BC PNP score breakdown gives candidates clearer insight

The BC Provincial Nominee Program now gives candidates a clearer view of where they stand in the province’s skilled immigration pool. The program released new score breakdowns that show how many people sit in each score band. These numbers help candidates judge their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply.

The province changed its approach this year. It shifted from targeted draws to broad selections that focus on candidates with strong economic potential. This change came after the federal government reduced the province’s nomination spots for 2025.

How the Pool Looks Today

The new data shows 10,733 registrations in the pool as of November 2. Most candidates hold scores between 100 and 109. Only a small number reach the top ranges above 140.

The pool includes only people who received a Skills Immigration Registration System score after submitting an Expression of Interest. The province uses this score to compare applicants across several skilled immigration streams.

Where Candidates Stand

The detailed score table shows how each score group compares to the whole pool. Candidates can now see the percentage of people in each band and the percentile range they fall into.

For example, the 100–109 range holds 19.20% of the pool. The 150+ range includes just 0.26%. The lowest range, 0–59, contains 2.63%. These numbers help candidates see how many others sit above or below their score.

This level of detail gives candidates a better sense of competition. They can track how crowded each score category is and gauge how likely they are to receive an invitation during upcoming draws.

How BC Selects Candidates Now

In past years, the province used stream-specific draws. A candidate’s stream and score shaped their chances. The province also looked at other factors, such as occupation.

This year, things changed. With fewer nomination spots, BC began holding broader draws that consider candidates across several streams at once. Some draws focus on score. Others focus on wages or specific job offers.

For example, on October 2, the province invited skilled immigration candidates with either a score of at least 140 or a job offer that pays at least $90 per hour in a TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation.

More Invitations Expected

On October 2, BC confirmed that it received 1,254 additional nomination spots for 2025. This followed a sharp reduction earlier in the year. These extra spots join the province’s original 4,000 nominations. BC already used many of those through new invites and by reducing its backlog.

The province expects its allocation to rise again in 2026. The increase aligns with the national plan to raise provincial immigration levels.

The new score data signals a more open process. Candidates now have a clearer look at how they compare in the competition. The province aims to select applicants who can support strong economic growth as it continues to manage a large pool and limited spaces.