If you're a skilled professional in the U.S., especially in tech or healthcare, you're likely watching the Canadian immigration landscape. You've probably heard of the high scores for federal Express Entry. But what if there was a "side door" that not only welcomes but specifically targets your exact skillset?

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

While the federal government manages the main immigration pool, British Columbia (home to Vancouver's "Silicon Valley North") runs its own targeted draws for the exact talent it needs. And in 2025, they’ve been laser-focused on tech, healthcare, and childcare workers.

This guide is your deep dive into how the BC PNP works, who they’re inviting, and the massive opportunity on the horizon for 2026.

HUGE NEWS: Canada's 2026 PNP Targets Are Rebounding by 66%

This is the most important strategic update for your 2026 planning.

After a temporary dip in 2025, the new federal 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan shows a massive 66% rebound for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). The total number of PNP admissions (permanent residents) is set to jump from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 in 2026.

What this means for you:

• More Frequent Draws: Provinces like B.C. will have a much larger quota to fill.
• Larger Invitations: We expect to see more invitations issued in B.C.'s targeted draws.
• Massive Opportunity: If your profile matches B.C.'s needs, 2026 is shaping up to be a prime year to apply.

Latest BC PNP Draws (2025) & Key Insights

Unlike the federal government's CRS score, B.C. uses its own points system called the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), which is out of 200 points.

Here is a look at a recent 2025 draw to show you who they’re inviting:

K7's Expert Analysis: What This Means

1. B.C. Values High Earners: The October draw specifically targeted 114 skilled workers with high-wage job offers ($90/hr+), proving B.C. is competing for top-tier global talent. This is a direct signal to experienced U.S. professionals.
2. It’s Not Just About Your Score: The “General” draw score of 140 is high, but B.C. runs multiple types of draws. The most important ones for U.S. applicants are the targeted draws for high-demand occupations, which often have much lower score requirements.
3. The Priority Sectors are Clear: B.C. consistently holds separate, lower-score draws for candidates with job offers in:
   • Tech Occupations
   • Healthcare Occupations (including physicians, nurses, and allied health)
   • Childcare (Early Childhood Educators - ECEs)
   • Construction & Skilled Trades

If you’re a U.S.-based software engineer, registered nurse, or ECE, you are exactly who B.C. is looking for.

How to Qualify: The 2 Main Pathways for U.S. Applicants

B.C. offers two main pathways for skilled workers. Understanding the difference is critical.

1. Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC)

This is the "fast track" and is ideal for strong candidates.

• How it Works: This stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system. You must first qualify for one of the federal programs (like the Federal Skilled Worker Program) and have an active Express Entry profile.
• The Process: You register a separate profile with the B.C. SIRS. If B.C. nominates you, you receive 600 bonus points on your federal Express Entry profile, which essentially guarantees you’ll get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
• Who It’s For: U.S. professionals with strong “human capital”—a high level of education, 3+ years of skilled work experience, and high English scores.

2. Skills Immigration (SIRS)

This is the primary B.C. stream and is not connected to Express Entry.

• How it Works: You are ranked only against other candidates in the B.C. pool based on their SIRS score.
• The Process: You register a profile in B.C.'s SIRS system. B.C. invites candidates from this pool in their regular draws. If nominated, you apply for permanent residency directly to the federal government through the non-Express Entry paper-based process.
• Who It’s For: This path is excellent for candidates who may not have a high federal CRS score but do have a job offer in one of B.C.'s high-demand occupations.

Eligibility Criteria: Do You Have What B.C. Needs?

For most B.C. streams (especially the Skilled Worker stream), you must have a full-time, permanent job offer from an eligible B.C. employer. This is the single most important requirement.

Here are the other core criteria:

• Work Experience: You must have at least two years of full-time, directly related work experience for the Skilled Worker stream. Your U.S. experience is perfect for this.
• Language: You must meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4. This is a very achievable English score.
• Wage: Your job offer must meet B.C.'s minimum wage requirements for your occupation and region.

Understanding the B.C. (SIRS) Scoring System

Your SIRS score (out of 200) determines if you’ll be invited. It’s broken into two parts:

1. Human Capital Factors (Max 120 Points): This is all about you.
   • Directly Related Work Experience: (Max 40 points) More years = more points.
   • Highest Level of Education: (Max 40 points) A Master’s or PhD gets more points than a Bachelor’s.
   • Language Proficiency (CLB): (Max 40 points) A CLB 9+ gets more points than the minimum CLB 4.
2. Economic Factors (Max 80 Points): This is all about your job offer.
   • Hourly Wage: (Max 55 points) A $90/hr job gets vastly more points than a $25/hr job.
   • Area of Employment: (Max 25 points) You get more points for working outside the Greater Vancouver Area, as B.C. wants to spread immigrants throughout the province.

This scoring system is great news for experienced U.S. professionals. Your high-level U.S. work experience and education give you a strong “Human Capital” score, and your ability to secure a high-wage job offer can maximize your “Economic Factors” score.