The Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand subsection of the International Skilled Worker category of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) targets skilled people in important occupations.
If you have relevant job experience in a high-skilled profession that is not on the SINP Excluded Occupations List, Saskatchewan’s Occupations In-Demand sub-category may be the path to Canadian immigration.
Important Reminder
Saskatchewan updated the eligibility standards for the Occupations In-Demand sub-category in late 2019. Previously, applicants must have work experience in an occupation on Saskatchewan’s listing of in-demand occupations.
Candidates must now have job experience in a high-skilled occupation (defined as any activity at the National Occupation Classification (NOC) Skill Level 0, A, or B) that is not on Saskatchewan’s Excluded Occupations List.
What are the minimum eligibility requirements for the program?
Here’s a quick rundown of the minimum qualifying criteria for the Occupations In-Demand subsection for the SINP’s International Skilled Worker stream.
| Criteria | Minimum Requirement |
| Express Entry Profile | No |
| Connection to Saskatchewan | No |
| Employment Offer | No |
| Language Ability | CLB 4 |
| Education Level | Post-secondary — 1 year |
| Job Experience | 1 year at NOC level A, B or 0, but must not be an occupation listed on the SINP Excluded Occupation List. |
| Investment Requirement | None |
Express Entry Requirement
The Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand sub-category is not connected to the federal Express Entry system. As a result, successful eligible candidates can apply straight to the Government of Canada for permanent resident status without first creating an Express Entry profile or receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) through one of the Express Entry’s draws.
Language Ability
Candidates must provide proof of English or French language ability to be qualified for the Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand stream. All candidates should have valid language test results demonstrating competency at or above the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4.
Educational Level
All candidates should have an educational credential equal to at least a one-year post-secondary diploma in Canada. If an applicant’s occupation is regulated in Saskatchewan, the candidate would most certainly be required to verify certification or qualification for certification as part of the application.
Job Experience
Candidates in this stream must have a least of one year of full-time work experience in a high-skilled occupation at NOC level “A,” “B,” or “0” and is not on the SINP Excluded Occupations List.
Points Assessment Grid
The SINP Points Assessment Grid is based on a scale of 110 points. A candidate must receive 60 points minimum to be considered for the program.
Please keep in mind that applicants must provide supporting evidence with their SINP application to demonstrate that they have satisfied the 60-point criterion. This points grid is also utilized to rate Expressions of Interest that were submitted by applicants and only those with the best scores will be invited to apply to SINP.
If there are too many applicants with the same score, Saskatchewan reserves the right to use additional factors to prioritize candidate selection. If two applicants have the same score, SINP will favour candidates with a Saskatchewan connection, such as a relative, past work experience, or past education.
In the event that too many candidates get the same exact score, the SINP will give preference to those with more years of work experience and better language scores.
Settlement Funds
Candidates must satisfy Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s settlement money criterion (IRCC). This might be shown by their own funds or by retaining a genuine job offer.
How do I begin my application?
The Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand stream is based on an Expression of Interest (EOI) process. Candidates who match the basic stream criteria can create an account on the SINP Online platform.
After submitting their profiles, applicants will be granted a score and evaluated against each other by using SINP Ranking System. After one of the SINP Draws, the top-ranking applicants will be sent an Invitation to Apply.
Upon getting an invitation, a candidate must file a comprehensive application to Saskatchewan within the time frame specified. Candidates who have applied for SINP must pay a $350 CAD non-refundable application fee.
Should the application be approved, the province of Saskatchewan will inform the applicant that they have been chosen for provincial nomination. This notification will be emailed to the applicant. At this step, the person is formally nominated by the province, making them qualified to file a federal application for Canadian permanent residency.
An applicant has six months after getting a provincial nomination to complete a permanent residency application. Applicants in this program must fill out and mail a paper-based application for permanent residence to the relevant application center.
On average, paper-based PNP applications for permanent residency are resolved within 18 months.
Here’s What You Can Read Next
Canadian Immigration Pathways: Which one is best for you?
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Immigrate to a Province or Territory
Immigrate to Canada through the Study-Work-PR Pathway