British Columbia to launch limited-time pathway to permanent residence for health authority cleaners and security staff

British Columbia's Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) has announced a new one-time initiative aimed at helping certain health authority support staff get permanent residence (PR).

The program, announced April 23, offers a special, targeted settlement opportunity for workers in cleaning and security occupations that are rarely targeted for PR.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams

Who does this target?

The initiative will target workers who are already employed by a BC health authority in a cleaning or security role in a rural or remote community.

Up to 250 workers may be nominated through this program, making it highly competitive.

Unlike the BC PNP's Health Authority stream — which focuses on credentialed healthcare professionals including dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, opticians and nurses — this initiative recognizes the critical role that cleaning and security staff play in keeping regional health facilities running.

When does it open?

The initiative is set to open in June 2026, using the BC PNP's expression of interest system. The province has indicated that more details about eligibility, initiative timelines, and program criteria will be released before intake opens.

Demand for workers in healthcare and in regional areas in BC

On April 23rd, the province announced that it would be overhauling its PNP, guided by three core objectives:

• Care—strengthening healthcare and other services within the care economy;
• Build—supporting the delivery of infrastructure and major projects; and
• Innovate—advancing innovation to help drive long term economic growth.

The limited-time initiative mentioned above sits within the BC PNP's broader "Care" priority, highlighting the province’s focus on supporting the sector.

It also aligns with BC's goal of directing at least 35% of all nominations to candidates working outside Metro Vancouver, supporting population and economic growth in regional communities.

For workers in rural areas who may not qualify under existing streams, this represents a rare and targeted opportunity to secure permanent residence in Canada.

Eligible applicants should monitor the BC PNP website for updates ahead of the June 2026 opening.

Given the cap of 250 nominations and the expression of interest format, preparing documents in advance may be key.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams