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SINP - Saskatchewan Hard-to-Find Pilot stream
A Saskatchewan PNP stream that is not aligned with Express Entry but that requires a job offer in the province in specific occupations
Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) > SINP - Hard-to-Find Skills Pilot stream
The guide below takes a deep look into the Hard-to-Find Skills (HFS) stream of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the Hard-to-Find Skills stream
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The Saskatchewan Hard-to-Find Skills (HFS) stream requires that the candidate hold a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer and previous work experience in specific occupations to be eligible.
When receiving a nomination under the one of the HFS stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
The HFS stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The HFS stream requires a valid job offer and previous work experience in specific occupations as its main eligibility requirements, and candidates do not need to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate and the job offer.
The HFS stream requires a valid job offer and previous work experience in specific occupations as its main eligibility requirements, and candidates do not need to provide proof of funds. There are other requirements that must be fulfilled regarding the candidate and the job offer.
Eligibility Requirements
There are 5 main categories of eligibility requirements that we will summarize below. You can apply to the Hard-to-Find Skills stream (HFS) if you, your employer, and your job offer satisfy to all the requirements below (remember that for each requirement, you will have to provide supporting documents).
1. Job offer requirements:
To be eligible to apply to the HFS stream, you must have a permanent, full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer, in one of the following occupations. You will need a valid SINP Job Approval Letter (your employer needs to apply for one) to show proof of this.
The job offer must offer wages and working conditions that match Canadian standards in that occupation. It must also:
In December 2021, the SINP launched a new International Healthcare Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) Pool. This is a a pre-application form that can be filled by healthcare workers (inside or outside Canada) in order to show their interest in working in Saskatchewan. This pool will be used to match eligible healthcare workers with healthcare sector employers. If the job offer is eligible for this stream, candidates may then apply. The pool is open a list of occupations that can be found here.
2. Work experience requirements:
You must have at least one year of full-time work experience in the past three years (in your intended occupation) or six months full-time (780 hours) working in Saskatchewan in the job.
Remote out of Saskatchewan work experience is not eligible to be claimed as in-Saskatchewan work experience.
3. Education and training requirements:
You must demonstrate that you have completed at least secondary (high school) education. You must also have the appropriate training, skills, and/or accreditation required for the job.
You need to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for non-Canadian education credentials.
Transport truck drivers require Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) to obtain a commercial Class 1 licence to drive semi trucks in Saskatchewan. Nominations issued for NOC 73300 – Transport Truck Drivers will be conditional until proof is provided to the SINP after you arrive that you have completed MELT training and have a valid Class 1 licence. This training is done while living in Saskatchewan.
4. Language requirements:
You must take an approved language test, and demonstrate you have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each language skill, either in French or in English.
5. Main employer requirements:
Within three months prior to submitting the SINP Job Approval Letter request, the employer must advertise each position being recruited on SaskJobs for a minimum of four consecutive weeks (specific information must be included in the job advertisement).
The employer must also must fulfill program settlement requirements, including assigning a culturally sensitive on-the-job mentor and other actions promoting diversity and inclusivity.
1. Job offer requirements:
To be eligible to apply to the HFS stream, you must have a permanent, full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer, in one of the following occupations. You will need a valid SINP Job Approval Letter (your employer needs to apply for one) to show proof of this.
- NOC 14400 - Shippers and receivers
- NOC 14401 - Storekeepers and partspersons
- NOC 14404 - Dispatchers
- NOC 32109 - Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- NOC 33102 - Nurse aides, orderlies and patient associates
- NOC 33103 - Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- NOC 33109 - Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- NOC 44101 - Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations*
- NOC 64314 - Hotel front desk clerks
- NOC 65102 - Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
- NOC 65200 - Food and beverage servers
- NOC 65201 - Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
- NOC 65310 - Light duty cleaners
- NOC 65312 - Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
- NOC 73201 - General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
- NOC 73300 - Transport truck drivers
- NOC 73400 - Heavy Equipment operators (except crane)
- NOC 75101 - Material handlers
- NOC 75110 - Construction trades helpers and labourers
- NOC 84120 - Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 - Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 - Harvesting labourers
- NOC 85111 - Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
- NOC 94105 - Metalworking and forging machine operators
- NOC 94106 - Machining tool operators
- NOC 94120 - Sawmill machine operators
- NOC 94140 - Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated processing
- NOC 94141 - Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- NOC 94204 - Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
- NOC 94213 - Industrial painters, coaters and Metal finishing process operators
- NOC 95101 - Labourers in Metal fabrication
- NOC 95106 - Labourers in food, beverage and associated Products processing
- NOC 95109 - Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities
The job offer must offer wages and working conditions that match Canadian standards in that occupation. It must also:
- Be addressed to you,
- State the job title, duties and responsibilities, wage, benefits, and company contact information,
- List the location (i.e. town/city) of your position in Saskatchewan,
- Be issued on the company’s letterhead, and
- Be signed by the employer.
