In January 2025, British Columbia’s Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) will launch three new streams for international graduates: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate.
These streams aim to provide more straightforward paths for international graduates to obtain Canadian permanent residence (PR) and enhance their job prospects across British Columbia.
What information has British Columbia disclosed about the new streams to date?
The streams are scheduled to launch in January 2025, with each requiring a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 8. Graduates of diploma and certificate programs are ineligible for these streams, but may qualify for other BCPNP pathways.
Bachelor’s stream
Intended for recent graduates with Bachelor’s degrees from eligible post-secondary institutions.
Applicants must have a full-time, permanent job offer to qualify.
Master’s stream
Available to recent graduates with Master’s degrees from eligible post-secondary institutions.
Candidates must secure a full-time job offer in a skilled occupation lasting at least one year.
Doctorate stream
For graduates and doctoral candidates from eligible post-secondary institutions at the doctoral level.
Below are further crucial details regarding the three new BCPNP streams:
- While the streams do not limit job offers to specific occupations, all job offers must still meet the eligibility criteria set by B.C.’s new streams.
- Unlike previous programs, B.C.’s new streams do not require graduates to have completed specific programs. Recent graduates from degree programs in any field of study may be eligible for these streams as long as they meet the specified criteria.
- Each stream (Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctorate) has its own set of eligibility requirements, ensuring that applicants with different credentials do not compete against each other. For example, applicants under the Bachelor’s stream will only compete with other Bachelor’s degree holders for ITAs.