Section 1 — BC PNP 2025 Full-Year Recap

Source note: This recap is based on the BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025, released by BC PNP on August 26, 2026.

Executive Summary and Key Observations

• The defining issue in 2025 was limited allocation and legacy inventory. B.C. entered the year with about 5,200 applications already waiting and used all 6,214 final nomination spaces.
• Space for new invitations was extremely limited. Only 978 Skills Immigration ITAs were issued, all through High Economic Impact (HEI) invitations.
• Formal application outcomes remained strong. The Skills Immigration application approval rate was 94.5%.
• Program capacity was concentrated. Public-authority clinical healthcare expanded, and HEI was the only category issuing new Skills Immigration ITAs.
• Regional employment remained a clear priority. 38% of approved Skills Immigration nominees were located outside Metro Vancouver.

Allocation Use and Nomination Composition

• B.C. used all 6,214 final nomination spaces in 2025, 22.3% fewer than in 2024.
• Skills Immigration accounted for 6,195 nominations, or 99.7%, while Entrepreneur Immigration accounted for 19, or 0.3%.
• B.C. made 6,553 Skills Immigration application decisions and approved 6,195 nominations, producing a 94.5% formal application approval rate.
• The closed International Post-Graduate (IPG) stream produced 2,548 approved nominations, equal to 41.1% of all approved Skills Immigration nominations.
• The 2025 Skills Immigration results also included 37 Entry Level and Semi-Skilled nominations.
• The median hourly wage among approved Skills Immigration nominees was CAD $41.42, while the Skilled Worker median annual salary was CAD $105,000.
• 38% of approved Skills Immigration nominees were located outside Metro Vancouver, above the 35% program target.
• The Anti-Fraud and Investigations Unit completed more than 2,000 reviews or investigations.
• Entrepreneur Immigration applications increased from 42 to 65, up 54.8%, while approved nominations declined from 28 to 19, down 32.1%.

Priority Category Changes

• Public-authority clinical healthcare expanded sharply. Approved nominations increased from 641 to 1,180Source for 1,180Source: BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025, up 84.1%Source for 84.1%Source: BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025. Employer setting became a material distinction within healthcare.
• Priority Technology contracted sharply. Approved nominations fell from 1,302 to 607Source for 607Source: BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025, down 53.4%Source for 53.4%Source: BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025. In 2026, the principal opportunity for technology applicants is concentrated in HEI.
• Childcare, Construction and Veterinary approved nominations all declined substantially. Limited 2025 capacity was concentrated in legacy inventory and public-authority clinical healthcare.
• HEI was the only category issuing new Skills Immigration ITAs in 2025. The program issued 978Source for 978Source: BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025 ITAs, of which 748 became formal applications.

Section 2 — 2025–2026 Invitation Comparison and Trends

2026 Invitation Trend Summary

• Backlog pressure was materially lower at the start of 2026. The closed International Post-Graduate (IPG) stream completed 2,548 nominations in 2025, substantially reducing legacy inventory and creating more room for new ITAs in 2026.
• Invitation volume has rebounded. The current allocation is 6,254, only 40 above the final 2025 allocation, yet at least 4,840 Skills Immigration ITAs had already been issued by August 20.
• Opportunity is concentrated in HEI and priority occupations. HEI accounts for about two-thirds of 2026 ITAs. Childcare, Health and Construction cutoffs have also fallen consistently. For Skilled Worker candidates, current invitation opportunities are concentrated in HEI and the active priority categories.
• The pool is smaller and thresholds are easing. A smaller pool and higher invitation volume have created a more favourable selection environment than in 2025.

Important: The June 2026 policy update narrowed BC PNP's regular Skills Immigration pathways. Under the Skills Immigration Program Guide effective June 10, 2026, Skilled Worker and Health Authority are the current standard streams, and both are limited to eligible NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations. The former Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is no longer listed as a standard active stream. The one-time Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative still covers specified security and cleaning occupations, including NOC 64410, 65310 and 65312, without an EEBC option. Regular 2026 Skills Immigration opportunity is concentrated in TEER 0–3, while a small number of TEER 4–5 occupations remain covered through the limited temporary initiative.

2025–2026 ITA Comparison

Only 94 Skills Immigration ITAs had been issued by August 20, 2025. At least 4,840 had been issued by the same date in 2026. The same-date comparison shows a substantial increase in access to the formal application stage in 2026.

Priority Category Cutoffs and Invitation Volume

Childcare fell from 115 to 102, Health from 108 to 84, Construction from 108 to 88 and Veterinary from 100 to 72. Childcare, Health and Construction combined lower cutoffs with stable or increasing invitation volume. Veterinary issued no more than 25 ITAs across the period, so the practical opportunity remains limited.

High Economic Impact (HEI) Invitation Trends

• The points route remains at a high level. In 2026, HEI points thresholds have stayed within 132–138. The current threshold is below the start of the year, but the route has not shown a rapid decline.
• The wage route continues to ease. The hourly threshold fell from CAD $105 in May 2025 to CAD $55 in August 2026. My assessment is that the pool is shrinking and new high-wage candidates are not replenishing it as quickly as invitations are removing candidates. Applicants who meet the hourly and annual salary thresholds should promptly verify their registration, NOC and compensation evidence.
• In 2026, the wage route covers NOC TEER 0–3 and also applies an annual salary threshold.

2026 Registration Pool Movement

The total registered pool fell from 9,902 on June 2 to 8,306 on August 4, a decrease of 16.1%. The pool contracted while substantial ITA volume was issued, reducing overall competitive pressure.

🪶 Summary: How Applicants Can Position for Current Opportunities

BC PNP invitation activity was substantially higher in 2026 than in 2025. Higher ITA volume, lower priority-category cutoffs, lower HEI thresholds and a smaller registered pool have improved the outlook for applicants who meet the current selection criteria.

The clearest pathways are HEI, Childcare, Health and Construction. Applicants who meet the relevant occupation, wage, licensing and employer conditions now have improved prospects. Veterinary and Education invitation volumes remain very small, so practical opportunity is still limited.

Location and alternative pathways remain important. In 2025, 38%Source for 38%Source: BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025 of approved Skills Immigration nominees were outside Metro Vancouver. Skilled Worker applicants who do not qualify under HEI or a current priority category should not treat BC PNP as their only immigration plan because selection remains highly targeted and future invitation categories, volumes and cutoffs remain uncertain.

This report is based on official public information available through August 20, 2026. It provides general information and trend analysis only and does not constitute legal advice, an eligibility determination, or a guarantee of invitation.

Official sources

• BC PNP Statistical Report and Year in Review 2025
• Current Skills Immigration Program Guide
• Current Skills Immigration invitations to apply
• 2025 Skills Immigration invitation archive
• BC PNP news and 2026 allocation updates