Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway

Successful applicants gain Canadian permanent residency, making it a prime option for tech professionals looking to establish their careers in Saskatchewan. The pathway offers two options: the Express Entry Aligned Stream for those in the federal Express Entry pool, and the Non-Express Entry Stream.

Key Takeaways

• Purpose: Designed to address tech labour shortages by attracting skilled workers in high-demand tech roles.
• Eligibility: Requires a job offer in Saskatchewan for a full-time tech role, qualifications, language proficiency, and a settlement intent.
• Two Streams: Applicants can choose either the Express Entry Aligned Stream for priority processing or the Non-Express Entry Stream based on eligibility.

What Is The Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway?

The Tech Talent Pathway, part of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), was created to attract skilled tech workers with job offers in the province. With Express Entry and Non-Express Entry options, this pathway caters to applicants both in Canada and abroad who meet the program’s eligibility criteria. For those in the Express Entry pool, applications receive priority processing for permanent residency, with federal processing times as short as six months.

Eligibility For The Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway

Eligibility Status

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned: Must be in the IRCC Express Entry pool with a valid Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Code.
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE): Open to applicants inside or outside Canada, excluding refugee claimants.

Language Proficiency

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned: Must meet the Express Entry minimum language requirements (CLB/NCLC 7 or higher).
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE):
  • If currently employed in Saskatchewan: Language level determined by employer.
  • If not currently employed in Saskatchewan: Must meet CLB 5 or higher.

Work Experience

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned:
  • Inside Saskatchewan: Must be currently employed in Saskatchewan with at least six months (780 hours) full-time work in the offered position.
  • Outside Saskatchewan: One year of related high-skilled work experience in the eligible occupation within the past five years.
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE):
  • Inside Saskatchewan: Same requirement as EE Aligned (six months full-time work with supporting employer).
  • Outside Saskatchewan: One year of high-skilled work experience in the eligible occupation within the last five years.

Employment Licensing (if applicable)

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned: For NOC 21310 (Electrical and Electronics Engineers), NOC 21311 (Computer Engineers), and NOC 21231 (Software Engineers), candidates must provide a letter from APEGS showing approval as an Engineer-in-Training or confirmatory exam assignment.
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE): Same licensing requirement as EE Aligned for NOC 21310, NOC 21311, and NOC 21231 roles.

Education

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned: Must hold post-secondary education relevant to the job (Master’s, Bachelor’s, three-year degree, or two-year diploma).
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE): Same as EE Aligned—must have post-secondary education related to the job.

Job Offer in Saskatchewan

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned: Must have a permanent, full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in an eligible tech occupation, supported by a valid SINP Job Approval Letter.
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE): Same requirement as EE Aligned—permanent, full-time job offer with a SINP Job Approval Letter in an eligible tech role.

Residency Intention

• Express Entry (EE) Aligned: Must show a genuine intention to live and work in Saskatchewan, typically through a Settlement Plan.
• Non-Express Entry (non-EE): Same requirement as EE Aligned—candidates must demonstrate intent to reside and work in Saskatchewan with a Settlement Plan.

How to Apply for the Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway

Step 1: Secure a Job Offer

The first requirement for the Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway is securing a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer. Saskatchewan operates its own job posting website called SaskJobs.ca. After finding a job offer, candidates must obtain a Job Approval Letter from the SINP before they can apply.

Step 2: Register and Apply

• Express Entry Candidates: If you have an Express Entry profile, register in the SINP portal and submit your application under the Express Entry Aligned stream.
• Non-Express Entry Candidates: Apply through the SINP portal under the Non-Express Entry stream if you do not have an Express Entry profile.

Step 3: Complete and Submit Your Application

Once you have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter, complete your application through the SINP Online portal, attaching all required documents, including proof of qualifications, language test results, and your Settlement Plan.

Step 4: Receive SINP Nomination

Approved candidates receive a provincial nomination, which can be added to an Express Entry profile for expedited processing if applicable.

Step 5: Apply for Permanent Residence

Once an applicant has been approved for provincial nomination, the person may then submit an application to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status. While waiting for federal application processing, applicants may be eligible for a work permit support letter, enabling them to obtain a work permit and begin working in Saskatchewan.

The federal application process depends on whether the applicant applied as an Express Entry or non-Express Entry candidate. Here’s what that looks like:  

• Express Entry: Once nominated, you can update your profile to include the nomination, potentially accelerating your permanent residence application through IRCC’s Express Entry program, which has a six-month processing time.
• Non-Express Entry: Candidates without Express Entry must apply through the standard IRCC process, which typically takes longer.

Eligible occupations for the Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway

The following occupations are eligible for the Non-Express Entry and Express Entry Aligned pathways. There is no difference between the occupations for the two pathways.

Eligibility criteria: Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway

The Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway is open to both Express Entry and non-Express Entry candidates. In order to apply as an Express Entry candidate, an applicant must have an active profile in the Express Entry pool of candidates.

Additionally, all candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Job offer in Saskatchewan

Candidates must have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer. This must be for a permanent, full-time position in one of the eligible tech occupations for the stream. Refer above for the complete list of eligible occupations.

Candidates will have to submit a valid SINP Job Approval Letter as a part of their application.

Work experience

If the candidate is applying from inside Saskatchewan, the person must be currently employed in Saskatchewan. The candidate must have either worked full-time for at least six months for the employer offering the job, or have at least one year of work experience gained within the past five years in the occupation of their job offer.

If the candidate is applying from outside Saskatchewan, they must have at least one year of high-skilled related work experience gained within the past five years in their eligible occupation.

Employment licensing (if applicable)

Candidates need to show proof of eligibility for licensing in Saskatchewan, if they are applying through one of these three occupations:

• NOC 2147 – Computer Engineers
• NOC 2173 – Software Engineers
• NOC 2133 – Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Candidates may prove their eligibility for licensing by providing a letter from the Association of Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) showing that their application for registration as an Engineer-in-Training has been approved, or by providing a letter from APEGS indicating that they’ve been assigned a confirmatory exam.

Language proficiency

If a candidate is currently working for the Saskatchewan employer who will support their application, the candidate must meet the language requirements established by the employer. The employer will be assessing language ability.

If a candidate is not currently working for the employer offering the job, the candidate must take an approved language test in either English or French achieving results at or above Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 5 (CLB 5) in all four abilities.

Those applying to the Tech Talent Pathway as Express Entry candidates will have to meet the minimum language requirements for Express Entry.

Education

All candidates must have completed post-secondary education related to the job they’ve been offered. Eligible credentials include:

• Master’s Degree;
• Bachelor’s Degree;
• Three-year degree at a university or college; and
• Diploma that requires two years at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other post-secondary institution.

Intention to reside in Saskatchewan

Candidates must have the intention to work and reside in the province of Saskatchewan.

If candidates meet all the eligibility criteria, they may follow the instructions for applying to the Saskatchewan Tech Talent Pathway.

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