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Between these 2 provinces, Ontario vs. BC, which one would you immigrate to? Or to phrase the question more correctly, which could you immigrate to? Both have direct PR provincial programs and have at least 6 or more optional sub-streams available. Do you know the difference between all of them? Which one is better, and which one would be crowned the worst PNP between these two? In today’s article we will be exposing the truth about these two programs. Unedited, uncensored, and the raw truth and nothing but….just like the rest of our articles.
Both very popular destinations to immigrate to. We are going to cover the advantages and disadvantages of each of these programs today, so you can decide which would be a better fit for you and your family.
* Ontario PNP Foreign Worker Stream vs. BC PNP’s Skilled Worker Stream (combined with the BC PNP Tech).
* BC PNP’s Health Authority Stream (for physicians, nurses, or midwives looking to settle permanently and practice in BC facilitated through the BC Health Authority) vs. Ontario PNP which does not have this specific option.
* Ontario PNP International Student stream vs. BC PNP’s International Graduate Stream.
* Ontario PNP In-Demand skills (in-demand occupations) vs. BC PNP’s Entry Level & Semi-Skilled Stream (ELSS) – specific to TEER 4 and 5 occupations for both provinces.
* Ontario PNP’s Master’s Graduate and PhD Graduate Streams vs. BC PNP’s International Post-Graduate stream.
* Ontario PNP’s Human Capital Priorities Stream (it is a non-job offer based permanent immigration program linked to your express profile) vs. BC PNP does not have this option.
* Ontario PNP’s Skilled Trades Stream vs. BC PNP does not have this option.
* Ontario PNP’s French Speaking Skilled Worker Stream vs. BC PNP does not have a specific French speaking option.
Today we are going to compare in detail the top 3 sub-streams of both provincial nominee programs which can help you obtain your PR. These 3 sub-streams will be the skilled immigration stream, the international graduate & Masters/PhD streams, and the entrepreneur/ investor programs of both provinces.
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The comparison for these 2 programs is simple. If you are planning to study in a Business-related Graduate program such as an MBA or related fields, you have no direct PR options in BC, but you do in Ontario. Here is the main difference: all of BC PNP’s approved graduate programs which lead to direct Canadian PR are STEM based programs which means it’s only science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Ontario has no restrictions on programs if it’s in a public university and is a Masters of at least 1 year or more or a PhD program. The subject you study is not important for the OINP.
In BC, they have a pre-approved list of universities and colleges which administer these STEM programs that allow you to apply for your PR after graduation. In BC you are restricted to the school & specific program in the school, which is listed on the BC PNP website.
The good news is that this list includes approx. 121 graduate level programs approved for PR in BC. So if you are interested in IT, software engineering, cybersecurity Masters programs, basic science based PhD or Masters programs such as biology, statistics, chemistry, mathematics, environmental sciences, energy management, healthcare sciences, neurosciences, and engineering programs – then BC would be your top choice.
The reason why we are claiming that if you like these programs and are eligible to apply for the BC PNP International Graduate Stream is better, is simple – after graduation there is no points-based pool, no job offers required, and you can apply directly to the BC PNP office to be nominated for your Canadian PR. Unlike Ontario which has a points-based matrix in which you have to enter and meet the minimum draws for its Masters and PhD streams.
The only advantage we see with the OINP Masters graduate & PhD program is that you have the option to study any subject in any public university which is a Masters or PhD program – without any restrictions like BC. The downside is that you may need some work experience, and some other criteria to make sure you claim enough points to be invited to apply for your PR through the Ontario PNP pool.
The choice is yours, depending on the best fit your you.
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These are 4 categories of skilled immigration streams for both provinces, that are split between higher skilled and professional occupations and the lower semi-skilled occupations.
The higher skilled occupations in TEER level 0,1,2 and 3 are covered by the Ontario PNP Foreign Skilled Worker Stream and the international graduate stream, which are the equivalent of the BC PNP skilled worker stream and international graduate stream. What’s the main difference between these 4 programs across the 2 provinces?
A: They are all employer driven. If there is no job offer, then you will not be eligible.
