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Pardeep S. Grewal is a lawyer at Lawgical Law Corporation, called to the BC bar in 2024, and a member of the Law Society of British Columbia.
Updated November 9, 2026: stream status, priority occupations and the 2026 allocation were checked on WelcomeBC’s BC PNP news page (last updated August 26, 2026), the About the BC PNP page (last updated June 17, 2026) and the Skills Immigration Program Guide (effective June 10, 2026) that day.
The change: the BC PNP International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams are closed, and on April 23, 2026 BC said it “will not be launching new student streams”.
What’s left: the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams, with targeted draws for 36 “Care” occupations (healthcare, early childhood educators, French teachers, veterinary) and 9 construction trades with SkilledTradesBC credentials.
What to do: map your job (NOC code), your experience and your PGWP expiry against the grid below, and line up the Canadian Experience Class as a parallel route.
The lawyers who handle these files
Sundeep S. GrewalBarrister and Solicitor
Prabhpreet Kaur SanghaBarrister and Solicitor
Pardeep S. GrewalBarrister and SolicitorAbout our lawyers
Sundeep S. Grewal founded Lawgical Law Corporation and argues immigration cases at the Immigration and Refugee Board and the Federal Court of Canada.
Prabhpreet Kaur Sangha focuses on refugee claims, immigration appeals, inadmissibility, detention reviews and Federal Court cases, and has presented at Continuing Legal Education seminars and the National Immigration Conference.
Pardeep S. Grewal is an immigration and estates lawyer known for clear communication and practical strategy.
If you graduated from a BC college or university and planned to get permanent residence through the BC PNP’s International Graduate stream, that route is closed and BC has said no replacement student stream is coming. Graduates still have options, but they now depend on your job, not your degree: a TEER 0 to 3 job offer with two years of experience under Skilled Worker, a public health authority job, or a job on BC’s Care or Build priority lists. Federally, 12 months of skilled work after graduation can qualify you for the Canadian Experience Class. The deadline that matters most is your PGWP expiry.
Lawgical Law Corporation, an immigration law firm in Surrey, Abbotsford and Vancouver, BC, advises graduates and employers on BC PNP and Express Entry applications and on BC PNP refusals and reviews.
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What changed in the BC PNP in 2026?
On April 23, 2026, BC reorganized the BC PNP around three goals, Care, Build and Innovate, closed the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, ended priority technology draws and confirmed no new student streams. Its 2026 allocation is 6,254 nominations after the federal government added 1,000 in August 2026.
| Date | Change | Source |
|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | International Graduate stream stopped accepting registrations (“closed before the end of 2024”) | BC PNP 2025 Statistical Report, pp. 14 to 15 |
| Early January 2025 | International Post-Graduate stream closed | BC PNP 2025 Statistical Report, p. 14 |
| January 22, 2026 | Skills Immigration application fee up from $1,475 to $1,750 | WelcomeBC news |
| April 23, 2026 | Care, Build and Innovate priorities; Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream “officially closed”; no new student streams; last tech draw was December 3, 2024 (tech jobs still eligible, through High Economic Impact invitations) | WelcomeBC news |
| June 10, 2026 | Updated Skills Immigration Program Guide in effect | Program Guide |
| June 15 to October 7, 2026 | Registration for the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative (up to 250 health authority cleaning and security workers); now closed | WelcomeBC news |
| August 18, 2026 | 1,000 more nominations; 2026 allocation now 6,254 | WelcomeBC news |
BC also expects at least 35% of nominations to go to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver. That is a target, not an eligibility rule. In 2025, 38% of Skills Immigration nominees were outside Metro Vancouver, and almost 90% of all nominees were already living and working in BC (BC PNP 2025 Statistical Report).
Which routes still exist for international graduates?
For a BC graduate in November 2026, the routes that still exist are the Canadian Experience Class, BC PNP Skilled Worker (TEER 0 to 3, two years’ experience), the Health Authority stream, and targeted BC PNP draws for Care and Build occupations. The International Graduate stream and the In-Canada Workers Initiative are not open to new applicants.
