By Yussif Silva, Canadian Immigration and Refugee Lawyer

On January 27, 2026, we attended the Canadian Bar Association BC Immigration Law section meeting, where BC PNP representatives provided updates on the BC PNP program for 2026 and answered some questions.

Here are some of the key takeaways:

General Program Information

BC PNP System

• No planned overhaul of the points system. Main changes may occur this year through priority occupations, though potential priority occupations were not disclosed.
• Changes will focus on rightsizing both the number and depth of priorities.
• No move away from regional points.

Profile Editing/Updates

• A profile editing feature remains unavailable in 2026. If updates are required, a new profile must be submitted.

Express Entry vs. Non-Express Entry

• The balance between Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams will remain similar to previous years, with a slight emphasis on Express Entry streams.

Draws

• After nearly clearing the IGP inventory, with only a few hundred invitations remaining for 2026, BC PNP intends to resume consistent and predictable draws.
• Draws are likely to occur no more than four months apart to prevent inventory growth.

Processing Times

• Processing times are expected to decrease below three months, subject to federal government allocation levels.

Invitations to Apply (ITAs)

• Planned ITA levels will increase compared to 2025 but will not return to 2023 levels.

 

Streams

Student Stream

• No concrete plans to create a student stream to replace the International Graduate and International Post-Graduate Streams (IGP).
• Studies showing that international graduates make a high level of economic contribution after completing their studies and transitioning to Permanent Residence are being considered in developing a strategy to incorporate student immigration, but the approach remains unclear and is still under discussion.

Health Authority Stream (HA) and Physicians

• Health care remains BC PNP’s priority.
• There is no upper limit on ITAs for physicians.
• The additional 5,000 physician positions announced by the federal government do not cap BC PNP nominations and are not sub-allocated to provinces.
• There is an intention to sustainably expand the list of HA eligible occupations (NOC).

High Economic Impact (HEI) Stream

• The HEI stream is expected to continue.
• “Look West” remains a guiding document for the BC PNP program.
• Selection will remain strict, even within identified economic strategies.

Francophone Stream

• Remains a federal government priority.
• Discussions are ongoing on how to meet this initiative while also addressing provincial economic needs.

Entrepreneur Stream

• There is an intention to expand the range of eligible business types.

 

Miscellaneous

Experience in a Related Position Prior to Promotion

• Immigration representatives may make submissions requesting that decision-makers consider related experience gained in a position that preceded the position supporting the BC PNP application, provided the previous position was a required step to reach the current position.
• Decision-makers are required to consider these submissions.

October 2025 Allocation

• The allocation of 960 spots to BC in October 2025 resulted from a redistribution of unused nominations from other provinces.
• A similar redistribution may occur in 2026.