Maple News reports that on August 5, Saskatchewan issued 452 invitations to skilled workers seeking permanent residence through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). This latest Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw targeted candidates within the International Skilled Worker category, including both Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand subcategories.
Of those invited, 171 candidates were selected through the Express Entry stream, while 281 were drawn from the Occupations In-Demand subcategory. All invited candidates required a minimum Expression of Interest (EOI) score of 73 and needed to have Educational Credential Assessments (ECA) to demonstrate that their educational qualifications align with Canadian standards. Additionally, eligible applicants were required to hold work experience in one of 65 in-demand occupations identified by the province.
The Occupations In-Demand subcategory is a base PNP pathway, which means applicants are not required to have a federal Express Entry profile. Instead, this route caters to highly skilled foreign workers who have experience in Saskatchewan’s most needed occupations but who do not yet possess a job offer in the province. Candidates must submit an EOI to the SINP, which evaluates applicants based on factors such as work experience, education, language proficiency, and ties to Saskatchewan.
Once the EOI is submitted, candidates receive a score out of 100 on the SINP’s International Skilled Worker Points Assessment Grid. Those with the highest scores are selected in periodic draws to apply for provincial nomination, moving them one step closer to Canadian permanent residency.
Meanwhile, the Express Entry subcategory is an enhanced PNP stream, meaning it is directly linked to the federal Express Entry system. This system manages the pool of candidates for three major economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class.
Candidates who receive a provincial nomination under the Express Entry stream gain an additional 600 points toward their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, significantly boosting their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence from the federal government.
These draws underscore Saskatchewan’s ongoing efforts to attract skilled talent in priority sectors to support its labor market needs and economic growth. The province continues to provide diverse immigration pathways for individuals seeking to build a life in one of Canada’s fastest-growing regions.