| Route | Open to new applicants? | Who it fits | Key requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC PNP International Graduate / International Post-Graduate | No | Nobody new | Closed (2024 and January 2025); no new student streams |
| Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry) | Yes | Graduates with a year of skilled work in Canada | 1 year or 1,560 hours of paid TEER 0 to 3 work in Canada in the last 3 years, not while studying full-time (co-op doesn’t count); language test (IRCC, modified October 16, 2026) |
| BC PNP Skilled Worker | Yes | Graduates with a skilled job offer and two years’ experience | Indeterminate job offer in TEER 0 to 3; at least two years of full-time (or equivalent) skilled experience in the last 10 years (Program Guide) |
| BC PNP Health Authority | Yes | Graduates hired by a BC public health authority | Regular, indeterminate, full-time job with a health authority in an eligible health occupation (any NOC starting with 3, plus 41300, 41301, 42201), with the health authority’s support |
| Care priority draws (healthcare, ECE, French teachers, veterinary) | Yes, by targeted invitation | Nursing, allied health, ECE and similar graduates | A job in one of 36 listed NOC codes; ECEs need a one-year or five-year ECE certificate; care aides (33102) must be on the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry |
| Build priority draws (9 construction trades) | Yes, by targeted invitation | Trades graduates and apprentices | “A valid trade certificate issued by, or have a trades apprenticeship registered with, SkilledTradesBC” |
| High Economic Impact invitations (Innovate) | Yes, selective | Strong candidates in any sector, including tech | BC’s own selection; tech occupations remain eligible |
| Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | No | Nobody new | Officially closed April 23, 2026 |
| In-Canada Workers Initiative | No new applications | Only people who already filed a PNP, AIP, community pilot, caregiver pilot or agri-food PR application and lived 2+ years in a smaller community | IRCC speeds up existing files; “Applicants do not need to take any action” (IRCC, May 4, 2026) |
The 36 Care and 9 Build NOC codes (from WelcomeBC, June 17, 2026)
Healthcare (31): 30010, 31100, 31101, 31102, 31110, 31112, 31120, 31121, 31200, 31201, 31202, 31203, 31204, 31209, 31300, 31301, 31302, 31303, 32101, 32102, 32103, 32111, 32112, 32120, 32121, 32122, 32123, 32200, 33101, 33102, 41300. These include, for example, registered nurses (31301), licensed practical nurses (32101), pharmacists (31120) and nurse aides and patient service associates (33102).
Childcare (1): 42202 early childhood educators and assistants (ECE certificate required).
Education (2): 41220 and 41221, French-speaking teachers in BC’s public K-12 system with CLB 5 or higher in French.
Veterinary care (2): 31103 and 32104.
Construction trades (9): 72106 welders, 72200 electricians, 72201 industrial electricians, 72300 plumbers, 72301 steamfitters and pipefitters, 72310 carpenters, 72400 construction millwrights and industrial mechanics, 72401 heavy-duty equipment mechanics, 72402 heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics.
Which route fits your situation?
The fastest route usually depends on two things: whether your job is on a priority list, and whether you have one year or two years of skilled Canadian experience. Here is how that plays out for common graduate profiles in Surrey and the Fraser Valley.
- Nursing or allied health graduate: the Care list and, if hired by Fraser Health or another health authority, the Health Authority stream. Licensing or registration usually comes first.
- Early childhood education graduate: the Care list (42202), once you hold a one-year or five-year ECE certificate from the ECE Registry.
- Trades graduate or apprentice (electrical, plumbing, carpentry, welding and the others on the list): the Build list, with a SkilledTradesBC certificate or a registered apprenticeship.
- Business, IT or other graduate with one year of skilled work: the Canadian Experience Class is often the realistic route; BC PNP Skilled Worker needs two years.
- Graduate in a TEER 4 or 5 job (retail, food service, warehouse): there is no BC PNP stream for these jobs since Entry Level and Semi-Skilled closed. The plan is usually to move into a TEER 0 to 3 job while the PGWP lasts.
The Fraser Valley points edge
A job outside Metro Vancouver scores more BC PNP registration points. Jobs in Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Agassiz or Squamish get 5 area points; elsewhere outside Metro Vancouver gets 15; Metro Vancouver (including Surrey and Langley) gets 0. A graduate of a public BC institution outside Metro Vancouver can also earn up to 10 regional points.
- Area points (Program Guide section 8.5): Area 1, Metro Vancouver Regional District, 0 points; Area 2, Squamish, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Mission and Chilliwack, 5 points; Area 3, the rest of BC, 15 points.
- Regional experience or regional alumni (up to 10 points, only one of the two): for a job in Area 2 or 3. Regional alumni points need graduation from a public BC institution outside Metro Vancouver within 3 years before registering; private institutions don’t count.
- Education points (section 8.2): 8 points for post-secondary education completed in BC, 6 for elsewhere in Canada, for the highest level only, and only for study longer than six months.
Example: a graduate of a public university in Abbotsford who takes a skilled job in Abbotsford can pick up 5 area points and up to 10 regional alumni points, on top of 8 BC education points. The same graduate working in Surrey gets the 8 education points but no area or regional points.
