BC PNP Issues 2,764 ITAs in First Half of 2026 — New Care, Build, Innovate Priorities Reshape Draws

Draw at a Glance

Full Draw Breakdown

British Columbia’s April 2026 overhaul reorganized the BC PNP around three new priorities: Care, Build, and Innovate. The province permanently closed the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled (ELSS) stream and cancelled plans for student-specific streams. In the first half of 2026, 2,764 Skills Immigration ITAs were distributed this way:

Meantime, the Entrepreneur stream issued 78 ITAs under the base stream and fewer than 25 under the regional stream in the same period. BC does not disclose minimum CRS scores for its PNP draws. But the province has confirmed that candidates in the Care and Build categories now face priority treatment in targeted draws.

How This Draw Compares to Recent Ones

Before April 2026, BC PNP draws focused heavily on High Economic Impact candidates, who received 2,089 ITAs in just five draws. After the overhaul, the province shifted to targeted draws for Care and Build occupations.

In May and June alone, BC issued 234 ITAs to health care workers and 249 to construction trades. Take Raj, a registered nurse from Mumbai who registered in the BC PNP pool in March 2026. Before the restructuring, his occupation wasn’t a priority and lower-scoring tech workers kept getting ITAs. After April, Raj was invited in a Care-targeted draw, even with a score below many general pool candidates. This shift reflects BC’s urgent need for health care workers, especially in rural communities.

The closure of the ELSS stream marks another big change. Previously, entry-level roles like food service or hospitality could qualify for provincial nomination. Now BC is focusing only on skilled occupations aligned with its economic priorities. If you relied on the ELSS stream, explore other pathways like the federal Atlantic Immigration Program or the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

If You Weren’t Invited — What to Do Now

With roughly half of BC’s 2026 nomination allocation still available, you still have time to position yourself for an ITA in the second half of the year. Here’s how:

Check if your occupation is on BC’s priority list. The Care priority includes 36 in-demand occupations, such as nurses, early childhood educators, and veterinary technicians. The Build priority covers nine skilled trades, including electricians, carpenters, and plumbers. If your occupation is listed, you’re more likely to be invited in a targeted draw. Check the full list on the official BC PNP website.

Boost your CRS score if you’re in the Express Entry pool. BC issues some Skills Immigration nominations through Express Entry, so a higher score boosts your chances. Focus on what you can control: gaining more work experience, improving language test scores, or landing a job offer in BC. Even a small jump, like going from CLB 7 to CLB 9 in English, can make a real difference.

Consider upgrading your credentials. If your occupation isn’t currently in demand, look into related roles that are. For example, if you’re a personal support worker, a bridging program could help you become a licensed practical nurse. BC offers several health care bridging programs for internationally trained professionals.

Explore other PNP streams. If BC’s priorities don’t match your occupation, other provinces may offer opportunities. Ontario’s Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream targets in-demand occupations, while Alberta’s Opportunity Stream has lower CRS requirements than Express Entry.

Prepare for the Entrepreneur stream if you’re a business owner. BC issued 78 ITAs under the Entrepreneur stream in the first half of 2026. If you’re considering this route, start researching business opportunities in BC, particularly in rural communities where investment requirements are lower. Check the province’s Entrepreneur Immigration page for eligibility and application details.

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