Migrate to Canada without a job offer under British Columbia PNP

No employment offer is necessary to apply for the International Post-Graduate category of the BC PNP. You can obtain Canadian permanent residency without a job offer if you hold a graduate degree in science from an authorized British Columbia university. Science graduates may apply for the Skills Immigration – International Post-Graduate category of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) prioritizes immigration candidates who have achieved a master's or doctoral (Ph.D.) degree in one of the natural, applied, or health sciences disciplines such as agriculture, biological and biomedical sciences, computer and information sciences, and support services, engineering, engineering technology, health professions, and related clinical sciences, mathematics and statistics, natural resources conservation and research, physical sciences and so on.

To be eligible for this category, you must apply to the BC PNP within three years of the date listed on your official transcript.

To be eligible for this stream, you must also establish your intention and capacity to live and work in British Columbia. This can be accomplished, for example, by presenting proof of former or current residency in the province. You can also transmit documentation of your employment, education, or familial links to BC.

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Another option is to send a description of any actions you have done to permanently settle, such as obtaining a job or a place to reside or being involved in your community. Candidates applying through this stream are not required to have a federal Express Entry system profile.

Candidates who meet the skills Immigration – International Post-Graduate category eligibility requirements and have an active Express Entry profile may benefit from priority processing of both their BC PNP application and if nominated, their permanent residence application.

The Express Entry BC - International Post-Graduate category in British Columbia is aligned with the federal government's Express Entry immigration selection system. In addition to the basic qualifying requirements, applicants in this category must have a valid Express Entry profile number and an IRCC Express Entry job seeker validation code.

Creating an Express Entry Profile offers various advantages in general. For example, Express Entry candidates nominated under provincial streams gain an additional 600 points toward their Express Entry ranking score, thus guaranteeing an ITA in a later Express Entry invitation round hosted by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

Aside from British Columbia, practically every Canadian province and territory has at least one Provincial Nominee Program stream linked to the federal Express Entry system. Many of these PNPs, including those in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Nova Scotia, do not require a job offer.

In addition to allowing Canada's provinces to choose you from a pool of candidates in their provincial streams, having an Express Entry profile puts you in line to obtain an Invitation to Apply directly from IRCC under federal programs if you fulfil Comprehensive Ranking System standards.