What happens after a BC PNP nomination: the steps to permanent residence
Getting the letter is the moment most people have been working toward for years, but a nomination is not permanent residence. What happens after a BC PNP nomination is a second, federal application with its own deadlines, fees, documents and risks, plus a work permit question that catches many nominees out. This guide walks through every step from the nomination letter to landing as a permanent resident.
Key takeaways
A BC PNP nomination is a provincial decision that supports a federal application; it is not permanent residence. After a BC PNP nomination there are two possible paths. Nominees through Express Entry BC accept the nomination in their federal profile, receive 600 additional CRS points, are invited to apply in the next federal PNP round and must submit a complete application within the deadline, with IRCC targeting about six months of processing. Base nominees apply directly to IRCC under the Provincial Nominee Class using the nomination certificate, on a longer paper-based timeline. In both cases the nomination has an expiry date, the federal fees as of April 2026 are $1,590 per adult and $270 per child plus biometrics, and the province can issue a work permit support letter so the nominee can work for the employer without an LMIA while the file is processed. The nomination depends on the job and the facts in the registration, so changes must be reported and can lead to withdrawal.
- A nomination is not PR; the federal application comes next and has its own deadline.
- Express Entry BC: accept, +600 CRS, invitation, file; about six months processing.
- Base nomination: paper Provincial Nominee Class application; longer.
- Federal fees: $1,590 per adult, $270 per child, plus biometrics; confirm on canada.ca.
- A work permit support letter lets you keep working in BC without an LMIA.
After a BC PNP nomination: the two routes to the federal application
Everything after a BC PNP nomination depends on which kind you hold. The nomination letter says which; if it does not make sense to you, ask before you do anything else, because the two routes go to different places on different timelines.
| Express Entry BC (enhanced) nomination | Base nomination | |
|---|---|---|
| Where you apply | Through your existing Express Entry profile | Directly to IRCC, Provincial Nominee Class |
| First step | Accept the nomination in your profile promptly | Assemble the paper application with the nomination certificate |
| Effect on score | +600 CRS, invitation in the next federal PNP round | No CRS involved |
| Application deadline | Federal deadline after the invitation to apply | Before the nomination's expiry date |
| Processing target | About six months from a complete application | Longer; check live IRCC times |
| Typical fit | Nominees already eligible for a federal program | Nominees who fit BC but not Express Entry |
Diarise every date on the day the letter arrives
Step by step: from nomination letter to permanent residence
- 01
Read the nomination and note the deadlines
Confirm whether it is an Express Entry BC or base nomination, the expiry date, and any conditions attached, such as continuing employment with the nominating employer.
- 02
Sort out your work permit
If your current permit expires before PR is decided, or you are outside Canada, ask the BC PNP for a work permit support letter and apply for the LMIA-exempt nominee work permit. Do this early; do not let status lapse.
- 03
Accept the nomination or assemble the base file
Express Entry BC: accept in your profile, wait for the invitation in the next PNP round, then complete the e-application. Base: gather forms, the nomination certificate and all supporting documents.
- 04
Complete the federal requirements
Immigration medical exam for every family member, police certificates from each country of residence, biometrics, proof of funds if your program requires it, and translations. Keep every fact consistent with your BC registration.
- 05
Submit before the deadline and pay the fees
Processing fee, right of permanent residence fee and biometrics for each applicant. An incomplete application is returned, which can cost you the nomination if the deadline has passed.
- 06
Maintain status and respond to IRCC
Apply for a bridging open work permit if eligible once IRCC acknowledges the file. Answer every request within its deadline. Report any change in job or family to both BC and IRCC.
- 07
Confirmation of permanent residence and landing
On approval you receive a confirmation of permanent residence and, if outside Canada, a visa. Complete the landing process, then apply for your PR card and update MSP and your employer.
The work permit question after a BC PNP nomination
The gap between nomination and permanent residence is measured in months, and most nominees are already in Canada on a permit with an end date. The BC PNP addresses this directly: a nominee can request a work permit support letter, which allows an application for an employer-specific work permit under the provincial nominee LMIA exemption. It ties you to the nominating employer, which is consistent with the nomination in any case, and it means neither you nor the employer needs a new LMIA to keep you working. Nominees outside Canada can use the same letter to come and start the job before PR is decided.
Once IRCC has received and acknowledged your permanent residence application, a second option opens for nominees inside Canada whose permit is expiring: the bridging open work permit, which is not tied to one employer and is available to provincial nominees whose nomination carries no employer restriction. Which permit fits depends on timing and on the conditions of your nomination; our work permits guide covers both, and this is one of the decisions worth getting advice on rather than guessing.
Fees, documents and the medical after nomination
| Item | Amount or requirement (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Federal processing fee, principal applicant | $990 | Increased 30 April 2026 |
| Right of permanent residence fee | $600 per adult | Payable with the application or before approval |
| Accompanying spouse or partner | $990 + $600 | Same as the principal applicant |
| Dependent child | $270 each | |
| Biometrics | $85 per person, $170 family maximum | Valid for ten years if given before |
| Immigration medical exam | Panel physician fee, typically $200 to $450 per person | Every family member, including non-accompanying dependants |
| Police certificates | Varies by country | Each country lived in for six months or more since age 18 |
| Nominee work permit | $155 plus $100 open work permit holder fee if applicable | Only if needed to maintain status |
The full picture of what a BC immigration journey costs, from language tests to landing, is in our guide to how much it costs to immigrate to BC.
