BC Launches Immigration Tech Pilot

With demand for talent outpacing supply, the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) is looking to attract more workers and graduates in the technology sector to the province.

The new Tech Pilot is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), one of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Through this pilot, eligible candidates with a job offer in one of 32 eligible occupations may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination, which may then be used to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The BC PNP will issue invitations on a weekly basis to qualified registrants in the BC PNP registration system, while also continuing to invite non-tech candidates through its other immigration initiatives. Candidates invited under the Tech Pilot will benefit from expedited processing under the BC PNP.

Applicants require a full-time, indeterminate job offer from an eligible employer in BC. The BC PNP offers different categories for individuals under its registration System, depending on their job, work experience, and level of education.

Once a candidate has determined his or her category, he or she may register online for free and receive a registration score. Every week (subject to processing capacity), the BC PNP will conduct a tech draw to invite the highest-scoring technology sector registrants to apply. From this point, invited candidates have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete online application. The government application fee is $700.

BC has stated that it will process tech applications on a priority basis. If approved, the applicant receives a nomination that he or she can use to apply for permanent residence.

Individuals who have been nominated and who meet the conditions of their nomination will receive a work permit support letter that allows them to obtain or renew their current work permit allowing them to work throughout the process.

Eligible occupations for the BC PNP Tech Pilot

Occupation	NOC
Purchasing managers	0113
Telecommunication carriers managers	0131
Managers - publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts	0512
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations	1123
Civil engineers	2131
Mechanical engineers	2132
Electrical and electronics engineers	2133
Chemical engineers	2134
Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)	2147
Information systems analysts and consultants	2171
Database analysts and data administrators	2172
Software engineers and designers	2173
Computer programmers and interactive media developers	2174
Web designers and developers	2175
Biological technologists and technicians	2221
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	2241
Electronic service technicians (household and business equipment)	2242
Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics	2243
Computer network technicians	2281
User support technicians	2282
Information systems testing technicians	2283
Business development officers and marketing researchers and consultants	4163
Authors and writers	5121
Editors	5122
Translators, terminologists and interpreters	5125
Broadcast technicians	5224
Audio and video recording technicians	5225
Other technical and co-ordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts	5226
Support occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and the performing arts	5227
Graphic designers and illustrators	5241
Technical sales specialists - wholesale trade	6221