieticians and Nutritionists
    • Therapy and Assessment Professionals
    • Nurse Supervisors and Registered Nurses
  • Professional Occupations in Social Science, Education, Government Services and Religion
    • Judges, Lawyers and Quebec Notaries
    • University Professors and Assistants
    • College and Other Vocational Instructors
    • Secondary and Elementary School Teachers and Educational Counsellors
    • Psychologists, Social Workers, Counsellors, Clergy and Probation Officers
    • Policy and Program Officers, Researchers and Consultants
  • Professional Occupations in Art and Culture
    • Librarians, Archivists, Conservators and Curators
    • Writing, Translating and Public Relations Professionals
    • Creative and Performing Artists

Examples of skilled workers occupations that fall under skills level B
  • Skilled Administrative and Business Occupations
    • Clerical Supervisors
    • Administrative and Regulatory Occupations
    • Finance and Insurance Administrative Occupations
    • Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists
  • Technical Occupations related to Natural and Applied Sciences
    • Technical Occupations in Physical Sciences
    • Technical Occupations in Life Sciences
    • Technical Occupations in Civil, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering
    • Technical Occupations in Electronics and Electrical Engineering
    • Technical Occupations in Architecture, Drafting, Surveying and Mapping
    • Other Technical Inspectors and Regulatory Officers
    • Transportation Officers and Controllers
    • Technical Occupations in Computer and Information Systems
  • Technical and Skilled Occupations in Health
    • Medical Technologists and Technicians (Except Dental Health)
    • Technical Occupations in Dental Health Care
    • Other Technical Occupations in Health Care (Except Dental)
  • Paraprofessional Occupations in Law, Social Services, Education and Religion
    • Paralegals, Social Services Workers and Occupations in Education and Religion, n.e.c.
  • Technical and Skilled Occupations in Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport
    • Technical Occupations in Libraries, Archives, Museums and Art Galleries
    • Photographers, Graphic Arts Technicians and Technical and Co-ordinating Occupations in Motion Pictures, Broadcasting and the Performing Arts
    • Announcers and Other Performers
  • Skilled Sales and Service Occupations
    • Sales and Service Supervisors
    • Technical Sales Specialists, Wholesale
  • Trades and Skilled Transport and Equipment Operators
    • Contractors and Supervisors, Trades and Related Workers
    • Supervisors, Railway and Motor Transportation Occupations
    • Machinists and Related Occupations 724 Electrical Trades and Telecommunication Occupations
    • Plumbers, Pipefitters and Gas Fitters
    • Metal Forming, Shaping and Erecting Trades
    • Carpenters and Cabinetmakers
    • Masonry and Plastering Trades
    • Other
  • Skilled Occupations in Primary Industry
    • Supervisors, Logging and Forestry
    • Supervisors, Mining, Oil and Gas
    • Underground Miners, Oil and Gas Drillers and Related Workers 824 Logging Machinery Operators
    • Contractors, Operators and Supervisors in Agriculture, Horticulture and Aquaculture
    • Fishing Vessel Masters and Skippers and Fishermen/women
  • Processing, Manufacturing and Utilities Supervisors and Skilled Operators
    • Supervisors, Processing Occupations
    • Supervisors, Assembly and Fabrication
    • Central Control and Process Operators in Manufacturing and Processing