BC PNP gets 1,000 additional nominations — 6,254 total for 2026
On August 18, 2026, British Columbia announced it has received 1,000 additional nomination spaces from the federal government, bringing the province's 2026 BC PNP allocation to 6,254. The province intends to use its full allocation by December 31 — which makes the remaining months of 2026 a genuine window for candidates.
Where the extra spaces go — three priorities
Since its April 2026 refocus, the BC PNP has organized invitations around three objectives — Care, Build and Innovate — and the additional 1,000 nominations flow into the same priorities.
| Priority | Who it targets |
|---|---|
| Care | 36 in-demand occupations in healthcare, education, childcare and veterinary care — nurses, physicians, certified ECEs, veterinarians and more. Requires current full-time work or a job offer in an eligible occupation |
| Build | 9 key in-demand skilled trades in construction — with certified workers prioritized |
| Innovate | High Economic Impact invitations targeting top talent in all sectors. Per recent reporting, invitations have gone to candidates earning around $58/hour (~$115,000/year) or with registration scores of 132+ |
What it means
Federal top-ups to a province's allocation don't happen often. Practically, this one means roughly 2,000 nominations remain for the rest of the year. If your registration score has been sitting near recent cut-offs, or you work in a Care or Build occupation, the next four months are a real opportunity window.
The BC PNP is registration-based, though — invitations depend on your score, occupation and location. The way to convert this window into an invitation is to calculate your registration score precisely and have the wage and employer-side requirements (business size, supporting documents) ready in advance. For the bigger picture on PR strategy including the BC PNP, see our Permanent Residence services.
BC PNP News & Updates (welcomebc.ca — August 18, 2026 announcement)
Related coverage: CIC News (August 2026 — source for invitation counts and Innovate criteria)
This article is general information based on sources available at the time of writing, and is not legal advice for any specific case. Invitation criteria and cut-offs change between rounds — always confirm against the official pages before registering.