Saskatchewan significantly expands list of eligible in-demand occupations

The province of Saskatchewan has expanded the list of in-demand occupations associated with both its Express Entry and In-Demand Occupation sub-categories, from 19 occupations to more than 200.

These are two popular streams within the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) that do not require a job offer or work experience in Canada in order for a candidate to be eligible.

One of these streams, the Express Entry sub-category, is for candidates who also have a profile in Canada's federal Express Entry pool.

Candidates in the Express Entry pool who obtain a provincial nomination through the SINP’s Express Entry sub-category are awarded an additional 600 points towards their ranking score, effectively guaranteeing an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

The other stream, the In-Demand Occupation Sub-Category, is available to candidates who are not in the Express Entry pool. If nominated, these candidates would apply for permanent residence outside of Express Entry, which is generally slower by comparison.

Both immigration sub-categories require work experience in an eligible high-skilled occupation, among other criteria.

A high-skilled occupation is one that is rated skill level A or B or Skill Type 0 under Canada's National Occupational Classification, or NOC.

Rather than listing the occupations that are now eligible, the SINP is only listing the 130 occupations that are excluded.

This leaves 218 occupations that are now be eligible.

Both Express Entry candidates and individuals considering immigrating to Saskatchewan through the In-Demand Occupation Sub-Category must register a separate Expression of Interest with the SINP.

"These SINP streams have long been a great pathway for eligible candidates, albeit with work experience in a very limited number of occupations, to pursue nomination and then permanent residence in Canada," said David Cohen, senior partner with the Campbell Cohen Canadian immigration law firm in Montreal.

"Opening these streams to many more occupations has the potential to benefit Saskatchewan's labour market as well as the highly skilled candidates who dream of a life in Canada and whose occupations are now on the list."

The first step towards pursuing a nomination through Saskatchewan's Express Entry sub-category is to submit an Express Entry profile into the federal pool.

In order to be considered under Saskatchewan's Occupation In-Demand Sub-Category, candidates must first create a profile in Saskatchewan's Expression of Interest system.

Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry or Saskatchewan's Occupation In-Demand Sub-Category