On March 7, 2022, the Government of Saskatchewan, through its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program’s (SINP) International Skilled Worker stream, introduced the Tech Talent Pathway sub-category, aimed at easing critical labour shortages in the province’s tech sector and increasing its global competitiveness.

Similar to – Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec – this new program results in a new immigration pathway for highly skilled technology professionals inside and outside of Canada who hold a job offer in Saskatchewan.

Innovation Saskatchewan’s 2020 report highlighted that around 52,300 people worked in the tech sector provincially and that there were more than 5,000 technology companies, generating over $10 billion in yearly revenue. The report also outlined that a key advantage to joining the province’s tech sector was the strong wages and lower cost of living. For this reason, international tech workers outside of Canada who meet the eligibility requirements and are nominated can apply for a work permit and make their way to Canada to begin working for their supporting Saskatchewan employer. 

Eligible candidates can apply directly to the SINP or as Express Entry candidates if they have a valid federal Express Entry profile.

Eligibility Requirements 

To be eligible, an applicant must intend to work and reside in Saskatchewan, as well as meet the following program requirements:

Saskatchewan Job Offer

Have a full-time, permanent technology or innovation sector job offer in Saskatchewan that is accompanied by an SINP Job Approval letter for an eligible occupation from a registered Saskatchewan employer:

• • 0213 Computer and information systems managers
  • *2133 Electrical and Electronics engineers
  • *2147 Computer engineers (except software engineers and designers)
  • 2171 Information System analysts and consultants
  • 2172 Database analysts and data administrators
  • *2173 Software engineers and designers
  • 2174 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
  • 2175 Web designers and developers
  • 2281 Computer network technicians
  • 2282 User support technicians
  • 2283 Information system testing technicians

*Must provide a letter from the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Saskatchewan (APEGS) showing that an application for registration as an Engineer-in-Training has been approved; OR Provide a letter from APEGS indicating that they have been assigned Confirmatory Exams.

Education

Have completed the equivalent of Canadian post-secondary education relating to the job being offered. If studies were completed outside of Canada an Educational Credential Assessment is required.

Official Language Proficiency

Have scored at least a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in a designated Official Language Exam.

• • If currently working for the employer offering the job, the employer assesses language ability.

If applying as an Express Entry candidate, must meet the Federal Express Entry Language Requirement of English and/or French of CLB 7 or higher.

Work Experience 

Inside or outside of Canadian Work Experience:

• • Must have completed at least one (1) year of work experience in the past five (5) years in the same occupation as the job offer.

Working in Saskatchewan:

• • • • Have completed at least six (6) months of full time (30 hours per week) work experience for the employer; OR have completed within the last five (5) years, at least one (1) year of work experience in the same occupation as the job offer.

Express Entry Profile Number & Job Seeker Code *Applicable only if applying to the stream as an Express Entry candidate

Must provide valid Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Code.

Closing Remarks

This new Tech Talent Pathway hopes to not only provide Saskatchewan employers with a greater selection pool of international highly skilled tech workers, but also offer interested highly skilled tech workers with a fast-tracked route to permanent immigration in Canada. As such, whether an international tech worker is already working in the province, elsewhere in Canada, or abroad, in one of the 11 eligible occupations, this new pathway should be considered when devising a Canadian permanent immigration plan.