work immigration to British Columbia – RainCity Immigration Ltd

British Columbia Skilled Worker

Living in British Columbia attracts many immigrants from all over the world. Studying in British Columbia also has many enthusiasts. The Skilled Worker program in British Columbia, or the Skills Immigration program, is one of the provincial programs designed for work immigration to this province.

Individuals can obtain permanent residency in Canada through work immigration programs to British Columbia and can then become Canadian citizens after a few years. The Skilled Worker program is designed to attract skilled labor to British Columbia. In this article, we will explain all the requirements, documents, and regulations of the Skills Immigration program for British Columbia.

Advantages of the Skilled Worker Program in British Columbia

Some advantages of the Skills Immigration program in British Columbia include:

No need for Canadian work or study experience

A lower language score is required compared to other programs.

There are many regular draws for this program.

There is no age limit for work immigration to British Columbia, so older individuals won’t score lower.

Subcategories of the Skilled Worker Program in British Columbia

Subcategories of the British Columbia Skilled worker Program are summarized in the table below:

Subcategories	Main Requirement	Initial Review Duration
1. Skilled Worker Category	A job offer from British Columbia in specialized occupations and having two years of work experience in the same field	Two to three months
2. Health Care Professional Category	A job offer from British Columbia in health-related occupations and having two years of work experience in the same field
3. International Graduate Category	Having a degree from Canada and a job offer from the province of British Columbia
4. International Post-Graduate Category	Having a master's or doctoral degree in one of the health or natural or applied science fields from the province of British Columbia
5. Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Worker Category	Working in one of the semi-skilled jobs in the northeastern region of British Columbia and having a job offer in this area or working in tourism or hospitality or transportation or food processing in British Columbia with a job offer in the same field
6. Tech Pilot	Meeting the subcategory conditions for skilled workers or international graduates and having a job offer in the technology or technical field

1. British Columbia Skilled Worker Subcategory or Skilled Workforce

Do you have a job offer for specialized work from an employer in British Columbia and two years of work experience in this field?

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Job Offer

The job offer must be full-time, paid, in technical and professional occupations in Canada, and for at least one continuous year consisting of a minimum of 30 hours of work per week. The job offer can be obtained from one or two Canadian employers. The job offer must either have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or be exempt from LMIA.

The employer or employers providing the job offer must have obtained an LMIA or if you are currently working in technical and professional occupations in Canada at the time of application, your work permit must have an LMIA, and you must be working for the employer named in the work permit.

Note: When you apply for this program, you must be legally working in Canada and maintain your legal status until you receive permanent residency.

The current employer or employers must provide you with a job offer for at least one year full-time in a job similar to your current position (with a similar NOC) or you must have a valid work permit to work in one of the technical and professional occupations that is exempt from LMIA, and be working for the employer named in the work permit at the time of application. You must have worked for at least one year full-time or the equivalent part-time for the employer or employers named in the work permit who have provided you with a job offer and received a valid job offer from them for a minimum of one year after the issuance of your permanent residency certificate.

Please refer to the examples below. In both examples, it is assumed that the job offer either has an LMIA or is exempt from LMIA.

Accepted job offer: Two Canadian employers have given Alireza a job offer for a heavy equipment operator position. Both employers have offered Alireza a job for 16 hours a week for a minimum of one year.

Uncceptable Job offer : A Canadian construction company has given Saman a job offer as a plumber. However, the working hours for the job offer are 25 hours a week.

1. British Columbia Skilled Worker Subgroup or Skilled Labor

As of November 10, 2024, the Ontario Entrepreneur Immigration Program has been suspended. This program issued its last invitations on September 25, 2023, and has had no activity since that date.

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Conditions for British Columbia Skilled Worker

To qualify for the British Columbia Skilled Worker immigration group, you must:

Have a permanent, full-time job offer from a qualified employer in British Columbia. This job should be in one of the TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations listed in Canada’s NOCs.

Have at least two years of full-time work experience that is directly related to the job offer.

Hold a valid English or French language certificate (if applicable).

Have sufficient financial resources: you need to prove that you have at least the provincial income level for British Columbia. Note that this income level includes the combined income of the main applicant and their spouse.

Intend to live, work, and earn a living in the province of BC.

Your employer must meet the requirements and conditions of a valid employer in Canada.

If you’re applying through the British Columbia Express Entry (EEBC), you must:

Have an Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker validation code that shows you meet the necessary criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs under the Express Entry system.

