British Columbia has conducted another targeted provincial immigration draw, inviting workers in healthcare, construction, childcare and veterinary care to apply for provincial nomination.
The selection took place on September 10, 2026, through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP). The detailed provincial results show 429 invitations across four targeted categories, although the CIC News headline reports 424.
The latest draw focused on two of British Columbia’s three major immigration priorities: Care and Build. These priorities are designed to attract workers who can help address important labour shortages across the province.
British Columbia PNP Draw: Key Details
| Category | Invitations | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|
| Healthcare | 143 | 76 |
| Construction Trades | 104 | 94 |
| Childcare | 182 | 99 |
| Veterinary Care | <5 | 90 |
| Total | 429 | — |
Candidates invited on September 10 have 30 days to submit their application for provincial nomination.
Childcare Workers Receive 182 Invitations
The largest category in the latest draw was childcare, with 182 invitations issued to eligible early childhood educators.
Only candidates working as Early Childhood Educators (NOC 42202) were targeted.
To qualify for this targeted invitation, candidates needed to hold either a one-year or five-year Early Childhood Education certificate issued by the B.C. ECE Registry.
Childcare Category
| Occupation | NOC | Invitations | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early Childhood Educators | 42202 | 182 | 99 |
The targeted approach reflects British Columbia’s continuing focus on childcare as part of its Care immigration objective.
143 Healthcare Workers Receive Invitations
British Columbia issued 143 invitations to candidates working in priority healthcare occupations.
The healthcare category covered 31 different NOCs, making it one of the broadest occupational groups targeted in the draw.
The minimum score for this category was 76.
Healthcare Occupations Targeted
The occupations included:
- Managers in health care — NOC 30010
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine — NOC 31100
- Specialists in surgery — NOC 31101
- General practitioners and family physicians — NOC 31102
- Dentists — NOC 31110
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists — NOC 31112
- Pharmacists — NOC 31120
- Dietitians and nutritionists — NOC 31121
- Psychologists — NOC 31200
- Chiropractors — NOC 31201
- Physiotherapists — NOC 31202
- Occupational therapists — NOC 31203
- Kinesiologists and other therapy professionals — NOC 31204
- Nursing coordinators and supervisors — NOC 31300
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses — NOC 31301
- Nurse practitioners — NOC 31302
- Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals — NOC 31303
- Licensed practical nurses — NOC 32101
- Paramedical occupations — NOC 32102
- Respiratory therapists and related professionals — NOC 32103
- Dental hygienists and dental therapists — NOC 32111
- Dental technologists and technicians — NOC 32112
- Medical laboratory technologists — NOC 32120
- Medical radiation technologists — NOC 32121
- Medical sonographers — NOC 32122
- Cardiology and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists — NOC 32123
- Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and acupuncturists — NOC 32200
- Medical laboratory assistants — NOC 33101
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates — NOC 33102
- Social workers — NOC 41300
Special Requirement for Nurse Aides
Candidates with a job offer under NOC 33102 needed to be registered with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry to qualify for a targeted healthcare invitation.
104 Construction Workers Receive Invitations
The BCPNP also invited 104 workers in construction trades.
The minimum score for this category was 94.
British Columbia targeted nine construction occupations:
| Occupation | NOC |
|---|---|
| Welders and related machine operators | 72106 |
| Electricians | 72200 |
| Industrial electricians | 72201 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler installers | 72301 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics | 72400 |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 |
| Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics | 72402 |
To qualify for a targeted construction invitation, candidates needed either a valid trade certificate issued by SkilledTradesBC or a SkilledTradesBC apprenticeship registration corresponding to their job offer.
The construction category falls under B.C.’s Build objective, which focuses on workers needed for infrastructure and construction projects across the province.
Veterinary Workers Also Targeted
A small number of candidates in veterinary care received invitations, with the minimum score set at 90.
The targeted occupations were:
- Veterinarians — NOC 31103
- Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians — NOC 32104
Candidates in the veterinary technician category needed the required professional designation.
Veterinary care is included under British Columbia’s Care objective.
What Are B.C.’s Three Immigration Priorities?
The BCPNP currently organizes its economic immigration priorities around three broad objectives:
1. Care
The Care objective focuses on workers who support essential services and communities.
Priority areas include:
- Healthcare;
- Childcare;
- Education; and
- Veterinary care.
2. Build
The Build objective focuses on workers needed for construction and major infrastructure projects.
This includes selected certified construction trades.
3. Innovate
The Innovate objective is intended to attract highly skilled workers and entrepreneurs who can contribute to productivity, innovation and economic growth across British Columbia.
The September 10 draw focused on Care and Build, rather than the Innovate category.
How the B.C. PNP Skills Immigration System Works
Foreign workers interested in B.C. provincial nomination generally begin by creating a registration, or Expression of Interest profile, through the BCPNP system.
The registration provides information about the candidate’s:
- Education;
- Work experience;
- Occupation;
- Language ability;
- Job offer;
- Wage;
- Professional credentials; and
- Other relevant factors.
Candidates receive a registration score and are placed into the appropriate pool.
British Columbia then periodically selects candidates based on its current labour-market needs and strategic priorities.
General Process
Step 1: Check eligibility for a B.C. immigration pathway.
Step 2: Create a BCPNP registration.
Step 3: Enter the Skills Immigration pool.
Step 4: Receive a provincial Invitation to Apply if selected.
Step 5: Submit the complete provincial nomination application within the required deadline.
Step 6: If nominated, apply for Canadian permanent residence through the federal government.
A provincial nomination does not itself grant permanent residence. Candidates must still complete the federal immigration process.
Candidates Have 30 Days to Respond
Workers invited in the September 10 selection have 30 days to submit their application for provincial nomination.
