Maple News reports that on December 14, the province of British Columbia issued 71 new invitations to tech professionals through its BC PNP Tech program — an initiative under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) designed to address skill shortages in the technology sector by fast-tracking immigration for eligible candidates.
The selected candidates were drawn from existing categories within the BC PNP, specifically the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories under the Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration streams. Eligible applicants were required to achieve a minimum provincial score of 80 under the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Those who received invitations now have 30 calendar days to submit their full application for a provincial nomination. If successful, nominees can then apply for Canadian permanent residency through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Since the beginning of 2021, British Columbia has issued nearly 12,000 invitations under the BC PNP, showcasing the program’s central role in supporting the province’s economic and labor market objectives.
The BC PNP Tech program was launched in May 2017 as a pilot designed to respond to growing workforce gaps in B.C.’s thriving tech sector. Following its early success, it was made permanent in 2021 and continues to serve as a dedicated immigration pathway for tech professionals and international graduates in key technology occupations.
To be eligible for the BC PNP Tech stream, candidates must have a valid job offer of at least one year in one of 29 in-demand tech occupations. The job must be full-time and issued by an eligible employer in British Columbia, with a minimum of 120 days remaining on the offer at the time of application.
This tech-focused nomination route enables B.C. companies to access global talent more efficiently when local candidates are not available, ensuring the continued growth and innovation of the region’s technology industry.
Maple News will continue to monitor and report on developments in provincial nominee programs and tech-focused immigration pathways across Canada.