British Columbia recently announced that the BC PNP Tech Pilot program will be made permanent, four years after its initial launch. The Tech Pilot program will continue to function as a fast-track immigration pathway for foreign workers and international students.
The Tech Pilot program was being extended for the last 4 years. The current extension will expire on June 30, 2021, after which, the pilot will be renamed and made permanently available.
This decision was made after tech employers lobbied the British Columbia government earlier this year to extend the program further to facilitate the hiring of highly skilled foreign workers. However, instead of extending the program, the provincial government made it permanent.
The number of immigrants being nominated through the Tech Pilot has steadily increased over the last 4 years. In its first year, 1,135 immigrants were invited through this pilot. In 2019, 1,509 immigrants were nominated, a 63% increase. In 2020, this number increased to 1,855 immigrants.
