British Columbia issued 27 new invitations for a provincial nomination to skilled workers and graduates under the province's unique tech-pilot on April 11.
The April 11 invitation round prioritized candidates with a job offer in one of the 32 eligible occupations under the BC PNP Tech Pilot. The pilot was launched in 2017 to help the province attract and retain foreign tech workers and graduates in British Columbia.
To be considered under the BC PNP's tech-pilot, candidates must be registered in BC's unique Skilled Immigration system and meet eligibility criteria for one the BC PNP's Skills Immigration Stream and Express Entry BC categories.
Candidates with successful applications under Express Entry BC: Skilled Worker and Express Entry BC: International Graduate will obtain 600 additional points towards their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in a future Express Entry draw. An invitation to apply for the BC PNP is not the same as the Invitation to Apply, or ITA, issued at the federal level.
For the remaining candidates invited through the Skills Immigration categories, permanent residence applications will be processed outside the Express Entry system after they receive a provincial nomination certificate from BC.
Find out your options for immigration under the BC PNP with our free online assessment.
The BC PNP tech-only pilot process
- Once a candidate has determined his or her category, he or she may register online and receive a registration score. Registration is free.
- Every week (subject to processing capacity), the BC PNP will conduct a tech draw and invite the highest-scoring technology sector registrants to apply.
- Invited candidates have up to 30 calendar days from the date of invitation to submit a complete online application. The government application fee is $700.
- The BC PNP will process the application on a priority basis.
- If approved, the applicant receives a nomination that he or she can use to apply for permanent residence.
- Individuals who have been nominated and who meet the conditions of their nomination will receive a work permit support letter that allows them to obtain or renew their current work permit allowing them to work throughout the process.
The minimum scores for each category in the April 11 draw were as follows:
| Date | Category | Minimum Score Required | Number of ITAs Issued |
|---|---|---|---|
April 11, 2018 (tech-only draw) | EEBC – Skilled Worker | 89 | 27 |
| EEBC – International Graduate | 89 | ||
| SI - Skilled Worker | 84 | ||
| SI – International Graduate | 84 | ||
| SI - Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | 55 |
For foreign workers and graduates interested in applying for immigration under the BC PNP, it is important to start the process by creating an online profile with the BC PNP.
BC PNP candidates invited must have an indeterminate, full-time job offer in the province to become eligible for the most the BC PNP categories.
Use our exclusive CanadaVisa Skills Immigration Registration System Calculator to determine how many points you may be awarded under the BC PNP.
For more information on the eligibility criteria for the BC PNP categories, please visit our dedicated BC PNP page.