Canada immigration Update : British Columbia conducted new PNP draws for skilled workers
British Columbia Holds New PNP Draws for Skilled Workers and Entrepreneurs in May 2026
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program conducted two consecutive immigration draws during the first week of May 2026, inviting skilled professionals and business investors to apply for provincial nomination.
The latest rounds of invitations were issued through both the Skills Immigration (SI) category and the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category. A combined total of 341 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were distributed between May 5 and May 6.
The majority of invitations were issued to workers in healthcare, education, veterinary services, and construction occupations, reflecting British Columbia’s updated labour market priorities announced earlier this year.
British Columbia Focuses on Priority Occupations
The province has continued shifting its Provincial Nominee Program toward occupations that are experiencing significant shortages across British Columbia. The newest draws were aligned with the province’s economic and workforce goals, particularly in sectors connected to health services, housing development, and education.
The May 6 Skills Immigration draw targeted candidates working in occupations that support two major provincial priorities:
- Care-related occupations
- Construction and infrastructure occupations
This was also the first major Skills Immigration selection round after British Columbia introduced recent program changes on April 23, 2026.
British Columbia Skills Immigration Draw – May 6, 2026
On May 6, the province invited 333 skilled workers under targeted occupational categories. Candidates required varying minimum scores depending on the occupation group.
Skills Immigration Draw Results
| Core Objective | Occupational Category | Number of NOCs Targeted | Invitations Issued | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care | Health | 31 | 117 | 108 |
| Care | Veterinary | 2 | 9 | 100 |
| Care | Education | 1 | 86 | 115 |
| Build | Construction Trades | 9 | 121 | 108 |
Construction-related occupations received the largest share of invitations, accounting for more than one-third of all ITAs issued during the draw.
Healthcare Occupations Targeted in the Latest BCPNP Draw
The province selected workers from a broad range of healthcare occupations to address staffing shortages across medical facilities and care institutions.
Targeted Health Care Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 30010 | Managers in health care |
| 31100 | Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine |
| 31101 | Specialists in surgery |
| 31102 | General practitioners and family physicians |
| 31110 | Dentists |
| 31112 | Audiologists and speech-language pathologists |
| 31120 | Pharmacists |
| 31121 | Dietitians and nutritionists |
| 31200 | Psychologists |
| 31201 | Chiropractors |
| 31202 | Physiotherapists |
| 31203 | Occupational therapists |
| 31204 | Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy |
| 31209 | Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating |
| 31300 | Nursing coordinators and supervisors |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 31302 | Nurse practitioners |
| 31303 | Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals |
| 32101 | Licensed practical nurses |
| 32102 | Paramedical occupations |
| 32103 | Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists |
| 32111 | Dental hygienists and dental therapists |
| 32112 | Dental technologists and technicians |
| 32120 | Medical laboratory technologists |
| 32121 | Medical radiation technologists |
| 32122 | Medical sonographers |
| 32123 | Cardiology technologists and select diagnostic technologists |
| 32200 | Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists |
| 33101 | Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 41300 | Social workers |
Veterinary Occupations Included in the Draw
Targeted Veterinary Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 31103 | Veterinarians |
| 32104 | Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
Candidates under these occupations were required to hold valid professional licensing or designation where applicable.
Early Childhood Educators Continue to Receive Invitations
Targeted Education Occupation
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 342202 | Early Childhood Educators |
The province issued 86 invitations to candidates working in this occupation category.
Construction Trades Receive the Highest Number of Invitations
Targeted Construction Trades Occupations
| NOC Code | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators |
| 72200 | Electricians (except industrial and power system) |
| 72201 | Industrial electricians |
| 72300 | Plumbers |
| 72301 | Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers |
| 72310 | Carpenters |
| 72400 | Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 72401 | Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72402 | Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics |
The province also confirmed that apprentices registered with Skilled Trades BC were included within these targeted occupations.
Nearly 10,000 Candidates Remain in the SI Pool
British Columbia currently has a large number of active candidates registered in the Skills Immigration pool. As of May 6, 2026, there were 9,967 active registrations across all score ranges.
BCPNP Skills Immigration Pool Distribution
| Score Range | Number of Registrations |
|---|---|
| 0 – 59 | 215 |
| 60 – 69 | 401 |
| 70 – 79 | 853 |
| 80 – 89 | 1,353 |
| 90 – 99 | 1,781 |
| 100 – 109 | 2,107 |
| 110 – 119 | 1,550 |
| 120 – 129 | 1,148 |
| 130 – 139 | 522 |
| 140 – 149 | 32 |
| 150+ | 5 |
So far in 2026, British Columbia has issued 1,706 invitations through the Skills Immigration category.
Entrepreneur Immigration Draw Held on May 5
A day before the skilled worker draw, British Columbia invited entrepreneurs interested in establishing or purchasing businesses in the province. The Entrepreneur Immigration category issued invitations through both the Base Stream and the Regional Stream.
Entrepreneur Immigration Draw Results
| Score Range | Invitations Issued | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 8 | 115 |
| Regional | Less than 5 | 115 |
Difference Between the Base and Regional Entrepreneur Streams
The Regional Stream is specifically designed for entrepreneurs planning to establish businesses outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District. This stream requires applicants to obtain a community referral and complete an exploratory visit before applying.
The financial eligibility criteria also differ between the two pathways, particularly in terms of investment amounts and net worth requirements.
Entrepreneur Immigration invitations 2026
BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration invitations issued to date:
| Date | Stream | Minimum Score | Invitations Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 5, 2026 | Base | 115 | 8 |
| Regional | 115 | <5 | |
| April 14, 2026 | Base Stream | 115 | 14 |
| March 10, 2026 | Base Stream | 117 | 7 |
| March 10, 2026 | Regional Stream | 129 | Fewer than 5 |
| February 10, 2026 | Base | 121 | 13 |
| Regional | 105 | Fewer than 5 | |
| January 13, 2026 | Base | 115 | 7 |
If your EOI is selected, you’ll receive an invitation to apply for nomination from British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program.
British Columbia Continues Active PNP Selections in 2026
British Columbia has remained one of the most active provinces under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program system in 2026.
To date, the province has issued:
- 1,706 invitations under Skills Immigration
- 49 invitations through Entrepreneur Immigration
The province is expected to continue conducting targeted draws throughout the year as labour shortages remain high in healthcare, construction, childcare, and regional business development sectors across British Columbia.
Source: welcomebc.ca
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