Provincial Nominee Program: Strategic Occupations

Applications in this component of the Provincial Nominee Program are considered in these categories:

Notice of New Policy Regarding PNP Nomination Extensions:

Please note that for all applications approved after April 1st, 2009, the B.C. PNP will no longer issue extensions to nomination certificates. Provincial Nominees who do not submit an application for Permanent Residence to the appropriate Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Visa Office within 180 days from the date of nomination will be required to submit a new application and fees to the B.C. PNP. A reassessment of the application is required in this situation to ensure that there have been no material changes in the circumstances under which the original application was approved, including the applicant's intention to become a permanent resident of Canada and to settle in British Columbia.

Skilled Workers
Managers, professionals, technologists and technicians, and skilled trades

Designated Health Professionals
Registered nurses, midwives, registered psychiatric nurses, and physicians

International Graduates
Recent graduates of recognized BC post-secondary institutions

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project
Select occupations in Tourism/Hospitality and Food Processing, and Long-Haul Truck Drivers

Note: Employers, employment agencies, recruiters and authorized representatives are reminded that B.C.'s Employment Standards Act and Regulations prohibit charging a fee to help a person find a job or making deductions from wages for business costs, including the costs of bringing a foreign worker to Canada. Also, an employer or employment agency cannot force a foreign worker to return to his/her country of origin if the employer terminates an employment contract before the work permit expires or if the worker finds a job with another employer. For more information, please refer to standards for foreign workers.

Briefly, the requirements for applying to the strategic occupations component of the Provincial Nominee Program are as follows:

  • The employer has offered, and the nominee candidate has accepted, permanent, full-time employment in a skilled occupation
  • The candidate is qualified to do the job
  • The wage offered is competitive with BC wage rates for the occupation
  • The nominee candidate’s field of employment offers good long-term prospects
  • The employer must be financially sound, have a history of good practices, and normally must have been operating in BC for at least one year and have at least five paid employees
  • The employment of a foreign worker will be of significant economic benefit to B.C.
  • The employment of a foreign worker will not adversely affect the settlement of a labour dispute, or the employment of anyone involved in any such dispute
  • The nominee candidate has the ability to become economically established in BC
    For more details, please see requirements for strategic occupations

The strategic occupations component of the Provincial Nominee Program is focused on supporting industries that are priorities for economic development:

  • Construction
  • Information technology and new media
  • Film and television production
  • Life sciences
  • Clean energy technologies
  • Manufacturing and processing
  • Aerospace
  • Engineering and environmental services
  • International financial and business services
  • Health services and post-secondary education
  • Tourism and hospitality
  • Oil and gas
  • Mining
  • Other business activities contributing to economic expansion and diversification outside of the Greater Vancouver Regional District