What the nomination depends on, and what can end it
A nomination is issued on the basis of the job offer, the employer and the facts in your registration. All of them must remain true until you become a permanent resident. If you lose the job, change employer, take a material cut in wage or hours, or the employer withdraws support, the BC PNP must be told, and it can withdraw the nomination, after which IRCC will refuse the application. In some cases the province will consider a substitute employer, but only if asked first. The same applies to your family situation: a marriage, a birth or a separation changes who is in the application and must be declared to both BC and IRCC.
Consistency between BC and IRCC is everything
How long it takes, honestly
For an Express Entry BC nominee, the sequence of accepting the nomination, being invited in the next federal PNP round and filing usually takes a few weeks, and IRCC then targets about six months to a decision on a complete application. For a base nominee, the Provincial Nominee Class application is processed on a separate track that has run well over a year in recent times. Requests for additional documents, medical follow-ups and security checks all add time. The live federal figures, and the provincial stage before them, are on our IRCC processing times page, and the way the two systems fit together is explained in BC PNP vs Express Entry.
How Wild Mountain Immigration helps after nomination
What happens after a BC PNP nomination is where careful files succeed and careless ones fail, often on deadlines and consistency rather than on merit. Working under CICC #R706497, we manage the federal application from the nomination letter to landing: the deadlines, the choice between a nominee work permit and a bridging permit, the medical, police and translation logistics, and the line-by-line consistency check between what BC was told and what IRCC will read. We act for nominees across Metro Vancouver and the rest of British Columbia entirely online, and we give honest assessments with no guarantees about outcomes, which only IRCC decides. Read the Express Entry BC guide for the enhanced route, check the processing times, see how we work as your Vancouver immigration consultant, and then book a free first call. After a BC PNP nomination the finish line is in sight; our job is to make sure nothing trips you before it.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC (CICC #R706497). Fees, deadlines, permit rules and processing times are directional and change over time; nominations are issued by the Province of British Columbia and permanent residence is decided by IRCC. Confirm current details on welcomebc.ca and canada.ca before you act.
Frequently asked questions
What happens after a BC PNP nomination?
A nomination is the province's decision; permanent residence is the federal government's. After a BC PNP nomination you apply to IRCC for permanent residence. If you were nominated through Express Entry BC, BC enters the nomination in your Express Entry profile, you accept it, your CRS rises by 600, and you receive an invitation to apply in the next federal PNP round, after which you submit a full application within the federal deadline. If you received a base nomination, you apply to IRCC directly under the Provincial Nominee Class with the nomination certificate. In both cases you can also apply for a work permit supported by the nomination so you can keep working in BC while IRCC processes the file.
How long is a BC PNP nomination valid?
A BC nomination comes with an expiry date, and the federal application must be submitted before it. For a base nomination, the province gives you a fixed window from the date of nomination to file your PR application with IRCC. For an Express Entry BC nomination you must accept it in your federal profile promptly, then submit the full application within the deadline that follows the invitation to apply. Missing either deadline means the nomination lapses. Check the dates on your nomination letter and diarise them the day it arrives.
Can I get a work permit after a BC PNP nomination?
Yes. The BC PNP can issue a work permit support letter to a nominee, which allows you to apply for an employer-specific work permit without an LMIA, under the provincial nominee exemption. This is how nominees who are on a permit about to expire, or who are outside Canada, keep or start working for the nominating employer while the PR application is processed. Once your PR application has been received and acknowledged by IRCC, you may also qualify for a bridging open work permit if you are inside Canada and your current permit is expiring.
How long does PR take after a BC PNP nomination?
It depends on the route. After an Express Entry BC nomination, IRCC's service standard for Express Entry permanent residence applications is about six months from the complete application, and most files land somewhere near that. After a base nomination, the paper-based Provincial Nominee Class application is processed on a separate and noticeably longer timeline, often well over a year. Check the live figures on our IRCC processing times page, and remember that an incomplete application or a request for more documents restarts parts of the clock.
What are the fees after a BC PNP nomination?
You have already paid BC's $1,750 nomination fee. The federal stage, as of 30 April 2026, costs $990 processing plus a $600 right of permanent residence fee for the principal applicant, the same $1,590 for an accompanying spouse or partner, and $270 for each dependent child, plus $85 per person for biometrics, capped at $170 for a family. Add a medical exam for each family member, police certificates from every country you have lived in for six months or more since age 18, and any translation costs. Confirm current fees on canada.ca.
Can a BC PNP nomination be withdrawn?
Yes. The nomination is based on the job, the employer and the facts in your registration, and you must tell the BC PNP if any of them change. Losing the job, moving to a different employer, a material change in wage or duties, or the employer ceasing to support you can all lead the province to withdraw the nomination, and IRCC will then refuse the PR application. If your circumstances change, contact the BC PNP before acting; in some cases a new employer can be substituted, but only with the province's agreement.
Do I have to stay in BC after a BC PNP nomination?
You must intend to live and work in British Columbia; that intention is the legal basis of the nomination. The province and IRCC can and do assess it, and a nominee who moves to another province immediately after landing risks findings of misrepresentation. Once you are a permanent resident you have mobility rights under the Charter, but a nomination obtained with no genuine intention to settle in BC is a different matter. Plan to make BC your home for the first years at least.
What can go wrong after a BC PNP nomination?
The common failures are procedural rather than substantive: missing the nomination or invitation deadline, submitting an incomplete application, letting a work permit expire without a bridging permit, or failing to report a job change. The substantive risks are medical inadmissibility, criminality or security findings, and misrepresentation, including inconsistencies between what you told BC and what you tell IRCC. Keep every document consistent across both applications, respond to every IRCC request within its deadline, and keep your status in Canada valid throughout.
Nominated by BC? Let's get the federal application right
Tell a licensed RCIC about your nomination and we'll map the deadlines, your work permit and the PR file. Your first call is free.