The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) official news webpage recently released a notice updating the fee schedule for the Skills Immigration category. For overseas skilled workers and graduates intending to apply for permanent residence through this provincial program, understanding this latest cost adjustment is crucial.
Fee Adjustment Details and Scope
Effective January 22, 2026, all candidates submitting a provincial nomination application under the Skills Immigration category are required to pay the new fee of $1,750 CAD. This adjustment covers the following specific streams:
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream
- Health Authority Stream
Furthermore, applicants under the "Express Entry BC" (EEBC) options aligned with the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams are also subject to this fee increase. Any candidate invited through these streams linked to the federal Express Entry system must pay the new standard fee when submitting their provincial nomination application.
Fee payments must be made through the BC PNP Online User Portal. Regarding refund policies, officials have clarified that fees are refundable only if the application is withdrawn before the BC PNP begins its assessment; once the assessment process commences, fees are non-refundable. Fees for a "Request for Review" remain completely non-refundable.
Applicants must also clarify that this fee covers only the nomination application submitted to British Columbia and does not include the federal processing fees required when subsequently applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence (PR).
Overview of the Skills Immigration Process
The BC PNP Skills Immigration application is a multi-stage, merit-based process. Applicants must first identify an eligible stream and register online within the system to enter the candidate pool. During this stage, the system scores candidates based on human capital factors (such as work experience, education, and language proficiency) and economic factors (such as wage level and job location).
A candidate’s profile remains valid in the pool for up to 12 months. Candidates only formally enter the application stage after receiving an "Invitation to Apply" (ITA). At this point, applicants must submit a complete provincial nomination application package within 30 days of receiving the invitation and pay the $1,750 application fee. Failure to submit within the stipulated time results in the expiration of the invitation and removal from the candidate pool.
Current application processing times are estimated at three months. If successful, the applicant will receive a nomination package, including a "Confirmation of Nomination" (CON) letter. Subsequently, the applicant must submit a permanent residence application to the federal immigration department (IRCC) before the expiry date listed on the confirmation letter.
Work Permits and Status Maintenance
For applicants currently in Canada whose work permits are expired or soon to expire, applying to IRCC for a new work permit is necessary to maintain legal status in Canada.
As provincial nomination holders, applicants are eligible to obtain a Work Permit Support Letter from British Columbia. This document allows nominees to apply directly to IRCC for a work permit without requiring a "Labour Market Impact Assessment" (LMIA).
typically, if a nominee does not hold a valid work permit or their current permit is about to expire, this support letter is automatically included in the nomination package. If not received automatically, eligible nominees can request one through the BC PNP Online system. Nominees must submit their work permit application to IRCC within three months of their nomination date.
