BC PNP 2026: Care, Build and Innovate Priorities Explained

The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) now chooses candidates around three priorities: Care, Build and Innovate. BC announced them on April 23, 2026, and an updated Skills Immigration Program Guide took effect on May 28, 2026. You still apply through the Skilled Worker or Health Authority stream with a B.C. job offer, but invitations focus on care occupations, skilled trades and high-impact talent. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is closed and BC will not launch new student streams.

Key points

• Care: 36 in-demand occupations in health care, education, childcare and veterinary care.
• Build: certified workers in 9 in-demand skilled trades.
• Innovate: “High Economic Impact” invitations for top talent across sectors.
• The application fee rose to $1,750 on January 22, 2026. Registration is free.
• BC’s 2026 allocation is 6,254 after a 1,000-nomination increase announced August 18, 2026.

What changed in 2026

All dates come from WelcomeBC’s news page.

Date (2026)	Change
January 22	Skills Immigration application fee rises from $1,475 to $1,750
April 23	Program priorities announced: Care, Build, Innovate. ELSS stream confirmed closed; no new student streams
May 28	Updated Skills Immigration Program Guide takes effect; Application Guide replaces the Technical Guide
June 15	Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative opens (up to 250 nominations)
August 13	That initiative’s registration extended to October 7, 2026, due to wildfires
August 18	1,000 more nominations; 2026 allocation becomes 6,254

The three priorities

Care

Care targets the care economy: 36 in-demand occupations across health care, education, childcare and veterinary care. If you work, or have a job offer, in nursing, allied health, early childhood education or a similar listed role, this is where most BC invitations are likely to go. Check the current Program Guide for the exact occupation list, because BC can update it.

Build

Build supports infrastructure and major projects. It prioritizes certified workers in 9 in-demand skilled trades. Certification matters here: the priority is for tradespeople with recognized qualifications, not general labourers.

Innovate

Innovate uses High Economic Impact invitations to target top talent across sectors. BC has not tied this to one industry. In practice it is aimed at candidates whose job offer, wage or skills suggest a large contribution to the economy. Read the Program Guide for how BC defines these invitations.

Who no longer has a dedicated route

• Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS): WelcomeBC says the stream “is officially closed.” Its last invitations were issued December 10, 2024.
• International graduates: BC said it will not launch new student streams. The former graduate options are gone.
• Tech: the last priority technology occupations draw was December 3, 2024. WelcomeBC notes that previously listed tech occupations remain eligible under the general stream rules, but there is no tech-specific draw.

If you are a graduate or a tech worker, you can still qualify through the Skilled Worker stream if you meet its requirements. You just no longer get a separate, targeted draw.

Skills Immigration streams and basic requirements

According to WelcomeBC’s Skills Immigration page, as of October 2026:

	Skilled Worker	Health Authority
Job offer	Full-time, no end date, TEER 0–3 occupation, eligible B.C. employer	Eligible occupation with a B.C. health authority
Work experience	At least 2 years full-time equivalent	See Program Guide
Language	CLB 4 minimum	CLB 4 minimum
Express Entry BC option	Yes	Yes

Both streams require a completed Employer Declaration Form, and minimum wage and income requirements apply. Certain occupations are ineligible, including administrative assistants and real estate agents. The Express Entry BC (EEBC) option links your nomination to your federal Express Entry profile, which adds 600 CRS points.

How registration and invitations work

1. Register in the Skills Immigration Registration System. There is no fee.
2. Your registration is scored on human capital factors (work experience, education, language) and economic factors (wage and the job’s location in B.C.).
3. Registrations stay in the pool for up to 12 months or until you are invited.
4. BC runs draws, now aimed at Care, Build and Innovate priorities.
5. After an invitation you have 30 calendar days to submit a complete application, or the invitation expires.
6. WelcomeBC says applications take about 3 months for roughly 80% of cases.
7. If nominated, apply to IRCC for permanent residence (and a work permit, if you need one).

Fees

Fee	Amount (CAD)
Registration	No fee
Skills Immigration application	$1,750
Request for review	$500 (non-refundable)
IRCC economic PR application, principal applicant	$1,590 including the right of permanent residence fee

BC application fees are refundable only if you withdraw before assessment starts. IRCC fees are from the IRCC fee list.

The 2026 allocation

BC started 2026 with an allocation reported at 5,254. IRCC added 1,000 nominations in August, bringing the total to 6,254, and BC said it plans to use the full allocation by December 31, 2026. See how BC compares with other provinces in our PNP allocations 2026 by province.

Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative

Alongside the main priorities, BC opened a time-limited health initiative on June 15, 2026, with up to 250 nominations. It used the BC PNP’s registration system. Registration was originally set to close August 31, 2026, and BC extended it to October 7, 2026 because of wildfire impacts. As of October 11, 2026, that deadline has passed. Eligibility details are in the Skills Immigration Program Guide. Watch WelcomeBC’s news page in case BC runs a similar initiative again.

Who still qualifies: common situations

These examples apply the published rules. They are not eligibility decisions.

Your situation	How the 2026 changes affect you
Registered nurse or other health worker with a B.C. job offer	Falls under Care, the area BC is prioritizing. Health Authority stream may apply if your employer is a health authority
Certified electrician or other certified tradesperson with a full-time B.C. job	Likely falls under Build if your trade is among the 9 in-demand trades
Software developer with a B.C. job offer	No tech-specific draws since December 2024, but you can still register under Skilled Worker; you may be considered under Innovate if your profile shows high economic impact
International graduate with a TEER 0–3 job offer	No student stream; apply through Skilled Worker, which requires 2 years of full-time equivalent experience
Worker in an entry-level or semi-skilled job	ELSS is closed; no current BC PNP route for most of these jobs
Administrative assistant or real estate agent	Listed by WelcomeBC as ineligible occupations

Tips for a stronger registration

• Wage matters. Your registration score includes economic factors such as your wage. A higher wage for the same occupation scores better.
• Location matters. The job’s location in B.C. is a scoring factor. The Program Guide explains how each area scores.
• Language scores help even above the CLB 4 minimum, because language is part of the human capital score.
• Keep registrations current. They expire after 12 months, and BC removes your registration if you miss the 30-day application deadline after an invitation.

Is BC PNP still a good option?

It depends on your occupation. If you work in a Care occupation or a certified trade, BC’s 2026 changes point toward you. If you hoped for a graduate or tech draw, the options are narrower. Compare other provinces, such as Alberta’s AAIP, or federal Express Entry.

This article is general information, not legal advice. For questions about your eligibility, speak to a licensed lawyer or regulated Canadian immigration consultant (RCIC).

What to do next

• Download the current Skills Immigration Program Guide from WelcomeBC and check your occupation.
• Confirm your job offer is full-time, has no end date and is in an eligible TEER.
• Register (it’s free) once you meet the minimum requirements.
• Follow program changes on our updates page and the Canada hub.