The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program Tech, often called BC PNP Tech, is a pivotal scheme designed to bring in and maintain the high-level talent crucial to the technology sector in British Columbia. This initiative, first introduced in 2017 as a pilot project, was a response to the ever-increasing demand for skilled professionals in British Columbia's burgeoning tech industry. In June 2021, the BC PNP Tech has become a permanent program.
The primary objective of this program is to draw in proficient workers and fulfil the growing need for tech talent by broadening the scope of skilled professionals in British Columbia. It is important to note that the BC PNP Tech is not an immigration program. It is exclusively accessible to eligible individuals under the Skills Immigration or Express Entry BC streams of the BC PNP.
BC PNP Tech: What Sets It Apart From Other BC PNP Streams
In contrast with other BC PNP streams, the BC PNP Tech requires a minimum job offer duration of 365 days instead of the indeterminate job offer durations required by the others. Job offers extending beyond one year are also eligible under the Tech stream. Additionally, the job offer must be full-time and sourced from an eligible employer within the province.Â
Fast-tracked immigration pathways
The BC PNP is dedicated to aiding employers in attracting and retaining the necessary talent by offering a fast-tracked immigration pathway for foreign-trained professionals with the essential skills, experience, and qualifications that BC employers require. This also applies to international students who have completed their education in BC or elsewhere in Canada and possess the vital skills needed for BC’s tech sector.Â
Regular invitations for eligible candidates
The BC PNP Tech extends bi-weekly invitations to eligible registrants possessing a valid job offer in one of the approved tech occupations. The job offers under the BC PNP Tech must meet specific criteria: they must fall under one of the 35 approved occupations, have a minimum duration of one year, and have at least 120 calendar days remaining at the moment of application. For an invitation to be issued, both the applicant and the employer must fulfill all the program prerequisites at the time of registration.
Navigating The BC PNP Tech Application Process
After determining their category, candidates can register online and receive a registration score. Every two weeks, subject to processing capacity, BC PNP Tech conducts a draw to invite the highest-scoring registrants in the tech sector to apply. Invited candidates have a window of up to 30 calendar days from the invitation date to submit a comprehensive online application. Upon approval, the applicant is granted a nomination, which can be used to apply for permanent residency. Those nominated and fulfilling the conditions of their nomination will receive a work permit support letter, enabling them to obtain or renew their existing work permit, thus allowing them to continue working throughout the process.
How Many Points Are Required To Be Invited In The BC PNP Tech?
As in all BC PNP streams and categories, the government allocated points in the Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS) for five various factors. Directly Related Work Experience, Level of Education, Languages, Hourly Wage in BC, and BC location of the employer.
In the previous years, it was enough to score 80-85 points out 200 possible to be invited. Since the attractivity and popularity of the BC PNP Tech has significantly increased, the points also started to increase as well. To be safe, it is recommended to score at least 100 points.
An experienced IT professional can score up to 40 points for a combination of one year in Canada and 5 years outside Canada (or 4 points fewer for each year). Those who get a Master’s degree can add 22 points while those with Bachelor's will have 15 points. CLB 7 will add 20 points, CLB 9 – 25 points, and CLB 10 – 30 points. The most important factor is an hourly wage. The higher is your salary, the bigger is your score. Finally, for location, it is possible to get points only if you work outside Metro Vancouver. Overall, it is possible to get enough points to be invited only with the first four factors!
Job opportunities under the BC PNP Tech
There are 35 approved occupations under the BC PNP Tech, spanning roles in management, engineering, consulting, programming, design, and more. These are the priority occupations targeted under the BC PNP Tech:
10030 Telecommunication carriers managers
20012 Computer and information systems managers
21100 Physicists and astronomers
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries
21211 Data scientists
21220 Cybersecurity specialists
21221 Business systems specialists
21222 Information systems specialists
21223 Database analysts and data administrators
21230 Computer systems developers and programmers
21231 Software engineers and designers
21232 Software developers and programmers
21233 Web designers
21234 Web developers and programmers
21300 Civil engineers
21301 Mechanical engineers
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
21320 Chemical engineers
21399 Other professional engineers
22110 Biological technologists and technicians
22220 Computer network and web technicians
22221 User support technicians
22222 Information systems testing technicians
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians
22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts
51111 Authors and writers (except technical)
51112 Technical writers
51120 Producers, directors, choreographers and related occupations
52119 Other technical and coordinating occupations in motion pictures, broadcasting and the performing arts
52112 Broadcast technicians
52113 Audio and video recording technicians
52120 Graphic designers and illustrators
53111 Motion pictures, broadcasting, photography and performing arts assistants and operators
Your Path To Success Is With Canada PlatformÂ
The BC PNP Tech program is a critical initiative for the growth and development of the tech industry in British Columbia. Attracting and retaining skilled professionals worldwide enriches the talent pool and contributes to the province's economic growth. This program offers a fast-tracked immigration pathway for eligible candidates, ensuring the province's tech sector remains vibrant, innovative, and competitive globally.
Canada Platform provides invaluable assistance in navigating the BC PNP Tech. Our experts guide candidates through the application process, ensuring the accuracy and timely submission of all required documentation. Moreover, we provide strategic counsel on available job opportunities and assist candidates in aligning their qualifications and experience with the 35 designated occupations eligible under the BC PNP Tech stream. With our guidance, applicants can maximize their chances of success and ease their transition into the British Columbia tech industry. Contact us to learn more about how we can assist you in navigating the BC PNP Tech application process.
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