BC PNP 2026: 6,254 Nominations After the August Top-Up
As of September 24, 2026. British Columbia has 6,254 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nominations for 2026. IRCC first set the province's allocation at 5,254, well below the 9,000 the province asked for and below the 6,214 it ended 2025 with, then added 1,000 nominations on August 18, 2026. That puts BC's 2026 total just above where 2025 finished, though still well short of its request.
This guide is for skilled workers and graduates hoping for a British Columbia nomination in 2026. It explains how the allocation changed, who is still eligible, and what to do if you miss out.
TL;DR
British Columbia's 2026 PNP allocation is 6,254, after a 1,000-nomination federal top-up on August 18, 2026 raised the initial 5,254 | The province had requested 9,000 | The national PNP admissions target rose from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 in 2026, while provinces and territories received 43,999 nomination spaces | IRCC also reserved 10,000 supplemental federal spaces for provinces to nominate licensed doctors and French-speaking candidates | Even after the top-up BC is below its 9,000 request, so expect competitive scores and targeted draws
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The British Columbia allocation started 2026 lower because Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) sets each province's nomination ceiling under the federal 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan, and British Columbia's initial share, announced on December 18, 2025, came in at 5,254. That figure sat far below the 9,000 the province requested and below the 6,214 nominations it finished 2025 with. On August 18, 2026, the federal government added 1,000 nominations, raising BC's 2026 allocation to 6,254, as the BC PNP news page reports. National PNP numbers actually grew: the PNP admissions target rose from 55,000 in 2025 to 91,500 for 2026. That target counts people admitted, including spouses and children, not nominations. IRCC gave provinces and territories 43,999 nomination spaces for 2026, with each nomination leading to about 1.8 admissions, and reserved 10,000 supplemental federal spaces for nominating licensed doctors and French-speaking candidates. Even after the August top-up, British Columbia is well short of the share it asked for.
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How many nominations does BC PNP have in 2026?
British Columbia started 2026 with 5,254 base nominations under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). To put that in context, the province ran 2025 with a base of 4,000 that was topped up to 6,214 during the year, so its 2026 starting point was above the old base but below where 2025 finished. The August 18, 2026 top-up of 1,000 then lifted BC to 6,254, slightly above its 2025 final total. The table below shows the 2026 base allocations for the provinces and territories that published figures early in the year. These are nomination ceilings, not admission numbers, and provinces can receive top-ups later, as British Columbia (to 6,254) and Alberta (to 6,603) both did in August 2026.
Province or territory
2026 base allocation
Ontario
14,119
Alberta
6,403
British Columbia
5,254
Saskatchewan
4,761
Yukon
282
Who is still eligible for BC PNP in 2026?
British Columbia has narrowed BC PNP Skills Immigration, so fewer workers and graduates qualify than before. The current Skills Immigration Program Guide lists two streams, each with an Express Entry BC option: Skilled Worker, which needs a British Columbia job offer in an eligible occupation, and Health Authority, for health workers supported by a British Columbia public health authority. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream is officially closed and the province is not launching new student streams, so international graduates now apply through those existing streams, where study in British Columbia or Canada still earns extra registration points. There is also an Entrepreneur Immigration stream for people starting or buying a business. A limited allocation does not change who can enter the pool, but it does mean the province leans harder on targeted draws for its 2026 priorities of care occupations such as health care, child care and education, nine priority construction trades, and High Economic Impact candidates in any sector, rather than large general draws.
How does the allocation change your odds of a nomination?
A limited allocation usually pushes selection scores up and narrows who gets invited. When British Columbia has fewer nominations to give, it tends to hold more frequent but smaller targeted draws aimed at specific occupations, and general draws become less generous. That rewards candidates with a strong British Columbia job offer, in-demand occupations, higher wages, and stronger language scores, and it squeezes out borderline profiles that might have cleared a larger draw. If you are relying on British Columbia alone, treat a nomination as competitive rather than likely, and strengthen the factors you control, starting with your job offer and your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) inputs like language and work experience.
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If a British Columbia nomination looks out of reach, you still have several federal and provincial routes. Express Entry runs its own draws for the Canadian Experience Class and category-based selection, and a strong CRS score can land you permanent residence without any provincial nomination. Other provinces run their own PNP streams with different occupation lists, so a candidate shut out in British Columbia may qualify in Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan, or the Atlantic provinces. Canadian work experience also raises your CRS over time, so another year on a valid work permit can move you into range. A Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) can map which of these fits your occupation and score.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be a BC PNP draw in 2026?
Yes. British Columbia continues to run BC PNP draws in 2026, but with a limited allocation the province favours targeted draws for priority occupations over large general rounds. Expect smaller, targeted invitations for care occupations, the nine priority construction trades and High Economic Impact candidates. Skilled workers still need a British Columbia job offer.
What is the PNP allocation for 2026?
Nationally, the 2026 PNP admissions target is 91,500, up from 55,000 in 2025. That figure counts admissions, not nominations: IRCC gave provinces and territories 43,999 nomination spaces for 2026 and reserved 10,000 supplemental federal spaces for nominating licensed doctors and French-speaking candidates. British Columbia's 2026 allocation is 6,254 nominations, after a 1,000-nomination top-up on August 18, 2026 to its initial 5,254.
What are the BC PNP occupations in demand for 2026?
British Columbia prioritizes occupations tied to its labour shortages, which centre on care occupations in health care, education, child care and veterinary care, and on nine priority construction trades. The province runs targeted draws for these groups, and a job offer in one of them is the strongest single factor for a nomination. Dedicated technology draws ended on December 3, 2024. Technology occupations remain eligible, and the province now reaches top tech talent through High Economic Impact invitations open to all sectors.
Which province is easiest to get PR in 2026?
There is no universally easy province, because each one selects for its own labour needs and job offers. A tighter British Columbia allocation can make provinces with larger 2026 allocations, such as Ontario and Alberta, relatively more open for some occupations, but the right province depends on your specific job offer, occupation, and score rather than headline allocation size.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, book a consultation with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) at gofarglobal.com.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Immigration laws and policies change frequently. Each case is unique and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) before making immigration decisions.
Rami Mamar is an RCIC-IRB licensed immigration consultant and Commissioner of Oaths with over a decade of experience helping clients from Iran, UAE, Syria, Armenia, and worldwide immigrate to Canada. He has overseen 10,000+ immigration cases including Express Entry, work permits, study permits, and family sponsorship applications.
