Applications in this component of the BC PNP are considered in the following categories:

Skilled Workers
Managers, professionals, technologists and technicians, and skilled trades

Designated Health Professionals
Registered nurses, midwives, registered psychiatric nurses, and physicians

International Graduates
Recent graduates of recognized BC post-secondary institutions

Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project NEW
Select occupations in Tourism/Hospitality and Long-Haul Truck Drivers

Note: Employers, employment agencies, recruiters and authorized representatives are reminded that BC's Employment Standards Act and Regulations prohibit charging a fee to help a person find a job or making deductions from wages for business costs, including the costs of bringing a foreign worker to Canada. Also, an employer or employment agency cannot force a foreign worker to return to his/her country of origin if the employer terminates an employment contract before the work permit expires or if the worker finds a job with another employer. For more information, please refer to Standards for Foreign Workers.

Briefly, the general requirements for applying to the Strategic Occupations component of the BC PNP are as follows:

• The employer has offered, and the nominee candidate has accepted, permanent, full-time employment in a skilled occupation
• The candidate is qualified to do the job
• The wage offered is competitive with BC wage rates for the occupation
• The nominee candidate’s field of employment offers good long-term prospects
• The employer must be financially sound, have a history of good practices, and normally must have been operating in BC for at least one year and have at least five paid employees
• The employment of a foreign worker will be of significant economic benefit to BC
• The employment of a foreign worker will not adversely affect the settlement of a labour dispute, or the employment of anyone involved in any such dispute
• The nominee candidate has the ability to become economically established in BC
  For more details, please see Requirements for Strategic Occupations

Note: There are special Requirements for Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Pilot Project Applications  

The Strategic Occupations component of the BC PNP is focused on supporting industries that are priorities for economic development:

• Construction
• Information technology and new media
• Film and television production
• Life sciences
• Clean energy technologies
• Manufacturing and processing
• Aerospace
• Engineering and environmental services
• International financial and business services
• Health services and post-secondary education
• Tourism and hospitality
• Transportation
• Oil and gas
• Mining
• Other business activities contributing to economic expansion and diversification outside of the Greater Vancouver Regional District