In the British Columbia Skilled Worker stream, your work experience must be exactly in the same field as the job offered to you. If your work experience isn’t directly in that job but is somewhat related or at a higher skill level, you’ll need to prove the connection between them. Officers in British Columbia are strict about this, so you should provide solid documentation supporting your claim.

Example: Alireza has four years of work experience as an accountant in Iran. His education is equivalent to a master’s degree in accounting, which he received in Iran, and he has obtained an educational credential assessment certificate. A trading company in British Columbia, in the Greater Vancouver area, has offered him a job as an accountant with an annual salary of $66,000. This job is in demand in the province. Additionally, he scored 4 in Speaking and Writing, 4.5 in Listening, and 3.5 in Reading on the General IELTS. His total score is 99. In the last draw, the lowest score that received an invitation in this subgroup was 96. Alireza received an invitation since his score was above that.

2. Health Professionals Subgroup

Do you have a job offer in the health sector from a British Columbia employer and two years of work experience in this field?

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Conditions for Health Professionals

To qualify for the health professionals subgroup, you must:

Have a valid full-time job offer from a public health authority in British Columbia in any role.

Or meet the necessary requirements for hiring family doctors, nurses, or midwives in the province.

Have qualifications and conditions specified by the provincial health authorities in terms of education, skills, and work experience.

Hold a valid level 2 English or French language certificate (if applicable).

Demonstrate financial sufficiency: You must prove that you meet at least the income level related to British Columbia. Note that this income level is the combined income of the main applicant and their spouse.

Be legally eligible to immigrate to Canada.

Intend to live, work, and earn in British Columbia.

If you are applying through British Columbia’s Express Entry (EEBC), you must:

Have an Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker validation code indicating that you meet the necessary criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs under the Express Entry system.

As a midwife, the applicant must have a registered credential with the British Columbia College of Midwives or be eligible for registration. Additionally, they should have confirmation from one of the professional groups established in the province that approves the individual’s membership as a midwife for at least six months.

3. International Graduates Subgroup

Have you graduated from an educational institution in Canada and received a job offer from a British Columbia employer?

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Conditions for the International Graduates Subgroup

To be eligible for the International Graduate category, you must:

Have obtained one of the following credentials from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada within the last three years: a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, diploma, or valid certification.

Have a permanent, full-time job offer from a qualified employer in British Columbia. This job must fall under one of the TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations in the Canadian job classification system.

Hold a valid language certificate in English or French (if available).

Demonstrate financial capability: you need to prove that you have at least the income level required for British Columbia. Keep in mind that this income must be the total of both the main applicant’s and their spouse’s earnings.

Be legally eligible to immigrate to Canada.

Have the intention to live, work, or study in the province of BC.

Your employer must meet the requirements and conditions of a valid employer in Canada.

If applying through the British Columbia Express Entry (EEBC), you must:

Have an Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker validation code that proves you meet the necessary criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs under the Express Entry system.

For example: Mehrnoush has three years of experience working as a family counselor in Iran. She earned her master’s degree in counseling psychology in Ontario. Then, she was able to secure a job offer as a family counselor in British Columbia with a salary of $61,000 from a counseling center. She also obtained a general IELTS with a score of 4 in Speaking and Writing, 4.5 in Listening, and 3.5 in Reading. Her score equates to 86. In the last draw, the lowest score that received an invitation in this subgroup was 82. Mehrnoush received the invitation because her score was higher than that.

4. International Graduate Subgroup for Master’s and Ph.D.

Are you a graduate from a master's or PhD program in health, natural, or applied sciences from one of the higher education institutions in British Columbia?

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Conditions for the International Graduate Subgroup for Master’s and Ph.D.

This program is one of the most popular immigration programs through skills for British Columbia since it doesn’t require a job offer. To qualify for this category, you must:

Have obtained your master’s or doctoral degree in a qualified field of study from a post-secondary institution in British Columbia within the last three years.

Possess a valid English or French language certificate (if applicable).

Demonstrate your intention to work, live, and earn a living in the province of British Columbia.

You need to submit your application to the BC provincial authorities within 3 years from your graduation date.

If you’re applying through the British Columbia Express Entry (EEBC), you must have:

An Express Entry profile number and a Job Seeker validation code, indicating that you meet the necessary criteria for one of the federal economic immigration programs under the Express Entry system.

The list of universities and approved programs for the International Graduate subcategory at the master’s and doctoral levels has been specified by the province of British Columbia.

