Province updates permanent resident process

The BC Provincial Nominee Program is being updated to help people new to Canada better understand what is required to be nominated for permanent residency through the BC PNP. The program is the provincial government’s only tool for directly selecting immigrants for permanent residency. The program currently prioritizes workers in health care, construction, early childhood education and other in-demand jobs.

“The BC PNP is competitive, but some recruiters misrepresent it as an easy pathway to permanent residency,” the provincial media release said. “These updates will give people a better understanding of the education, experience and language skills that they need to be considered for nomination.

The program updates align with new measures to protect international students from predatory institutions and recruiters, such as:

• a three-stream structure for graduates of bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate programs
• increased language requirements for most streams; and
• continued prioritization for people who work in-demand jobs that help BC’s economy.

“The Chamber continues to work closely with our region’s post secondary schools to support their highly successful international student programs,” Chamber CEO Bruce Williams said. “The University of Victoria, Camosun College and Royal Roads University have set the bar for the country when it comes to attracting and training people who contribute to our country.”