British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

British Columbia’s economic growth depends on having enough skilled and qualified people to meet labour market needs. The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a way for high-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency in B.C.

British Columbia is the westernmost province of Canada and is the hub of cultural diversity and economic growth. The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is the immigration pathway for high-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs to gain permanent residency in the province. It is one of Canada’s PNP programs with two broad streams for workers and graduates – Express Entry BC and Skills Immigration, plus an additional stream for entrepreneurs.

Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC)

Like other PNP programs, BC PNP also has an “enhanced” stream that allows the candidates who have applied for Canada PR Visa through the Express Entry program to be selected for provincial nomination. This stream is known as Express Entry British Columbia (EEBC).

Following is the immigration categories that can be processed through EEBC:

• Skilled Worker Category
• Health Care Professional Category
• International Graduate Category
• International Post-Graduate Category

For an Express entry candidate to get a provincial nomination certificate, they are awarded 600 CRS – Comprehensive Ranking System points. These many points effectively guarantee the candidate to get an ITA – Invitation to Apply to submit their application for Canada PR Visa to the IRCC – Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada.

Entrepreneur Immigration

This immigration pathway is for experienced international businessmen who want to run a new business or buy an existing business in the province of British Columbia. This program is divided into two categories:

• Entrepreneur Immigration Base Category: For senior managers or business owners who want to invest funds into a proposed business in the province.
• Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot: For international entrepreneurs who want to establish a new business in a smaller community in the province of British Columbia.

Basics of BC PNP Tech Pilot

BC PNP Tech pilot is for the candidates who have work experience in technological occupations such as Web engineers and designers, Telecommunications carrier managers, Database analyst, etc. To be eligible for this Tech Pilot, an applicant is required to have a full-time job offer from an eligible employer of the province.

The B.C. The technology sector is one of the main engines of economic growth in the province, with employment in technology reaching its highest level ever recorded. The demand for talent in British Columbia’s technology sector is growing faster than the supply.

In order to support these requirements, a pilot program under BC PNP ensures the technology sector to attract and retain talents around the world that it needs to sustain and for the growth in the sector.  BC PNP Tech Pilot (Introduced in 2017) assists the employers of the province to address their needs for qualified candidates by providing them a fast-tracked immigration pathway for in-demand skilled workers and international graduates.

Features Of BC PNP Tech Pilot

The BC PNP Tech Pilot key features are based on service, timeliness, prioritization, and engagement in response to the needs of the industry:

• Service: A dedicated BC PNP concierge for tech employers provides tailored information and navigation assistance of immigration programs and processes.
• Timeliness: Weekly invitations to apply are issued to qualified skilled tech workers, minimizing the wait for employers and their prospective employees.
• Prioritization: Tech applications are prioritized during processing to meet the sector’s fast-paced demands.
• Engagement: Continuous support to tech sector employers through proactive engagement activities and participation in key industry events.

Note: BC PNP Tech Pilot is not a separate immigration category under BC PNP. Applicants just have to apply under any existing immigration streams and ensure they meet the minimum requirements of the stream.