5 Things To Consider Before Applying For British Columbia Pnp

Are you planning to immigrate to Canada, specifically British Columbia? Then there are some essential things you must know before making the final move.

British Columbia as you may already know is the largest province in the Great White North. Many immigrants choose BC to live, study, and work due to the excellent employment opportunities, renowned universities, and top-notch healthcare services. The main reason is the streamlined pathways, which allow interested applicants to check their eligibility for Canada PR using a unique calculator.

Must-Know Things Before Applying for BC PNP

Here are some other things you must know before moving to British Columbia:

Streamlined Pathways

The provincial nominee program of British Columbia has many streams. Every stream is designed to target a different group of immigrants. So, if you are a skilled worker, BC PNP has a Skills Immigration Stream, which caters to skilled and semi-skilled professionals from overseas. They are invited for permanent residency directly to fill in high-demand occupations.

The Express Entry BC stream is one of the most preferred pathways for newcomers, aligned with the federal Express Entry system. To apply, you have to meet the eligibility criteria set by the province.

Regional Opportunities

British Columbia has a huge shortage of workers in major sectors like tech, healthcare, and more. If you wish to immigrate to BC, explore the BC PNP’s Regional Pilot programs. For instance, the British Columbia Tech Pilot Program BC (PNP). But for that, you must already be eligible for either the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC stream of the British Columbia PNP.

These pilot programs address the labour market needs in specific areas and hire overseas workers who meet the criteria. Using this, the province aims to support local demand and community integration.

Entrepreneurial Endeavours

For aspiring entrepreneurs, there is a stream, Entrepreneur Immigration stream under the BC PNP. This stream welcomes those with a background in dealing with business or if they wish to invest and manage a venture in BC. If you get the required scores in the BC PNP score calculator 2024, you can secure a provincial nomination and eventually become a permanent resident of British Columbia.

So, whether you want to launch a business or invest in an existing enterprise, you can be a valuable asset to BC’s innovation ecosystem.

Housing Situation

You must not know this but British Columbia ranks among Canada’s largest housing market. That’s right! As per recent reports, BC is overall an expensive province to settle in but if you have a budget crunch, then there are affordable cities you can explore like Victoria and Kelowna. However, keep this in mind – the housing rates and property types will depend on factors like your choice of settlement location and the size of your family.

For a one-bedroom, you will find different prices in various cities. In Vancouver, it is CAD 3013, in Victoria – CAD 2054, and in Kelowna – CAD 1947. Similarly, for a two-bedroom apartment, you will have to pay CAD 3918 in Vancouver, CAD 2753 in Victoria, and CAD 2790 in Kelowna.

Transportation

Another thing you must consider before moving to British Columbia is access to transportation. In the province’s Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna cities, there is a minimum of 73% of residents that live about 500 meters from a public transit access point. About 90% of people in Victoria and Vancouver can easily access public transportation and in Kelowna, about 73.7%.

The popular modes of transportation in BC are buses, the SkyTrain, and the SeaBus. Still, some immigrants and residents prefer having their own car, truck, or van for commuting. If you choose to drive, you must know that for the first 90 days as a newcomer, you will be allowed to use your driver’s license issued in your home country. After 90 days, you must get a BC driver’s license from the provincial government.

Healthcare System

Just like the healthcare services offered across Canada, the healthcare system in British Columbia also operates through a universal healthcare model. Meaning, that if you move here, you will be able to access healthcare services free of charge. When you move here initially, you have to wait for a minimum of two months after getting your permanent residency to access public healthcare services – as listed in the BC’s Medical Services Plan (MSP).

You get a health card if you meet the eligibility. The province will give you access to limited medical services. Services which are not mentioned in the health card have to be paid by you. That is why many people choose to go for private health insurance.

Education

Taking kids with you? Well, there are some of the best schools in British Columbia. The best part is that the education of your kids is covered under the education system of BC. There are independent schools offering day and boarding programs that you can get your kids enrolled in. Private schools have separate fees that are not covered in the education system and have to be paid by you.

For those seeking post-secondary education here, you will be happy to know the province has over 275 designated learning institutions. It is important to know this because as an immigrant you can only get admission at these DLIs.

 Did you know? BC houses more than 1 million immigrants.

If you want to be one of them, contact the best Canada immigration consultants in Bangalore, Nationwide Visas. They will help explore your options for getting permanent residency in British Columbia as per your requirements and circumstances. Nationwide Visas offers FREE one-on-one counselling and answers all the questions and doubts you may have regarding moving to Canada.