Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot | International Skilled Worker (2024)

Eligibility

• Have at least one year of full-time work experience in the past three years (in your intended occupation or acceptable related occupation); or six months (780 hours) of full-time (30+ hours per week) work experience in the job with the employer that has provided you the Job Approval Letter. The work experience does not need to be consecutive work experience in either case.
• Have a language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.
  • Some employers or regulators may ask for scores that are higher than CLB 4.
• Have completed secondary school (high school) or higher level education.
  • Nominations issued for NOC 73300 – Transport Truck Drivers will be conditional until proof is provided to the SINP that you have received the required licensing and endorsem*nts from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) to maintain your nomination. The type of vehicle you drive on the job will determine the licence and endorsem*nts you will need. You must provide proof of completion of Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) and that you hold a valid Class 1A licence issued by SGI to drive power units and semi-trucks, and trucks with trailer(s) or vehicle(s) in tow where the gross vehicle weight of the towed unit(s) exceeds 4,600 kg. A valid Class 2A licence issued by SGI will be required for all other types of transport trucks.
• Have an SINP-approved offer for a permanent, full-time job in Saskatchewan. You will need a valid SINP Job Approval Letter from your employer to show proof. The offer must be in one of the following occupations:

*This pilot is not available to employers hiring Home Support Workers, Caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101) who reside in the client's residence or their place of work. Employers seeking workers to reside in the client's residence or their place of work must utilize Canada's Caregiver Programs for recruitment.

The program criteria can change at any time, but we will use what was on this website when we received your application.

The federal government sets the amount of nominations the SINP can make every year. No application is guaranteed to be nominated.

Your employer must meet requirements to support your application and immigration through this pilot. More information can be found here: Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot Employer Requirements.

Who Cannot Apply Through the Hard-to-Fill Skills Sub-Category?

The following cannot apply:

• Refugee claimants in Canada who are claiming refugee status from the Government of Canada.

You may not be eligible if:

• You did not provide the required documents at the time of submitting your application.
• You were not able to prove that you plan to live and work in Saskatchewan.
• You and or your representative have intentionally misrepresented yourselves in the application.

How to Apply

To apply to this pilot, you need a job offer. To start your search, please visit Saskjobs.ca. Your employer will need to provide you with a Job Approval Letterfrom the SINP. Additionally, please ensure that you:

• Follow the guidelines for the Application Process.
• Complete, scan and submit all of your Required Documents.

Applications that are submitted with missing documents or not translated will be returned. If your application is returned, you will be sent a letter and asked to reapply.

Apply online to the SINP

1. Create an account.
2. Complete all sections.
3. Scan and upload your completed forms and supporting documents in a PDF. Keep the originals for your records.
4. Save and submit your application online.

What You Need to Know About Using Immigration Representatives

Other Forms and Information

• Request for a Nomination Revision and/or Nomination Extension Form (cannot be used for licensure or Invitations to Apply)
• Request for Continued Saskatchewan Health Coverage Form (for nominees working in Saskatchewan).

General Guidelines

All documents must be easy-to-read copies of the original documents. If it is not in English or French, you must submit:

• A copy of the original document.
• A copy of the English or French translation of the document.
• A copy of an affidavit from the translator, describing their translation ability.

About Translators

Translators must be:

• Certified by a regulatory body, as required by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Translators must not be:

• A family member.
• A spouse.
• Anyone who works for you or is preparing your application.

Be sure translations meet all federal requirements when you are applying for permanent residency.

If your documents are not clear, missing, or not translated into English or French, your application will be returned. A returned application cannot be re-opened or considered for second review. You will have to start a new application if you choose to re-apply.

Required Forms

You must fill out and attach these forms to your application:

1. Generic Application Form for Canada (principal applicant only).
2. Additional Family Information Form (a form completed by both the principal applicant, the accompanying spouse, and accompanying dependent children over 18 years of age).
3. Schedule A - Background/Declaration (a form is required for the principal applicant, the accompanying spouse, and accompanying dependent children over 18 years of age).

