BC PNP Tech Pilot Draw: 68 candidates invited

Alexandra Miekus
Published: June 2, 2021

B.C. invited 68 workers in the technology and information technology sector to apply for a provincial nomination on June 1.

The new invitations were issued under the province's Tech Pilot, which is part of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

This means that eligible candidates must meet the requirements of one of British Columbia's Express Entry BC and Skills immigration categories, which are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Those invited in today's draw were from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories and needed a minimum provincial score of 80.

Invited candidates have 30 calendar days to apply for the nomination.

The province has now invited 4,876 immigration candidates in 2021.

Find out if you’re eligible for Canadian immigration

B.C's Tech Pilot to become a permanent program

The BC PNP Tech Pilot was launched in May 2017, following a labour market study that found the biggest issue facing B.C.'s tech sector was access to talent.

Since its introduction, the pilot project has been very successful and has led to more than 6,000 potential immigrants becoming nominated for permanent residence. Based on its success, the tech pilot project has been extended on an annual basis for the past 4 years.

The most recent extension was due to expire at the end of June. Instead of extending the project again, and following requests from employers and various stakeholders in the IT sector, the province recently announced that the program would become permanent.

The program, which will be called the BC PNP Tech will remain a fast-track Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for in-demand tech workers and international students. Candidates will need to be registered in one of B.C.’s existing provincial immigration streams and have a valid job offer of at least 12 months in one of 29 eligible occupations.

Unlike the other BC PNP streams, job offers under BC PNP Tech must be for a minimum of one year, with at least 120 days remaining at the time of application to the BC PNP. The job offer must also be full-time and from an eligible employer in the province.

Invitations through the province’s tech program are sent out weekly to the top-scoring candidates who meet the eligibility requirements.

Candidates who are invited to apply for a provincial nomination have 30 days to submit a complete application. Once this is done, most tech applications will be processed within two to three months.

If they are approved, candidates will receive a nomination confirmation that can be used to apply for permanent residence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the Provincial Nominee Program Class.

Find out if you’re eligible for Canadian immigration

© CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.

Share this article
Share your voice
Did you find this article helpful?
Thank you for your feedback.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Did you find this article helpful?
Please provide a response
Thank you for your helpful feedback
Please contact us if you would like to share additional feedback, have a question, or would like Canadian immigration assistance.
  • Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
  • Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at media@canadavisa.com
Related articles
December 2024: State of the Express Entry pool
A group of people on the sky bridge located in Jasper, Alberta.
ANALYSIS: How many Express Entry ITAs can we expect to see in December?
A young woman crosses her fingers in anticipation and hope that she may receive some good news.
British Columbia and Alberta invite PNP candidates
Quebec changes eligibility requirements for the PEQ Graduates stream
A mass of students in front of a building on Quebec's McGill University campus
Top Stories
Are you eligible to sponsor your spouse or partner for Canadian immigration?
Report identifies occupations set for salary increases in Canada in 2025
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
Join our free newsletter. Get Canada's top immigration stories delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe
More in Citizenship
How to prepare for your Canadian citizenship test
A young woman sits at a table with books and a laptop.
How can I apply for Canadian citizenship?
A picture of a girl holding two Canadian flags
Here’s what you can expect during your virtual citizenship ceremony in Canada
A woman in a red blazer smiles while sitting in front of a laptop.
What’s the difference between Canadian permanent residency and Canadian citizenship?
A person with a packed bag stands on a road with the Canadian flag in front of them.
Link copied to clipboard