British Columbia has started 2026 with its first Skills Immigration draw under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). On February 4, the province issued 429 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates expected to make a strong economic contribution to the province.
The draw focused on high economic impact candidates, with selection based on factors such as high-paying job offers and strong registration scores.
Draw Results at a Glance
Invitations were issued under two selection categories:
- High-Wage Job Offer Stream: 206 candidates received invitations for having job offers in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations, with a minimum offered wage of $70 per hour (around $145,000 per year).
- Score-Based Selection: 223 candidates were invited with a minimum registration score of 138 points.
BC PNP also confirmed that upcoming high economic impact draws may apply different selection criteria, depending on British Columbia’s labour market requirements.
What Factors May Matter in Future BC PNP Draws?
British Columbia may assess candidates based on one or more of the following:
- Education level, field of study, and place of education
- Professional licensing or designation in BC
- Language proficiency
- Occupation and work experience
- Wage level and skill type of the job offer
- Intent to settle in a specific region of British Columbia
- Strategic priorities supporting provincial labour shortages and government initiatives
Skills Immigration Pool: Strong Competition Ahead
As of January 6, 2026, the BC PNP Skills Immigration registration pool included 11,210 candidates across various score ranges. The province has stated that the highest score brackets have not yet been updated following the February 4 draw.
Limited Nomination Spaces for 2026
British Columbia has received an allocation of 5,254 provincial nominations for 2026. Many of these spaces are expected to be used for waitlisted candidates from 2025 and for entrepreneur immigration streams.
With the number of registered candidates far exceeding the available nomination spots, competition is expected to remain high throughout 2026.
Planning to Apply Through BC PNP?
If you’re aiming to immigrate to British Columbia through Skills Immigration or a Provincial Nominee pathway, expert guidance can significantly improve your chances.
Oasis Visas helps candidates assess eligibility, improve CRS and registration scores, and prepare strong provincial nomination applications.
Connect with Oasis today to plan your Canada immigration journey with confidence.