*NOTE: if the settlement funds that you are claiming to use are in the name of your non-accompanying spouse, then you must include Schedule A – Background/Declaration and Additional Family Information Form for your non-accompanying spouse.

If you have more than five dependents or children, you must provide this form:

• Additional Dependents/Declaration

If you have a common-law spouse, you must provide this form:

• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union

If you are using an Immigration Representative, you must provide this form:

• Use of a Representative
• For more information, see Instructions for Use of a Representative

If your documents are not in English or French, you must provide translated documents with the original documents. Your translator must fill out this form to be attached to your application:

• Translator Affidavit

If you would like to designate an individual to contact the SINP on your behalf, you must provide this form:

• Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual

For help with filling out the federal forms, see these videos:

• Immigration and Citizenship Forms: The Basics
• Save Time: Send a Complete Application

Required Documents

The following are the documents you need for your application:

1. Job Offer Requirements

Your job offer must be approved by the SINP before you apply.

• Your employer must register online to have the job that you are applying for assessed. Please see Recruit and Hire Foreign Workers in Saskatchewan for more information.
• Once the job is approved, your employer will receive a Job Approval Letter that includes your position, name and NOC code.
• You must send a copy of the SINP Job Approval Letter with your application.

In your application you must provide a letter of offer for full-time, permanent job from a Saskatchewan employer inone of the following occupations:

*This pilot is not available to employers hiring Home Support Workers, Caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101) who reside in the client’s residence or their place of work. Employers seeking workers to reside inthe client’s residence or their place of work must utilize Canada’s CaregiverPrograms for recruitment.

All positions must offer wages and working conditions that match Canadian standards in that occupation and meet SINPrequirements.

The Letter of Offer must:

• Be addressed to the principal applicant.
• State the job title, duties and responsibilities, wage, benefits and company contact information.
• List the location of your job in Saskatchewan.
• Be issued on the company's letterhead.
• Be signed by the employer.

2. Language Credentials

To meet the language requirement, you must:

• Provide language test results from a designated testing agency.
• Have English and/or French language ability of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 or higher.
• Have test results that are less than two years old at the time of application.

The acceptable tests and equivalence to CLB 4 (minimum scores) are:

3. Education/Training Credentials

You must submit documents to verify you have a secondary school (high school) diploma or education at a higher level.

You are required to submit your secondary (high school) diploma; or an education or trade certificate; or a degree; or post-secondary diploma. Include copies of your official transcripts. These should show the school(s) attended and courses taken.

If applicable, include documentation if you have a professional designation related to your intended occupation.

4. Work Experience Credentials

Have at least one year of full-time work experience in the past three years (in your intended occupation); or six months (780 hours) of full-time (30+ hours per week) work experience in the job with the employer that has provided you the Job Approval Letter. The work experience does not need to be consecutive work experience in either case. Work experience that was conducted remotely is not eligible to be claimed as in-Saskatchewan work experience.

You must submit letters of reference from past employers to prove your work experience for each job included.

Documents must include letters of reference from a supervisor or Human Resources Officer printed on companyletterhead.

Each letter should indicate the following:

• Your job position and dates of employment.
• Your main duties.
• The contact information of your supervisor or manager.

Each letter of reference for each job position must be accompanied by one additional government issued document showing proof of employment. Acceptable Government issued documents:

• Pension fund/Provident funds, medical Insurance, or social security record.
• Work permits, work visas, or labour cards for any foreign work experience.
• Employment contracts (if you worked for a government agency or the employment contracts are issued by the government).
• Taxation Forms, or Taxation Exempt (Tax Free) form, or Income Tax Return Acknowledgement (ITR) form.
• Any other government issued documentation that may assist in verifying your work experience.

