Last Updated:April 8, 2025
What is the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream?
This category is designed for individuals working in low-skilled or semi-skilled occupations in the tourism/hospitality or food processing industries in BC. If you are working in the Northeast Development Region of BC, other occupations may also be eligible.
Eligibility requirements for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream
Work experience
- You must have worked full-time for the same employer in the same occupation for at least 9 months immediately prior to applying and continue working during the permanent residence application process.
- Your work permit for the past 9 months must have been issued under a working holiday visa, a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), or a work permit (excluding co-op or off-campus work during studies).
- At the time of application, you must be receiving a wage that meets or exceeds the BC median wage for the occupation.
Eligible occupations for work experience
You must have worked for the same employer in one of the eligible occupations in BC for at least 9 months. If you are working in the Northeast Development Region of BC, there are no restrictions on the occupation.
Occupations in travel and accommodation
64314
Hotel front desk clerks
Tour and recreational guides and casino occupations
64320
Tour and travel guides
64322
Outdoor sport and recreational guides
64321
Casino workers
Occupations in food and beverage service
64300
Maîtres d’hotel and hosts/hostesses
64301
Bartenders
65200
Food and beverage servers
65201
Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
Cleaners *employed directly by hotels/resorts
65310
Light duty cleaners
65311
Specialized cleaners
65312
Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
65210
Support occupations in accommodation, travel and facilities set-up services
*For the purposes of the BCPNP, a resort is defined as an accommodation facility associated with recreational activities. These activities may include skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, nature-based or interpretive tours, etc.
Other service occupations *employed directly by hotels/resorts
65320
Dry cleaning, laundry and related occupations
65329
Other service support occupations
*For the purposes of the BCPNP, a resort is defined as an accommodation facility associated with recreational activities. These activities may include skiing, golfing, boating, fishing, biking, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, nature-based or interpretive tours, etc.
Food processing
94140
Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing
94141
Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
94142
Fish and seafood plant workers
94143
Testers and graders, food and beverage processing
95106
Labourers in food and beverage processing
94142
Fish and seafood plant workers
Educational background
- You must have at least a high school diploma or a higher level of education.
Language proficiency
To be eligible, applicants must have scored at least CLB4 on an approved English or French language test taken within two years of their application.
| Test | Language | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLB4 | IELTS | English | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| CELPIP | English | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | |
| TEF Tests taken on or after December 11, 2023 |
French | 306-351 | 268-329 | 306-351 | 328-386 | |
| TEF Tests taken between October 1, 2019, and December 10, 2023 |
French | 300-349 | 300-349 | 300-349 | 300-349 | |
| TCF | French | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
Job offer
- The job offer must be for a full-time, permanent position.
- The offered position must be in the same occupation you worked in for 9 months or in a higher-level occupation.
- The wage must meet or exceed the BC median wage for the occupation.
Intention to live in British Columbia
You must demonstrate that you have the intent to live, work and economically establish in BC.
In this category, receiving a nomination from the BC provincial government to IRCC significantly increases the chances of obtaining permanent residence.
Eligibility requirements for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream (Employer)
- The employer must demonstrate that they are contributing to BC’s economic growth.
- The company must have its headquarters and primary operations located in British Columbia.
- The company must have been established for at least 2 years.
- The employer must have at least 5 full-time employees (or 3 full-time employees if located outside the Vancouver metropolitan area).
- The applicant and their family must not own more than 10% of the employer’s shares.
- The employer must maintain good standing in areas such as employment, health and safety, and legal regulations.
- The employer must offer the applicant a full-time, permanent position and guarantee employment after the applicant obtains permanent residence.
- The offered position must be in the same occupation the applicant worked in for 9 months or a higher-level occupation.
- The wage must meet or exceed the BC median wage for the occupation.
- The employer must make genuine efforts to recruit from the local labour market during the applicant’s work permit application process, or for at least 2 weeks prior to submitting the PNP application.
- The employer must demonstrate a genuine need for the position within their business.
If multiple applicants are applying under the same employer simultaneously or if the applicant has dependents, please contact Visa JP Canada in advance. Additionally, if the employer is located outside the Greater Vancouver area, there are preferential measures available. Feel free to inquire about these details as well.
Application process for the Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Stream
01Register on the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS)
Applicants who meet the eligibility requirements must register their profile on SIRS. Once the profile is registered, a score out of 200 points will be calculated based on the information provided, and the applicant will be placed in the pool of candidates for selection.
02Receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA)
An Invitation To Apply (ITA) grants you the right to submit your application for BCPNP. Only after receiving an ITA can you submit your application to the BC provincial government. The BCPNP conducts regular draws, known as “drawings,” where candidates are selected based on their scores, with higher-ranking candidates receiving ITAs first. If you do not receive an ITA, you will remain in the selection pool for up to one year.
03Apply online for BCPNP
Once you receive an ITA, both the applicant and the employer must complete and submit the online application to the BCPNP processing office within 30 days.
04Receiving a Nomination Certificate
Once the review at the BCPNP processing office is complete, the applicant will receive the results. Passing the review is referred to as being nominated.
05Apply for permanent residence to IRCC
After being nominated, the applicant must submit their online permanent residence application to IRCC within six months.
06Review by IRCC
After the permanent residence application is submitted and reviewed by IRCC, the applicant will receive a letter called the Confirmation of Permanent Resident (CoPR), indicating that the review process is complete.
07Landing
Applicants from outside Canada will enter Canada with their Confirmation of Permanent Resident (CoPR). Applicants from within Canada can complete the landing process online.
08Receive your Permanent Resident (PR) card
Your PR card will be delivered to the designated address within Canada within a few months.
Related Columns
Date Posted:April 23, 2025
How to Prove That the Family Class Permanent Residence Application Is Not Based on a Fraudulent Partnership
Related News
Looking to obtain permanent residence or a visa?
Consult with us now!
Applying for permanent residence or a visa to Canada on your own can be overwhelming due to the large number of required documents, and you may feel uncertain about whether everything is correct. However, if you're serious about immigrating to Canada, we strongly recommend seeking the support of an immigration consultant. There are many pathways to obtaining permanent residence, depending on factors such as your age, occupation, and family status. With the help of an expert, you can ensure that you plan the right approach tailored to your specific situation.
A professional immigration consultant will help solve your concerns
Get a free Counseling now
From immigration planning to application submission,
everything is completed with Visa JP Canada
Consulting with an immigration consultant makes the process clearer and much smoother. You’ll feel more confident with document submissions and procedures, significantly reducing the risk of mistakes. Take the first step toward your Canadian dream with the guidance of an expert.
