Saskatchewan holds record draw for Express Entry candidates

Saskatchewan invited nearly 1,000 Express Entry candidates with specific work experience to apply for a provincial nomination for Canadian permanent residence in the province's largest-ever Expression of Interest draw.

The 986 invitations went to candidates in the federal Express Entry system who had registered a separate profile with the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

The SINP allows Saskatchewan to nominate immigration candidates with skills required in the province's labour market.

The 986 invitations were the most issued in a single draw through the SINP's Expression of Interest (EOI) system, which was introduced in July 2018 to manage the pool of candidates for the Saskatchewan's Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand immigration pathways.

The SINP's Express Entry pathway is linked to the federal Express Entry system, which manages the pool of candidates for three of Canada's main economic immigration categories — the Federal Skilled Worker Class, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades Class.

A provincial nomination results in an additional 600 points toward an Express Entry candidate's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and effectively guarantees an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry invitation round.

Find out if you are eligible for the Express Entry pool

Express Entry candidates are not required to have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in order to be eligible for a nomination from the SINP. However, work experience in an eligible occupation that is aligned with their field of study is necessary, among other requirements.

The October 17 draw issued invitations to Express Entry candidates with work experience in the following 12 occupations. "NOC" stands for the profession's National Occupational Classification code.

Retail and wholesale trade managers (NOC 0621)
Restaurant and food service managers (NOC 0631)
Construction managers (NOC 0711)
Managers in agriculture (NOC 0821)
Other financial officers (NOC 1114)
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers (NOC 1311)
Information systems analysts and consultants (NOC 2171)
Social and community service workers (NOC 4212)
Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214)
Technical sales specialists – wholesale trade (NOC 6221)
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics (NOC 7312)
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers (NOC 7321)

Express Entry candidates invited in the SINP's October 17 draw had a minimum score of 67 under the SINP's EOI points grid.

This score is based on factors including age, education, work experience, proficiency in English or French and connections to Saskatchewan, among others.

The SINP says a candidate's EOI score and occupation are the “top factors” when determining who it invites to apply for a provincial nomination from Saskatchewan.

More than 200 occupations are now eligible for consideration under the SINP's Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories.

Find out if you are eligible for any Canadian immigration programs