SINP International Skilled Worker

The SINP International Skilled Worker Category allows the province to nominate skilled workers with the education, experience and language ability needed to settle successfully in Saskatchewan.

Detailed article onSaskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

Overview of the SINP International Skilled Worker stream

The SINP currently usesthe Expression of Interest (EOI) systemfor the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry sub-categories.

Candidates in the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool for the SINP International Skilled Worker Category are assessed against the following 5 factors: education and training, skilled work experience, language ability, age, and connection to the Saskatchewan labour market together with adaptability.

To enter the SINP EOI pool, a candidate must score at least 60 out of 110 points on the EOI Points Assessment Grid, alongside the other eligibility requirements, in order to be considered.

Expression of Interest (EOI) points assessment grid

Selection factors

Selection factor	Maximum points
Education and training	Maximum 23 points
Skilled work experience	Maximum 15 points
Language ability	Maximum 30 points
Age	Up to 12 points
Connection to the Saskatchewan labour market	Maximum 30 points
Total	Maximum 110 points
Pass mark	60 points

Factor 1: education and training

Candidates receive points based on their level of education, supported by documentary evidence of completed post-secondary education and/or training programmes from a nationally or provincially recognised institution or regulatory body.

Copies of the degree, certificate or diploma for any education or training programme, together with full transcripts, must be submitted in order to receive points under this selection factor.

Education & training	Points
Master’s or doctoral degree	23
University degree requiring at least 3 (three) years of full-time study	20
Trade certification equivalent to journeyperson level in Saskatchewan	20
Degree, diploma or certificate requiring at least 2 (two) years of full-time post-secondary study, or an equivalent certificate	15
Degree, diploma or certificate requiring at least 1 (one) year of full-time post-secondary study, or a certificate equivalent to a trade certificate	12

Factor 2: skilled work experience

Points under this selection factor are awarded on the basis of documentary evidence of skilled work experience (NOC 0, A, B or a designated trade) in the candidate’s intended occupation over the previous 10 (ten) years. Two points are awarded for each year of work experience in the most recent 5 (five) years, and one point for each year in the period from 6 (six) to 10 (ten) years before the application.

Candidates must demonstrate at least 1 (one) year of paid full-time work experience, or the part-time equivalent, in their intended occupation in order to qualify.

Documentation must include a reference letter from a supervisor or Human Resources officer for each work experience listed, the candidate’s official work book, or other official government documents.

Work experience in the 5 (five) years immediately before the application	Points
5 years	10
4 years	8
3 years	6
2 years	4
1 year	2

Work experience in the period from 6 (six) to 10 (ten) years before the application	Points
5 years	5
4 years	4
3 years	3
2 years	2
1 year	0

Factor 3: language ability

Candidates receive points based on their ability in one of Canada’s two official languages, English or French. If proficient in both, the candidate should choose the language in which they are most comfortable.

Proof of language proficiency is required in the form of official results from a language test approved by the SINP,IELTS General Training, CELPIPGeneral Training andTEF.

Candidates must achieve a minimum ofCanadian Language Benchmark (CLB)4 in order to qualify.

Language ability in English or French (first language test)	Points
CLB 8 or higher	20
CLB 7	18
CLB 6	16
CLB 5	14
CLB 4	12
Native English or French speaker without language test results	0

Language ability in English or French (second language test)	Points
CLB 8 or higher	10
CLB 7	8
CLB 6	6
CLB 5	4
CLB 4	2
Not applicable	0

Factor 4: age

Candidates receive points based on their age on the date of application to the SINP.

Age	Points
Under 18	0
18-21	8
22-34	12
35-45	10
46-50	8
Over 50	0

Factor 5: connection to the Saskatchewan labour market and adaptability

Candidates receive points based on their connection to the Saskatchewan labour market and their ability to settle successfully and become economically established in Saskatchewan as permanent residents, through documentary evidence of a high-skilled job offer.

Connection to the Saskatchewan labour market	Points
High-skilled job offer The candidate holds a job offer for an occupation classified at NOC level 0, A, B or a designated trade in Saskatchewan	30
Close relative in Saskatchewan The candidate or their accompanying spouse has a close relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Saskatchewan. Close relatives include: – Parent, – Sibling, – Grandparent, – Aunt or uncle, – Niece or nephew, – Cousin, and – Step-family members or relatives in a comparable relationship. Family members in Saskatchewan must meet the requirements set out in the Application Guide	20
Previous work experience in Saskatchewan The candidate has worked in Saskatchewan for at least 12 (twelve) cumulative months over the past 5 (five) years on a valid work permit	5
Previous study experience in Saskatchewan The candidate has studied at a recognised educational institution in Saskatchewan for at least one full-time academic year on a valid study permit	5

International Skilled Worker – Saskatchewan Express Entry

This sub-category allows the province to nominate individuals who are already in theExpress Entrycategory of theImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)pool and who have the education, in-demand skilled work experience, language ability and other attributes to help them settle successfully and integrate into Saskatchewan’s labour market and communities.

