British Columbia has issued 16 invitations to apply under the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) in a targeted round held on October 15, 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 54. This is the third round British Columbia has held under the initiative, following rounds on July 23 and September 17, 2026.
BC PNP Draw — October 15, 2026
| Date | ITA Type | Selection Factors | Min. Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 15, 2026 | Temporary Rural/Remote Health Support Initiative | Points | 54 | 16 |
Smallest Round Yet, at a Lower Cut-Off
The October round is the smallest the initiative has produced. Invitations fell from 33 in September to 16, a drop of roughly half, while the minimum score eased by six points, from 60 to 54. The cut-off remains above the 50 set in the first round in July.
| Round | Min. Score | Invitations |
|---|---|---|
| July 23, 2026 | 50 | 60 |
| September 17, 2026 | 60 | 33 |
| October 15, 2026 | 54 | 16 |
Across its three rounds, the initiative has now issued 109 invitations. A lower cut-off alongside fewer invitations may indicate a thin pool of registrants eligible for the initiative rather than tougher competition. British Columbia has not published a target volume for the initiative.
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 October 15 round follows the province’s October 8 sector draw, which issued 283 invitations, plus fewer than five in veterinary care, across childcare, health care, veterinary care and construction trades. British Columbia has now issued at least 6,427 invitations across all BC PNP categories in 2026.
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 54, health care workers registered with the BC PNP who score 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.