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British Columbia PNP Raises Application Fees for Worker Stream Nominations
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has increased the application fee for candidates applying under its Skills Immigration category. The fee has risen from $1,475 to $1,750, according to an announcement published on the BC PNP’s official news page on January 22, 2026.
The revised fee applies only to applications submitted on or after January 22, 2026. Candidates who submitted their applications before this date will not be required to pay the additional amount.
The province confirmed that all other Skills Immigration-related fees, such as request for review fees, remain unchanged. In addition, no fee changes have been introduced for British Columbia’s Entrepreneur Immigration streams.
Skills Immigration streams affected by the fee increase
The higher application fee applies exclusively to applicants submitting a provincial nomination application under the following Skills Immigration streams:
- Skilled Worker
- Entry Level and Semi-Skilled
- Health Authority
Candidates invited through the Express Entry BC (EEBC) options linked to the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams are also subject to the increased fee.
All payments must be made through the BC PNP Online User Portal.
Application fees are refundable only if the application is withdrawn before assessment begins. Fees paid for requests for review are non-refundable.
It is important to note that this fee applies only to the provincial nomination application. Successful nominees must pay separate fees to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) when submitting their permanent residence application.
How the BC PNP Skills Immigration process works
Foreign workers seeking nomination through British Columbia’s Skills Immigration streams must first determine which stream best fits their qualifications.
Eligible candidates must then register online and enter the candidate pool for their chosen stream. At this stage, profiles are scored based on several factors, including work experience, education, language proficiency, wage level, and job location in British Columbia. Profiles remain active in the pool for up to 12 months.
Candidates with competitive scores may receive an invitation to apply (ITA). Once invited, applicants have 30 days to submit a complete provincial nomination application. Failure to meet this deadline results in the ITA expiring and the candidate being removed from the pool.
The $1,750 application fee is paid at the time the nomination application is submitted, along with all required supporting documents.
Processing times and next steps after nomination
Current estimated processing times for Skills Immigration applications are approximately three months.
Applicants who receive a positive decision are issued a nomination package, which includes a Confirmation of Nomination (CON) letter. Nominations can be withdrawn if applicants fail to meet all program conditions before becoming permanent residents.
Nominees must submit their permanent residence application to IRCC before the expiry date listed on the CON letter.
Candidates in Canada whose work permits have expired or are nearing expiry may need to apply for a new work permit to maintain legal status. British Columbia can issue a work permit support letter, allowing nominees to apply for a work permit without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
In many cases, this support letter is issued automatically as part of the nomination package. Nominees who do not receive one may request it through the BC PNP Online system, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.
Nominees must submit their work permit application to IRCC within three months of their nomination date.