British Columbia Exciting Updates to Graduate Immigration Streams

British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has launched its new Skills Immigration Guide, which will take effect on January 17, 2025. The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) updates its Skills Immigration Guide periodically to reflect changes in immigration policies and requirements. Previously, the province announced new graduate streams as part of its new immigration strategy.

Key BC PNP Changes 2025

• The International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams are now officially closed to new applications. Applications received after September 4th, 2024, will be assessed according to previous criteria.
• The program has expanded its accepted language proficiency tests to include the Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core, adding to the existing IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and TEF Canada options.
• The program has also introduced new employer requirements for regulated industries, particularly affecting childcare facilities. Early childhood educators must now ensure their employers are licensed by provincial health authorities.

Delay in New BC PNP Graduate Streams

While the BC PNP had initially indicated that the new Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate streams would begin accepting applications in the second week of January 2025, as of January 21st, 2025, these streams have not yet been launched. The recently updated Skills Immigration Guide (effective January 17th, 2025) and the BC PNP Online portal do not contain information about these new pathways as shown below:

The delay suggests that the province may be finalizing the details of these new immigration streams. Based on previous announcements, the launch is still expected in the coming weeks of January 2025, though no official timeline has been confirmed.

Upcoming BC PNP Graduate Streams

BC PNP is preparing to launch three new streams targeting recent graduates:

• Bachelor’s Stream
• Master’s Stream
• Doctorate Stream

These streams will begin accepting applications soon, with the Bachelor’s and Master’s streams requiring registration while the Doctorate stream will accept direct applications.

Key eligibility criteria include:

• Degrees must be from authorized B.C. post-secondary institutions
• Doctoral programs must be from B.C. public universities
• Distance education programs are not eligible
• Programs in any field of study may qualify, provided they meet stream criteria
• Job offers must be in NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3 categories (TEER 0 not eligible)
• A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8 is planned
• Bachelor’s stream requires indeterminate, full-time job offers (exceptions for priority technology occupations)
• Master’s stream requires full-time job offers with a minimum one-year duration

Registration and Application Process for New BC PNP Streams

The program will maintain its points-based registration system, evaluating candidates based on:

• Human capital factors (work experience, education, language proficiency)
• Economic factors (wage levels and job location within B.C.)

To ensure fair assessment, each degree level will have its competitive pool:

• Bachelor’s degree holders will compete only with other bachelor’s candidates
• Master’s degree holders will be evaluated against other master’s candidates
• Doctorate stream applicants will have a separate direct application process

Impact and Implementation

British Columbia is changing its immigration policy to prioritize retaining graduates from local institutions while maintaining high language proficiency standards. Once the new policies are in place, there will be no exceptions for those who fall under the previous rules.

A comprehensive update to the BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide, detailing the full criteria for these new streams, is expected to be released in the coming weeks. The program will continue to issue targeted invitations to apply for qualified candidates with job offers in program-priority occupations.

For candidates interested in non-degree programs, including certificates, diplomas, and post-graduate diplomas, alternative pathways remain available through the Skilled Worker, Health Authority, and Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) streams, with special considerations for early childhood education graduates.

Take Professional Help from Licensed Consultants

ELAAR Immigration’s team of experienced immigration consultants can help you navigate these changes effectively. Whether you’re affected by the closure of existing streams or are interested in the upcoming graduate pathways, our experts understand the evolving BC PNP process and can provide personalized guidance for your situation.

Need expert guidance? Contact our experts today to discuss your BC PNP immigration pathway and let us help you achieve your Canadian immigration goals.