IMMIGRTION NEWS
October 2026
Cleaners, Guards and Business Owners Get the Nod in the Latest BC PNP Draws
The latest BC PNP draws put two very different groups of applicants in the spotlight. Between October 15 and 20, 2026, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program sent out at least 27 invitations to apply for nomination, across two rounds. One round went to cleaners and security workers employed by a health authority in a remote part of the province. The other went to entrepreneurs who want to start a business in B.C., or buy an existing one and grow it.
Invited candidates can now file their provincial nomination application with the province. Those who are approved move on to the federal stage and apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Applicants already living in Canada can also apply for a bridging open work permit once they submit their PR application, so they can keep working while IRCC reviews their file.
BC PNP Draw Results at a Glance
| Draw Date | Category | Invitations | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 15 | Skills Immigration: Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative (TRHSI) | 16 | 54 |
| October 20 | Entrepreneur Immigration: Base Stream and Regional Stream | Base: 10, Regional: fewer than 5 | 118 |
The October 15 round was the smallest of the three held so far under the TRHSI, a time-limited route to PR for eligible public health authority workers. As of October 20, B.C. had issued at least 6,317 Skills Immigration invitations this year across 17 draws, and only 109 of those went to TRHSI candidates. On the entrepreneur side, the province sent at least 131 invitations over 11 rounds, most through the Base Stream.
Inside the TRHSI: A Short-Term Route for Rural Health Support Staff
The Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative is meant for foreign workers who hold a regular, permanent, full-time job with a qualifying B.C. public health authority in a rural or remote community. Three occupations, defined by National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes, are eligible:
- Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners (NOC 65312)
- Light-duty cleaners (NOC 65310)
- Security guards and related security service occupations (NOC 64410)
Applicants need at least nine months of continuous full-time work in one of these jobs, with the same employer and in the same region. Positions based in three regional districts do not count: Central Okanagan, Metro Vancouver and the Capital Regional District. The Capital Regional District has exceptions for jobs on Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring and Saturna islands.
British Columbia announced this pathway in April 2026 and capped it at 250 nominations. The initiative officially started in mid-June, and registrations closed at midnight on October 7, 2026. With 109 invitations issued against that cap, the province has not said how many workers have actually been nominated so far.
Two Ways in for Entrepreneurs: Base or Regional?
B.C. runs two entrepreneur streams, and each has its own rules. Here is how they compare.
| Requirement | Base Stream | Regional Stream |
|---|---|---|
| Business plan | Start a new business, or buy an existing one and expand it | Start a new business outside Metro Vancouver |
| Experience | 3 years as owner-manager in the past 10 years | 3 years as owner-manager in the past 5 years |
| Education* | Post-secondary credential | Post-secondary credential |
| Language | CLB 4 | CLB 4 |
| Personal net worth | $600,000 | $300,000 |
| Investment | $200,000 | $100,000 |
| Ownership share | 33.33% | 51% |
| Community Referral | Not required | Required |
| Exploratory visit | Not required | Required |
| Minimum registration score | 115 out of 200 | 105 out of 200 |
| Co-applicant registration | Allowed | Not allowed |
*Applicants without post-secondary education must have owned and actively managed a business for at least three of the past five years, with full ownership throughout.
What the Scores Tell Us
Cutoff scores deserve a second look. The entrepreneur round closed at 118, which is above the minimum registration score for both streams (115 for Base, 105 for Regional). Meeting the minimum gets your profile into the pool, but it doesn’t guarantee an invitation. Candidates who score close to the floor may want to see where their score can realistically improve before registering.
What Invited Candidates Should Do Next
An invitation is not a nomination. The candidate still has to submit a complete application to the province and wait for a decision. Only after that can they approach IRCC, which makes the final decision on permanent residence and conducts its own checks. Missing documents or small errors at either stage can slow things down, so review the eligibility criteria and paperwork carefully before filing. IRCC’s application package for provincial nominees is the place to confirm the latest forms and instructions.
Where Neximm Fits into Your Canada Journey
Draw results like these show how quickly provincial priorities can shift. A stream that is quiet this month may be busy the next, and the score you need depends on your own profile. Reading the official criteria is one thing, and working out where you fit is another. At Neximm Immigration, our team helps applicants compare pathways, check their eligibility and prepare documents properly before they apply. Whether you are looking at British Columbia or another province, reach out to Neximm for guidance on your Canada plans.
Legal Advisory: This article is published for general information only and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Provincial and federal immigration programs, draw results, eligibility criteria and fees can change without notice, so some details may have changed since publication. Please confirm the current requirements on the official IRCC and WelcomeBC websites before you act on anything here.