B: Both provinces have a specific points matrix that allows these applicants to claim points to be invited through the PNP pool.
C: The main difference between the Skilled Worker streams between the two provinces (Foreign Worker Stream OINP vs. Skilled Worker Stream BC PNP) is simple: if you are not in the in-demand occupations in BC you have no chance at all at being selected. For example, if you are an accountant, cook, retail supervisor, or admin or office occupation then your chances are close to zero. This is why we don’t personally recommend the BC PNP Skilled Worker stream unless you are on the approved and prioritized occupations such as engineering, IT related, media, and healthcare which are listed on the BC PNP website.
In Ontario they are also prioritizing occupations, but the points system is not as skewed as BC, and their occupations are always rotating and never fixed which allows more flexibility in terms of having an opportunity to be invited.
D: One of the serious downsides of the Ontario PNP (OINP) is that it does not have an employer driven job offer stream that links to Express Entry. Their only program which is linked to Express Entry is the human capital stream which is not based on a job offer. In BC PNP, skilled workers can claim and process their PR before or on arrival if they combine their valid Express Entry profile with their PNP – by receiving the bonus 600 points upon invitation by the BC PNP office. This is a great feature of the BC PNP skilled worker stream which is not available in Ontario. Quite disappointing for anyone looking to go to Ontario under the Foreign Skilled Worker or International Student Stream – but no program is perfect.
For the lower skilled occupations in TEER level 4 or 5, it’s a no brainer. Avoid BC PNP at all costs. Lower skilled occupations in BC are still expected to compete against higher paying professional jobs in the same points matrix.
Ontario PNP has in-demand occupations where no points are required but the occupation has to be stated on their website, such as agricultural workers, construction labourers and so forth. The Ontario PNP even has a skilled trade which are points based systems.
The BC PNP only has the Semi-Skilled and Entry-Level skilled occupation stream which is very specific to employers in specific industries such as working for accommodation & tourism, and food processing – beyond these occupations you’re dead out of luck and will be stuck in that province for life on a work permit. The only exception is if you are able to go to a rural town and perhaps go through Federal programs such as the RINP or even the Agri-Food Pilot program. Even if you are in the right semi-skilled occupations in BC, it’s literally impossible to claim the points since you are competing in the same pool as the professionals with higher paying jobs, higher education, and higher language scores – which is quite ridiculous. Hands-down, between these two provinces for semi-skilled or lower skilled occupations we highly recommend the Ontario PNP.
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* BC PNP has a non-refundable fee of $300 just to register your EOI. Ontario does not charge anything for an EOI.
* BC PNP requires an in-person interview. Ontario PNP also accepts online/virtual interviews.
* Both programs are very strict regarding the business plan that is submitted as part of your EOI and application. Both provinces’ EOI provide you a specific score on your business plan. They are very specific about what they require, and your business plan can make the difference between being invited and being stuck in the pool forever.
* It is not mandatory in both programs to submit your proof of language exam upfront but can be done just before the nomination stage which is 18-20 months after you have a work permit and implemented your business inside Canada.
* Both allow you to buy an existing & start a brand-new business.
* BC PNP has a regional or as we call it a rural entrepreneur program with lower investment amounts ($100,000) and shorter timelines (12 months), but Ontario PNP only has outside Toronto programs which have a lower investment limit ($200,000) but no shorter timeline – but it does not officially have a rural program as part of its entrepreneur stream.
* The BC base program for Entrepreneurs & investors has a minimum net worth requirement of $600,000 and a min starting investment amount of $200,000 – although it’s difficult to gain enough points in your EOI with just the bare minimum investment. The Ontario PNP Entrepreneur program has a much higher investment threshold inside the Greater Toronto Area of $800,000 net worth and $600,000 minimum investment, but the good news is that if you are in the ‘ICT’ industry (meaning Information-Communication-Technology) your minimum thresholds drop to $200,000 minimum investment and $400,000 net worth making it competitive against the BC base program for investors. You can also apply these minimum investment and net worth amounts if you are investing in any industry outside the Greater Toronto Area.
