In British Columbia (B.C.), three streams will be available to qualified recent graduates of bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in 2025.
The following three new Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams for international graduates are scheduled to launch in January 2025 under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP).
Professional programs: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate
Remark: Students who have earned a degree, diploma, or certificate from a Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years are considered international graduates. For complete information on the requirements for admission to the BCPNP’s International Graduate program, see the section below.
What information has British Columbia provided thus far about the new streams?
The British Columbian province government has so far provided the following information regarding the new streams that its PNP will implement in 2025.
Date of launch: January 2025
New language requirements: The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) is now the minimum requirement for all new streams. 8 Diploma and certificate program graduates may still be qualified for existing BCPNP courses, but they will not be admitted to these new streams.
The information that B.C. has so far provided regarding the requirements, characteristics, and advantages of each forthcoming stream is outlined here.
Note: B.C. has also disclosed that additional details regarding these streams, encompassing more comprehensive standards for every new stream, will be accessible by late 2024. “An updated edition of the BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide will be published with complete stream criteria when the new graduate streams are launched,” the government states.
BACHELOR’S PROGRAM
For recent graduates from qualified post-secondary institutions holding bachelor’s degrees
Graduates who meet the requirements must have a full-time, indefinite (i.e., no set end date) work offer.
MASTER’S PROGRAM
> For recent graduates from qualified post-secondary schools holding Master’s degrees (in any subject of study)
> Graduates need to be offered a full-time position in a competent field that will last at least a year.
STREAM FOR DOCTORATES
Regarding “graduates and [PhD] candidates of doctoral level programs” from qualified post-secondary educational establishments.
Additional crucial information regarding the three new BCPNP streams
Restrictions on job offers: As mentioned above, the three new BCPNP streams “will not be limited to a list of eligible occupations.”
*B.C. makes it clear that job offers will not be restricted, but they still need to fit the requirements for one of the three new streams in the province.
Restrictions on accepted programs: As long as they meet the necessary requirements, “recent graduates from degree programs in any field of study may be eligible for the new student streams” in British Columbia, which means that the state’s three new streams will not feature a list of permitted programs.
The British Columbian government explains that there are separate streams for qualified applicants holding each sort of credential (Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate), therefore there is competition for Invitations to Apply (ITAs).
Does BC’s International Graduate stream accept me?
While each of the new streams will also have specific requirements, the broad requirements listed below apply to all BCPNP International Graduate programs.
To qualify through B.C.’s International Graduate stream, candidates must:
- Have obtained a degree, diploma or certificate from an eligible Canadian post-secondary institution within the last three years
- Have 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
• Be 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
- UPDATE: B.C. recently raised the minimum language requirement for all BCPNP streams except its Health Authority stream (which was already previously adjusted)
The employer must “agree to support [the candidate’s] application while themselves meeting certain Employer-focused requirements.
VITAL INFORMATION REGARDING BC’S SKILLED IMMIGRATION
A points-based system is used by Skills Immigration, which incorporates the BCPNP, to rank and choose qualified immigration candidates. Applicants have 30 calendar days from the date they acquire an ITA from the BCPNP to submit their application to the province.
Note: Upon submission of the application, the candidate must pay the application fee and send in all necessary supporting documentation.
Through its point system, the BCPNP assigns candidates a score based on economic and human capital considerations. Related job experience and fluency in both of Canada’s official languages—French and English—are examples of human capital variables. Concurrently, the candidate’s work location in British Columbia and the salary of the job offer are considered economic variables.