5. Semi-Skilled Worker Subcategory

Are you currently employed in tourism, hospitality, transportation, or food processing in British Columbia with a job offer, or are you working in a semi-skilled position in the northeastern region of British Columbia with a job offer?

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Requirements for the Semi-Skilled Worker Subcategory

To qualify for this group, you must:

Have a valid, full-time job offer from a recognized Canadian employer in Noc Teer level 4 or 5 occupations.

Have recently worked full-time in one of the eligible occupations in BC under a Canadian employer.

Have worked full-time in one of the eligible occupations in this province under a Canadian employer for at least 9 months before applying to the BC provincial authorities.

Have completed at least a high school education and possess any necessary licenses or certificates required for the desired job.

Hold a valid language certificate in English or French at level 2.

Have financial means: you need to prove that you have at least the income level relevant to British Columbia. Note that this income amount is the total income of the primary applicant and their spouse.

Be legally eligible to immigrate to Canada.

Intend to live, work, and earn an income in BC.

Your employer must meet the requirements and conditions of a recognized employer in Canada.

Eligible jobs in this subgroup:

Hotel Front Desk Clerk (NOC 64314)

Travel Tour Guide (NOC 64320)

Outdoor Recreation and Sports Guide (NOC 64322)

Casino Staff (NOC 64321)

Hotel Attendant (NOC 64300)

Bartender (NOC 64301)

Waitstaff (NOC 65200)

Restaurant Counter Staff and Kitchen Helper (NOC 65201)

Cleaner (NOC 65310)

Specialized Cleaner (NOC 65311)

Janitor, Building Supervisor, and Cleaner (NOC 65312)

Support roles in the hospitality, travel, and facility services (NOC 65210)

Dry Cleaning and Laundry Operator (NOC 65320)

Staff in other service occupations (NOC 65329)

Food and Beverage Processing Equipment Operator (NOC 94140)

Industrial Butcher (NOC 94141)

Fish Plant Worker (NOC 94142)

Tester and Grader in Food and Beverage Processing (NOC 94143)

Food and Beverage Processing Worker (NOC 95106)

6. Technology and Technical Workforce Subgroup

Do you have a job offer in the technology or technical field in British Columbia?

Yes

Read below about other conditions and required documents for this subcategory.

You are not eligible for this program. Please review the next subcategory.

Requirements for the Technology and Technical Workforce Subgroup

The Tech Pilot program for skilled workers in the technology and technical field is one of the province’s newest initiatives. To be eligible for this group, you need to:

Meet the requirements for the skilled worker sub-category or the international graduates sub-category.

Have a job offer of at least one year in one of the 29 jobs listed below: (At the time of application, at least 120 days must remain on the job offer)

List of jobs

Telecommunications Manager (NOC 10030)

Computer and Information Systems Manager (NOC 20012)

Physicist and Astronomer (NOC 21100)

Mathematician | Statistician | Actuary (NOC 21210)

Data Scientist (NOC 21211)

Cybersecurity Specialist (NOC 21220)

Business Systems Analyst (NOC 21221)

Information Systems Analyst (NOC 21222)

Data Analyst (NOC 21223)

Computer Programmer and Developer (NOC 21230)

Software Engineer and Designer (NOC 21231)

Software Developer and Programmer (NOC 21232)

Web Designer (NOC 21233)

Web Programmer and Developer (NOC 21234)

Civil Engineer (NOC 21300)

Mechanical Engineer (NOC 21301)

Electrical and Electronics Engineer (NOC 21310)

Computer Engineer | Hardware (NOC 21311)

Chemical Engineer (NOC 21320)

Other Professional Engineers (NOC 21399)

Biological Technician (NOC 22110)

Computer Network Technician (NOC 22220)

User Support Technician (NOC 22221)

Information Systems Testing Technician (NOC 22222)

Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technician (NOC 22310)

Director of Publishing, Film, Media, and Performing Arts (NOC 50011)

Industrial Tool Technician and Mechanic (NOC 22312)

Writer (non-technical) (NOC 51111)

Technical Writer (NOC 51112)

Producer | Director | Choreographer (NOC 51120)

Other technical occupations in film, broadcasting, and performing arts (NOC 52119)

Broadcast Technician (NOC 52112)

Sound and Picture Recording Technician (NOC 52113)

Graphic Designer and Illustrator (NOC 52120)

Support occupations in film, broadcasting, photography, and performing arts (NOC 53111)

Have a minimum score related to that draw period in the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program’s scoring system.

