Maple News reports that on November 2, British Columbia issued 77 invitations to skilled technology professionals through the BC PNP Tech stream, part of the province’s wider Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP). This initiative helps address local labor shortages by attracting international talent in high-demand tech roles.
To receive an invitation under the BC PNP Tech stream, candidates must be registered in one of the province’s Express Entry BC or Skills Immigration categories. These categories are managed by the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS), which allows the province to evaluate and select candidates based on a points system.
In this latest draw, candidates were selected from the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories. Each of them needed to obtain a minimum provincial score of 75 to be considered. Those invited now have 30 calendar days to officially apply for provincial nomination, which puts them on a direct pathway to permanent residency in Canada.
The BC PNP Tech stream, originally launched as a pilot project in May 2017, was established following a labor market analysis that identified a significant talent gap in the province’s growing tech sector. Due to its success, the program became a permanent feature of British Columbia’s immigration strategy in 2021.
Designed as a fast-track immigration route, BC PNP Tech supports employers by helping them recruit international workers for 29 tech-related occupations, including software engineers, web developers, and IT managers. To qualify, candidates must have a full-time job offer from an eligible B.C. employer that lasts at least one year and has a minimum of 120 days remaining at the time of application.
Unlike other BC PNP streams, BC PNP Tech focuses solely on supporting the needs of the technology industry, ensuring quick processing times and weekly invitation rounds. This streamlined approach helps retain top-skilled talent in the province and supports the long-term success of B.C.’s vibrant tech ecosystem.
So far in 2021, British Columbia has issued over 10,000 invitations for provincial nominations, showcasing the province’s continued commitment to economic growth and global workforce integration.
As the technology sector in B.C. continues to expand and innovate, programs like BC PNP Tech remain a vital tool in attracting the global talent needed to drive the industry forward.