Introduction On August 30, 2024, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) introduced two brand-new Permanent Residency (PR) pathways. These pathways, built expressly for the healthcare and agriculture sectors, seek to address Saskatchewan's labor shortages. These industries play a vital role in Saskatchewan’s economy, and these new programs will help attract skilled workers to fill critical roles in these fields.

Given the rising demand for permanent residency in Canada, these pathways are a significant opportunity for skilled professionals in agriculture and health care. This new initiative makes it easier for individuals to secure Canada PR while contributing to Saskatchewan’s growth.

What Are the Two New PR Pathways by SINP? The SINP has two new PR pathways: the Agriculture Talent Pathway and the Health Talent Pathway. These new pathways target workers with specific skills in agriculture and healthcare. The goal is to ensure Saskatchewan has enough skilled professionals to meet its growing labor demands.

The Agriculture Talent Pathway is open to 10 key agricultural occupations, while the Health Talent Pathway covers up to 44 occupations in healthcare. These programs are designed to make the application process smoother for skilled workers and provide them with opportunities to permanently live and work in Saskatchewan.

Addressing Labor Shortages in Saskatchewan Labor shortages are an ongoing issue across Canada, and Saskatchewan is no exception. These shortages are particularly significant in agriculture and healthcare. Saskatchewan’s Immigration and Career Training Minister, Jeremy Harrison, stressed that aligning the province’s immigration strategies with current labor market needs is crucial.

The new SINP PR pathways will help Saskatchewan employers meet workforce requirements and expand their businesses. By streamlining the credential recognition process and creating new immigration pathways, these initiatives will help address Saskatchewan’s economic and healthcare needs.

Eligibility Criteria for the SINP Agriculture Talent Pathway The Agriculture Talent Pathway was created to support Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector, a critical part of the province’s economy. In 2023 alone, Saskatchewan exported over $3.2 billion of crop products. This pathway aims to fill crucial labor gaps by attracting skilled agricultural workers.

To be eligible for the Agriculture Talent Pathway, candidates must meet the following criteria:

  1. Language Proficiency:
  2. Applicants must have at least a CLB score of 4 in English or French. Some employers or regulatory bodies may require higher language proficiency.

  3. Education:
  4. At least secondary school education is essential.

  5. Work Experience:
  6. Applicants must have at least one year of full-time work experience in their intended occupation within the past three years or six months of full-time work (30+ hours per week) with their current Saskatchewan employer, who provided them with a valid Job Approval Letter.

  7. Job Offer:
  8. Candidates must have an eligible, full-time, permanent job offer in Saskatchewan's agriculture sector, supported by a SINP Job Approval Letter.

List of 10 Eligible Occupations for Agriculture Talent Pathway The following table outlines the 10 key occupations that are eligible under the Agriculture Talent Pathway:

NOC Description
75101 Material handlers*
84120 Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
85100 Livestock laborers
85101 Harvesting laborers
85103 Nursery and greenhouse laborers
94140 Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing*
94141 Industrial butchers, meat cutters, poultry preparers*
94143 Testers and graders, food and beverage processing*
94204 Mechanical assemblers and inspectors*
95106 Laborers in food and beverage processing*

For more details, visit the official Agriculture Talent Pathway page on Saskatchewan's website.

Eligibility for the Health Talent Pathway The Health Talent Pathway has been introduced to support the province’s Health Human Resources (HHR) plan. The program focuses on simplifying the recruitment process for healthcare professionals, combining all healthcare recruitment under one stream. This pathway is open to both Express Entry and non-Express Entry candidates.

The general eligibility criteria for both groups include:

  1. Licensing Eligibility:
  2. Applicants must be eligible for licensing in Saskatchewan, where applicable.

  3. Education:
  4. A post-secondary education that is relevant to the job offered is required (Master’s, Bachelor’s, or diploma from a university, college, trade, or technical school).

  5. Intent to Reside:
  6. Candidates must demonstrate their intent to live and work in Saskatchewan.

Health Talent Pathway for Non-Express Entry Candidates Applicants who are not in the Express Entry pool must meet these additional criteria:

  1. Language Proficiency:
  2. A CLB score of 5 or higher in English or French is required. Some employers may ask for a higher score.

  3. Work Experience:
  4. Candidates must meet one of the following:

  5. In Saskatchewan:
  6. At least six months (780 hours) of full-time work experience in Saskatchewan with the employer who provided the SINP Job Approval Letter.

  7. Outside Saskatchewan:
  8. At least one year of full-time work experience within the last five years in the intended occupation.

44 Eligible Occupations for Non-Express Entry Health Talent Pathway The table below lists some of the 44 occupations eligible under this pathway:

NOC Description
30010 Managers in healthcare
31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101 Specialists in surgery
31102 General practitioners and family physicians
31103 Veterinarians
31110 Dentists
31111 Optometrists
31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120 Pharmacists
31121 Dietitians and nutritionists
31200 Psychologists

For the complete list of occupations, visit the Health Talent Pathway page.

Health Talent Pathway for Express Entry Candidates with an active Express Entry profile must meet the following criteria in addition to the general eligibility requirements:

  1. Express Entry Profile:
  2. A valid Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Code are required.

  3. Language Proficiency:
  4. Applicants must have a CLB score of 7 or higher.

  5. Work Experience:
  6. At least one year of full-time, highly skilled work experience in the intended occupation within the last five years.

43 Eligible Occupations for Express Entry Health Talent Pathway Eligible occupations under the Express Entry stream include:

NOC Description
30010 Managers in healthcare
31100 Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
31101 Specialists in surgery
31102 General practitioners and family physicians
31103 Veterinarians
31110 Dentists
31111 Optometrists
31112 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
31120 Pharmacists
31121 Dietitians and nutritionists

For the complete list, visit the Health Talent Pathway page.

Ongoing Efforts by Saskatchewan to Attract Skilled Talent Saskatchewan’s ongoing efforts to streamline immigration and credential recognition processes ensure the province remains competitive in attracting skilled immigrants. With these new pathways, Saskatchewan is making it easier for professionals in healthcare and agriculture to secure a Permanent Residency (PR) in Canada.

These new programs are part of a larger strategy to support economic growth and meet labor demands. Skilled immigrants in these fields now have a clear, accessible path to build their careers in Saskatchewan, benefiting both themselves and the local economy.

How Visa Solutions 4u Can Help Navigating the process of applying for a Canada PR visa through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) can be complex. Visa Solutions 4u is here to make the process easier. Our experienced immigration consultants will guide you through each step, ensuring that you meet the eligibility criteria for the PR pathways.

  1. We help you understand the requirements for the Agriculture Talent Pathway and the Health Talent Pathway.
  2. We offer personalized assistance in securing job offers and preparing your application.
  3. Our team will help you ensure that you meet the language and education criteria to improve your chances of success.
  4. We also provide guidance on how to create an Express Entry profile and navigate the SINP system.

With our expertise, you can simplify your journey to Canada PR and take the first step toward a new life in Saskatchewan. Contact Visa Solutions 4u today to learn more about how we can assist you in achieving your immigration goals.