BC PNP raises processing fees by $275 as provincial nominations face tighter allocation

Effective January 22, 2026, BC PNP increased its Skills Immigration application processing fee by $275 CAD, rising from $1,475 CAD to $1,750 CAD. Registration remaining free is helpful for candidates exploring eligibility, but most skilled worker pathways still require the paid application to obtain a provincial nomination. The $500 request for review fee is also important: it is typically only relevant after a refusal, and it should be treated as a last-resort procedural option rather than a strategy, because successful outcomes usually depend on whether the original decision involved an error or missing information that should have been considered.

Because two application fee figures are listed, the most cautious interpretation is that BC PNP has more than one application price point, or that a newer, higher fee has been introduced for certain submissions or timing. In either case, applicants should assume the higher amount may apply and budget accordingly until the exact fee for the chosen stream and submission type is confirmed at filing.

What BC PNP is and how it works for permanent residence

BC PNP is a provincial nomination program that allows the province to select and nominate eligible candidates for permanent residence based on local labour market needs. A nomination does not by itself grant permanent residence, but it supports a later permanent residence application through the federal stage.

One of the most common pathways is the Skilled Worker category, including the EEBC option (Express Entry British Columbia). In plain terms, BC PNP is often used by workers who already have a qualifying job in the province and want a structured route to permanent residence with provincial support.

Typical Skilled Worker eligibility themes include:

• A genuine job offer from an eligible employer in the province
• Work experience that matches the occupation and duties
• The role classified in an eligible NOC TEER level (commonly TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 depending on the draw and category)
• Wage and working conditions consistent with the occupation and location
• Ability to perform the job, which may include licensing or certification where required
• Meeting any program specific language expectations, especially where the occupation requires it
• For the EEBC option, an active Express Entry profile that matches the stream requirements

2025 draw overview and what it signals

In 2025, BC PNP draws followed a consistent two stream pattern. One stream was a general draw using a points cutoff, and the other was a targeted high economic impact draw focused on very high wages and specific NOC TEER ranges. The year started with a smaller draw on May 8, 2025, issuing 94 invitations in total: 47 went to a targeted group earning at least $105 per hour, already working full-time in the province for the supporting employer, with a job offer in NOC TEER 0 or 1, while the remaining 47 were issued through the general draw with a minimum score of 150.

Draw volumes increased significantly on October 2, 2025, when BC PNP issued 474 invitations. The general draw accounted for 360 invitations with a reduced minimum score of 140, while 114 invitations went to the targeted high wage group requiring at least $90 per hour and $175,000 per year, with job offers in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. On December 10, 2025, the province issued 410 invitations, again combining 314 general invitations at an even lower cutoff of 138 with 96 targeted invitations for candidates earning at least $84 per hour and $170,000 per year in NOC TEER 0 to 3.

Taken together, the 2025 data shows easing thresholds across both streams: the general minimum score dropped from 150 to 140 to 138, while targeted wage requirements decreased from $105 per hour to $90 and then $84, alongside annual salary thresholds of $175,000 and $170,000. This pattern suggests BC PNP was actively adjusting selection criteria to balance competitiveness with intake needs, while still prioritizing candidates positioned as higher economic impact.

For 2026, BC PNP will likely keep the same two track model: targeted high economic impact invitations plus general draws where the minimum score moves up or down based on the number of qualified registrations submitted before each draw. The program has already signaled it can change the high economic impact factors (see section 7.3(a) of the Skills Immigration Program Guide), so wage and TEER may stay important but could be combined with other priorities like occupation needs and whether the candidate is already working full-time in the province. If patterns stay similar, general cutoffs may continue to sit roughly in the high 130s to 150 range, while targeted wage thresholds may fluctuate draw to draw rather than trend in one direction.

It is also reasonable to expect the province to move ahead with reforms to the international student and post graduate streams that were delayed, and the overall direction may continue to align with top priority occupations seen across the country, especially healthcare and STEM. Current fee increases and competitive draws can make the process feel less predictable, especially for workers balancing job changes, expiring status, or employer timelines. The best results usually come from careful document preparation, eligibility screening, and consistent evidence across the registration, application, and federal stages, supported by advising and representation for the immigration applications from an immigration consultant.