This makes it important for invited candidates to begin preparing their documentation immediately.
Depending on the pathway and individual circumstances, documents can include:
- Passport and identity documents;
- Employment documents;
- Job offer information;
- Education credentials;
- Language test results;
- Work experience evidence;
- Professional licences or registrations;
- Trade certificates;
- Proof of B.C. employment; and
- Other supporting documentation requested by the program.
Candidates should ensure that the information in their application matches the information provided in their original registration.
B.C. Has Issued More Than 5,200 Skills Immigration Invitations
The latest selection brings the number of invitations issued to Skills Immigration candidates in 2026 to at least 5,267 as of September 10.
The province had also issued at least 104 invitations through its Entrepreneur Immigration category.
The September 10 selection was:
- The 22nd overall BCPNP selection of 2026;
- The 13th Skills Immigration round; and
- The sixth occupation-specific draw of the year.
British Columbia has also used other selection methods during 2026, including draws based on registration scores, wages, salaries and job offers.
B.C. Skills Immigration Pool Has More Than 8,000 Registrations
As of September 1, 2026, the latest available BCPNP registration-pool update showed 8,013 registrations.
The distribution was:
| Score Range | Registrations |
|---|---|
| 0–59 | 212 |
| 60–69 | 376 |
| 70–79 | 750 |
| 80–89 | 1,236 |
| 90–99 | 1,444 |
| 100–109 | 1,559 |
| 110–119 | 1,273 |
| 120–129 | 940 |
| 130–139 | 193 |
| 140–149 | 22 |
| 150+ | 8 |
| Total | 8,013 |
The largest group was candidates with scores between 100 and 109, representing 1,559 registrations.
Importantly, B.C. does not necessarily select candidates only according to their registration score. Targeted occupation, wage, professional designation and other strategic factors can affect invitations.
Targeted Draws Can Have Different Score Requirements
One important point for prospective applicants is that the minimum score can vary significantly between BCPNP selection categories.
For example, in the September 10 draw:
- Healthcare: 76
- Construction: 94
- Childcare: 99
- Veterinary care: 90
Therefore, a candidate’s occupation can make a significant difference to the selection threshold.
A candidate who does not receive an invitation in a general selection may still be considered in a future targeted draw if their occupation and qualifications match a provincial priority.
Work Permit Options After Provincial Nomination
A successful provincial nominee may receive provincial support for obtaining a work permit from the federal government.
There has also been a recent change affecting Bridging Open Work Permits (BOWPs).
Since June 9, 2026, nominees applying through the base PNP have been able to apply for a BOWP earlier under a temporary measure that removes the requirement to have already received an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) for their permanent residence application.
This can be particularly relevant to nominees who need to maintain their ability to work in Canada while their permanent residence application is being processed.
Eligibility requirements still apply, so candidates should not assume that nomination automatically provides a work permit.
Who May Benefit From Future B.C. Draws?
Based on the province’s current priorities, workers who may be well positioned for future targeted invitations include:
Healthcare Professionals
British Columbia continues to prioritize a broad range of healthcare occupations, from physicians and nurses to medical technicians and healthcare support workers.
Early Childhood Educators
ECEs with the required B.C. certification remain a specific childcare priority.
Construction Trades
Workers in the nine targeted construction occupations may benefit when the Build objective is used for selection.
Veterinary Professionals
Veterinarians and eligible veterinary technicians are included in the Care priority.
Other High-Impact Workers
B.C. also uses its Innovate objective to attract highly skilled workers and other candidates who can make a significant economic contribution.
However, being employed in a priority occupation does not guarantee an invitation. B.C. can change its selection criteria and the number of invitations issued in each round.
What Makes the September Draw Important?
The latest selection demonstrates that British Columbia continues to use occupation-specific immigration draws to address targeted labour shortages.
Rather than relying exclusively on one general CRS-style cutoff, the BCPNP can select candidates according to specific occupational groups and provincial priorities.
For foreign workers, this means that factors such as:
- Occupation;
- Professional certification;
- Job offer;
- Wage;
- Work experience;
- Language ability;
- Education; and
- Location of employment
can all be relevant to their immigration prospects.
Key Takeaways
- British Columbia conducted a targeted BCPNP draw on September 10, 2026.
- The detailed provincial results show 429 invitations across four categories.
- 182 childcare workers were invited with a minimum score of 99.
- 143 healthcare workers were invited with a minimum score of 76.
- 104 construction workers were invited with a minimum score of 94.
- Fewer than five veterinary-care candidates were invited with a minimum score of 90.
- Healthcare included 31 priority NOCs.
- Construction included nine priority trades.
- Early childhood educators needed a qualifying B.C. ECE certificate.
- Certain healthcare candidates needed professional registration in B.C.
- Construction candidates needed a qualifying SkilledTradesBC certificate or apprenticeship registration.
- Invited candidates have 30 days to apply for provincial nomination.
- B.C. had issued at least 5,267 Skills Immigration invitations in 2026 by September 10.
- The Skills Immigration registration pool contained 8,013 profiles as of September 1.
- B.C. continues to organize its immigration priorities around Care, Build and Innovate.
Conclusion
British Columbia’s September 10 immigration draw demonstrates the province’s continued emphasis on targeted economic immigration.
Healthcare professionals, early childhood educators, construction tradespeople and veterinary workers were given priority because their skills align with B.C.’s current Care and Build objectives.
For prospective immigrants, the draw also highlights why simply having a high registration score may not always be enough. British Columbia can target specific occupations, professional credentials and labour-market priorities when issuing invitations.
Workers interested in the BCPNP should therefore monitor the province’s latest selection criteria, maintain an accurate registration profile and ensure that any required professional or trade certification is in place before expecting an invitation.
