BC PNP Express Entry (EEBC)

The Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system, significantly reducing application processing times.

Overview

The Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) stream allows eligible candidates to receive priority processing of both theirBritish Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)application and, if nominated, their permanent residence application. Prospective candidates forExpress Entrymust meet the province’s minimum eligibility criteria for one of the following BC PNP categories:

• Skilled Worker (including the Health Care Professional category)
• International Post-Graduate
  • The list of eligible programmes of study
• International Graduate

The candidate must also be eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programmes in order to enter the Express Entry pool:

• The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The federal economic immigration programmes require candidates to meet the mandatory language proficiency level and to demonstrate sufficient proof of funds to support themselves and their family on arrival in Canada. Candidates eligible under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) must also submit anEducational Credential Assessment (ECA).

The EEBC – Skilled Worker category

The Skilled Worker category is for international skilled workers with post-secondary qualifications or training and work experience in professional, managerial, technical, trade or other skilled occupations. The candidate’s occupation must be classified under theNational Occupational Classification (NOC)matrix at skill level 0, A or B.

Candidates applying under the Skilled Worker category must have a permanent full-time job offer in a skilled occupation from an employer in British Columbia. Candidates with a job offer in a regulated occupation requiring mandatory certification or licensing must demonstrate that they meet the province’s requirements for that occupation when applying under this category.

Experience from paid co-op placements is accepted as work experience, provided that the work was full-time and at a NOC level equal to or higher than that of the job offer.

Category	Employment	Occupation	Experience	Education	Other requirements
EEBC – Skilled Worker	An indefinite full-time job offer from an eligible employer in British Columbia	An occupation at skill level 0, A or B	A minimum of 2 years of directly related work experience (or the full-time equivalent)	An appropriate degree or qualification	The candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration programme The candidate must meet the minimum income requirement
EEBC – Health Care Professional	A full-time job offer from a public health authority in British Columbia	Physicians, specialist physicians, nurses, psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners, midwives and allied health professionals	A minimum of 2 years of directly related full-time work experience	Appropriate licensing or registration	The candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration programme The candidate must meet the minimum income requirement The candidate must meet all the requirements of the BC PNP Health Care Professional stream

The EEBC – International Post-Graduate category

Employers in British Columbia have indicated that they are looking for workers with postgraduate qualifications in the sciences, and the Government of British Columbia has responded accordingly.

Individuals with a master’s or doctoral degree in the sciences, obtained within the past 3 years from an eligible programme at a post-secondary institution in British Columbia, may be eligible to apply under the International Post-Graduate category, provided that the postgraduate degree was obtained in one of the following natural, applied or health science fields:

• Agriculture
• Biological and biomedical sciences
• Computer and information sciences and support services
• Engineering
• Engineering technology
• Health professions and related clinical sciences
• Mathematics and statistics
• Natural resources conservation and research
• Physical sciences

The candidate must provide evidence of an intention to reside in British Columbia. This evidence may include:

• Previous or current periods of residence in British Columbia
• A connection to British Columbia through work, study or family
• A description of the steps taken to settle in British Columbia, such as looking for work or accommodation

Category	Employment	Education	Other requirements
EEBC — International Post-Graduate	No job offer required	A master’s or doctoral degree from an eligible institution in British Columbia. Only for graduates in the natural, applied or health sciences.	The candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration programme The candidate must meet the minimum income requirement

Check the list ofProgrammes of study in British Columbia eligible for immigrationunder the skilled worker category.

The EEBC – International Graduate category

International graduates who have graduated from a Canadian university or college within the past 3 years may be eligible to apply under the International Graduate category. Candidates applying under the EEBC — International Graduate category must have a permanent full-time job offer in a skilled occupation from an employer in British Columbia.

Candidates eligible under this category must hold a degree, certificate or diploma from aDesignated Learning Institution in Canada (DLI). Candidates with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree must have received the degree from a Canadian post-secondary institution authorised to award degrees. Candidates with a diploma or certificate must have received the diploma or certificate from a public post-secondary institution in Canada.

Diplomas or certificates from private institutions are not eligible. The programme of study must last at least 8 months (2 semesters) of full-time study. A programme is not eligible where the candidate spent more than a quarter of the programme on a co-op placement or internship.

Category	Employment	Occupation	Experience	Education	Other requirements
International Graduate	An indefinite full-time job offer from an eligible employer in British Columbia	An occupation at skill level 0, A or B	Not required	An eligible degree or diploma from a Canadian college or university	The candidate must be eligible for a federal economic immigration programme The candidate must meet the minimum income requirement

The minimum income requirement

The minimum income thresholds by family size are set out below. The candidate must demonstrate that their annual salary — and that of their spouse, where applicable — in British Columbia meets the income threshold. Bonuses, commission, tips, living allowances or overtime are not counted towards the annual salary.

Family size	The Greater Vancouver Regional District	The rest of British Columbia
1	$22,804	$19,006
2	$28,390	$23,659
3	$34,902	$29,087
4	$42,376	$35,316
5	$48,062	$40,054
6	$54,205	$45,175
7 or more	$60,350	$50,296

Who is not eligible

Candidates should not apply if they:

• Are inadmissible to Canada;
• Are in Canada without legal status;
• Where the candidate’s status has expired and they cannot demonstrate that they applied to restore their status within the 90-day period, the candidate is treated as being without legal status.
• Are working in Canada without authorisation;
• Have an unresolved asylum claim in Canada; or
• Are subject to a removal order in or outside Canada.

Find out more about Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC) on the British Columbia provincial government website athere.