British Columbia Targets Tech Workers in Latest PNP Draw

In 2017, British Columbia launched the BC PNP Tech as their pilot project after a labor market study and revealed that their biggest issue with regards to B.C.’s technology sector was about having access to talent. Due to the project’s success, British Columbia made this program permanent. This program is made for British Columbia employers in the technology sector to continuously attract and eventually select international talent when local workers are not available for the job.

October 5, 2021 – British Columbia held its latest draw for their tech workers through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) through the BC PNP Tech. The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) invited 108 tech workers to apply for provincial nomination.

A requirement from either one of British Columbia’s Skill Immigration and Express Entry BC categories must be met by the candidates invited through the B.C’s tech draw; both of these categories are managed by the Skills and Immigration Registration System (SIRS). A minimum provincial score of 70 points is needed by the candidates who received an invitation from the Skilled Worker and International subcategories draw; it is said to be the first time in over a year wherein the required score has dropped 10 points from the usual minimum score which is 80 points.

Invited candidates were given 30 calendar days to apply for their nominations. Since the start of the year, British Columbia has already issued a total number of 9,000 invitations to apply for their provincial nomination.