British Columbia has held its biggest draw of the year in the Skills Immigration category, sending out 772 invitations to apply for provincial nomination on October 29, 2026. The round also marked a first: the minimum salary needed for a wage-based invitation dropped below $100,000 a year.

With Express Entry invitations about to pause while Canada recalculates scores, British Columbia’s provincial program is drawing fresh attention from candidates looking for another route to permanent residence.

‍

BC PNP draw results: October 29, 2026

‍

The round was the province’s 29th draw of 2026, and it used two selection methods.

‍

Both groups were invited under BC’s “innovate” priority, which targets skilled workers across a wide range of occupations and sectors. The province did not say which occupations or industries were represented in this round.

‍

The wage bar keeps falling

‍

The most notable part of this draw is the salary threshold. After starting the year at $70 an hour, the minimum wage for these invitations has slid steadily, apart from a brief uptick in June.

‍

Two trends stand out. The wage requirement has dropped by about $46,000 a year since February, and invitation numbers have grown as the bar has fallen. At the same time, the score cutoff has held at 131 for two draws in a row, after hovering in the mid-130s earlier in the year.

‍

What this could mean for candidates

‍

We can’t predict BC’s next draw, and the province controls the thresholds. But the pattern gives candidates a few things to consider:

‍

• More job offers may now fit. A job paying around $49 an hour could have been out of reach in February and may be within range today. Candidates who ruled out the wage route earlier may want to look again.

‍

• Score still matters. A 131-point cutoff is competitive. The latest pool snapshot, from October 6, showed 7,695 profiles, and only about 200 of them scored 130 or higher. Most of the pool sat between 80 and 129.

‍

• Both routes are active. Candidates can benefit from either a high wage or a strong registration score, so improving either could help.

‍

• Timing is unpredictable. Draw size, frequency and thresholds can change from one round to the next.

‍

How the process works after an invitation

‍

1. You have 30 days from the invitation date to submit your application for provincial nomination.

‍

2. If nominated, you can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

‍

3. In-Canada applicants may qualify for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) of up to two years after submitting a PR application.

‍

4. Maintained status: an applicant who applies for a BOWP before their current permit expires may keep working under the same conditions while waiting for a decision, as long as they stay in Canada.

A 30-day window leaves little time to find missing documents or fix mistakes. The strongest applicants already have their paperwork ready when the invitation lands.

‍

What BC may consider in future draws

‍

The BC PNP says future high-economic-impact invitations could be based on one or more of these factors:

‍

• education level, field and place of study

• professional designations earned in BC

• length and skill level of work experience

• language ability

• occupation

• job offer wage and skill level

• intended region of residence and work

• strategic priorities tied to BC’s labour market needs, projects or initiatives

‍

Because the factors can change from round to round, a profile that’s well-built across several areas has more ways to be selected.

‍

The 2026 picture so far

‍

The October 29 round brings the total invitations issued through wage-based and score-based draws this year to 4,746. Across all worker and entrepreneur streams, BC has issued at least 7,220 invitations in 2026.

‍

Why this matters now: Express Entry is changing too

‍

On November 3, 2026, Express Entry begins awarding extra CRS points for job offers and Canadian work experience in high-wage occupations, and job offers will no longer need an LMIA. Invitation rounds are expected to pause for up to two weeks while scores are recalculated.

‍

For many candidates, that raises a practical question: should I focus on Express Entry, a provincial nomination, or both? The right answer depends on your occupation, wage, work history, language results and profile score. That’s where careful planning pays off.

‍

Read our guides to the Express Entry changes starting November 3 and the complete list of eligible NOC codes.

‍

How Le Immigration Group can help

‍

Whether you’re considering BC, Express Entry, or both, we help candidates understand where they stand and prepare before opportunities arrive.

‍

• Pathway assessment: We review your profile and discuss which federal and provincial options may fit your situation.

‍

• BC PNP profile review: We check your registration profile for accuracy and completeness.

‍

• Job offer review: We look at whether your offer’s wage, skill level, and terms may meet program requirements.

‍

• Score strategy: We explain what could realistically improve your profile.

‍

• Document preparation: We help you assemble a complete, consistent application so you’re ready within the invitation window.

‍

• PR application support: We guide you from provincial nomination through your federal PR application.

‍

Frequently asked questions

‍

1. How many invitations did BC issue on October 29, 2026?
772: 524 under the wage and job offer criteria and 248 under the registration score criteria.

‍

2. What were the cutoffs?
A TEER 0-3 job offer paying at least $49/hour and $99,000/year for the wage-based group, and a minimum registration score of 131 for the score-based group.

‍

3. Did the wage threshold change?
Yes. It dropped below $100,000 a year for the first time in 2026.

‍

4. Which occupations were invited?
British Columbia did not disclose the occupations or sectors for this draw.

‍

5. How long do invited candidates have to apply?
30 days from the invitation.

‍

6. Does a provincial nomination guarantee permanent residence?
No. A nominee must still apply to the federal government for PR, and that application is assessed on its own merits.

‍

7. Can the thresholds change?
Yes. BC can adjust the wage level, score and selection factors in any draw.

‍

Don’t wait for the next draw to get ready

‍

The next BC PNP invitation may come quickly, and your window to prepare is short once it does. The time to check your profile, job offer and documents is before the invitation arrives.

‍

📩 Book a consultation with Le Immigration Group.

Talk with an experienced immigration consultant about your options and make a plan for your next step toward permanent residence.‍

‍
📞 1-416-919-0888 | ✉️ info@minhle.ca | 📍 1275 Finch Avenue West, Suites 809 & 810, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 0L5

‍

This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Draw thresholds, program rules and eligibility can change. Eligibility and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. An invitation or nomination does not guarantee permanent residence, and no outcome is guaranteed.