Immigrating to Canada through Saskatchewan Programs

You may be one of those individuals who are interested in immigrating to Canada but have doubts due to various aspects of immigration, such as the cost of immigration lawyers, post-immigration work conditions, early settlement expenses, being far from family, and so on. The question of whether immigrating to Canada is worth these challenges arises in your mind.

Answering such questions is difficult, and there cannot be a definite answer because it varies based on individuals and their circumstances. Our goal in this article is to discuss the topic of immigrating to Saskatchewan, Canada, in the hope of alleviating some of your concerns and worries about immigrating to Canada, helping you realize that Canadian residency is more comfortable than you may have imagined.

Where is Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan is an English-speaking and expansive province in western Canada with a population of over 1,180,000. The province is located about 200 kilometers from the Canada-U.S. border, with its center in the city of Regina. Saskatoon, with a population of approximately 280,000, is the largest city in the province.

The cold winter climate is a prominent feature of Saskatchewan. Like other Canadian cities, Saskatchewan and the city of Saskatoon have cold and snowy winters, but they are beautiful and worth seeing in the other half of the year.

Living in this province offers more advantages compared to other Canadian cities. For example, the cost of living is slightly lower, and it is more suitable for starting a job compared to other cities. Approximately 6,000 individuals are seeking employment in this province, while 12,000 new job positions are created daily, indicating that new immigrants have good opportunities to start work and build a work resume.

Where is Saskatchewan?

Saskatchewan is a province located in western Canada. It is an English-speaking and expansive province with a population of over 1,180,000 people. The province is centered around the city of Regina, which is situated approximately 200 kilometers from the Canada-US border. The largest city in Saskatchewan is Saskatoon, with a population of around 280,000.

One prominent feature of Saskatchewan is its cold winter climate. Like other Canadian cities, Saskatchewan experiences cold winters with significant precipitation. However, the province and the city of Saskatoon are incredibly beautiful and captivating during the other half of the year.

Living in Saskatchewan offers several advantages compared to other Canadian cities. For example, the cost of living is slightly lower, making it more affordable. It is also considered a suitable place to start a career, as there are approximately 6,000 job seekers in the province, and around 12,000 new job opportunities are created daily. This indicates that newcomers have good opportunities to start working and build their resumes in Saskatchewan.

Saskatchewan Provincial Program

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is specifically designed to attract skilled and qualified workers among immigrants to the province.

One common question that arises for many immigration applicants is whether they must live in Saskatchewan after obtaining permanent residency in Canada. The answer is “No.” According to Canadian immigration regulations, individuals with permanent residency have the freedom to live in any city or province of their choice and pursue any desired occupation.

To retain and sustain the population attracted through the provincial nominee program, Saskatchewan has created facilities that make life favorable for immigrants in the province. For example, the cost of education at the top-ranking universities in Saskatchewan is lower compared to other popular provinces like British Columbia or Ontario. Additionally, the province offers lower taxes compared to other regions.

The provincial nominee program in Saskatchewan operates similarly to the federal Express Entry system.

However, the main difference is that the federal skilled worker program requires a minimum score of 470 points for acceptance, with specific criteria such as a lower age, higher education, and a high proficiency in English or French.

Saskatchewan has implemented a new points-based system that considers the province’s skill needs and different job categories. Applicants earn points by completing an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile based on factors such as age, language proficiency, work experience, and educational qualifications. If the total score reaches 60, the individual is deemed eligible and enters the Saskatchewan pool. Every month, individuals with higher scores are invited to exit the pool.

The characteristics of this program were similar to other provincial programs and the federal pool. However, the difference lies in the scoring system, where Saskatchewan assigns less weight to language proficiency and places more emphasis on work experience.

With a substantial number of individuals exiting the provincial pool each month, the minimum score currently stands at 67. If you meet reasonable criteria, such as being in your thirties, having around five years of work experience, holding a bachelor’s degree, and achieving an IELTS score of 6, you have the potential to reach the minimum score.

Upon exiting the provincial pool, you will receive a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) nomination along with 600 points. With this nomination, you can enter the federal Express Entry pool and easily obtain permanent residency in Canada by achieving the minimum required points and being selected during the first draw.

What is APEGS?

A significant number of occupations fall under the acceptable job categories in Saskatchewan, and the province’s immigration program accepts almost all engineering fields. APEGS stands for the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan. It is the regulatory body for engineering professionals in the province. Some engineering occupations require approval from this organization.

After acceptance into the provincial pool, if an applicant requires APEGS confirmation, they will be referred to APEGS. Following the necessary correspondence, document submission, and APEGS assessments, the individual will be accepted as an engineer in the province. The confirmation of educational credentials, transcripts, and work experience are among the documents submitted for APEGS confirmation.

APEGS confirmation is a time-consuming process. Once an applicant is selected by the Saskatchewan immigration authority and referred to APEGS, their application will be put on hold until the APEGS outcome is determined. It’s worth noting that APEGS confirmation is essential for an individual’s future career prospects in Canada as an engineer.

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Point Grid:

Applicants are evaluated and scored based on five factors: age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability. Applicants must achieve a minimum of 60 points out of 100 across these five factors.

Age:

Different age ranges receive different points. Under 18 years: 0 points, 18-21 years: 8 points, 22-34 years: 12 points, 35-45 years: 10 points, 46-50 years: 8 points, over 50 years: 0 points.

Education:

For this factor, individuals earn 23 points for a Master’s or Ph.D. degree, 20 points for a Bachelor’s degree or a 3-year college/university program, 15 points for a diploma or a 2-year program, and 12 points for completing one year after high school.

Work Experience:

Work experience is divided into two categories:

3.1. Work Experience in the Last 5 Years: Applicants earn 10 points for 5 years, 8 points for 4 years, 6 points for 3 years, 4 points for 2 years, and 2 points for 1 year.

3.2. Work Experience from 6 to 10 Years Ago: Applicants earn 5 points for 5 years, 4 points for 4 years, 3 points for 3 years, 2 points for 2 years, and 0 points for 1 year.

Language Proficiency:

For language proficiency, individuals earn 20 points for CLB 8 or higher, 18 points for CLB 7, 16 points for CLB 6, 14 points for CLB 5, 12 points for CLB 4, and individuals who are native French or English speakers without language tests receive 0 points.

Adaptability:

In the adaptability factor, having close family members in Saskatchewan (parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.) earns 20 points, having at least one year of work experience in the province earns 5 points, and having at least one year of education in a recognized institution in the province earns 5 points.

Conclusion:

Compared to other immigration programs, obtaining permanent residency in Canada through immigration to Saskatchewan is a logical, relatively simple, and cost-effective method. An individual with around 30 years of age, approximately 5 years of work experience, a Bachelor’s degree, and an IELTS score of 6 can immigrate to Canada through this program with the assistance of Palina Immigration Company.

For more information, questions, and inquiries, please contact us.