October 13, 2025
In a major development for international students and skilled immigrants, British Columbia has announced an increase in Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocations for 2025. This update brings renewed hope for many applicants, particularly those in the International Post-Graduate (IPG) stream, who had been placed on a waitlist due to reduced quotas earlier this year.
BC PNP Allocation Increased to 5,254 in 2025
The Government of British Columbia revealed on October 2, 2025, that the province has received 1,254 additional nomination slots, bringing the total BC PNP nomination allocation to 5,254 — up from 4,000 earlier this year. While still short of the 8,000 nominations BC received in 2024, this updated figure means the province has recovered approximately 69% of its previous year’s allocation.
Waitlisted International Post-Graduate (IPG) Applications to Be Processed
One of the most significant impacts of this announcement is the resumption of processing for some waitlisted IPG applications. These applications were submitted between September 1, 2024, and January 7, 2025, and had been put on hold due to the sharp reduction in nomination allocations announced as part of Canada’s 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan. With the increased allocation, BC will begin processing a portion of the 2,240 waitlisted IPG applications — good news for international graduates of STEM and health programs from BC institutions.
Why Was the BC PNP Allocation Reduced in 2025?
The federal government significantly reduced immigration targets this year in response to pressures on housing affordability and social services. As outlined in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan, the permanent resident admissions target for 2025 dropped to 395,000, down from 485,000 in 2024. Consequently, PNP allocations were cut roughly in half, with the overall PNP target falling to 55,000 admissions from 110,000 the year before. That reduction directly affected BC’s immigration strategy, especially the IPG stream, which typically does not require a job offer and is popular with highly educated international graduates.
How Will BC Use These Additional Nominations?
According to the province, the new nominations will be prioritized for:
• Processing waitlisted IPG applications
• Continued support for healthcare professionals, entrepreneurs, and high economic impact applicants
BC has stated it will not expand its immigration priorities further in 2025 unless it receives additional nomination increases.
BC PNP Invitations Issued So Far in 2025
Most draws in 2025 have focused on Entrepreneur Immigration, though the Skills Immigration stream remains the core pathway.
Skills Immigration invitations in 2025:
• May 8, 2025 — 94 invitations issued
• October 2, 2025 — 474 invitations issued
Total Skills invitations: 568
Entrepreneur Immigration invitations in 2025 (approximate):
• Jan 28, 2025 — <10
• Mar 18, 2025 — <13
• Apr 15, 2025 — 5
• May 28, 2025 — <14
• Jul 8, 2025 — <17
• Aug 19, 2025 — <16
• Oct 2, 2025 — 11
Total Entrepreneur invitations: no more than 86
Other Provinces Also Receiving Additional PNP Allocations
British Columbia is not alone. Several other provinces and territories have secured increased PNP nomination slots in 2025, including Alberta, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Saskatchewan, Yukon, and the Northwest Territories.
Are You Eligible for BC PNP or Other Provincial Programs?
If you are an international graduate, skilled professional, or entrepreneur planning to immigrate to Canada, now is a good time to reassess eligibility. Streams such as the International Post-Graduate, Skilled Worker, and Entrepreneur Immigration provide multiple routes to permanent residency in British Columbia. At Career Wings Immigration, we guide applicants through eligibility assessments, documentation, nomination strategy, and PR applications.
Book a free BC PNP eligibility assessment today. Email: info@careerwingsimmigration.com
Contact Career Wings Immigration Immigration Services Ltd. Calgary Alberta
WhatsApp / Phone: +1-778-881-6000
Website: www.careerwingsimmigration.com