British Columbia issues over 350 invitations to skilled workers and entrepreneurs in first draw of June
On June 2, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) conducted a draw inviting in-demand workers and entrepreneurs to apply for provincial nomination.
The BCPNP extended no less than 357 invitations to apply (ITAs) to workers in construction trades and care-related occupations, as well as individuals interested in establishing a new business or taking over an existing one in the province.
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This marks the province’s 12th round of selections in 2026—six through the Skills Immigration (SI) category, and six through the Entrepreneur Immigration (EI) category.
Skills Immigration selection
British Columbia’s latest SI draw—which made up 342 of the total invitations issued—is in direct alignment with its new provincial immigration priorities announced on April 23, 2026.
The selections were organized around two of its three core objectives, Care and Build, which intended to aid in “attracting top talent and addressing critical labour market needs.”
Of the 342 invitations issued through the SI draw, 37.4% were sent to individuals working in construction trades occupations, with the remaining going to healthcare and care related services.
| Core objective | Occupational category | Number of NOCs targeted | Invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Care | Education | 1 | 91 | 111 |
| Care | Health | 31 | 117 | 100 |
| Care | Veterinary | 2 | 6 | 92 |
| Build | Construction trades | 9 | 128 | 101 |
The province has issued a total of 2,485 ITAs through its SI category this year, as of June 2.
Entrepreneur Immigration selection
Through its June 2 selection round, the BCPNP invited no less than 15 entrepreneurs through its EI Base Stream and EI Regional Stream.
The number of invitations varied by stream, though the minimum score of invited candidates was the same—following recent trends:
| Stream | Invitations issued | Minimum score |
|---|---|---|
| Base | 15 | 117 |
| Regional | <5 | 117 |
This is the highest number of entrepreneurs invited through a single Base Stream draw in 2026 thus far.
The Base Stream is intended for foreign nationals planning to launch a new business or purchase an existing business anywhere in the province.
By contrast, the Regional Stream is aimed at individuals who wish to establish a new business outside the Metro Vancouver Regional District.
To date, the province has conducted 10 EI draws. Of these, six have been through Base Stream and four through the Regional Stream.
As of June 2, the province has issued no less than 64 invitations through its EI category in 2026.
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