British Columbia Invites 33 Workers Through New Rural Pathway

Introduction

British Columbia has held another selection round under its Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative (TRHSI), a temporary pathway designed to support workers in healthcare-related services in rural and remote areas.

On September 17, 2026, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) invited 33 workers to apply for provincial nomination. The invited workers were employed as cleaners or security staff by a B.C. public health authority in an eligible rural or remote area.

British Columbia Holds Its Second TRHSI Draw

This was the second draw under the TRHSI since the pathway was introduced earlier in 2026.

In this latest round, candidates needed a minimum score of 60 to receive an invitation. This was higher than the 50-point cutoff used in the first TRHSI draw on July 23.

Here is a quick comparison:

Date	Minimum Score	Invitations
September 17, 2026	60	33
July 23, 2026	50	60

As a result, the BCPNP has now issued 93 invitations through the TRHSI.

Who Received Invitations?

The latest invitations went to cleaners and security staff working for a B.C. health authority in a qualifying rural or remote location.

However, the BCPNP has not publicly confirmed the exact occupations represented in either TRHSI draw.

The province plans to nominate up to 250 workers through this temporary initiative.

What Is the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative?

The TRHSI is designed for certain foreign workers who already have full-time jobs with a B.C. public health authority in an eligible rural or remote area.

To qualify, workers must have a regular, indeterminate and full-time job in one of these occupations:

• Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners – NOC 65312
• Light-duty cleaners – NOC 65310
• Security guards and related security service occupations – NOC 64410

In addition, workers generally need at least nine months of continuous full-time work in an eligible occupation with the same employer and in the same region before registering under the initiative.

Where Can Workers Qualify?

Not every location in British Columbia qualifies for this pathway.

For example, health authority workers with job offers in certain regional districts cannot qualify, including:

• Central Okanagan Regional District
• Metro Vancouver Regional District
• Capital Regional District

However, some islands within the Capital Regional District are exceptions. These include Galiano Island, Mayne Island, Pender Island, Salt Spring Island and Saturna Island.

Therefore, applicants should carefully check whether their job location falls within an eligible area.

What Are the Job Requirements?

The job offer must remain valid throughout both the registration and application stages.

Moreover, workers must continue working full-time in the same position throughout the application process.

Certain periods of employment do not count toward the required nine months. For instance, work completed while holding a study permit or as part of a study program, such as a co-op placement, does not count.

Similarly, a leave lasting more than two weeks does not count toward the nine-month requirement.

Which Health Authorities Can Support Applicants?

The BCPNP lists eight public health authorities whose workers may be considered under the TRHSI:

1. First Nations Health Authority
2. Fraser Health
3. Interior Health
4. Island Health
5. Northern Health
6. Providence Health Care
7. Provincial Health Services Authority
8. Vancouver Coastal Health

However, working for one of these health authorities does not automatically guarantee eligibility.

Each health authority has its own process for deciding which applications it will support. Also, the BCPNP application must receive support from an authorized representative of the relevant health authority.

Other Eligibility Requirements

Besides meeting the job and work experience requirements, applicants must also meet other conditions.

For example, candidates must:

• Have at least a high school diploma.
• Meet the required minimum income level for the full nine-month period before registration and application.
• Meet the broader eligibility requirements under the Skills Immigration (SI) program.
• Continue meeting the required employment conditions throughout the process.

Therefore, meeting the occupation requirement alone is not enough to qualify.

What Happens After Provincial Nomination?

If British Columbia nominates a candidate, the individual becomes a provincial nominee and can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

Furthermore, eligible nominees who are already in Canada may be able to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) after submitting their permanent residence application.

Since June 9, 2026, a temporary federal measure has also made the process faster for certain base Provincial Nominee Program applicants. Under this measure, eligible applicants can apply for a BOWP without first waiting for an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) for their permanent residence application.

When Does the TRHSI Registration Close?

The TRHSI is a time-limited pathway.

British Columbia plans to accept new registrations until 11:59 p.m. on October 7, 2026.

The original deadline was August 31, 2026. However, the province extended it because of wildfire-related impacts in August.

Therefore, eligible workers who are considering this pathway should pay close attention to the registration deadline.

British Columbia Plans to Support Up to 250 Workers

When British Columbia announced the initiative in April 2026, it said that it planned to nominate up to 250 workers through the TRHSI.

So far, the province has issued 93 invitations through its two selection rounds.

However, the BCPNP has not published the number of workers it has actually nominated since the pathway officially launched on June 15, 2026.

British Columbia’s 2026 Immigration Priorities

The TRHSI is part of British Columbia’s broader immigration strategy for 2026.

The province has identified three main areas of focus:

Care

This pillar focuses on strengthening healthcare and other related care services.

Build

This area supports infrastructure development and major projects across the province.

Innovate

This pillar focuses on innovation as a way to support long-term economic growth.

The TRHSI falls under the “Care” priority because it supports workers who provide essential services within B.C.’s rural and remote healthcare system.

Final Takeaway

Overall, British Columbia invited 33 workers through its second TRHSI selection on September 17, 2026.

The minimum score increased from 50 to 60, while the province has now issued 93 invitations under the pathway.

Importantly, the initiative is temporary and targets eligible cleaners and security workers employed by B.C. public health authorities in qualifying rural or remote areas.

Therefore, workers interested in this pathway should carefully review the occupation, location, employment, education, income and health-authority support requirements before registering.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive advice on any of your questions regarding immigration. Get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Global. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).