British Columbia has officially increased its provincial nomination application fees under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) for key worker immigration streams. The fee increase applies to applicants under the Skills Immigration category and came into effect in January 2026.
This update is important for foreign workers and candidates applying for permanent residence (PR) through British Columbia, as it affects the cost of submitting a nomination application after receiving an invitation.
✅ What Fee Has Been Increased?
The BC PNP has raised its Skills Immigration nomination application fee from:
- Old fee: $1,475
- New fee: $1,750
This new fee was announced by BC PNP on January 22, 2026.
📌 Who Will Pay the New Fee?
Only candidates whose applications were submitted on or after January 22, 2026 will pay the new amount.
✅ If you applied before January 22, 2026, you will not need to pay any difference.
🎯 Which BC PNP Streams Are Affected?
The fee increase applies only to selected Skills Immigration worker streams, including:
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream
- Health Authority Stream
📌 Important: The Express Entry BC (EEBC) options under the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams are also affected by this fee increase.
❌ Streams NOT Affected
According to the update:
- Request for review fees remain unchanged
- Entrepreneur Immigration stream fees remain unchanged
💳 How Can Applicants Pay the Fee?
Applicants must pay their Skills Immigration nomination application fee inside the:
✅ BC PNP Online User Portal
🔄 Is the Application Fee Refundable?
BC PNP states fees are refundable only if:
- the application is withdrawn before assessment begins
⚠️ Request for review fees are non-refundable.
🧾 Note: This Fee Is NOT Your IRCC PR Application Fee
Many applicants get confused here.
This BC PNP fee is only for:
✅ Provincial nomination application submission (BC PNP stage)
You will still have to pay separate fees when applying to IRCC for permanent residence.
🛠️ BC PNP Skills Immigration Process (Step-by-Step)
If you’re applying through BC worker streams, the usual process includes:
1) Choose Your Eligible Stream
Identify which Skills Immigration stream you qualify for.
2) Register & Enter the Candidate Pool
Create your profile online and enter the pool.
BC assigns a score based on:
- Work experience
- Education
- Language proficiency
- Wage offered
- Job location
Profiles remain active for up to 12 months.
3) Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If selected, BC issues an ITA.
4) Submit Nomination Application
You must submit within 30 days, or your ITA expires and you are removed from the pool.
This is when the $1,750 fee is paid.
5) Wait for Nomination Decision
Estimated processing time is about 3 months.
If approved, you receive your nomination package and confirmation letter.
6) Apply for PR to IRCC
Submit your PR application before the nomination confirmation expiry.
📄 Work Permit Support Letter (For Candidates in Canada)
If your work permit is expiring (or already expired), BC may provide a work permit support letter so you can apply for a new work permit without an LMIA.
This may be issued automatically with the nomination package or requested through BC PNP Online if eligible.
✅ Final Thoughts
The BC PNP fee increase is a major update for 2026 immigration planning. If you are applying under BC’s worker streams, make sure to budget for the updated $1,750 nomination fee, especially if your application is submitted after January 22, 2026.
