Maple News reports that British Columbia issued 92 new invitations to tech professionals on December 15 through its Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP), continuing its efforts to attract skilled talent to the province via the Tech Pilot stream.
The invitations were extended through two primary pathways under the BC PNP: Express Entry BC (EEBC) and Skills Immigration (SI). These draws targeted candidates from four key categories—Skilled Worker and International Graduate under both EEBC and SI streams. All selected applicants required a minimum provincial score of 80.
The EEBC stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, which is Canada’s flagship pathway for skilled workers seeking permanent residence. Candidates nominated by a province receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, significantly increasing their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a future federal draw.
The SI stream, by contrast, is designed for skilled and semi-skilled workers in occupations that are currently in high demand in British Columbia. Candidates under both EEBC and SI must first create a profile through the BC PNP’s online Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
The BC Tech Pilot, launched in 2017, is a specialized initiative that helps employers in the province hire foreign tech talent to meet growing labor market needs. The program provides faster processing and more frequent draws for candidates with a valid job offer of at least one year in one of 29 designated tech occupations. The job offer must be active for at least 120 days at the time of application.
As of December 15, British Columbia has held 27 tech-specific draws in 2020, with the most recent prior draw occurring on December 1. These weekly tech draws are part of the province’s broader strategy to support economic growth by continually attracting top global talent in the technology sector.
According to Maple News, the BC Tech Pilot remains a vital tool in addressing the ongoing demand for skilled workers in the province, especially in key digital and innovation sectors. International graduates and foreign professionals with a background in tech are encouraged to monitor these draws and explore their eligibility for future nomination rounds.