PGWP timing: the clock that decides everything
Your PGWP length is fixed, and neither a BC PNP registration nor a nomination by itself authorizes you to work. The Program Guide says “A BC PNP nomination by itself does not authorize you to work in B.C.”, so you need valid status the whole way through. Work backwards from your PGWP expiry date.
- Count your skilled months. CEC needs 12 months of TEER 0 to 3 work; Skilled Worker needs 24. Work done while studying full-time doesn’t count for CEC.
- Check the job’s NOC code against the Care and Build lists. If it is on a list, registration and credentials (licence, ECE certificate, SkilledTradesBC) come first.
- Before your PGWP expires: nominees can get a BC PNP work permit support letter and apply to IRCC for a work permit; if you’ve applied for PR, a bridging open work permit may be possible. Apply before expiry to keep maintained status.
- Keep your status. The BC PNP only counts work experience gained “while you were legally authorized to work in Canada”, and a nomination requires legal status.
Since flagpoling ended, every one of these permits has to be applied for online and on time; see our guide on getting a work permit or PGWP now that flagpoling has ended.
Why applications get refused: mistakes I have seen
- I have seen graduates register with a job title that fits a priority NOC code when the actual duties fit a different one. The duties decide the NOC.
- I have seen trades applicants register without a SkilledTradesBC certificate or registered apprenticeship. The same kind of certificate problem can sink an Express Entry file too, as in our post on Express Entry refused over a pesticide certificate (CoQ).
- I have seen applicants count co-op or full-time-study work toward CEC experience.
- I have seen nominees let their PGWP expire believing the nomination let them keep working.
- I have seen job offers that were not truly indeterminate or full-time, which the Skilled Worker stream requires.
If your BC PNP application has already been refused, see our guides on BC PNP refusals and judicial review and Express Entry and PNP refusals.
Frequently asked questions
Is the BC PNP International Graduate stream coming back?
No. The stream closed in late 2024, and on April 23, 2026 BC said it “will not be launching new student streams”. Graduates are directed to the other BC PNP pathways, where completing studies in BC still earns extra points.
Can I apply to the BC PNP with less than two years of experience?
Not under the Skilled Worker stream, which requires two years of full-time skilled experience in the last 10 years. The Health Authority stream has different requirements, and the Canadian Experience Class needs one year.
How many BC PNP nominations are there in 2026?
6,254. BC’s 2026 allocation was 5,254 until the federal government added 1,000 on August 18, 2026; BC plans to use all of it by December 31, 2026.
Do I need a SkilledTradesBC certificate for the BC PNP trades draws?
You need either a valid trade certificate issued by SkilledTradesBC or a trades apprenticeship registered with SkilledTradesBC, for one of the 9 listed construction trades.
Does a job in Abbotsford help my BC PNP score?
Yes. Abbotsford, Mission, Chilliwack, Agassiz and Squamish jobs earn 5 area points, versus 0 for Metro Vancouver, and can open up to 10 regional points. The rest of BC outside Metro Vancouver earns 15 area points.
Can the In-Canada Workers Initiative help me as a new graduate?
No. It speeds up PR applications already filed through a PNP, the Atlantic program, community or caregiver pilots, or the agri-food pilot by people who have lived in smaller communities for 2 or more years. There is nothing new to apply for.
What does the BC PNP application cost?
Registration is free; the Skills Immigration application fee is $1,750 since January 22, 2026. IRCC’s PR fees are separate.
What should I do right now?
Write down your PGWP expiry date, your NOC code and duties, and your months of skilled work since graduating. Check the NOC against the Care and Build lists, and get any licence, ECE certificate or SkilledTradesBC credential started now, because it often takes longer than the application. If you’re close to 12 months of skilled work, prepare your Express Entry profile at the same time.
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Sources (official)
- WelcomeBC, BC PNP news (April 23, 2026 priorities; August 18, 2026 allocation; page last updated August 26, 2026).
- WelcomeBC, About the BC PNP (Care and Build NOC lists; last updated June 17, 2026).
- BC PNP, Skills Immigration Program Guide (effective June 10, 2026; sections 7.12, 8.2, 8.5).
- BC PNP, 2025 Statistical Report and Year in Review (released August 26, 2026).
- IRCC, Canadian Experience Class (modified October 16, 2026).
- IRCC, In-Canada Workers Initiative news release (May 4, 2026).
- IRCC, Post-graduation work permit eligibility (modified June 24, 2026).
This article is general information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its own facts.