Maple News reports that on June 15, British Columbia invited 72 tech professionals to apply for a provincial nomination through the BC PNP Tech stream—a specialized immigration pathway designed for in-demand tech talent.
These invitations were issued under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), with eligible candidates drawn from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories. To qualify, candidates required a minimum provincial score of 80 under the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Those selected now have 30 calendar days to submit a complete application for provincial nomination. If successful, candidates will gain a significant advantage in obtaining Canadian permanent residency.
June’s tech-focused draw is one of many held this year as part of an effort to address growing demands in British Columbia’s technology sector. With this latest round, the province has invited a total of 5,321 immigration candidates in 2021, many of whom are tech professionals needed to support B.C.’s booming digital economy.
Originally launched in May 2017 as the BC PNP Tech Pilot, the program was created in response to a labor market analysis that revealed a serious shortage of skilled tech workers. Since then, the initiative has helped over 6,000 skilled migrants move towards permanent residency, with successful results prompting annual extensions.
In 2021, responding to strong demand from tech employers and sector stakeholders, the provincial government made the decision to transition the program from a pilot into a permanent fixture, now known as BC PNP Tech.
The program continues to offer a fast-track immigration process for foreign tech workers and international students who have a valid job offer in one of 29 eligible tech occupations. The job offer must be for at least one year and candidates must be registered in one of B.C.’s existing immigration streams.
With this latest draw and the announcement of the program’s permanence, British Columbia further positions itself as a technology hub with immigration policies tailored to support future growth and talent acquisition.