Recently, Saskatchewan declared an extension of eligibility for workers in the province to pursue permanent residence (PR) via the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) of Saskatchewan.
Under this update, individuals employed in intermediate and lower-skilled occupations within the province can apply through the Existing Work Permit stream of the SINP, given that they satisfy the essential eligibility requirements for both the stream and the SINP in its entirety.
The expanded eligibility for permanent residence encompasses permit holders from a diverse array of over 279 occupations, allowing them to now pursue permanent residency in Saskatchewan. This includes individuals in occupations such as truck drivers, farm labourers, retail sales staff, nurses’ aides, and many others. Previously, only newcomers in high-skilled categories (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) and designated trades were qualified to apply for permanent residence through this stream.
Note: The Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) categories represent the Canadian government’s system for classifying jobs in Canada based on these four components, ranging from 0 (managerial roles, the most skilled) to 5 (jobs with no formal education requirements, the least skilled).
To apply under the newly expanded stream, applicants must fulfill both stream-specific and general Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) eligibility criteria, which include:
- To be eligible under the expanded stream, applicants must possess either an eligible open work permit/Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) supported work permit, a francophone mobility work permit, or a Canadian Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa
- Valid SINP job approval letter
- Demonstrate six months (780 hours) of full-time work experience in the same job specified in the job approval letter
- Applicants need to have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of at least 4 if their job falls within a Training, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) category of 4 or 5
- Additionally, if the applicant’s occupation is regulated in Saskatchewan, they must hold an eligible Saskatchewan licensure to meet the requirements for the expanded stream.