British Columbia has issued 33 invitations to apply under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in a targeted round held on September 17, 2026, drawing candidates under the province’s Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative.
Candidates were selected on a points basis at a minimum registration score of 60. This is the second round British Columbia has held under the initiative, following its first on July 23, 2026.
BC PNP Draw — September 17, 2026
| Date | ITA Type | Selection Factors | Min. Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 17, 2026 | Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative | Points | 60 | 33 |
Cut-Off Rises as Invitation Volume Falls
Compared with the initiative’s first round in July, the September draw was both smaller and more competitive. The minimum score rose from 50 to 60, while the number of invitations fell from 60 to 33 — a reduction of 45 percent in volume alongside a 10-point increase in the threshold.
| Round | Min. Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| July 23, 2026 | 50 | 60 |
| September 17, 2026 | 60 | 33 |
British Columbia has not published a target volume for the initiative, so it is not yet clear whether the smaller September round reflects a narrower pool of qualified registrants, a tightening of the province’s remaining nomination allocation, or simply the timing of the round.
What the Rural and Remote Health Initiative Targets
The Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative is run through the BC PNP Skills Immigration stream and is aimed at health workforce needs in rural and remote communities across the province, where staffing shortages have been most persistent.
Unlike the province’s Care and Build rounds, which invite candidates from named occupation lists, this initiative selects on registration score alone. The province has designated it a temporary measure and has not published an end date.
Where This Sits in British Columbia’s 2026 Schedule
The September 17 round follows the province’s September 10 sector draw, which issued at least 429 invitations across childcare, health care, veterinary care and construction trades. British Columbia has now issued at least 5,404 invitations across all BC PNP categories in 2026.
The BC PNP Skills Immigration registration pool held 8,013 registrations as of September 1, 2026, the most recent snapshot published by the province. With the September 17 threshold set at 60, the great majority of that pool sits above the score required — only 212 registrations score below 60 — which means selection under this initiative turns on eligibility for the initiative itself rather than on score alone.
How a BC Nomination Affects Express Entry
The BC PNP issues invitations only to qualified registrations submitted before the date of the draw. Invited candidates must submit a complete application through BC PNP Online within the timeframe set out in their invitation.
A provincial nomination through the BC PNP is worth 600 additional points under the federal Comprehensive Ranking System, which in practice guarantees an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry round.
The province publishes each round on its Invitations to Apply page. A full history of this year’s rounds is maintained on our British Columbia immigration draws page.
With the Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative cut-off at 60, candidates registered in British Columbia’s health care categories scoring at or above that mark remain in contention for future rounds. If you’re hoping to immigrate to Canada, use our free CRS score calculator to estimate your Comprehensive Ranking System score and see how a provincial nomination would change your standing in the Express Entry pool.