Maple News reports that British Columbia invited 108 tech workers to apply for permanent residence through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) on October 5. This invitation round was part of the BC PNP Tech stream, a specialized pathway aimed at addressing the province’s growing demand for skilled talent in the technology sector.
Applicants targeted in this draw were selected from both the Skilled Worker and International Graduate subcategories, requiring a minimum provincial score of 70. Notably, this marks the first time in over a year that the minimum score has been reduced from the usual 80, potentially making the program more accessible to a broader range of candidates.
The BC PNP Tech stream operates under the larger framework of the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC categories, both managed through the province’s Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). Eligible candidates must be registered in one of these categories and meet key criteria, including having a valid full-time job offer from a B.C. employer in one of 29 in-demand technology occupations.
All invited candidates now have 30 calendar days to submit a complete application for a provincial nomination, which could pave the way to permanent residency in Canada. The job offers must be for at least one year, with at least 120 days remaining at the time of application.
The BC PNP Tech was originally launched as a pilot in May 2017, following a provincial labor market study that identified talent shortages as a key challenge in the tech sector. Due to the project’s success, British Columbia made the program permanent in 2021.
This specialized immigration pathway continues to provide a streamlined process for international tech professionals and recent graduates, helping B.C. employers fill labour gaps while offering global talent a route to settle in the province.
So far in 2021, British Columbia has issued over 9,000 provincial nomination invitations across various categories, demonstrating the province’s ongoing commitment to economic growth through immigration.