Reviewing the files of individuals in this subgroup takes priority over other subgroups for British Columbia, and the evaluation process is faster. Additionally, unlike other subgroups, the job offer can be for one year, which is one of the advantages of this program.

The point system for the British Columbia Skilled Worker program

In British Columbia, all subgroups except for the international master’s and doctoral graduates subgroup and the health professionals subgroup use a points system based on various factors such as job offer conditions, language level, work experience, education, etc.

The maximum score a candidate can achieve is 200 points.

Points calculation

Hourly wage of the job offer	Points
$70 and above	55
$69 to $69.99	54
$68 to $68.99	53
$67 to $67.99	52
$66 to $66.99	51
$65 to $65.99	50
$64 to $64.99	49
$63 to $63.99	48
$62 to $62.99	47
$61 to $61.99	46
$60 to $60.99	45
$59 to $59.99	44
$58 to $58.99	43
$57 to $57.99	42
$56 to $56.99	41
$55 to $55.99	40
$54 to $54.99	39
$53 to $53.99	38
$52 to $52.99	37
$51 to $51.99	36
$50 to $50.99	35
$49 to $49.99	34
$48 to $48.99	33
$47 to $47.99	32
$46 to $46.99	31
$45 to $45.99	30
$44 to $44.99	29
$43 to $43.99	28
$42 to $42.99	27
$41 to $41.99	26
$40 to $40.99	25
$39 to $39.99	24
$38 to $38.99	23
$37 to $37.99	22
$36 to $36.99	21
$35 to $35.99	20
$34 to $34.99	19
$33 to $33.99	18
$32 to $32.99	17
$31 to $31.99	16
$30 to $30.99	15
$29 to $29.99	14
$28 to $28.99	13
$27 to $27.99	12
$26 to $26.99	11
$25 to $25.99	10
$24 to $24.99	9
$23 to $23.99	8
$22 to $22.99	7
$21 to $21.99	6
$20 to $20.99	5
$19 to $19.99	4
$18 to $18.99	3
$17 to $17.99	2
$16 to $16.99	1
Less than $16	0
Maximum score	55

City and region of the job offer

City/Region	points
Region 1: Greater Vancouver Area (Metro Vancouver)	0
Region 2: Squamish & Abbotsford & Agassiz & Mission & Chilliwack	5
Region 3: Areas other than Regions 1 and 2 in British Columbia	15
Extra points
Work experience in the area	10
Graduated in the area	10
Maximum points	25

Relevant work experience for job offer

Work Experience	Points
5 years and above	20
4 to less than 5 years	16
3 to less than 4 years	12
2 to less than 3 years	8
1 to less than 2 years	4
Less than 1 year	1
No relevant work experience	0
Extra Points
At least 1 year of relevant work experience in Canada	10
Full-time employment in British Columbia for the employer	10
Maximum Points	40

Education

Education	Points
PhD	27
Master’s Degree	22
Post-Graduate Diploma or Certificate	15
Bachelor’s Degree	15
Associate Degree	5
Post-Secondary Certificate or Diploma (Technical or Non-Technical)	5
High School Diploma and below	0
Extra Points
Post-secondary education in British Columbia	8
Post-secondary education in Canada (outside British Columbia)	6
Having a professional qualification certificate in eligible occupations	5
Maximum Points	40

Language

Each test has its own scoring system that can be converted to CLB levels. To convert scores from different language tests to CLB, each skill score needs to be assessed. The applicant must provide a valid language certificate.

Language Level	Points
CLB 9 and above	30
CLB 8	25
CLB 7	20
CLB 6	15
CLB 5	10
CLB 4	5
No language certificate or language score below CLB 4	0
Extra Points
Proficiency in both English and French (CLB 4 or higher)	10
Maximum Points	40

Required Documents for British Columbia Skilled Worker Program

Each of the subcategories of the British Columbia skilled immigration program has its own specific requirements, and based on these requirements, each of the following documents may be needed for that program:

Documents required for British Columbia Skilled Worker applicant

Job Offer Letter: This letter should be on the company’s letterhead and must be signed by both the applicant and the employer. It should include the job title, job duties, salary, work hours, duration of the job offer, and benefits. The salary mentioned should not be less than the standard pay for this job in British Columbia.

