The British Columbia government has released the full eligibility criteria for a new, time‑limited pathway that allows certain cleaning and security workers employed by a provincial health authority in a rural or remote community to obtain permanent residence (PR) through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
Key dates
- Registrations open: 15 June 2026
- Registration deadline: 31 August 2026
- Information webinar: 10 June 2026 (12 p.m.–1 p.m.)
Eligible occupations
Applicants must hold a regular, indeterminate, full‑time job with a B.C. health authority in one of the following NOC‑coded roles:
| NOC | Occupation |
|---|---|
| 65312 | Janitors, caretakers, and heavy‑duty cleaners |
| 65310 | Light‑duty cleaners |
| 64410 | Security guards and related security service occupations |
Eligible employers
The initiative applies to workers employed directly by any of the eight public health authorities in British Columbia:
- Provincial Health Services Authority
- First Nations Health Authority
- Fraser Health
- Interior Health
- Island Health
- Northern Health
- Vancouver Coastal Health
- Providence Health Care
Each authority will select the applications it wishes to support. Support must be confirmed by an authorized representative who signs the Employer Declaration Form. Health authorities are not obligated to back any particular application.
Core application requirements
- Job offer – A signed, full‑time offer on official letterhead from the health authority employer, specifying a rural or remote work location. The offer must be valid at both registration and application stages.
- Work history – At least nine months of continuous full‑time employment in the eligible occupation with the same employer prior to registration.
- Education – Minimum secondary school completion (Canadian or foreign). Applicants must provide an English copy of the highest‑level diploma, certificate, degree or transcripts.
- Income – The applicant’s gross annual wage (plus spouse/common‑law partner’s wage, if applicable) must meet the minimum income threshold for the nine‑month period, based on the applicant’s B.C. residence area and number of dependants.
- General SI criteria – All standard Skills Immigration (SI) requirements apply, including intent to reside in B.C., language proficiency, and relevant work experience.
- Employer compliance – The employer must satisfy the B.C. PNP’s employer requirements (economic benefit, legal operation, business structure, etc.). Non‑compliant employers disqualify the applicant.
Full details on job‑offer specifications are in sections 3.5 and 6.6 of the B.C. PNP Skills Immigration guide.
Ineligible regions and situations
- Regional districts excluded: Central Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, and Capital Regional Districts. (Exceptions: Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring, and Saturna Islands.)
- Work that does not count toward the nine‑month requirement:
- Employment that is part of a study program (e.g., co‑op placement).
- Work performed while the individual was in Canada on a study permit.
- Any leave exceeding two weeks (vacation, maternity/parental, medical). Leave longer than two weeks may be accepted with proper documentation, but the full nine months of experience must still be met.
- Contractor employees – Only direct employees of a health authority are eligible; staff of contractors providing services to a health authority are excluded.
Application capacity
The program is capped at 250 workers. Prospective applicants are advised to prepare the required documentation in advance, using the B.C. PNP Skills Immigration application guide.
Context within the B.C. PNP
The temporary stream is part of the province’s broader “Care” priority, which focuses on strengthening the health‑care and care‑economy sectors. It follows an April 23 2026 announcement that the B.C. PNP would be overhauled to prioritize health‑care and trades workers, alongside separate “Build” and “Innovate” objectives.
Applicants who meet the eligibility criteria should register during the open window and attend the June 10 webinar for detailed guidance on the registration and application process.
Source article: www.cicnews.com
