By Matthew Morawski,
Special to The Post

The Vancouver Economic Commission boasts Vancouver has the largest cluster of Visual effects (VFX) and Animation studios in the world. The Vancouver visual effects community is already home to over 60 studios and the numbers keep growing.

With so much growth in Vancouver’s visual effects industry comes great opportunity for foreign workers as there is an imbalance between demand for talent and the supply that Canada can naturally provide. The 2016 Tech Talent BC Report identified that British Columbia’s tech sector jobs reached approximately 149,000 in 2015, and tech jobs have the potential to grow to 196,000 by 2021.

British Columbia’s expected growth of nearly 50,000 skilled tech jobs (most of which will be in Vancouver) cannot simply be filled with local skilled talent.

Presently, and over the next 5 years, foreign workers passionate about working in a world-leading center for visual effects should look to Vancouver, Canada.

In recognition of the shortfall of local talent in the tech industry, British Columbia introduced the BC PNP Tech Pilot.

This program provides an expedited immigration pathway to internationally trained workers in 32 key tech occupations. The mandate is speed. If foreign workers in these prescribed tech occupations obtain a full-time permanent job in British Columbia they can benefit from priority processing to secure a BC PNP nomination certificate.

A BC PNP nomination certificate is a big advantage towards obtaining Canadian permanent residency as it provides 600 points towards the individual’s permanent residency Express Entry selection system which essentially secures an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residency.

If you do not have the education or work experience to secure a permanent job in Vancouver’s visual effects industry, you can seek permits to study at a Vancouver post-secondary institution offering programs in visual effects.

Vancouver is home to many outstanding degree, diploma and certificate programs specifically for the visual effects industry. During these programs, students often have an opportunity to make connections with instructors who know the industry and with guest-instructors who are employers in Vancouver’s close-knit visual effects community.

In addition, international students taking full time courses at a designated learning institution are able to work 20 hours per week during their studies, and full-time during school breaks.

The opportunities for visual effects students to connect with decision makers in the industry often leads to a job offer with a studio after graduation.

There has never been a better time for visual effects artists to come to Canada as a result of the overwhelming demand for jobs in Vancouver’s visual effects industry.

If you are a talented and experienced visual effects artist with a goal to work in Vancouver’s world class visual effects industry, we can assist in choosing the correct immigration strategy for you.

If you are passionate about studying visual effects in Canada, we can assist in preparing the best long-term strategy for you to complete your studies and work in Vancouver’s visual effects industry.

Matthew Morawski , is a Vancouver immigration lawyer with a focus on working with visual effects studios, internationally trained visual effects artists and international students who are passionate about visual effects. If you are interested in these opportunities email Matthew at: [email protected]