News Briefing

British Columbia invites 33 workers to apply for provincial nomination under time-limited PR pathway

Sep 18, 2026News Briefingwww.cicnews.com

British Columbia held its second draw under the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative (TRHSI) on September 17, inviting 33 cleaners and security staff employed by a provincial health authority in a remote area to apply for provincial nomination. Successful nominees become provincial nominees and can subsequently apply to the federal government for permanent residence; in‑Canada applicants may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) a month earlier under a federal temporary measure that waives the usual requirement for an Acknowledgement of Receipt.

Draw results

Draw date Minimum score Invitations issued
September 17, 2026 60 33
July 23, 2026 50 60

To date the BCPNP has issued 93 invitations through the TRHSI. The province plans to nominate up to 250 workers under the initiative, and the registration window remains open until 11:59 p.m. October 7, 2026 (extended from the original August 31 deadline because of wildfire‑related impacts).

The 2026 provincial nomination allocation stands at 6,254 spots, after the federal government added 1,000 additional spaces for health‑care, construction and other priority candidates.


Eligibility under the TRHSI

  • Eligible occupations (NOC codes)

    • Janitors, caretakers, and heavy‑duty cleaners – NOC 65312
    • Light‑duty cleaners – NOC 65310
    • Security guards and related security service occupations – NOC 64410
  • Work experience

    • Minimum nine months of continuous full‑time employment in an eligible occupation, with the same employer and in the same qualifying rural or remote region, before registering.
    • Periods worked on a study permit, co‑op placements, or any leave longer than two weeks do not count toward the nine‑month requirement.
  • Job‑offer conditions

    • Must be a “regular, indeterminate, full‑time” position with a B.C. public health authority.
    • The offer must remain valid throughout registration and the application process, and the worker must stay in the role full‑time until a nomination is issued.
  • Geographic restrictions

    • Workers in the Central Okanagan, Metro Vancouver, and Capital regional districts are ineligible, except for the islands of Galiano, Mayne, Pender, Salt Spring, and Saturna.
  • Supporting health authorities

    • First Nations Health Authority
    • Fraser Health
    • Interior Health
    • Island Health
    • Northern Health
    • Providence Health Care
    • Provincial Health Services Authority
    • Vancouver Coastal Health

    Applications must be endorsed by an authorized representative of the relevant health authority.

  • Additional requirements

    • Minimum high‑school diploma.
    • Proof of meeting the minimum income threshold for the full nine‑month period preceding registration.
    • Compliance with the broader eligibility criteria for British Columbia’s Skills Immigration stream.

Provincial program context

In 2026 the BCPNP restructured its immigration pathways, focusing on three pillars:

  • Care – strengthening healthcare and related services (including the TRHSI).
  • Build – supporting infrastructure development and major projects.
  • Innovate – fostering innovation for long‑term economic growth.

The TRHSI falls under the “Care” pillar, aiming to address staffing shortages in remote health facilities by providing a fast‑track route to permanent residence for eligible support workers.