British Columbia

The provincial nominee program for British Columbia is divided into two streams: Strategic Occupations and Business Immigrants.

The Strategic Occupations streams are further subdivided into the following areas:

• Skilled Workers;
• International graduates;
• Designated Health Professionals;
• Entry level/semi-skilled workers

Skilled Workers

Applicants applying as Skilled Workers must have obtained a permanent, full-time job offer with a B.C. company offering a competitive wage. The job must be in a skilled position and the company must demonstrate efforts to have recruited a Canadian. However, the Ministry reserves the right to conduct a labour market analysis to determine if the position has a surplus of workers or if future job prospects are dim. This means that there is no guarantee that a skilled employment offer will be approved by the province. In addition, the applicant must demonstrate that they are qualified and experienced in the work to be performed. Finally, the potential nominee must show they have sufficient funds or salary potential relative to the size of their immediate family members.

International Graduates

Individuals who have obtained a degree or diploma from a recognized school in Canada within the last two years and have accepted a full-time offer of employment in a skilled position may qualify under the graduate stream. Wages offered must meet provincial averages although no previous work experience is required, making this stream highly attractive for young foreign students who are completing their Canadian education but do not yet have any work experience. To qualify, the degree should be of at least four semesters and the diploma no less than three semesters of full-time study in duration. In other words, a one year post-secondary diploma program will not suffice. In addition, not every post-secondary school qualifies. Generally only publicly funded colleges and universities are eligible (meaning that private colleges do not qualify).

British Columbia students who have obtained within the last two years a Masters or Ph.D. can apply under a pilot project currently in operation. Current degree programs being supported include:

• Agriculture
• Biological and Biomedical Sciences
• Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
• Engineering
• Engineering Technology
• Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences
• Mathematics and Statistics
• Natural Resources Conservation and Research
• Physical Sciences

Designated Health Professionals

This category is limited to registered nurses, psychiatric nurses and physicians recruited by provincial and regional health authorities administered through Health Match B.C., along with midwives.  Physicians must have practices in British Columbia for at least nine months and have an endorsement letter from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.  For details on the requirements and process at Health Match, please contact one of our lawyers.

Entry level/semi-skilled workers

Foreign workers in the tourism/hospitality, food processing and long-haul trucking industries, who possess at least a high school diploma and have worked for with a B.C. employer for a minimum of nine months may apply under this pilot project. Wages must be at market rate, and applicants are required to demonstrate basic English proficiency.

Business Immigrants

Individuals wishing to start or acquire a sustainable commercial enterprise in B.C. may apply as Business Immigrations under the following three streams:

Business Skills – investors who make a personal investment of at least $400,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business anywhere in BC and:

• Create at least three new jobs in the business for Canadians or permanent residents.
• Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
• Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the business.
• Demonstrate that they have:
  • the skills and experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC
  • a personal net worth of at least $800,000 CAD obtained from legal sources
  • sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment
  • a viable business proposal
• Sign a performance agreement with the Province of British Columbia.
• Sign a deposit agreement with the Province of British Columbia, if they are seeking a fast track nomination.

Regional Business - investors who make a personal investment of at least $200,000 CAD to establish or to purchase and expand an eligible business outside of Vancouver or the Abbotsford metropolitan area and:

• Create at least one new job in the business for a Canadian or permanent resident.
• Own at least one third (33 1/3%) of the equity of the business.
• Provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business.
• Demonstrate that they have:
  • the skills and experience necessary to establish and operate a commercially viable business in BC
  • a personal net worth of at least $400,000 CAD obtained from legal sources
  • sufficient unencumbered personal funds to make the required investment a viable business proposal.
• Sign a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.
• Sign a Deposit Agreement with the Province of British Columbia if they are seeking a Fast Track nomination.

Strategic Projects – foreign companies who establish an eligible business in B.C. with the entry of key managerial, professional or technical staff and who intend to reside permanently in Canada may apply as long as the company:

• Makes a minimum equity investment of $500,000.
• Creates at least three jobs for Canadians or permanent residents in BC for each nominee applicant put forward by the company.
• Demonstrates a record of good business practices and successful business operations outside of Canada that are relevant to the proposed business.
• Establishes or purchases and expands an eligible business anywhere in BC
• Incorporates a Canadian subsidiary or register an extra-provincial company in BC to operate the proposed business.
• Demonstrates that the nominee applicants are qualified senior personnel who are essential to establishing or expanding and operating the proposed business in BC
• Signs a Performance Agreement with the Province of British Columbia.

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