## Key takeaways
– British Columbia invited 772 candidates in a BC PNP Skills Immigration draw on October 29, 2026.
– The draw used the Innovate: High Economic Impact selection, with two routes to an invitation.
– 524 invitations went to candidates with a job offer paying at least $49/hour and $99,000/year in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation.
– 248 invitations went to candidates scoring at least 131 points in the Skills Immigration registration system.
– The wage threshold fell from $52/hour in the September 24 round, while the points minimum held at 131.
## What happened
The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) held a Skills Immigration draw on October 29, 2026, inviting 772 candidates to apply for provincial nomination. The draw used the Innovate: High Economic Impact selection, which is designed for candidates who will create high economic impact in the province. Invitations were issued to candidates who met one of two sets of criteria: a minimum wage of $49 per hour and $99,000 per year, with a job offer in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation (524 candidates), or a minimum score of 131 points in the Skills Immigration registration system (248 candidates). Invitations were issued to qualified registrations received before the date of the draw.
## How the Innovate selection works
The Innovate: High Economic Impact selection runs on two parallel tracks. The wage-based track looks at the quality of the job offer itself: the employer must be offering at least the stated hourly wage and annual salary, and the occupation must sit in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3, which covers management, professional, technical and skilled trades roles. The points-based track scores the candidate’s registration across factors such as occupation, wage, work experience, education, language ability and region of employment, and invites those at or above the published minimum score. A candidate only needs to qualify through one track, so a strong job offer can carry a candidate who does not clear the points threshold, and a strong registration score can carry a candidate whose wage is below the wage-based threshold.
## How this round compares with recent draws
The October 29 round was larger than the previous Innovate round on September 24, 2026, which issued 714 invitations: 426 through the wage-based track and 288 through the points track. The wage threshold also moved in candidates’ favour, dropping from $52 per hour and $105,000 per year in September to $49 per hour and $99,000 per year in October. The points minimum stayed at 131, the same as in September, and one point below the 132 minimum used in the August 20 round. The pattern across the three most recent Innovate rounds shows British Columbia steadily lowering the wage bar while keeping the points bar broadly stable, which widens the wage-based route for skilled workers whose employers pay between $49 and $52 per hour.
## What it means for candidates
For skilled workers with a B.C. job offer, this draw is a signal to check the numbers. If your offer pays at least $49 per hour and $99,000 per year in a TEER 0 to 3 occupation, you may now qualify through the wage-based track even if you did not qualify in September. If your wage is lower, the points-based route remains open, and a score of 131 or above is the current benchmark. Invited candidates generally have 30 calendar days from receiving an invitation to submit a complete application to the BC PNP, so anyone invited should gather documents and submit promptly rather than waiting. A provincial nomination is not permanent residence itself, but it is a major step toward it, and BC PNP nominees can then apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence. Candidates who were not invited should keep their registration current, because future Innovate rounds may use different wage or score thresholds.
## Frequently asked questions
Q: How many invitations did the BC PNP issue on October 29, 2026?
A: British Columbia issued 772 invitations in the October 29, 2026 Skills Immigration draw under the Innovate: High Economic Impact selection.
Q: What was the minimum wage for the BC PNP Innovate draw on October 29, 2026?
A: The wage-based route required a job offer paying at least $49 per hour and $99,000 per year, in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation. 524 candidates were invited through this route.
Q: What was the minimum score for the BC PNP draw on October 29, 2026?
A: The points-based route required a minimum score of 131 points in the Skills Immigration registration system. 248 candidates were invited through this route.
Q: How long do invited candidates have to apply to the BC PNP?
A: Invited candidates generally have 30 calendar days from receiving an invitation to submit a complete application to the BC PNP.
Q: Does a BC PNP nomination guarantee permanent residence?
A: No. A provincial nomination is a major step toward permanent residence, but nominees must still apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and meet its requirements.
For help checking your eligibility or preparing your application, contact ImmiQuest Immigration at +1 778-855-4155, info@immiquest.ca, or https://immiquest.ca. Vikas Tulashyam, RCIC #R709710