These Healthcare Jobs Can Still Get You PR in British Columbia

May 16, 2025

Ishita Soni

Focus on Healthcare Workers in 2025

To begin with, British Columbia (B.C.) has decided to reserve most of its provincial nomination spots for healthcare workers in 2025. This means that the majority of new permanent residence applications through the BC PNP will be for people working in specific healthcare roles.

Fewer Applications Will Be Accepted

In addition, B.C. has significantly reduced the number of new applications it will accept in 2025, from previous years down to just 1,100. The province made this change on April 14, and it’s part of a larger effort to better manage its limited resources.

Tighter Eligibility for Healthcare Workers

Next, the rules for healthcare workers have become stricter. Now, only those who directly provide healthcare services—such as doctors, nurses, and other front-line workers, are eligible under the Health Authority stream.

Previously, even people in support or administrative jobs (like clerks or janitors) could qualify if they worked for a health authority. But as of April 14, this is no longer allowed.

To qualify, the worker must also have a full-time, permanent job offer from a public health employer in B.C.

Which Employers Qualify?

To support your application, you must be employed by one of B.C.’s public health authorities, including:

• Provincial Health Services Authority
• First Nations Health Authority
• Fraser Health
• Interior Health
• Island Health
• Northern Health
• Vancouver Coastal Health
• Providence Health Care

Moreover, the employer (the health authority) must agree to submit and endorse your BC PNP application.

What About Self-Employed Healthcare Workers?

Meanwhile, self-employed professionals, such as physicians, nurse practitioners, or midwives, can still qualify. However, they must show that:

• A B.C. health authority or midwife practice supports them
• They are already working (or will soon be working) in their field in B.C.
• They have a recommendation letter and supporting documents confirming their qualifications and work location

This allows them to apply even if they’re not employed directly by a health authority.

Other Professions That May Qualify

Although the main focus is on healthcare, B.C. will still accept a small number of applicants in other categories:

• Entrepreneurs
• High economic impact candidates

While exact details are unclear, high economic impact candidates likely include people with valuable work experience, high-paying jobs, or skills in demand.

Only around 100 nominations are expected for these applicants in 2025.

Why the Restrictions?

Finally, it’s important to understand why B.C. made these changes.

The federal government cut B.C.’s nomination limit by 50% this year, allowing only 4,000 spots in total. However, B.C. already had a backlog of 5,200 applications, which is more than its full quota.

As a result, the BC PNP has decided to:

• Pause opening some streams
• Process existing applications first
• Limit new applications to just 1,100 for the entire year

Summary

British Columbia is focusing most of its immigration nominations in 2025 on frontline healthcare workers, while limiting applications overall due to capacity issues. A few spots will still go to entrepreneurs and top talent in other sectors, but the program will be much more selective.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. 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).

Get In Touch