British Columbia issued invitations to apply for a provincial nomination under the BC PNP Tech Pilot on January 23.
A total of 45 Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration invitations were issued under the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)'s Tech Pilot, which was launched in 2017 to help the province facilitate immigration applications for eligible foreign workers with a job offer in one of 29 in-demand technology occupations.
The lowest score published in the January 23 draw was 85 for Skilled Worker candidates in the Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams.
In order to be eligible for any Express Entry BC categories, candidates must have an active profile in the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for Canada's three Federal High Skilled immigration programs — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class and Canadian Experience Class.
Express Entry candidates who apply for and receive a provincial nomination for permanent residence through the Express Entry BC Stream receive an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
The stream is for experienced entrepreneurs who are ready to invest in and actively manage a business in B.C.
To immigrate to Canada though the BC PNP, all individuals invited in the January 23 draw had to start the process by creating an online profile with the BC PNP Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS).
Applicant profiles are assessed and assigned a score based on the SIRS points-based system that evaluates factors such as education, work experience and proficiency in English or French.
BC PNP Tech Pilot candidates are exempt from the indeterminate, full-time job offer requirement that applies to most BC PNP immigration categories. These candidates, however, must demonstrate a job offer that is at least one year in duration and have at least 120 calendar days remaining on the job at the time of applying for a provincial nomination.
The minimum scores for each category involved in this draw were as follows:
| Date | Category | Minimum Score Required | Number of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
January 23, 2019 | EEBC – Skilled Worker | 85 | 45 |
| EEBC – International Graduate | 95 | ||
| SI - Skilled Worker | 85 | ||
| SI – International Graduate | 95 | ||
| SI - Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 68 |
It is important to note that an invitation to apply for the BC PNP is not the same as the Invitation to Apply, or ITA, issued at the federal level.
Use the CanadaVisa Skills Immigration Registration System Calculator to determine how many points you may be awarded under the BC PNP If you are interested in immigrating to Canada through the BC PNP.
For more information on the eligibility criteria for the BC PNP’s various streams, please visit our dedicated BC PNP page.