Use Your Tech Experience to Settle in BC
When local skilled employees are unavailable, BC PNP Tech allows B.C. tech firms to continue to attract and retain foreign talent in tech vocations. This project provides a road to permanent residency for high-demand foreign employees and international students, allowing them to contribute to the growth of our economy and make a fulfilling life in British Columbia.
The BC PNP Tech program is a fast-track immigration pathway that allows employers in BC’s tech industry to attract and retain highly skilled foreign workers. The program provides a streamlined process for employers to recruit and hire workers in 29 eligible tech occupations, including software engineers, web developers, and information system analysts, among others.
Eligible occupation categories
|
Occupation |
|
| 1 |
10030 Telecommunication carriers managers |
| 2 |
20012 Computer and information systems managers |
| 3 |
21100 Physicists and astronomers |
| 4 |
21210 Mathematicians, statisticians and actuaries |
| 5 |
21211 Data scientists |
| 6 |
21220 Cybersecurity specialists |
| 7 |
21221 Business systems specialists |
| 8 |
21222 Information systems specialists |
| 9 |
21223 Database analysts and data administrators |
| 10 |
No 21230 Computer systems developers and programmers |
| 11 |
21231 Software engineers and designers |
| 12 |
21232 Software developers and programmers |
| 13 |
21233 Web designers |
| 14 |
21234 Web developers and programmers |
| 15 |
21300 Civil engineers |
| 16 |
21301 Mechanical engineers |
| 17 |
21310 Electrical and electronics engineers |
| 18 |
21311 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers) |
| 19 |
21320 Chemical engineers |
| 20 |
21399 Other professional engineers |
| 21 |
22110 Biological technologists and technicians |
| 22 |
22220 Computer network and web technicians |
| 23 |
22221 User support technicians |
| 24 |
22222 Information systems testing technicians |
| 25 |
22310 Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians |
| 26 |
22312 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics |
| 27 |
50011 Managers – publishing, motion pictures, broadcasting and performing arts |
| 28 |
51111 Authors and writers (except technical) |
| 29 |
51112 Technical writers |
Job offer
To be eligible for the BC PNP Tech Pilot program, applicants must have a valid job offer from a BC employer in one of the eligible tech occupations. The job offer must be for at least one year and meet the minimum wage requirements for the occupation. However, it does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
In addition, applicants must meet the program’s minimum language proficiency requirements and have the required education and work experience for the job. They must also be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means to support themselves and any dependents in BC.
Once an application is approved, the applicant will receive a nomination from the BC government, which can increase their chances of being approved for permanent residency in Canada. The nomination is then submitted to the federal government for processing.
It should be noted that the BC PNP Tech program is not necessarily an immigration pathway. Candidates who are eligible for one of the BC PNP Skills Immigration programs and have filed a profile for the BC Tech program may be eligible for quicker application processing and other advantages.