British Columbia Invites More Skilled Workers In A New Draw
British Columbia invites more skilled workers in a new draw, i.e., British Columbia has held another provincial immigration draw, inviting hundreds of skilled workers through its Skills Immigration (SI) category.
The latest draw took place on May 14, 2026, under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP).
A total of 437 invitations to apply (ITAs) were issued to candidates considered likely to make a strong economic contribution to the province.
Draw Details
This selection round marked British Columbia’s fifth Skills Immigration draw of the year.
The province invited candidates based on two different selection factors:
- High wage combined with a skilled job offer
- Strong registration scores
The invitations were divided almost evenly between the two categories, though slightly more candidates were selected under the wage and job offer requirement.
| Selection Criteria | Details | Invitations Issued |
| Wage/salary + job offer | TEER 0–3 job offer, with an offered wage of at least $59/hour (≈ $120,000/year) | 225 |
| Registration score | Minimum of 135 points | 212 |
The province says these invitations fall under its “Innovate” initiative.
This initiative is aimed at attracting experienced professionals, highly skilled workers, and international talent who can help support economic growth in British Columbia.
The province has stated that the initiative focuses on workers from a broad range of industries and occupations that are important to the labour market.
Different Factors May Be Used In Future Draws
British Columbia noted that future high economic impact draws may use different selection factors depending on labour market needs and provincial priorities.
Skills Immigration selections may be based on:
- Education level, field of study, and where the education was completed
- Professional licensing or designation in British Columbia
- Length and type of work experience
- Language ability
- Occupation
- Wage and skill level of the job offer
- Interest in living in certain regions of the province
- Other strategic labour priorities or provincial projects
This gives the province flexibility to respond to changing workforce needs throughout the year.
One Of The Largest SI Draws Of The Year
The May 14 draw became the third-largest Skills Immigration selection round held in 2026.
Only two earlier draws issued more invitations:
- April 22, 2026 – 484 invitations; and
- February 11, 2026 – 460 invitations.
Both of those draws also selected candidates using wage and TEER 0–3 job offer criteria.
Another major draw on February 4 issued 429 invitations using similar factors.
The remaining Skills Immigration draw this year took place on May 6 and focused on targeted occupations rather than wages.
That round invited candidates working in:
- Healthcare
- Veterinary care
- Education
- Construction trades
A total of 333 invitations were issued during that selection.
Registration Pool Remains Competitive
As of May 6, the latest available data showed 9,967 registrations in British Columbia’s Skills Immigration registration pool.
The largest number of candidates fell within the 100 – 109 score range.
| 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 |
The figures show that competition remains strong for provincial nomination in British Columbia.
Candidates with higher wages, stronger work experience, and skilled job offers often receive an advantage in selections.
Total Invitations Issued In 2026
So far in 2026, British Columbia has issued 2,143 invitations through its Skills Immigration category.
The province has also continued holding Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) draws throughout the year.
To date, British Columbia has conducted eight EI draws across five separate selection rounds.
These entrepreneur draws resulted in at least 49 invitations being issued.
Of those:
- Five draws targeted candidates under the EI Base Stream; and
- Three targeted the EI Regional Stream.
The Base Stream is designed for entrepreneurs planning to establish or purchase businesses anywhere in the province.
The Regional Stream focuses on smaller communities outside the Metro Vancouver area.
How British Columbia Selects SI Candidates?
Foreign nationals interested in immigrating through British Columbia’s Skills Immigration category must first submit a registration under one of the available streams.
Once submitted, the registration receives a score based on human capital and economic factors.
The maximum possible score is 200 points.
Each stream has its own registration pool, and the province regularly selects candidates based on current labour market priorities.
Registrations remain active for up to 12 months.
If a registration expires before selection, the candidate must submit a new one to remain eligible.
Candidates who successfully receive a provincial nomination can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
Note: British Columbia recently introduced major updates to its Provincial Nominee Program on April 23, 2026, as the province continues adjusting its immigration system to meet changing economic and workforce demands.
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