If you are unable to provide government issued proof of employment because no such documents are available from the country where the work experience was obtained, then please contact us at immigration@gov.sk.ca or 1-833-613-0485 for information on what additional documents you will need to submit with your application.

You may only claim self-employment as work experience if you are applying in a managerial NOC unless the occupation that you are applying in requires certification from a Saskatchewan licensing body. Applicants claiming work experience while self-employed, must submit the following documents for each job position:

• Business Licence and self-employment tax documents;
• Proof of income; and
• Letters of reference from clients.

To prove work experience as a business owner you must provide articles of incorporation or other evidence of business ownership, evidence of self-employment income and documentation from third-party individuals indicating the service provided along with payment details (self-declared main duties or affidavits are not acceptable proof of self-employed work experience).

5. Temporary Work Permit (if applicable)

If you are currently working in Saskatchewan, you must submit a copy of a current, valid temporary work permit issued by the federal government. Any valid work permit issued by IRCC, either open or closed, will be accepted, including Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visas.

Refugee claimants in Canada who are claiming refugee status from the Government of Canada are not eligible to apply.

If IRCC has issued an open work permit to you and your spouse was the principal applicant in the work permit application, the SINP may request additional documentation. SINP staff will request proof that you and your spouse reside in Saskatchewan.

6. Proof of Residency (if applicable)

If you are claiming work experience from inside Saskatchewan, you must submit proof of residency with your application:

• Saskatchewan Health Card;
• Saskatchewan driver's licence or other ID issued by SGI.

7. Credentials (if applicable)

Nominations issued for NOC 73300 – Transport Truck Drivers will be conditional until proof is provided to the SINP that you have received the required licensing and endorsem*nts from Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) to maintain your nomination. The type of vehicle you drive on the job will determine the licence and endorsem*nts you will need. You must provide proof of completion of MandatoryEntry-Level Training (MELT) and that you hold a valid Class 1A licence issued by SGI to drive power units and semi-trucks, and trucks with trailer(s) or vehicle(s) in tow where the gross vehicle weight of the towed unit(s) exceeds 4,600 kg. A valid Class 2A licence issued by SGI will be required for all other types of transport trucks.

If your job is a designated trade in Saskatchewan, you can access apprenticeship training for your field. To see a list of designated trades, please visit the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) website. Additional information for international workers can be found at SATCC's FAQ for International Applicants.

8. Identity and Civil Status Documents

You need to provide the following documents to confirm your identity and civil status:

• Birth Certificates that list both parents for:
• You (the principal applicant).
• Your accompanying spouse or common-law partner (if applicable).
• Each accompanying dependent child.
• Each non-accompanying dependent child born in Canada (if applicable).
• If you are married or widowed, you must include:
• A marriage certificate.
• A death certificate of your former spouse (if applicable).
• If you are in a common-law relationship you must include:
• IMM 5409 Declaration of Common-Law Union.
• Proof of at least one year of common-law relationship. Proof may include statements from a bank showing a joint account; a copy of your signed joint lease or mortgage; a copy of jointly-owned property, apart from your residence; a copy of bills made to both of you; or a copy of life insurance naming the other partner as the beneficiary.)
• If you or your spouse is divorced, you must include:
• Final documents for all divorces.
• Custody and child support documents if your dependents are not accompanying you (if applicable).
• If you and your non-accompanying spouse are legally separated, you must include:
• Marriage certificate.
• Notarized proof of legal separation (country specific).
• Any and all applicable custody and child support documents if your dependents are not accompanying you (if applicable).
• Adoption papers for your dependent children who were adopted (if applicable).

9. Passports

Your passport must be valid from application through to permanent residency. You will need to include copies of pages in your passport that show the passport number, date of issue, expiry date, photo, name and place of birth for:

• You (the principal applicant).
• Your accompanying spouse or common-law partner (if applicable).
• All dependent children accompanying you to Canada (if applicable).

If you live in a country that is different from your nationality, please include a copy of your visa for the country.