Personal documents such as a passport, photo, temporary residency permits in Canada like study permit, work permit,

educational documents and transcripts,

work experience letters,

language proficiency certificate,

credential assessment certificate,

resume,

documents proving intent to live in British Columbia,

British Columbia representative form,

documents required from the job offer-providing employer,

job offer form,

reference letter for the applicant,

letter explaining the details and conditions of the job offer,

letter explaining the company details and field of activity,

employer’s company certificate,

Steps in the British Columbia Skilled Worker program

Step One: Submitting the initial application to the province.

First, you need to register on the BC PNP Online system and create an account. Then you select the relevant subclass. After that, you must complete an online form and enter your information. This information includes personal details, passport information, residential address, work history, education, language level, job offer conditions, etc. Finally, after verifying the information, you must submit your application.

Step Two: Holding a draw and receiving an invitation.

Your application is scored according to the points system of the British Columbia provincial program. Your file, along with its score, is placed in a pool of applicants. However, this pool is different from the ones you swim in! In this virtual pool, referred to as the “pool,” there are files of individuals with different scores and conditions. Your file in this pool is like a fish that needs to be caught by a fisherman (British Columbia Immigration Department).

Usually, draws occur 2 to 3 times a month, which is referred to as a draw. In these draws, which bear no resemblance to a prize lottery, the province selects individuals with the desired score from the pool and issues them an Invitation to Apply. Thus, the selection process is competitive rather than random, and the higher the score, the better the chances of receiving an invitation.

What does a multi-stage process in provincial programs mean?

First, you need to know that the organization providing you with a visa to enter Canada and grant you permanent residency is Canada’s immigration department, not the British Columbia immigration office. Initially, you send your application to the British Columbia immigration office, and if they approve it, you receive what’s called a nomination. Then, you send your application for permanent residency to the federal immigration office, and if they approve it, you get your permanent residency confirmation.

The key point

Keep in mind that this points-based system doesn’t exist for those who want to apply through the international graduates’ master’s and doctoral subcategory or the healthcare professionals’ subcategory; these individuals can directly submit their applications to the province.

Final words

The Skills Immigration program in British Columbia is one of the popular pathways for Iranians seeking to immigrate for work to Canada and obtain permanent residency. One of the biggest advantages of this method for workers immigrating to British Columbia is that there are no specific requirements like a certain educational background or Canadian work experience. Another benefit of this program is that you don’t need a high language score, and being older doesn’t reduce your points. The international graduates’ master’s and doctoral subcategory is more favored among the other subcategories because it doesn’t require a job offer.

If you want to apply for Canadian permanent residency through the British Columbia skilled worker program or if you have any questions in this regard, you can get in touch with the consultants at RainCity.

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Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to apply for the British Columbia Skilled Worker Program without a job offer?

This program has different subcategories. In all subcategories except for the international graduate subcategory for master’s and doctoral programs, you need to have a job offer from British Columbia to apply.

What score is required for the British Columbia skilled worker program?

This program has various subcategories, and each subcategory has its own points in every lottery draw. For example, in the draw on November 23, 2021, a score of 96 was required for the Skilled Worker subcategory.

How long does the British Columbia skilled worker program process take?

In the British Columbia skilled worker immigration program, it takes about 2 to 3 months to receive a provincial nomination, and then it takes around a year and a half for the federal immigration office to grant you permanent residency.

Is an LMIA code required for the British Columbia skilled worker program?

No. Employers are not required to obtain this code for the British Columbia provincial program.

What’s the difference between the British Columbia Skills Immigration program and the British Columbia Express Entry?

The main difference is in the processing time of the applications. The Express Entry method is online and is processed more quickly, while the skilled worker immigration method involves sending documents in paper form.

What language score is needed for the British Columbia skilled worker program?

In the British Columbia skilled worker immigration program, the minimum language score required in IELTS General is equivalent to a score of 4 in Speaking and Writing, 4.5 in Listening, and 3.5 in Reading.

How much does the British Columbia skilled worker program cost?

The fee for document assessment by the province: $1,150

The fee for document assessment by the federal immigration office:

$1,365 for the main applicant

$1,365 for their spouse

$230 for each child

Is it easy to get permanent residency through the British Columbia skilled worker program?

If you meet the eligibility criteria, obtaining permanent residency through this method is not hard. For most subcategories of this program, you need to have a job offer.

Is an Express Entry profile required for the British Columbia Skills Immigration program?

No, in none of the subcategories of this program, there is a need to have an Express Entry profile. The document submission in this method is in paper form.

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