Recently, Saskatchewan announced that it will be expanding the requirements for workers who apply for permanent residency (PR) through the PNP Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). This PNP expansion in Saskatchewan opens doors to more immigrants looking to establish permanent residency.
With this news, employees in lower- and intermediate-skilled jobs located in Saskatchewan can now take use of the SINP’s Expanded Work Permit stream. Those who fulfill the prerequisites for the stream and the SINP overall are eligible for this option.
The expansion of the list of professions that qualify for permanent residency means that holders of work permits in more than 279 different job categories can now apply for permanent residence in Saskatchewan. This includes professionals such as truck drivers, farm laborers, retail salespeople, nurses’ assistants, and several others. The widening of eligibility is noteworthy because it goes beyond the prior scope, which limited PR applications through this particular stream to entrants in high-skilled (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) and designated trades.
The Canadian government employs the TEER classifications to categorize jobs based on these four aspects, ranging from 0 (highly skilled, managerial roles) to 5 (less skilled, no formal schooling qualifications).
To apply under the extended stream, applicants must meet both stream-specific and general eligibility requirements set by the SNIP. These criteria encompass various aspects, including:
- Qualifying permits include an open work permit/LMIA supported work permit, francophone mobility work permit, or CUAET visa.
- Possess a valid SINP job approval letter.
- Accumulate six months (780 hours) of full-time work experience in the specified job mentioned in the job approval letter.
- Attain a CLB score of at least 4 if your job falls within a TEER 4 or 5 occupation.
- If your occupation is regulated in Saskatchewan, actively obtain an eligible Saskatchewan licensure.
Who does not qualify under these modifications?
Despite the fact that the Existing Work Permit stream’s eligibility has expanded, it’s important to note that the following people are still not eligible to immigrate to Saskatchewan under this immigration stream:
- Food and beverage servers should consider applying under the Hospitality Sector Pilot Project or the Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot.
- Truck drivers are advised to apply under the Long Haul Truck Driver Project or the Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot.
- Health professionals should redirect their applications to the SINP Health Professional Sub-category.
- Recommend graduates currently working with a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to apply under the Saskatchewan Experience – Student Sub-category or the International Skilled Worker – Employment Offer Sub-category.
- Refugee claimants seeking refugee status in Canada are not eligible under this stream.
PNP expansion in Saskatchewan opens doors to more immigrants
To obtain a larger provincial allotment of immigration nominations for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025, the provincial government of Saskatchewan has begun talks with the federal government. This is a calculated decision, as the province has one of the greatest labor demand in Canada due to the large number of job openings that are present there. Moreover, currently, various internet job boards actively post over 16,000 job openings in Saskatchewan. Looking ahead, the estimate anticipates approximately 112,000 job openings over the course of the next five years.
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