In December 2021, the SINP launched a new International Healthcare Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) Pool. This is a a pre-application form that can be filled by healthcare workers (inside or outside Canada) in order to show their interest in working in Saskatchewan. This pool will be used to match eligible healthcare workers with healthcare sector employers. If the job offer is eligible for this stream, candidates may then apply. The pool is open a list of occupations that can be found here.
2. Work experience requirements:
You must have at least one year of full-time work experience in the past three years (in your intended occupation) or six months full-time (780 hours) working in Saskatchewan in the job.
Remote out of Saskatchewan work experience is not eligible to be claimed as in-Saskatchewan work experience.
3. Education and training requirements:
You must demonstrate that you have completed at least secondary (high school) education. You must also have the appropriate training, skills, and/or accreditation required for the job.
You need to provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for non-Canadian education credentials.
Transport truck drivers require Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) to obtain a commercial Class 1 licence to drive semi trucks in Saskatchewan. Nominations issued for NOC 73300 – Transport Truck Drivers will be conditional until proof is provided to the SINP after you arrive that you have completed MELT training and have a valid Class 1 licence. This training is done while living in Saskatchewan.
4. Language requirements:
You must take an approved language test, and demonstrate you have a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 for each language skill, either in French or in English.
5. Main employer requirements:
Within three months prior to submitting the SINP Job Approval Letter request, the employer must advertise each position being recruited on SaskJobs for a minimum of four consecutive weeks (specific information must be included in the job advertisement).
The employer must also must fulfill program settlement requirements, including assigning a culturally sensitive on-the-job mentor and other actions promoting diversity and inclusivity.
Application Process Summary
For a better understanding of the process, below is a list of the steps involved in obtaining Permanent Residence through the Hard-to-Find Skills (HFS) stream. Candidates must:
- Qualify for the SINP stream eligibility requirements and apply to the HFS streams by submitting their application through SINP Online (filling in forms and uploading required documents).
- Apply for permanent residence to the federal government (IRCC) within 6 months of receiving the nomination (after SINP processes their application). Candidates need to apply on paper to IRCC, and include the nomination documents received from the SINP.
Required Supporting Documents
All required documents must be uploaded online, and you will need to do it directly on SINP Online. Specific requirements for documents are explained in detail here for the Hard-to-Find Skills stream.
Application Fees
There are no fees for the Hard-to-Find Skills stream.
Processing Times
Hard-to-Find Skills stream applications are processed on average within 4 weeks, based on the latest estimates (April 1 to June 30, 2023) from the SINP.
An SINP Job Approval Letter is processed:
An SINP Job Approval Letter is processed:
- within 15 weeks if a candidate/worker is specified,
- within 26 weeks if a candidate/worker is not specified.
Stream Opening History
The Hard-to-Find Skills stream is usually always open. You can check out our awesome Live PNP Monitor to see if the stream is currently open and its latest news, as well as for all the other PNP streams.
Do I have to stay in the Province?
This is a tricky question and there are multiple situations that can happen. You can learn more about this subject on our dedicated article: Can I move to another province?
Does the Stream have In-Demand Jobs?
Some streams target specific NOC codes, meaning that if you have experience in those in-demand jobs, you either (i) have more chances to be invited or (ii) that you can be eligible to the stream.
In the case of the Hard-to-Find Skills stream, there is a list of NOC occupations codes that are targeted by the stream, but a job offer is needed.
In the case of the Hard-to-Find Skills stream, there is a list of NOC occupations codes that are targeted by the stream, but a job offer is needed.
List of NOC occupations codes targeted by the stream
- NOC 14400 - Shippers and receivers
- NOC 14401 - Storekeepers and partspersons
- NOC 14404 - Dispatchers
- NOC 32109 - Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment
- NOC 33102 - Nurse aides, orderlies and patient associates
- NOC 33103 - Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants
- NOC 33109 - Other assisting occupations in support of health services
- NOC 44101 - Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations*
- NOC 64314 - Hotel front desk clerks
- NOC 65102 - Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers
- NOC 65200 - Food and beverage servers
- NOC 65201 - Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations
- NOC 65310 - Light duty cleaners
- NOC 65312 - Janitors, caretakers and heavy-duty cleaners
- NOC 73201 - General building maintenance workers and building superintendents
- NOC 73300 - Transport truck drivers
- NOC 73400 - Heavy Equipment operators (except crane)
- NOC 75101 - Material handlers
- NOC 75110 - Construction trades helpers and labourers
- NOC 84120 - Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 - Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 - Harvesting labourers
- NOC 85111 - Oil and gas drilling, servicing and related labourers
- NOC 94105 - Metalworking and forging machine operators
- NOC 94106 - Machining tool operators
- NOC 94120 - Sawmill machine operators
- NOC 94140 - Process control and machine operators, food, beverage and associated processing
- NOC 94204 - Mechanical assemblers and inspectors
- NOC 94213 - Industrial painters, coaters and Metal finishing process operators
- NOC 95101 - Labourers in Metal fabrication
- NOC 95106 - Labourers in food, beverage and associated Products processing
- NOC 95109 - Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities
You can find out about the other provinces' in-demand jobs in our in-demand NOC codes article.
