British Columbia has invited 33 workers to apply for provincial nomination through its Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative (TRHSI), a special, time-limited pathway designed for certain cleaning and security workers employed by public health authorities in rural and remote communities.
The latest selection took place on September 17, 2026, and was the second invitation round under this temporary pathway. Candidates needed a minimum BCPNP score of 60 to receive an invitation.
The initiative is particularly notable because it provides a permanent-residence pathway for certain non-clinical healthcare support workers who are already working for B.C. health authorities in eligible rural or remote locations.
British Columbia PNP Draw: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Draw date | September 17, 2026 |
| Program | Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative |
| Invitations issued | 33 |
| Minimum score | 60 |
| Previous TRHSI draw | July 23, 2026 |
| Previous invitations | 60 |
| Previous cutoff | 50 |
| Total TRHSI invitations to date | 93 |
| Maximum planned nominations | Up to 250 |
The September draw’s cutoff increased by 10 points compared with the first TRHSI selection, which had a minimum score of 50 and issued 60 invitations.
What Is the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative?
The TRHSI is a one-time, time-limited B.C. immigration initiative created to retain certain workers already employed by public health authorities.
Unlike many traditional provincial nominee pathways that focus heavily on professional occupations, this initiative specifically recognizes workers performing essential cleaning and security functions within the public healthcare system.
British Columbia announced that it intended to nominate up to 250 workers through the initiative.
The province officially began accepting registrations on June 15, 2026.
The registration period was originally scheduled to close at the end of August but was later extended to October 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m., following wildfire-related impacts in the province.
Only Three Occupations Qualify
The temporary pathway is restricted to three specific occupational groups.
| Occupation | NOC |
|---|---|
| Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners | 65312 |
| Light-duty cleaners | 65310 |
| Security guards and related security service occupations | 64410 |
However, simply working in one of these occupations does not automatically make someone eligible.
The worker must also satisfy the initiative’s requirements relating to employer, location, employment duration, job offer and other BCPNP criteria.
Workers Must Be Employed by a B.C. Public Health Authority
One of the most important requirements is the employer.
Eligible workers must have a qualifying job with a B.C. health authority.
The province has eight public health authorities, and the initiative is designed for workers supporting healthcare operations through cleaning or security roles.
This means that someone working as a cleaner or security guard for a private company outside the public health-authority system cannot simply use the TRHSI based on occupation alone.
The job must meet the specific employer requirements of the initiative.
Rural or Remote Employment Is Required
The pathway is specifically designed for workers employed in rural or remote communities.
Certain regional districts are excluded from consideration, including:
- Central Okanagan Regional District;
- Metro Vancouver Regional District; and
- Capital Regional District.
There are limited exceptions within the Capital Regional District for:
- Galiano Island;
- Mayne Island;
- Pender Island;
- Salt Spring Island; and
- Saturna Island.
Therefore, the worker’s physical place of employment matters when determining eligibility.
At Least Nine Months of Continuous Full-Time Employment
Applicants must have completed at least nine months of continuous full-time employment in an eligible occupation before submitting their TRHSI registration.
The employment must be:
- Full-time;
- In an eligible occupation;
- With the same employer; and
- In the same eligible region.
The job must also be a regular, indeterminate, full-time position.
This requirement is intended to ensure that the initiative supports workers who are already established in eligible healthcare-support roles rather than applicants seeking to enter these positions solely for immigration purposes.
Certain Work Periods Do Not Count
Not every period of employment can necessarily be included when calculating the nine-month requirement.
For example, employment completed:
- While holding a study permit; or
- As part of a study program, such as a co-op placement
does not count toward the required qualifying employment period.
Periods of leave lasting more than two weeks also do not count toward the nine-month requirement.
Applicants should therefore maintain accurate employment records before submitting their registration.
Job Offer Must Remain Valid
The job offer is another important requirement.
The qualifying job offer must remain valid during both:
- The registration stage; and
- The application stage.
In addition, the worker must continue working in the qualifying position on a full-time basis throughout the application process.
This means that receiving an invitation does not remove the requirement to continue meeting the employment conditions.
A worker who leaves the qualifying position could potentially lose eligibility.
September Draw Had a Higher Cutoff
The September 17 selection had a minimum score of 60, compared with 50 in the first TRHSI draw.
TRHSI Draw History
| Date | Minimum Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| July 23, 2026 | 50 | 60 |
| September 17, 2026 | 60 | 33 |
| Total | — | 93 |
The BCPNP has therefore issued 93 invitations under the temporary initiative so far.
The higher score in the latest selection demonstrates that invitation thresholds can change depending on the composition of the registration pool and the number of candidates selected.
British Columbia Plans Up to 250 Nominations
When the TRHSI was introduced, British Columbia announced plans to nominate up to 250 workers through the one-time initiative.
With 93 invitations issued in the first two selection rounds, additional selections could still take place, subject to the program’s remaining capacity and eligibility requirements.
It is important to distinguish between invitations and nominations.
An invitation allows a candidate to submit a provincial nomination application. It does not itself mean that the applicant has already received a nomination or permanent residence.
Registration Deadline Extended to October 7
The TRHSI registration period was initially scheduled to close on August 31, 2026.
British Columbia subsequently extended the deadline to:
October 7, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
The province stated that the extension was made because of wildfire-related impacts in mid-August.
