Express Entry BC (EEBC): B.C. Nomination for Express Entry Candidates

Canada has two broad ways to become a permanent resident through a province:

• Base provincial nomination: the province nominates you, then you send a separate permanent residence application to IRCC.
• Enhanced nomination: the province nominates you through the federal Express Entry system. You get 600 extra points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Express Entry BC (EEBC) is British Columbia's enhanced option. It is not a stream of its own. Each Skills Immigration stream that offers it has an EEBC version. In 2026, those are:

• EEBC Skilled Worker
• EEBC Health Authority

WelcomeBC explains the benefit this way: if you are nominated using the EEBC option, your federal profile receives more points and your federal permanent residence application may be processed faster.

B.C. used to offer EEBC versions of its International Graduate and International Post-Graduate streams. Those closed with their streams (see International Graduate).

You must meet two sets of rules.

1. The B.C. stream rules

You must meet all the requirements of the Skilled Worker or Health Authority stream, including a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible B.C. employer, language of at least CLB 4, and the stream's work experience and wage rules. See each stream page for details.

2. The federal Express Entry rules

You must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry pool. To enter the pool, you must qualify for at least one federal program:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

The federal programs have their own language minimums, which are often higher than B.C.'s CLB 4. For example, the Federal Skilled Worker Program needs at least CLB 7. If you meet B.C.'s rules but not a federal program's rules, you can still use the base (non-Express Entry) version of the stream.

If you qualify for both, EEBC is usually the faster route to permanent residence. If you don't have a federal profile, you are not at a disadvantage at the B.C. stage: B.C. uses the same job-focused priorities for both options.

1. Create your Express Entry profile with IRCC. You receive a profile number and a job seeker validation code.
2. Register with the BC PNP under the EEBC version of your stream and enter those federal details.
3. Receive an invitation from B.C. B.C. invites people in targeted draws. In 2026, it focuses on its Care, Build and Innovate priorities.
4. Apply to the BC PNP with your documents and the $1,750 fee.
5. Accept the nomination in your Express Entry profile. Your CRS score goes up by 600 points.
6. Get a federal invitation (ITA) in a later Express Entry draw and submit your permanent residence application within the federal deadline (60 days).

Keep your Express Entry profile active the whole time. If it expires before you accept the nomination, you may need to create a new one and update B.C. Our guide on going from ITA to confirmation of permanent residence explains the federal steps.

Most Express Entry scores are well under 600 points, so a provincial nomination almost always puts you above the cutoff for draws that include provincial nominees. Use our CRS calculator to see your score with and without a nomination, and read how the CRS works.

A nomination does not replace IRCC's checks. IRCC still reviews your admissibility, medical exam, police certificates and proof that you meet your federal program's rules. If you are refused for misrepresentation, you can be barred from applying for five years, so every detail must be accurate.

• Letting the federal profile expire. Express Entry profiles last 12 months. If yours expires while you wait for B.C., you may need to create a new one and give the BC PNP the new details.
• Mismatched information. Your job title, duties, work history and language scores must match across your BC PNP registration, your BC PNP application and your federal profile. Differences can lead to a refusal or a misrepresentation finding.
• Old language results. Language test results are generally valid for two years. Make sure they are still valid when you apply to B.C. and again when you apply to IRCC.
• Counting on the nomination alone. A nomination is not a visa. IRCC can still refuse you if you are inadmissible or don't meet your federal program's rules.
• Changing jobs. If you leave your supporting employer before you become a permanent resident, report it to the BC PNP right away. Your nomination depends on that job offer.
• Paying for a job offer. Employers can't charge you for a job offer. Read our scam protection guide if someone asks for money.

Before you start, compare your CRS score with the latest Express Entry draw results. If your score is already high enough for the draws you qualify for, you may not need a provincial nomination at all.

• On April 23, 2026, B.C. narrowed Skills Immigration to the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams. EEBC options for the graduate streams are gone.
• B.C.'s 2026 allocation rose to 6,254 nominations on August 18, 2026, after IRCC added 1,000 spaces. This allocation covers both EEBC and base nominations.
• Updated program guides took effect on May 28, 2026.

For the full timeline, see our BC PNP overhaul status page and the British Columbia guide.