Only 1,100 New Applications in 2025 as Quotas Drastically Cut

Due to changes at the federal level, BC will dramatically reduce the number of immigrants it nominates in 2025. According to the latest bulletin from the BC PNP Office, the province will accept just 1,100 new applications throughout the year, strictly reserved for three high impact categories:

• Front-line healthcare professionals; and
• Entrepreneur applicants; and
• Workers in specific high-skilled occupations.

For all other categories, regular and priority occupation draws will be suspended, and only around 100 high-impact candidates will be selected from a pool of over 10,000—setting the stage for one of the most competitive nomination years in recent memory.

International Post-Graduate (IPG) Applications Put on Hold

The International Post-Graduate (IPG) stream, a long-time favorite among international students and particularly the Chinese community, has also been affected. The BC PNP Office has confirmed that all IPG applications submitted between September 1, 2024, and January 7, 2025, will not be processed at this time, and will be placed on a waiting list.

Applications submitted outside of this period will still be processed in 2025, but delays are expected. This adds a new layer of uncertainty for international graduates of BC’s post-secondary institutions.

Additionally, the launch of three new international student immigration streams has been postponed indefinitely, pending a restoration of federal nomination levels.

Tighter Focus on Healthcare and Education Sectors

Within the healthcare stream, the “Health Authority” category will now be restricted to frontline roles only. Non-clinical healthcare workers are no longer eligible. Only those directly involved in patient care or treatment will qualify for nomination.

In the education sector, BC is eliminating invitations for Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Assistants. Going forward, only licensed ECEs will be targeted through sector-specific draws.

Entrepreneur Immigration Remains Open

While most skilled worker streams are being curtailed, the Entrepreneur Immigration Stream remains active. BC will continue to issue Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified entrepreneur applicants, signaling the province’s continued commitment to fostering economic growth through innovation and investment, even under resource constraints.

Backlogs Mounting, Quota Imbalance Worsens

BC immigration authorities have revealed that as of early 2025, the program is facing a backlog of 5,200 applications, while only 4,000 total nomination spots have been allocated by the federal government.

Of these, 2,900 nominations are already earmarked to process pending applications, leaving just 1,100 slots for new applicants in 2025. This imbalance significantly increases competition and means new submissions will be prioritized only after clearing the existing backlog.

Background: Federal Cuts Drive National Immigration Retrenchment

The BC PNP restructuring stems directly from a federal policy shift announced in October 2024, when the Canadian government cut the national PNP quota from 110,000 to 55,000.

By January 2025, additional federal updates confirmed that quotas for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot were also reduced. These sweeping reductions have placed immense pressure on provincial immigration programs, forcing them to adopt a more targeted, quality-driven approach.

Conclusion: A Strategic Pivot from “Quantity-Driven” to “Quality-First” Immigration

BC’s latest PNP overhaul reflects a fundamental transition in Canada’s immigration policy—one that emphasizes human capital quality, economic contribution, and labor market alignment over sheer volume.

For applicants, this marks the end of the era where "meeting the points threshold" alone could secure nomination. Instead, success now depends on being highly competitive, strategically positioned, and aligned with provincial priorities.

Whether applying to BC or other provincial nominee programs, early planning, skills enhancement, and policy literacy will be critical to navigating this new immigration landscape.