IMMIGRTION NEWS
October 2026
BC Invites 284 Skilled Workers from Healthcare, Childcare, Veterinary Care, and the Trades
On October 8, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) issued at least 284 invitations to candidates in care-related occupations and construction trades. The care-related invitations covered healthcare, childcare, and veterinary care workers.
What Happens After an Invitation
Invited candidates have 30 days to submit an application for provincial nomination. Once approved, they become provincial nominees and can apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence (PR).
Nominees who are already in Canada and have applied for PR may also be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP).
Since June 9, 2026, a temporary measure has made it possible for base PNP nominees to apply for a BOWP much sooner. They no longer need to wait for an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) on their PR application first.
Breakdown of the October 8 Invitations
| Category | NOCs Targeted | Invitations Issued | Minimum Score | Priority Area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 31 | 82 | 76 | Care |
| Construction trades | 9 | 115 | 94 | Build |
| Veterinary care | 2 | Fewer than 5 | 86 | Care |
| Childcare | 1 | 86 | 99 | Care |
Eligible Occupations by Sector
Healthcare
| Occupation | NOC |
|---|---|
| Audiologists and speech-language pathologists | 31112 |
| Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists | 32123 |
| Chiropractors | 31201 |
| Dental hygienists and dental therapists | 32111 |
| Dental technologists and technicians | 32112 |
| Dentists | 31110 |
| Dietitians and nutritionists | 31121 |
| General practitioners and family physicians | 31102 |
| Kinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy | 31204 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 |
| Managers in health care | 30010 |
| Medical laboratory assistants and related technical occupations | 33101 |
| Medical laboratory technologists | 32120 |
| Medical radiation technologists | 32121 |
| Medical sonographers | 32122 |
| Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates* | 33102 |
| Nurse practitioners | 31302 |
| Nursing coordinators and supervisors | 31300 |
| Occupational therapists | 31203 |
| Other professional occupations in health diagnosing and treating | 31209 |
| Paramedical occupations | 32102 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals | 31303 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 |
| Psychologists | 31200 |
| Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 |
| Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists | 32103 |
| Social workers | 41300 |
| Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine | 31100 |
| Specialists in surgery | 31101 |
| Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists | 32200 |
NOTE: Candidates with a job offer under NOC 33102 needed to be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry to qualify for a healthcare invitation.
Construction Trades
To qualify in this category, candidates needed either a valid SkilledTradesBC trade certificate or a registered SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship that matched their job offer.
| Occupation | NOC |
|---|---|
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Electricians (except industrial and power system) | 72200 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers | 72301 |
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
Veterinary Care
BC used two sets of criteria for this sector. One covered priority veterinary occupations in general. The other applied specifically to animal health technologists and veterinary technicians holding a valid professional designation.
| Occupation | NOC |
|---|---|
| Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians | 32104 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 |
Childcare
Candidates needed a one-year or five-year Early Childhood Educator (ECE) certificate issued by the ECE Registry.
| Occupation | NOC |
|---|---|
| Early childhood educators | 42202 |
Where This Draw Fits in BC’s 2026 Selection Activity
The October 8 draw was BC’s seventh occupation-specific round of 2026. It targeted priority occupations under the province’s three focus areas: Care, Build, and Innovate.
Every other Skills Immigration (SI) round this year selected candidates based on registration score, wage or salary, and/or a job offer.
As of October 8, BC had issued at least 6,301 invitations through the SI category and at least 120 through the Entrepreneur Immigration category. In this latest round, the province has held 26 draws in 2026, 16 aimed at skilled workers.
Understanding the Skills Immigration Registration Pool
To be considered under the BCPNP’s SI category, foreign nationals must first submit an Expression of Interest profile, also called a registration.
Each profile receives a score based on its details and is placed in the relevant registration pool or pools. BC then holds periodic draws, inviting high-ranking registrants who meet that round’s criteria to apply for nomination.
As of October 6, the latest date with available figures, the pool held 7,695 registrations:
| Score Range | Registrations |
|---|---|
| 0–59 | 216 |
| 60–69 | 364 |
| 70–79 | 718 |
| 80–89 | 1,281 |
| 90–99 | 1,444 |
| 100–109 | 1,426 |
| 110–119 | 1,189 |
| 120–129 | 854 |
| 130–139 | 171 |
| 140–149 | 23 |
| 150+ | 9 |
| Total | 7,695 |
Thinking About Moving to British Columbia?
BC’s occupation-specific draws reward candidates in healthcare, childcare, veterinary care, and the skilled trades. If your work falls into one of these areas, the right preparation can put you in a stronger position when the next round opens.
The Neximm team can review your profile, explain how the BCPNP’s Skills Immigration category works, and help you plan your next steps toward provincial nomination and permanent residence.
Chat with our experts on WhatsApp or email us at connect@neximmvisa.com, and we’ll help you plan what comes next.