British Columbia has expanded its latest provincial immigration selection, issuing 722 invitations to skilled foreign workers on October 29, 2026. The draw marks the province’s biggest invitation round of the year and brings its total number of invitations across all BC PNP streams to at least 7,220.
Rather than relying on a single selection threshold, the province used two different benchmarks to identify potential nominees. Candidates were considered either for their employment earnings and job offers or for their competitive scores in the Skills Immigration registration system.
The latest results also bring attention to a gradual reduction in the salary requirements used in the province’s targeted high-economic-impact selections.
Also Read British Columbia Invites 722 Candidates
Two Routes to an Invitation: Who Made the Cut?
The October selection gave candidates two opportunities to meet British Columbia’s requirements. A larger share of invitations went to applicants who satisfied the wage and employment conditions.
| Selection Category | Minimum Requirement | Invitations |
| Employment-based selection | TEER 0–3 job offer with at least $49 per hour or $99,000 annually | 524 |
| Points-based selection | Registration score of 131 or higher | 248 |
| Total | 722 |
The wage-based category accounted for 524 invitations, while another 248 candidates qualified through the registration-score route.
One notable change is that candidates meeting the wage criteria no longer needed to reach the $50 hourly or $100,000 annual salary levels used as reference points in previous selections.
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A Look at British Columbia’s Immigration Activity in 2026
The October 29 round is part of a series of selections conducted under British Columbia’s Innovate objective. This initiative allows the province to identify skilled workers from different professional backgrounds who can contribute to its economic development.
Nine such rounds have taken place during 2026. Their combined invitation figures provide a clearer picture of how selection requirements have changed throughout the year.
| Draw Date | Wage-Based Requirement | Invitations | Registration Score Requirement | Invitations |
| February 4 | $70/hour; $145,000/year | 206 | 138 | 223 |
| February 11 | $62/hour; $125,000/year | 195 | 135 | 265 |
| April 22 | $62/hour; $125,000/year | 252 | 138 | 232 |
| May 14 | $59/hour; $120,000/year | 225 | 135 | 212 |
| June 18 | $62/hour; $125,000/year | 130 | 136 | 149 |
| July 16 | $58/hour; $115,000/year | 223 | 132 | 346 |
| August 20 | $55/hour; $110,000/year | 337 | 132 | 265 |
| September 24 | $52/hour; $105,000/year | 426 | 131 | 288 |
| October 29 | $49/hour; $99,000/year | 524 | 131 | 248 |
All wage-based invitations required an eligible TEER 0–3 job offer.
Across these selections, the wage requirement has moved down from $70 per hour in February to $49 per hour in October. The registration-score threshold has also shifted, reaching 131 points in the latest two rounds.
Overall, these nine draws account for 4,746 invitations. When other worker and entrepreneur selection streams are included, the BC PNP has issued a minimum of 7,220 invitations during the year.
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What Does the Current Candidate Pool Reveal?
The number of candidates waiting in the Skills Immigration registration pool is another important indicator of competition within the provincial program.
According to the October 6 update, 7,695 profiles were awaiting consideration. Their scores were spread across several brackets, although the majority were concentrated between 80 and 119 points.
| Score Range | Registered Candidates |
| 0–59 | 216 |
| 60–69 | 364 |
| 70–79 | 718 |
| 80–89 | 1,281 |
| 90–99 | 1,444 |
| 100–109 | 1,426 |
| 110–119 | 1,189 |
| 120–129 | 854 |
| 130–139 | 171 |
| 140–149 | 23 |
| 150+ | 9 |
| Total | 7,695 |
The 90–99 bracket contains the highest number of registered profiles, with 1,444 candidates. Meanwhile, only 203 registrations fall within the 130-point-and-above categories.
This distribution offers insight into the competition among candidates, but registration scores alone do not determine who receives an invitation. British Columbia can apply additional selection priorities depending on the objectives of an individual draw.
Which Candidates Could Be Prioritised in Upcoming Rounds?
The province has several considerations available when selecting candidates for future high-economic-impact invitations. These extend beyond salary and registration points.
Some of the areas that may influence selection include:
- Academic background: Qualification level, subject area and where the education was completed.
- Employment history: Years of professional experience and the skill level of previous roles.
- Professional credentials: Relevant licences and professional designations obtained in British Columbia.
- Language ability: English and French proficiency.
- Employment opportunities: Occupation, job classification and offered compensation.
- Regional contribution: The location where a candidate intends to live and work.
- Economic priorities: Skills required for important provincial projects, initiatives and labour market demands.
The province has not identified the specific occupations selected through the October 29 Innovate draw. Therefore, candidates should not assume that a particular occupation or industry was exclusively targeted.
From Provincial Invitation to Canadian PR: The Next Steps
Receiving a BC PNP invitation is the beginning of the provincial nomination application process, not an automatic approval for permanent residence.
Selected candidates must submit their complete nomination applications within 30 days of receiving an invitation. Those who obtain a nomination can subsequently apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence through the applicable federal process.
There may also be an opportunity for eligible applicants already in Canada to obtain a Bridging Open Work Permit. This can help qualifying workers maintain their ability to work while awaiting a decision on their permanent residence application.
Applicants who submit their work permit applications before their existing permits expire may be eligible for maintained status, subject to the relevant immigration requirements.
Conclusion
British Columbia’s October selection demonstrates that provincial immigration invitations can be based on different measures of a candidate’s economic contribution. The lower wage threshold and 131-point registration cutoff also provide useful information for people monitoring the province’s selection trends.
However, the requirements used in one round should not be treated as guaranteed benchmarks for future invitations. Candidates interested in the BC PNP should review their eligibility, employment details, registration scores and available immigration options before proceeding.
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