Changes to BC PNP Fees

Effective August 6, 2020, the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has increased the fees for Skills Immigration (SI) applications and requests for review submissions.

The new fee for the Skills Immigration application is $1,150 (increased from $700), and the new fee for a request for review is $500 (from $200). 

The BC PNP operates on a cost-recovery model, which means that the program’s operations are paid for by the users of the program rather than by taxpayers. The fee increases will allow the BC PNP to continue to efficiently serve applicants and provide assistance until they receive their permanent residence.

The increased fees will also allow continued program improvements including maintaining or reducing processing times, improving program efficiency, enhancing program integrity and expanding outreach to applicants.

The BC PNP fees are comparable to immigration programs in other provinces. For example, Ontario charges an application fee of $2,000 in the Greater Toronto Area and $1,500 in the rest of the province.

The BC PNP offers a dedicated immigration pathway for international workers and foreign entrepreneurs to apply for permanent residence for themselves and their dependents. It is B.C.’s only direct immigration tool to help our economy grow by attracting skilled and semi-skilled workers in high-demand occupations and international entrepreneurs to establish businesses, including regions limited by tight labour markets.

The program has experienced significant growth over the last decade. Since 2009, B.C.’s annual PNP allocation from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has more than doubled from 3,000 nominations to 6,750 in 2019.

The program also assists nominees with immigration and employment-related requests while they await permanent residence, and these requests have increased by 50% in recent years. There are currently more than 9,500 nominees in B.C. waiting to become permanent residents.