The  PNP Skilled Worker category is for employers looking to recruit and/or retain an international worker with specialized skills. The employer must be willing to issue a guaranteed job offer, and both the employer and potential nominee file a joint application.

The job offer must be for a position the employer has been unable to fill with a permanent resident or Canadian citizen due to a shortage of qualified workers in British Columbia.

PNP applications are usually processed in 5-8 weeks. Once nominated, the candidate can apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for a work permit and permanent residence visa. The BC PNP can provide a letter supporting the work permit application so the nominee can begin working in Canada.

Qualifying Occupations

Qualified workers are those skilled occupations that fall into Skill Levels O, A or B of the  National Occupational Classification Matrix. These occupations include managers, professionals, technicians/technologists and skilled trades. The BC PNP also provides expedited immigration processing for  Health Professionals and  International Graduates.

The easiest way to understand the process may be to look at the requirements and the application forms. Most of the forms for the International Graduates classification are the same forms used for the skilled worker class.

• Read the general requirements that are applicable for all categories of the Strategic Occupations component of the PNP program.
• The BC PNP Application Checklist lists all the required documents for a complete PNP Strategic Occupations application. International graduates should also check the degree/diploma requirements before continuing.
• As part of your PNP application, you will also need to complete the federal forms on the CIC website. More information on the federal processes for the PNP can be found here.

In addition to the checklist, both Both skilled workers and students need to complete the following 3 forms:

• The Nominee Information Form is completed by both skilled worker and student applicants.
• The Guaranteed Job Offer Form is completed by the employer on behalf of the skilled worker or student.
• The Information Release Form is completed by the skilled worker (and spouse) or student (and spouse).
• In most cases a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is required from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) to support the hiring of a foreign worker.

Health Care Professionals

• Health Match BC helps recruit Physicians and Registered Nurses for the province of British Columbia. PNP applications are reviewed by Health Match BC and forwarded to the PNP program. The Health Match BC website has a good immigration overview for foreign physicians and foreign nurses interested in working in British Columbia.

Once nominated, a person may apply for a  permanent resident visa through Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) under the provincial nominee category to receive faster processing.

 Learn about work permits and what is required by you and your potential employer if you wish to temporarily work in Canada. Note: You cannot immigrate with a work permit.