* Both programs allow co-applicants to apply together – each having to meet the minimum eligibility criteria & investment amounts on their own.
* Both Ontario PNP Entrepreneur and BC PNP Entrepreneur have an application processing fee of $3,500 after you are invited to apply (post-EOI).
* Both programs require a net worth audit after you have been invited. This is mandatory for both programs.
* It is not mandatory to have business management or ownership experience with the BC PNP Entrepreneur stream, but it is with the Ontario PNP Entrepreneur.
* It is mandatory to have post-secondary education in the BC PNP Entrepreneur unless you have previous business ownership & management experience (36 out of the past 60 months – 100% ownership). In Ontario education is not mandatory.
* BC PNP Entrepreneur also has a Strategic Projects program which is for large established companies overseas looking to establish a real presence inside BC and want to move over up to 5 of its key management staff as part of this initiative. This program is only for serious investments and is approved or refused based on the BC PNP’s own internal discretion. This is not for everyone and especially not those companies with a light budget for investment.
* The points matrixes of point OINP Entrepreneur and BC PNP Entrepreneur are very similar with these key differences:
1: To calculate your net worth & assets, in BC you can combine it with your spouse and dependent children (if anything is under their name), but in Ontario that Is not allowed – only assets under the main applicant’s name are considered as part of the net worth total.
2: In BC PNP you receive a few bonus points if you owned 100% of the business you worked at for 3 years in the past 5 years. In Ontario such bonus points don’t exist – although it’s only 4 points in BC that are possible to claim for these bonus points.
3: BC PNP allocates points based on liquid funds available and net worth. But this can be a disadvantage depending on the profile of the investor for 2 reasons: BC PNP’s net worth points allocation is very granular and it’s difficult to claim max points unless you have over $5m in assets, and some investors don’t have all the liquid funds or a lot available at the time of application which is a disadvantage under the BC PNP Entrepreneur stream.
4: In BC the investment amount points are also very granular and it’s very challenging to obtain a good amount of points if you are investing the minimum amount of $200,000 to $400,000.
5: In the BC points matrix it’s extremely difficult to claim points beyond 4 if you are only planning to hire or create 1-2 jobs in BC. To claim 7-10 points, you need to be creating 4 to 7 jobs. In Ontario the points for full time employment creation are much more favorable and simpler.
6: Considering all the disadvantages of the BC PNP points matrix, it still does not offer higher bonus points for investing outside the Vancouver region – the points are max 6-12 points which seems quite low.
7: In BC PNP, education is mandatory, and you will not be able to be invited or qualify for this program if you do not have at least a 2-year post-secondary diploma or degree. The only exception is if you have owned 100% of a business and have proof of management for 3 years in the past 5 years. In Ontario education is not mandatory at all – you can just claim bonus points.
8: BC PNP allocates points for your age. In Ontario age is not important and no points are lost or gained for the applicant.
9: In Ontario you can claim higher points vs BC if you can achieve higher language exam scores.
10: In BC you can claim more points than Ontario for an exploratory visit in the past 12 months.
11: BC allocates Canadian work experience points, but Ontario has no such points. This means you can buy or start your business in BC with a PGWP, ICT or C10/11 LMIA exempt work permit or even other types of open or specific LMIA exempt Federal work permits and then convert to the BC PNP Entrepreneur stream and claim these bonus points. Although these bonus points do not exist in Ontario, the transition to PNP from a work permit is possible.
Which of these 2 investor / entrepreneur programs would be the right fit for you? It all depends on the points matrix and what your Expression of Interest (EOI) points would be. They are both very similar programs, with some key differences as we covered in this article. If you qualify and believe you are ready for any of these entrepreneurial programs, we can do a pre-assessment for qualified applicants only. Our office only engages with serious business professionals & entrepreneurs who have the eligibility criteria and budget to apply for such programs.
I hope the above has given you some insight into which PNP would be the right option for you – no matter if you are a skilled immigrant, semi-skilled, international student or entrepreneur. All the options are available – you just need to do your homework before you go to that province.
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