In 2025, British Columbia (B.C.) will open three new streams for eligible recent graduates from Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs.
Starting January 2025, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) will introduce the following three new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams for international graduates:
- Bachelor’s stream
- Master’s stream
- Doctorate stream
Note: International graduates are students who have obtained a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada within the last three years. See below for full details regarding the eligibility criteria for the BCPNP’s International Graduate stream.
Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration
These streams aim to create clearer pathways for international graduates to obtain Canadian permanent residence (PR) and enhance their employment prospects across British Columbia.
What Has British Columbia Revealed About the New Streams So Far?
The provincial government in B.C. has outlined the following details about the new streams set to launch in 2025:
- Launch date: January 2025
- Updated language requirement: Each stream will require a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8
- Graduates of diploma and certificate programs will not be eligible for these new streams but may still qualify for other BCPNP pathways
The following outlines what B.C. has revealed so far about the eligibility criteria, features, and benefits of each upcoming stream.
Note: More information about these streams, including detailed criteria, will be available in late 2024. When the new graduate streams launch, an updated edition of the BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide will be published with complete criteria.
Bachelor’s Stream
- For recent graduates with Bachelor’s degrees from eligible post-secondary institutions
- Eligible graduates must have a full-time, indeterminate (without a declared end date) job offer
Master’s Stream
- For recent graduates with Master’s degrees (in any field of study) from eligible post-secondary institutions
- Graduates must have a full-time job offer (lasting at least one year) in a skilled occupation
Doctorate Stream
- For “graduates and [PhD] candidates of doctoral-level programs” from eligible post-secondary institutions
Other Important Details About the Three New BCPNP Streams
- Job offer restrictions: The three new BCPNP streams will not be limited to a list of eligible occupations. However, job offers must meet the criteria for B.C.’s three new streams.
- Approved program restrictions: The new streams will not include a list of approved programs, meaning recent graduates from degree programs in any field of study may be eligible if they meet the required criteria.
- Competition for Invitations to Apply (ITAs): Because there are individual streams for eligible candidates with each type of credential (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate), there will be no competition between students with different credentials for ITAs. For example, Bachelor’s stream applicants will only be considered alongside other applicants with a Bachelor’s degree.
Am I Eligible for B.C.’s International Graduate Stream?
While each new stream will have unique eligibility criteria, the following outlines general eligibility criteria for all BCPNP International Graduate streams:
- Obtained a degree, diploma, or certificate from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years
- Accepted a qualifying full-time job offer from an employer* in B.C.
- The job offer must have no defined end date (indeterminate)
- A job offer does not need to be indeterminate if it is in a priority technology occupation
- The job offer must be in one of the following National Occupation Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories: 1, 2, or 3
- NOC TEER 0 occupations are not eligible for the International Graduate stream
- Qualified to work in their chosen occupation in B.C.
- Have a wage offer “in line with B.C. wage rates for the job they will be working”
- Prove the ability to support themselves and any eligible dependents
- Meet minimum language requirements (recently raised for all BCPNP streams except the Health Authority stream)
- The employer must “agree to support [the candidate’s] application while meeting certain Employer-focused requirements.
Important Details About Skills Immigration in British Columbia
Skills immigration, including the BCPNP, uses a points-based system to rank and select eligible immigration candidates. Candidates who receive an ITA through the BCPNP have 30 calendar days to submit their application to the province.
Note: Once an applicant submits their application, they must pay the application fee and submit all required documents.
The BCPNP scores candidates through its points system based on human capital and economic factors. Human capital factors include related work experience and proficiency in Canada’s official languages (English, French). Economic factors include the wage of the candidate’s B.C. job offer and the candidate’s employment location in B.C.
