British Columbia no longer runs Tech draws or a dedicated student stream. Since 23 April 2026, B.C. has invited Skills Immigration candidates under three priorities, Care, Build and Innovate, and it expects at least 35% of nominations to go to people working outside Metro Vancouver. The last priority technology draw was on 3 December 2024, and the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream stopped inviting after 10 December 2024. This guide explains what remains, how the 200-point score works, how the draws behave and what Indian applicants should check.
Key Takeaways
- The Skills Immigration page now lists two streams, Skilled Worker and Health Authority, each with an Express Entry BC option.
- Registration is free. The application fee is CAD 1,750 (up from CAD 1,475 on 22 January 2026) and is paid after an invitation. A request for review costs CAD 500.
- On 18 August 2026 B.C. added 1,000 nominations, bringing the 2026 allocation to 6,254, and plans to use all of it by 31 December 2026.
- In Innovate wage-based draws the hourly threshold fell from CAD 70 on 4 February to CAD 49 on 29 October.
- Draws are targeted. B.C. selects candidates it considers most likely to meet its labour market needs, so you cannot calculate a fixed cut-off in advance.
What Changed in 2026
On 22 January 2026 the application fee rose from CAD 1,475 to CAD 1,750. On 23 April B.C. announced the Care, Build and Innovate priorities, covering 36 in-demand Care occupations and 9 in-demand skilled trades. On 28 May it published an updated Skills Immigration Program Guide, and a new Application Guide replaced the Technical Guide. A Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative of up to 250 nominations opened for registration on 15 June and was extended to 7 October 2026 because of wildfires.
The Skills Immigration page lists only the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams. There is no student stream on that page. A graduate with a qualifying job offer and enough experience can still register in Skilled Worker, and B.C. awards 8 points for a B.C. post-secondary credential. For the wider picture see our BC PNP overview and Provincial Nominee Programs guide.
Registration, Invitation and Fees
Skilled Worker needs a job offer in TEER 0 to 3 that is full time and indeterminate, employer support, 2 years of full-time equivalent experience, CLB 4 and a qualifying wage. You register through the BC PNP Online User Portal for free, and your registration stays in the pool for up to 12 months. After an invitation you have 30 calendar days to apply. B.C. says that for about 80% of cases the application stage takes 3 months, the post-nomination stage 1 month and a request for review 6 months.
How the 200-Point Score Works
The Skills Immigration Program Guide scores registrations out of 200: 120 for human capital and 80 for economic factors.
| Factor | Maximum | How points are awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Work experience | 40 | 5 or more years: 20; 4 to 5: 16; 3 to 4: 12; 2 to 3: 8; 1 to 2: 4; under 1: 1. Add 10 for 1 or more years of related Canadian experience and 10 for current full-time B.C. work for the employer. Last 10 years only; part time counts at 50%. |
| Education | 40 | Doctorate 27; master's 22; bachelor's or post-graduate certificate or diploma 15; associate degree 5; other post-secondary diploma or certificate 5. Add 8 for a B.C. post-secondary credential, 6 for another Canadian one and 5 for an eligible B.C. professional designation. |
| Language | 40 | CLB 9 or higher: 30; 8: 25; 7: 20; 6: 15; 5: 10; 4: 5. Add 10 for English and French. |
| Hourly wage | 55 | 55 at CAD 70.00 or more; 0 below CAD 16.00. Hourly wage is annual wage divided by 52 and by weekly hours, counted between 30 and 40. |
| Area of employment | 25 | Metro Vancouver 0; Squamish, Abbotsford, Agassiz, Mission and Chilliwack 5; elsewhere 15. Add 10 for regional experience or alumni status, not available in Metro Vancouver. |
Our BC PNP points calculator follows this scale.
How Care, Build and Innovate Draws Work
B.C. picks candidates from registration information and invites qualified registrations received before the draw date. The categories are:
- Innovate: high economic impact work, invited by a wage threshold or by points.
- Care: childcare (Early Childhood Educators only), health, veterinary, and education for French-speaking teachers.
- Build: construction.
- Rural/Remote Health Support: the temporary initiative above.
Some categories carry conditions. Early Childhood Educators need an ECE certificate. French-speaking teachers in public K-12 schools need CLB 5 in French. Trades need a trade certificate or a SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship that matches the job offer. Nurse aides must be on the B.C. Care Aide registry.
Innovate wage-based draws in 2026
| Draw date | Hourly threshold | Annual figure shown | Invited |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 February | CAD 70 | CAD 145,000 | 206 |
| 22 April | CAD 62 | CAD 125,000 (TEER 0 to 3) | 252 |
| 20 August | CAD 55 | CAD 110,000 | 337 |
| 29 October | CAD 49 | CAD 99,000 | 524 |
Other draws used CAD 62 (11 February and 18 June), CAD 59 (14 May), CAD 58 (16 July) and CAD 52 (24 September). Points-based Innovate draws on the same dates had minimum scores between 131 and 138. On 8 October, Care childcare (ECE) invited 86 candidates at a minimum of 99, Care health 82 at 76, and Build construction 115 at 94. A Rural/Remote Health Support draw on 15 October invited 16 at a minimum of 54.
On 3 November 2026 the pool held 7,235 registrations. Two scored 150 or more, 13 scored 140 to 149, 104 scored 130 to 139 and 746 scored 120 to 129. The other 6,370 scored below 120.
What This Means for Indian Applicants
- Students and graduates: without a student stream, you need a TEER 0 to 3 job offer, 2 years of experience and CLB 4 before registering. Check whether your post-graduation work and earlier experience meet that rule.
- Tech workers: the old Tech draws are gone. Innovate wage-based and points-based draws are the nearest route, and a wage threshold of CAD 49 an hour is still high for many offers.
- Location: a job outside Metro Vancouver earns 15 area points against 0, and B.C. expects at least 35% of nominations to go to such candidates.
- Language: CLB 9 or higher is worth 30 points against 15 at CLB 6. A retake can matter more than a small wage change.
What Is Not Confirmed
- B.C. does not publish a draw calendar or planned invitation numbers by category.
- The 35% figure is described as an expectation, not a published quota.
- I did not find a 2027 allocation on the B.C. pages checked.
Estimate Your BC PNP Score
Our free calculator uses the 200-point scale from the 28 May 2026 guide, including the wage and area factors.
BC PNP CalculatorFrequently Asked Questions
Does B.C. still run Tech draws?
No. The final priority technology draw was on 3 December 2024. Innovate draws now select high economic impact candidates by wage threshold or by points.
Is there a B.C. PNP student stream?
The Skills Immigration page lists only Skilled Worker and Health Authority. Graduates can register in Skilled Worker if they meet its job offer and experience rules.
Does registering cost money?
No. After an invitation the application fee is CAD 1,750, and a request for review is CAD 500.
How long do I have to apply after an invitation?
30 calendar days. A registration stays in the pool for up to 12 months.
What does the 35% outside Metro Vancouver mean?
B.C. expects at least 35% of nominations to go to candidates working in communities outside Metro Vancouver. It is an expectation stated by the province, not a promise for any one candidate.
How long does processing take?
B.C. says about 80% of applications are processed in 3 months, post-nomination steps in 1 month and requests for review in 6 months. Your case can take longer.
Sources
- BC PNP news: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program/news
- Skills Immigration: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/skills-immigration
- BC PNP invitations to apply: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program/invitations-to-apply
- About the BC PNP: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program/about-the-bc-provincial-nominee-program
- BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide: https://www.welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/bc-pnp-si-program-guide-pdf
Draw data and figures are as shown on these pages on 6 November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.