BC PNP International Graduate
The British Columbia International Graduate stream is one of several immigration streams contained within the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) operated by the province of British Columbia. BC International Graduate prioritizes the nomination of immigrants who have an offer for skilled employment and who have completed post-secondary education in Canada. Candidates who are successfully nominated through the BC International Graduate program will be invited to submit an official application for Canadian permanent residence. Candidates do not require an Express Entry profile to be eligible for this stream. However, candidates who meet the eligibility criteria and who have an active Express Entry profile may be able to apply to the stream through Express Entry for accelerated processing.
Express Entry Requirement
To be eligible for the BC International Graduate stream, candidates do not require an Express Entry profile. However, candidates who meet the eligibility criteria for this stream and who have an active Express Entry profile may be able to apply to the stream through Express Entry for accelerated processing.
Job Offer
Candidates must have a valid job offer for full-time, indeterminate employment from a BC employer. The wages for the position must be competitive when compared to average provincial wages for the occupation. The offer of employment must be for work at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B. Notably, the BC PNP job offer does not need to be supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Language Proficiency
Candidates with a job offer at National Occupational Classification (NOC) Skill Level B must provide language test results proving English or French language proficiency at CLB 4 or higher. Candidates with job offers at NOC Skill Level 0 or A are exempt from the language proficiency requirement.
Level of Education
Candidates must have completed a post-secondary educational credential in Canada in the past three years. Note that if the candidate has completed a graduate degree at an eligible institution in BC, they may be eligible for the BC International Post-Graduate stream.
Work Experience
No Mininum Experience required to apply in this category.
Settlement Funds
All candidates for this stream must meet the settlement funds requirement as determined by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This can be demonstrated through their own finances, or through maintaining a valid offer of employment.
Employer Requirements
For an applicant to apply to most BC Skills Immigration programs, they must have a valid job offer from an eligible BC employer. Under these programs, the employers must meet certain general requirements for their job offers to be considered valid.
Job Offer Requirements
The employer must offer a full-time, indeterminate position with a wage that meets industry standards. As well, the position must meet BC’s minimum wage requirements as per the applicant’s annual wage, location of residence in BC, and number of dependent family members.
Business Requirements
The business must be established and in good standing in British Columbia with a history of good workplace and business practices. The business must also meet minimum employee requirements:
Inside Vancouver: At least five full-time employees.
Outside Vancouver: At least three full-time employees.
Recruitment Requirements
The employer must demonstrate that reasonable efforts were made to recruit a Canadian to fill the position prior to offering the position to a foreign national. Notably, under the BC PNP, employers are not required to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in order for their positions to be valid.