Because candidates must be in the federal Express Entry pool, every candidate must qualify for one of the three federal economic immigration programmes:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Minimum requirements

To qualify for the SINP International Skilled Worker – Express Entry Saskatchewan sub-category, a candidate must:

• Provide proof of legal status, if currently residing in Canada;
• Have been accepted into the IRCC Express Entry pool and hold an Express Entry Profile Number and a Job Seeker Validation Code;
  • This number and code must be included in the SINP application.
• Provide language test results from a designated testing body that match the language ability declared in the Express Entry profile;
• Have completed at least one (1) year of post-secondary education or training equivalent to the Canadian education system, and have received a degree, diploma, certificate or credential equivalent to a trade certificate;
  • Individuals who completed trade or vocational training as part of their secondary education need not submit anEducational Credential Assessment (ECA), but must instead submit anapplication for licensure in Saskatchewan.
• Have the minimum level of work experience relating to their field of education or training in a skilled occupation (National Occupational Classification (NOC)0, A or B) considered to be in demand in Saskatchewan (see the list of in-demand occupations below);
  • At least one (1) year of work experience in the past 10 (ten) years in a skilled occupation (non-trade);
  • At least two (2) years of work experience in a skilled trade occupation in the past 5 (five) years;
  • At least one (1) year of skilled work experience in Canada in the past 3 (three) years (trade and non-trade).
• Obtain proof of Professional Status or Licensure (for regulated occupations, or those with professional certification standards in Canada and/or Saskatchewan) if required by the SINP.
  • If proof of licensure is requested, the SINP will place the application on hold until that proof is provided.
• Hold a certificate of qualification (also referred to as a letter of invitation) in their skilled trade occupation from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission if their work experience is in a trade;
• Have proof of sufficient settlement funds and a settlement plan;
• Score a minimum of 60 out of 110 points on the SINP points assessment grid.

International Skilled Worker – Occupations In-Demand

This sub-category is for skilled workers with experience in one of Saskatchewan’s in-demand occupations. No job offer from an employer in the province is required under this International Skilled Worker sub-category.

Minimum requirements

To qualify under the In-Demand Occupation sub-category, a candidate must:

• Provide proof of legal status, if currently residing in Canada;
• Have a minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4;
• Have completed at least one (1) year of post-secondary education or training equivalent to the Canadian education system;
  • The programme of study must lead to a degree, diploma, certificate or credential equivalent to a trade certificate.
  • Note: since 1 April 2018, all applications submitted to the In-Demand Occupation sub-category must include an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organisation.
  • Individuals who completed trade or vocational training as part of their secondary education need not submit an ECA, but must instead submit an application for licensure in Saskatchewan.
• Have the minimum level of work experience relating to their field of education or training in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A or B) considered to be in demand in Saskatchewan (see the list of in-demand occupations below);
  • At least one (1) year of work experience in the past 10 (ten) years in a skilled occupation (non-trade); OR
  • At least two (2) years of work experience in a skilled trade occupation in the past 5 (five) years; OR
  • At least one (1) year of skilled work experience in Canada in the past 3 (three) years (trade and non-trade).
• Obtain proof of Professional Status or Licensure (for regulated occupations, or those with professional certification standards in Canada and/or Saskatchewan) if required by the SINP;
  • If proof of licensure is requested, the SINP will place the application on hold until that proof is provided.
• Have proof of sufficient settlement funds and a settlement plan; and
• Score a minimum of 60 out of 110 points on the points assessment grid.

SINP in-demand occupations

The following highly skilled occupations are considered to be in demand in Saskatchewan. These lists are based on theSINP Excluded Occupation List, which replaced the In-Demand Occupation List in September 2019.

All in-demand occupations eligible under the SINP Express Entry and In-Demand Occupation sub-categories are ranked at Skill Level A or B, or Skill Type 0, under Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC).

To determine their NOC code, candidates can visithere.

Most occupations eligible under the SINP Express Entry and In-Demand Occupation sub-categories are non-regulated and require no professional licence. These non-regulated occupations make up the first set of lists below.

The second set of lists covers eligible occupations that are regulated or have professional certification standards in Canada and/or Saskatchewan and require additional documentation.

SINP in-demand occupations – no licence required

Many in-demand occupations are regulated or have professional certification standards in Canada and/or Saskatchewan and require additional documentation. The table below lists the in-demand occupations that require a licence, together with the licensing and/or education requirements.

SINP in-demand occupations – licence required

International Skilled Worker – Employment Offer

This sub-category is for skilled workers who have received a job offer from an employer in Saskatchewan. The job offer must be approved by the SINP before the candidate can apply; otherwise the application will be rejected outright. To have a position assessed, the Saskatchewan employer must register on the SINP Employer website. Once the position is approved, the employer receives a Job Approval Letter, a copy of which must be submitted with the candidate’s application to the SINP.

Minimum requirements

To qualify under the International Skilled Worker – Employment Offer sub-category, a candidate must:

• Hold legal status, if currently residing in Canada;
• Demonstrate sufficient language ability through a minimum language test score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in all four language skills (reading, writing, speaking, listening) from a designated testing body;
• Hold a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer registered with the SINP in an occupation within the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Matrix at Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B, OR in a designated trade in Saskatchewan;
• Have at least one (1) year of paid work experience in the past 10 (ten) years in the intended occupation;
• Obtain proof of eligibility for a Saskatchewan licence if the job offer falls within an occupation regulated in Saskatchewan and requiring mandatory certification or licensure; and
• Score a minimum of 60 out of 110 points on the points assessment grid.

When not to apply

A candidate will not be considered eligible under the SINP International Skilled Worker category if they:

• Are a refugee claimant in Canada;
• Are a health professional;
• Are a food and beverage service worker;
• Fail to submit the documents requested by the SINP;
• Do not genuinely intend to live and work in Saskatchewan on a permanent basis; or
• Deliberately make a false statement in the application.