How to Get Your British Columbia PNP with the BC Tech Pilot

Do you have your eyes on British Columbia, Canada and thinking of how you can live and work in this city?

The Government of British Columbia has made it simple to immigrate to British Columbia (BC) through the BC Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the BC Tech Pilot. If you are a tech savvy individual with the right skills and experience, you may stand a great chance at gaining your PNP through the BC Tech Pilot.

Shall we have a closer look?

The British Columbia PNP Explained

This program is an economic immigration program aimed at boosting the growth of the Canadian economy. The program allows the province to nominate talent from abroad, including international students and entrepreneurs, who can contribute to the economy and fulfill the labour shortage and market needs. Once nominated, you can apply for permanent residency to live and work in Canada.

What are the Current In-Demand Jobs in BC?

The province is currently in urgent need of health care workers and childhood educators, which are prioritized occupations - meaning that those who apply the right skills in these occupations will most likely stand a greater chance of success due to the province's demand.

According to the Government of British Columbia, below are the prioritized occupations:

• BC PNP Tech occupations
• Care Economy: Healthcare occupations
• Care Economy: Childcare occupations
• Other priority occupations

You can find more details about the current in-demand jobs in BC here.

How do the Draws Work for Skilled Immigration Invitations?

Depending on the type of drawing, different factors may be targeted for a different draw. Therefore, applicants will receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) and will be evaluated on one or more of the following factors as per the data on the official Government of the British Columbia website:

• Educational level and field of education
• Where you obtained your completed qualification
• Language skills
• Occupation
• Duration, skill level and work experience
• Wage and/or skill level of job offer
• Reasons for wanting to live, work and settle in a specific region/province.
• Strategic priorities – you should ensure that you can fulfill the labour market needs in BC or support government pilot projects and initiatives.

The BC Tech Pilot Explained

The BC tech pilot allows recruiters to seek talent abroad to add value to the Canadian tech industry and ensure that the technology sector continues to grow exponentially. This pilot is ideal for skilled workers in tech occupations since local workers cannot fill the position. Through this pilot, candidates can also gain permanent residence to add value to the Canadian economy.

How are Draws Conducted under the BC Tech Pilot?

Candidates under this pilot will be selected based on targeted draws, which means applicants will have priority access to the program. In addition, a dedicated team is assigned to evaluate tech applications to reduce processing times.

Below are some benefits for the applicant applying to the BC Tech Pilot:

• This pathway does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Find out more about Canadian jobs that do not require an LMIA here.
• You do not have to provide a work permit support letter for nominees, which is required to apply for a new work permit or when you want to renew your current work permit.
• You can rely on our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for the right client support services and guidance on gaining permanent residence in Canada.

What is the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)?

This pathway is designed to help skilled refugees immigrate to Canada through economic programs while allowing Canadian employees to utilize the pathway to seek qualified, skilled refugees to fill the openings.

Successful applicants under this program will come to Canada as permanent residents while adding to BC's labour market with their skills and experience.

Eligibility for the EMPP

• You must ensure you meet the stipulated requirements for EMPP. Get in touch with our immigration experts to help you with this.
• You must ensure you meet BC PNP requirements for the Skilled Worker category.
• You must ensure you meet BC PNP requirements for BC Tech Pilot.
• You must be referred by a designated Partner NGO.

What is the Process?

The designated NGO partners will be on board to assist applicants with the right in-demand skills. The NGO partner will refer the eligible candidate to the British Columbia PNP - up to 50 EMPP refugees who meet the stipulated requirements will be targeted.

Furthermore, BC employers seeking a foreign worker to fill a vacancy under the British Columbia PNP can contact a designated NGO partner directly.

Should you have any difficulty in the application process, our reliable immigration experts are on board to assist you with the right in-demand skills.

Am I Eligible? Check Now

The Entrepreneur Immigration Stream of the British Columbia PNP

This stream is aimed at entrepreneurs abroad who would like to live and work in BC to establish their businesses and add value to the innovative and economic growth of the province. Under this pathway, foreign entrepreneurs can go from temporary to permanent residence, meaning they will arrive in BC as a temporary resident and apply for permanent residence once they kick-start their business in the province.

Eligibility for the Entrepreneur Immigration Stream

The pathway has three categories for entrepreneurs, which are subject to various requirements:

• Base Category
• Regional Pilot
• Strategic Projects

Below are the Personal Requirements for the Entrepreneur

• You must have a net worth of at least $600,000.
• You must have business and/or management experience, and even better, you should have the right qualification of at least two years ( post-secondary diploma).
• You must have a skill level in either English or French equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 or higher.
• You must be legally in the country you are currently living in.
• You must have legal immigration status in Canada.
• You must ensure your business will create at least one job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• Make an investment of at least $200,000 in the business and ensure you establish new businesses to fill the market gap or improve an existing business.

The Process for the Entrepreneur Immigration Stream

• 1. Create a business proposal that will benefit the Canadian economy
• 2. Register your proposal with the British Columbia PNP
• 3. Get a work permit
• 4. Build your business in the province
• 5. Get a nomination from the British Columbia PNP
• 6. Gain permanent residence once your business is up and running.

The BC PNP Tech Application Process

You can get your British Columbia PNP through the BC Tech Pilot if you are already eligible with the right skills and experience for the Skills Immigration or the British Columbia PNP under the Express Entry system. Eligible candidates will receive an ITA and must have a job offer in the stipulated occupations under the BrC PNP Tech.

Are you uncertain about your eligibility? Contact our MDC immigration experts to help determine which of these pathways would be best suited to your needs today.

Below we give you a breakdown of the application process:

• Step 1: Register online once you find your category. If you are uncertain about your category, our immigration experts can assist you.
• Step 2: The British Columbia PNP will have tech draws every week to invite well-scoring applicants in the tech sector to apply. Our RCICs can advise you on maximizing your chances of getting an ITA.
• Step 3: You have 30 days to complete your application and submit it online. Applications falling under the prioritized occupations will most likely be processed first. We urge applicants to remain truthful and honest in the information they provide. Note: our RCICs will not be held responsible for the information provided. Failure to do so will delay processing times, and your application will be returned.
• Step 4: Successful applicants will receive a nomination to gain permanent residence.
• Step 5: Eligible applicants must ensure they meet the conditions of their nomination to receive a work permit support letter, which enables them to renew or obtain their current work permit. - this means they can work through the process.

For your convenience, feel free to find out more about the British Columbia Tech Pilot here. We understand that this can be a daunting experience which is why our immigration experts are on board to assist you throughout the process. Unsure of where to start? Contact our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) today to ease your plight.

Ready to Start? Apply Here

FAQs

Can I leave BC after PNP?

Though you may be able to move out of your province at one point, we advise you to evaluate your PNP'sPNP's conditions.

How do I get a job offer for BC Tech Pilot?

While our immigration experts cannot promise you a job, they can advise and guide you throughout the process, maximizing your chances of securing a job offer for BC Tech Pilot.

How often is BC PNP draw?

Draws are conducted every week.