British Columbia issues 474 PNP invitations in two-day draws
British Columbia has conducted two consecutive draws through its Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), inviting a total of 474 candidates to apply for a provincial nomination for permanent residence. The draws, held on February 10 and 11, targeted both skilled workers and entrepreneurs across multiple program streams.
The province continues to use regular draws to select candidates with strong economic potential to contribute to local communities and industries. These back-to-back rounds included invitations under the Skills Immigration and Entrepreneur Immigration categories.
- 474 invitations were issued over two days of draws
- 460 invitations went to skilled workers under the Skills Immigration stream
- 14 invitations were issued through Entrepreneur Immigration streams
- Most entrepreneur invitations were allocated to the Base stream
- Minimum scores ranged from 105 to 135 depending on the category
- The draws focused on candidates with high wage offers and strong business investment capacity
Entrepreneur Immigration draw results – February 10
On February 10, the BC PNP invited 14 entrepreneurs to apply for nomination across its two business immigration categories. Thirteen candidates were selected under the Base stream, with a minimum score requirement of 121, while fewer than five invitations were issued under the Regional Pilot stream with a minimum score of 105. The program withholds exact figures in small draws to protect applicant privacy.
The Base stream allows entrepreneurs to establish or acquire a business anywhere in British Columbia. It requires a minimum personal net worth of $600,000 and an eligible investment of at least $200,000. This stream does not require a community referral and is open to operations throughout the province.
The Regional Pilot stream, in contrast, supports new business ventures in participating smaller communities. Applicants must demonstrate a net worth of at least $300,000 and a minimum investment of $100,000. Participation also requires an exploratory visit and a community referral, and applicants must hold at least 51 percent ownership in the enterprise.
Skills Immigration draw results – February 11
On February 11, the province issued 460 invitations under the Skills Immigration category. These draws prioritized individuals expected to generate a high economic contribution in British Columbia. Eligible candidates included those meeting wage and job offer thresholds or achieving a high points score in the province’s selection system.
Of the 460 invitations, 195 were issued to applicants with a minimum wage offer of $62 per hour or an annual salary of $125,000 in eligible National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER 0 to 3 occupations. An additional 265 were invited based on scoring at least 135 points in the provincial ranking system.
Skills Immigration pool composition
As of February 8, the BC PNP reported 10,988 active registrations in its Skills Immigration pool. Most candidates held scores between 100 and 139 points, reflecting strong competition within the program. Only a small number of registrants exceeded 150 points, while those below 70 represented a smaller portion of the pool.
The province’s ongoing draws demonstrate continued demand for skilled professionals in key sectors, aligning with the broader economic and demographic goals of British Columbia’s immigration strategy.
Program background
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program allows the province to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residence based on local labour market needs and business priorities. It operates under two primary categories: Skills Immigration, which targets workers and graduates with job offers, and Entrepreneur Immigration, designed for business owners seeking to invest in the province.
These programs complement the federal Express Entry system and similar provincial initiatives such as the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program, which also selects candidates based on specific regional labour demands.
Public relevance
British Columbia’s latest draws illustrate the province’s continued focus on attracting both high-wage skilled talent and business investors. By maintaining frequent selection rounds, the BC PNP helps address skill shortages and supports long-term economic growth across metropolitan and regional areas.
Further details on nomination criteria and future draw schedules will continue to be published by provincial authorities as part of ongoing immigration updates.
For more coverage of Canadian immigration developments and provincial nominee programs, explore related news updates available on this platform.