B.C. Issues 437 Invitations in Latest Skilled Immigration Draw

British Columbia invited 437 candidates to apply for provincial nomination through its latest British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Skills Immigration draw on May 14, 2026.

The draw focused on candidates considered to have a high economic impact in the province. Invitations went to applicants who met one of two selection factors: a strong wage and job offer, or a high registration score.

This was the fifth Skills Immigration draw held by the province this year.

Wage and score-based invitations

The invitations were divided almost evenly between the two selection groups. However, candidates selected through the wage and job offer factor received a slightly larger share.

A total of 225 invitations went to candidates with a TEER 0 to 3 job offer and an offered wage of at least $59 per hour. That works out to about $120,000 a year.

Another 212 invitations were issued to candidates who had a minimum registration score of 135 points.

The selection criteria fall under British Columbia’s “Innovate” initiative. The province says the initiative aims to attract “experts and innovators from all sectors to help make B.C. a top destination for international talent.”

According to the BCPNP, this approach is meant to bring highly skilled workers into a wide range of sectors and occupations where talent is needed.

Future draws may use different factors

The province has noted that future high economic impact invitations may not follow the same criteria. Skills Immigration selections can be based on several factors, depending on provincial needs.

These may include a candidate’s education, professional designation in B.C., work experience, language ability, occupation, wage, skill level of a job offer, and intention to live and work in a specific region of the province. Strategic priorities linked to labour needs or major provincial projects may also be considered.

Third-largest Skills Immigration draw this year

The May 14 draw was the third-largest Skills Immigration draw of 2026 so far. Larger draws were held on April 22, when 484 invitations were issued, and on February 11, when 460 invitations were issued.

Those two draws, along with a February 4 draw that issued 429 invitations, also selected candidates based on wage, salary, and TEER 0 to 3 job offers.

A separate Skills Immigration draw on May 6 issued 333 invitations. That round targeted specific occupations in health care, veterinary care, education, and construction trades.

Nearly 10,000 registrations in pool

As of May 6, the latest available data showed 9,967 registrations in the BCPNP Skills Immigration pool.

The largest group of candidates, 2,107 registrations, had scores between 100 and 109. Another 1,781 candidates were in the 90 to 99 range, while 1,550 were in the 110 to 119 range.

So far in 2026, British Columbia has issued 2,143 invitations through the Skills Immigration category.

The province has also held eight Entrepreneur Immigration draws across five selection rounds this year. At least 49 invitations were issued through those rounds, including five targeted draws under the Entrepreneur Immigration Base Stream and three under the Regional Stream.

How the process works

Foreign nationals who want to immigrate to British Columbia through Skills Immigration must first submit a registration under a specific stream.

The province gives each registration a score based on human capital and economic factors. The maximum score is 200 points.

Candidates who receive a provincial nomination can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.