This extension gives eligible workers additional time to submit a registration if they have not already done so.
However, applicants should not wait until the final day because they need to ensure that their information and supporting documentation satisfy the program requirements.
How the TRHSI Selection Process Works
The temporary pathway uses the BCPNP’s Expression of Interest-style registration system.
The general process is:
Step 1: Confirm Eligibility
The worker checks whether their:
- Occupation;
- Employer;
- Location;
- Work experience;
- Job offer; and
- Other qualifications
meet the initiative’s requirements.
Step 2: Submit a Registration
Eligible candidates submit their information through the BCPNP system.
Step 3: Enter the Selection Pool
The registration is placed into the pool for consideration.
Step 4: Receive an Invitation
B.C. periodically selects candidates and issues Invitations to Apply.
Step 5: Submit the Nomination Application
An invited candidate submits the required provincial application and documentation.
Step 6: Provincial Decision
The BCPNP assesses the application and determines whether to issue a nomination.
Step 7: Apply for Permanent Residence
Candidates who receive a provincial nomination can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
Provincial Nomination Does Not Automatically Mean Permanent Residence
Workers should understand the difference between the different stages of the process.
Registration → Invitation → Provincial nomination → Federal PR application → Permanent residence
A BCPNP nomination supports a permanent residence application, but the final immigration decision is made at the federal level.
Applicants must still satisfy applicable federal requirements, including admissibility requirements.
British Columbia confirms that successful provincial nominees can proceed with an application for permanent residence to the Government of Canada.
Potential Work Permit Benefit After Nomination
The TRHSI can be particularly relevant to workers who are already in Canada and need to maintain their ability to work while their permanent residence application is being processed.
As of June 9, 2026, a federal temporary measure allows eligible base-PNP nominees to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) without first having received an Acknowledgement of Receipt for their permanent residence application.
The measure can allow eligible nominees to apply for the work permit earlier than under the previous process.
However, nomination alone does not automatically guarantee a BOWP. Applicants must satisfy the applicable federal work-permit requirements.
B.C. Has Not Published the Exact Occupation Breakdown
Although the pathway is limited to three occupational groups, B.C. has not disclosed how the 33 candidates selected on September 17 were divided among cleaners and security workers.
The same applies to the first TRHSI draw, which issued 60 invitations.
Therefore, it would be incorrect to claim that a specific number of cleaners or security guards received invitations in either round.
Why This Pathway Is Different
The TRHSI is different from the regular BCPNP selection system in several ways.
| Feature | TRHSI |
|---|---|
| Type | Temporary, time-limited initiative |
| Target group | Certain healthcare-support workers |
| Eligible occupations | 3 |
| Employer | B.C. public health authority |
| Location | Eligible rural/remote community |
| Work experience | At least 9 months continuous full-time |
| Planned nominations | Up to 250 |
| Registration deadline | October 7, 2026 |
| Latest invitations | 33 |
| Latest cutoff | 60 |
The initiative therefore targets a relatively narrow group of workers rather than being a general immigration route for all cleaners or security guards in British Columbia.
Who Should Pay Attention to This Pathway?
The TRHSI may be relevant to foreign nationals who are already:
- Working for an eligible B.C. health authority;
- Employed in one of the three qualifying NOCs;
- Working full-time;
- Located in an eligible rural or remote area;
- Able to demonstrate at least nine months of qualifying employment; and
- Holding a qualifying ongoing job offer.
Workers who do not meet the employer or location requirements should not assume that their occupation alone makes them eligible.
Important Deadline for Eligible Workers
Because the registration window closes on October 7, 2026, eligible workers who have not yet registered should review the official requirements before the deadline.
The province’s program guides contain the detailed eligibility conditions and application instructions.
Applicants should also keep copies of employment records and other supporting documents that demonstrate their eligibility.
Key Takeaways
- British Columbia invited 33 workers in its September 17, 2026 TRHSI draw.
- The minimum BCPNP score was 60.
- This was the second-ever draw under the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative.
- The first draw, on July 23, issued 60 invitations with a cutoff of 50.
- The two draws have produced 93 invitations in total.
- B.C. plans to nominate up to 250 workers through the initiative.
- The pathway is limited to three occupations: NOC 65312, NOC 65310 and NOC 64410.
- Eligible workers must be employed by a qualifying B.C. public health authority.
- Employment must be in an eligible rural or remote community.
- Applicants need at least nine months of continuous full-time qualifying employment.
- The qualifying job offer must remain valid throughout the relevant stages.
- The registration deadline has been extended to October 7, 2026.
- A provincial nomination can support a federal permanent residence application.
- Eligible nominees may potentially benefit from the federal temporary BOWP measure introduced in June 2026.
Conclusion
British Columbia’s September 17 selection provides another opportunity for certain cleaning and security workers employed by public health authorities in rural and remote communities to pursue permanent residence.
The 33 invitations bring the total number of TRHSI invitations to 93, while the province has announced plans to nominate up to 250 workers through the temporary initiative.
Because the pathway has strict requirements covering the occupation, employer, location, work history and job offer, simply working as a cleaner or security guard in British Columbia is not enough to qualify.
Eligible workers should carefully review the official BCPNP requirements and the October 7, 2026 registration deadline before submitting their profile.
