The Province is updating the BC Provincial Nominee Program to do what it can to best meet its workforce priorities, and provide as much fairness and clarity as possible, following the federal government’s decision to reduce the nomination allocation spots.

B.C. had fully met its allocation for 2024 to nominate 8,000 workers and entrepreneurs who support provincial priorities, and the Province has requested an allocation of 11,000 for 2025. In January 2025, B.C.’s 2025 allocation was cut to 4,000 by the federal government, significantly affecting the Province’s ability to meet its workforce needs.

As part of the updated approach, the Province will process the majority of its application inventory and accept approximately 1,100 new applications this year, mainly for positions that contribute directly to the delivery of health-care services, such as doctors, nurses and allied-health professionals.

The nominee program is the only tool that allows B.C. to nominate new immigrants in high-demand jobs to stay in the province. The vast majority of applicants already live and work in B.C. It is intended to help address labour demands in priority sectors, such as health care, child care, construction and housing. The Province will continue to advocate for the federal government to restore the BC Provincial Nominee Program allocation to previous levels, to support B.C.’s efforts to attract and retain in demand professionals.

Learn More:

For the latest BC Provincial Nominee Program guide, visit: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/guides-forms-reports-documents

For more information about the program, visit: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program

For Canada’s 2025-2027 immigration levels plan, visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/10/20252027-immigration-levels-plan.html

And: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2025-2027.html

Read more here.