BC PNP Loosens Rules for International Graduates to Immigrate

2.75 minute read

"British Columbia has altered the requirements for international student immigration categories because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, international students only need to complete 50% of their study programs from within Canada to be eligible for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)."

Written by My Visa Source Team
Published on: May 6, 2021

British Columbia has altered the requirements for international student immigration categories because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, international students only need to complete 50% of their study programs from within Canada to be eligible for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

This implied that international students can complete half of their study program in their home country and the rest in Canada if they are eligible to travel during the Covid-19 pandemic. International students who graduated before March 1, 2020, must have completed half of their study program on-campus in Canada.

However, those who were set to graduate on or after March 1, 2020, must complete 50% of their study program in Canada but it does not need to be on-campus. Applicants will be required to provide certain documents like the tenancy agreement, bank statements or utility bills to demonstrate that they completed their study programs while residing in Canada.

If you've attended a long-distance education program, you are ineligible for provincial nomination under BC PNP.

Which International Students Are Exempt from Covid-19 Travel Restrictions?

If your designated learning institution has obtained approval from the Canadian government for its Covid-19 response plan, then you are exempt from the travel restrictions. However, it may prove difficult to travel to Canada due to airport closures and other restrictions.

For this reason, many learning institutions are choosing to hold their lectures online and many international students are opting to attend classes from their home country. International students may be further discouraged from traveling to Canada due to the strict travel restrictions implemented by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Anyone traveling to Canada during the pandemic will be required to take a Covid-19 test and have a 14-day quarantine plan. You may also be required to stay at a government-approved hotel for 3 days to wait for the result of your Covid-19 test, resulting in expenses of up to $2,000.

Which Immigration Streams Are Offered by the BC PNP for International Students?

British Columbia offers the following pathways for international students under its provincial program:

The BC PNP - Express Entry (EEBC) is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, meaning that you require an active Express Entry profile to qualify. Each province or territory has their own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that has streams linked with Express Entry, with the exception of Nunavut and Quebec Immigration.

To qualify for the Express Entry aligned immigration streams, you must have graduated from a designated learning institution in British Columbia and have a valid job offer that provides a competitive wage.

For the Skills Immigration Stream, the qualifying requirements are the same as those mentioned above. Additionally, you must have graduated in the last 3 years and demonstrate language proficiency for your occupation.

For the International Post-Graduate stream through Express Entry or Skills Immigration, you will require a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in an eligible field along with the intent to live and work in British Columbia. A job offer is not required.