B.C. Reserves Most PNP Spots for Healthcare Workers in 2025

British Columbia has made big changes to its Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). For 2025, the province will reduce its application limit to 1,100. The majority of these spots will be reserved for healthcare workers in specific roles, with a small portion saved for entrepreneurs and other candidates who could have a major impact on the economy.

Healthcare Workers Eligible for Permanent Residency

As of April 14, 2025, only healthcare workers who directly contribute to healthcare services are eligible for the Health Authority stream. This marks a change from the past when even administrative and support staff could apply.

To be eligible, workers must hold a full-time, permanent job with a public health authority in B.C. They also need to work in one of the many healthcare professions listed by the province, including:

• Animal health technologists
  
• Audiologists
  
• Cardiology technologists
  
• Chiropractors
  
• Dentists
  
• Dietitians
  
• General practitioners
  
• Nurses
  
• Paramedics
  
• Pharmacists
  
• Physiotherapists
  
• Psychologists
  
• Social workers
  

A full list of eligible occupations can be found on the official B.C. government website.

Self-Employed Healthcare Workers

Self-employed professionals such as physicians, nurse practitioners, and midwives may still apply if they can show support from a B.C. health authority. They must submit a recommendation letter and documents confirming their qualifications and future employment plans in B.C.

Support from Health Authorities

For workers to qualify under the Health Authority stream, their employer must be one of B.C.’s public health authorities. These include major health regions such as Fraser Health, Interior Health, and Vancouver Coastal Health. Each health authority has its own process for endorsing applicants for the BC PNP.

Entrepreneurs and High-Economic Impact Candidates

A smaller number of spots will be available for entrepreneurs and those who could have a major economic impact on the province. These could include highly skilled workers, those with high-paying jobs, or those working in in-demand occupations. B.C. has not specified how many invitations will be given to these applicants.

Cutting Back Due to Quota Limits

B.C. has received a limited number of nominations for 2025, just 4,000. With a backlog of over 5,200 applications from the previous year, the BC PNP has had to tighten its application process. As a result, only 1,100 new applicants will be accepted in 2025.

In light of this, B.C. has also paused some streams of the program, focusing on processing applications already in the backlog. By limiting the number of applications, the province hopes to manage the nominations better.