British Columbia Invites 500+ Workers in Priority BC PNP Draw
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) invited more than 500 skilled workers to apply for provincial nomination in a new series of occupation-targeted selections held on August 6, 2026.
Invitations were issued across five priority categories: childcare, healthcare, education, veterinary care and construction trades.
The province published individual minimum registration scores for each category. The thresholds ranged from 68 points for education candidates to 102 points for early childhood educators.
August 6 BC PNP draw results
| Priority category | Selection group | Minimum score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Care: Childcare | Early childhood educators | 102 | 183 |
| Care: Health | Priority healthcare occupations | 84 | 124 |
| Care: Education | Priority education occupations | 68 | Fewer than 5 |
| Care: Veterinary Care | Priority veterinary occupations | 72 | 6 |
| Build: Construction Trades | Priority construction occupations | 88 | 187 |
British Columbia does not publish the exact number when fewer than five invitations are issued in a category. The publicly reported results confirm at least 500 invitations across the other four categories, in addition to the small education selection.
The provincial results can be checked on the official BC PNP invitations page.
Why did British Columbia target these occupations?
British Columbia reorganized its 2026 immigration priorities around three objectives:
- Care: Supporting healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary services
- Build: Supporting construction, infrastructure and major projects
- Innovate: Attracting high-impact workers and entrepreneurs across different industries
The August 6 selections focused on the Care and Build objectives.
Under its Care objective, the province has identified 36 priority occupations across healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary care. Under Build, British Columbia prioritizes certified workers in nine construction trades considered important for infrastructure and development.
These priority lists influence who may receive an invitation. Being employed in a listed occupation does not automatically make a candidate eligible or guarantee selection.
Childcare candidates received 183 invitations
British Columbia issued 183 invitations to early childhood educators with registration scores of at least 102.
The childcare selection was limited to early childhood educators. Candidates should verify that their occupation, job duties and professional qualifications match the current BC PNP requirements.
British Columbia has identified certified early childhood educators as an important part of its Care immigration objective.
Healthcare candidates received 124 invitations
The province invited 124 candidates working in priority healthcare occupations. The minimum registration score was 84.
The BC PNP prioritizes qualified healthcare professionals who support public services and community well-being. Different requirements may apply depending on whether a candidate uses the Skilled Worker stream or the Health Authority stream.
Candidates should confirm:
- Whether their occupation appears on the current priority list
- Whether their job offer meets BC PNP requirements
- Whether employer support is required
- Whether professional licensing or registration is necessary
- Whether their work experience and language results remain valid
Education and veterinary-care selections
Fewer than five candidates were invited through the education category, with a minimum score of 68.
British Columbia has indicated that French-speaking teachers working in the province’s public kindergarten-to-Grade-12 system may receive priority as part of its francophone recruitment efforts.
The veterinary-care selection issued six invitations with a minimum score of 72.
The official results specifically refer to priority veterinary-care occupations and animal health technologists and veterinary technicians under NOC 32104 who hold a valid professional designation.
Candidates should not rely only on an occupational title. Their employment duties and professional status must satisfy the applicable program criteria.
Construction candidates received 187 invitations
British Columbia issued 187 invitations to candidates in priority construction occupations. The minimum score was 88.
The province uses its Build objective to support infrastructure and major construction projects. Priority may be given to certified trades workers whose occupations appear on the current targeted list.
A construction occupation being prioritized does not remove the remaining BC PNP requirements. Candidates may still need a qualifying job offer, employer support, relevant work experience, appropriate credentials and valid language results.
Does an invitation provide permanent residence?
No. A BC PNP invitation allows a candidate to submit a provincial nomination application.
It does not itself provide:
- A provincial nomination
- A Canadian work permit
- An invitation for federal permanent residence
- Permanent resident status
The province must first assess and approve the application. If British Columbia grants a nomination, the candidate can proceed through the applicable federal permanent residence process.
IRCC explains that provincial nominees may use either an Express Entry or non-Express Entry process, depending on the provincial stream and their federal eligibility. Candidates must also demonstrate that they intend to live in the nominating province.
Always Canada Group recently covered a separate BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration draw. That draw targeted business applicants, while the August 6 selections focused on skilled workers in priority occupations.
What should invited candidates do next?
An invited candidate should first sign in to the official BC PNP Online portal and carefully review the invitation.
Before submitting an application, candidates should:
- Confirm the BC PNP stream under which they were invited.
- Verify that their occupation and duties match the correct NOC.
- Review the minimum score and selection factors that applied.
- Confirm that their job offer continues to meet program requirements.
- Obtain the required employer-supporting documents.
- Check licensing, registration or trade-certification requirements.
- Confirm that work experience and language-test results remain valid.
- Report any changes that could affect eligibility or registration points.
- Follow the submission deadline stated in their BC PNP account.
Information in the application must remain consistent with the registration used to obtain the invitation. Incorrect or unsupported information can affect the provincial assessment.
What if a candidate was not invited?
Candidates who did not receive an invitation remain responsible for keeping their BC PNP registration accurate and current.
They can review:
- Their occupation and NOC classification
- Current priority-occupation lists
- Job-offer details and wage information
- Work experience
- Education and professional credentials
- Language-test results
- Employer eligibility and support
- Any changes that may affect their registration score
Future invitation thresholds and selection categories may change. A score that resulted in an invitation on August 6 does not guarantee selection in a later draw.
What this draw means for skilled workers
The August 6 selections demonstrate British Columbia’s continued focus on essential public services and infrastructure.
Childcare and construction accounted for most of the published invitations, while healthcare, education and veterinary-care professionals were also selected.
Candidates should assess both occupation-specific priority criteria and the full requirements of their chosen BC PNP stream before registering or applying.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice. BC PNP requirements, occupational priorities and selection scores can change. Review the current provincial and IRCC instructions or consult a qualified Canadian immigration professional before applying.
