BCPNP October 8 2026 draw invites 284 care and construction workers
British Columbia issued 284 invitations for provincial nomination on October 8, 2026, targeting workers in child care, health care, veterinary care, and construction trades under its occupation-specific immigration stream.
On Oct. 8, 2026, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program invited no fewer than 284 candidates working in care-related occupations and construction trades to apply for provincial nomination. This marked the province’s seventh occupation-specific draw of the year, continuing its strategy to address labour shortages in key sectors.
British Columbia's care-related selections included workers in health care, child care, and veterinary care occupations. The round targeted priority sectors under the provincial priorities of Care, Build, and Innovate. Foreign nationals must first create an Expression of Interest profile to be considered for the Skills Immigration category. Registrants are assigned scores based on profile information and entered into applicable registration pools. Through periodic draws, BC invites registrants who rank highly and meet specific criteria for each round.
Eligibility criteria for targeted occupations
Candidates in each sector needed specific credentials, including trade certificates, apprenticeships, or registry registrations to qualify for the draw. For targeted construction trades, candidates needed either a valid SkilledTradesBC trade certificate or a registered apprenticeship with SkilledTradesBC relevant to their job offer.
Targeted health care occupations under NOC 33102 required registration with the BC Care Aide & Community Health Worker Registry. Early childhood educators needed a one-year or five-year certificate from the ECE Registry to receive a targeted invitation. Veterinary care selection targeted animal health technologists and veterinary technicians, classified under NOC 32104, who hold a valid professional designation.
Invitation trends and scoring
The October 8 draw issued invitations across four categories with the following minimum scores and volumes:
| Occupation Category | Number of Invitations | Minimum Score |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care | 86 | 99 |
| Health Care | 82 | 76 |
| Construction Trades | 115 | 94 |
| Veterinary Care | fewer than five | 86 |
Compared with the previous round on September 10, the construction selection grew from 104 to 115 invitations while the score floor held steady at 94. Minimum scores did not move in any of the four categories between the September 10 and October 8 rounds. On September 10, the province invited 182 early childhood educators and 143 health care workers.
Program context and next steps
Candidates invited through the BCPNP can submit an application for provincial nomination within 30 days. If successful, candidates become provincial nominees and can apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence. In-Canada nominees who have applied for PR may also qualify for a Bridging Open Work Permit.
Since June 9, 2026, a temporary measure has allowed base PNP nominees to apply for BOWPs months earlier by removing the requirement to first receive an acknowledgement of receipt for their PR application. All other Skills Immigration rounds in 2026 targeted candidates based on registration scores, wages or salaries, and/or job offers. Invitations go to qualified registrations received before the date of the draw.
Candidates invited through the BCPNP can submit an application for provincial nomination within 30 days.
