Expression of Interest Immigration Comes To Quebec and Saskatchewan: Here’s How To Qualify

November 21, 2022
In Demand Jobs

Quebec and Saskatchewan are moving to an Expression of Interest immigration system, following several other Canadian provinces.

Since July 16, 2018, Saskatchewan’s two International Skilled Worker streams began operating using EOI.

It means candidates now submit a profile to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program and enter an EOI pool.

They will then be Invited to Apply for Saskatchewan immigration via one of the two streams.

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Quebec will launch its own version of EOI on August 2^nd 2018. A Quebec Immigration decree published in the Official Quebec Gazette on July 18, 2018 says the system will work in a similar way to the federal Express Entry system.

Candidates will submit an Expression of Interest and enter into a pool where the highest-scoring profiles will be invited to apply for a Quebec Certificate of Selection (CSQ) under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

How Does Quebec Expression of Interest Work?

Candidates submit an online expression of interest profile to the Quebec Ministry of Immigration, Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI).
Profiles enter an Expression of Interest pool, where they are ranked against each other. A profile is valid for 12-months.
The highest-ranking candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for a Quebec Certificate of Selection under the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.
Quebec will conduct periodic draws, inviting candidates to apply for a Quebec certificate of selection (CSQ).
Candidates receiving an invitation have 90 days to submit a full application.
Approved candidates who receive a nomination certificate (CSQ) may then apply for Canadian permanent residence.

What Are the Requirements for Quebec Expression of Interest?

Candidates are ranked under many factors including education, work experience, age, language ability and time spent in Quebec. A valid job offer is also an important factor.

The qualifications of a candidate’s spouse or partner will also be considered.

Quebec publishes lists of High Demand Occupations and Areas of Training that weigh considerably in the assessment.

What Are Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker Streams?

How Will Saskatchewan’s Expression of Interest System Work?

Candidate profiles will be valid for one year from day of submission.
Candidates can only have one profile at any time.
Candidates will be ranked based on the information provided.
The highest-ranking candidates will be invited to submit a full application via regular draws.
All candidate communication will take place via email.
Candidates must make sure their profile is accurate. I a candidate’s circumstances change, they must update their profile.
Profiles found to with false or omitted information will be refused.

What is the Process for Saskatchewan Expression of Interest?

Submit EOI profile.
Enter EOI candidate pool.
EOI candidates selected.
Invitations to Apply issued via regular draws.
Candidates submit full application within 60 days.
SINP officials assess applications and make decision.

What You Need for the International Skilled Worker – Occupations In-Demand Category

Score at least 60 out of 100 on the SINP point assessment grid.
Language score of at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4.
Post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship comparable to the Canadian education system of at least a year, earning a diploma, certificate or degree.
Have at least one-year work experience in the past 10 years in your occupation (see list below)
Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan if your field so requires, as the authorities will not process an application without the licensure.
Proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

Who is Eligible for Saskatchewan’s Express Entry Stream?

Candidates from outside Canada, or with legal status in Canada, qualify for this Saskatchewan immigration category, provided they are not a refugee claimant.

Additionally, candidates must:

Have a profile in the Canada Express Entry Pool and a job seeker validation code.
Score a minimum of 60 points out of 100 on the SINP grid.
Provide valid language test results from a designated testing agency. The results should match what you declared in your Express Entry profile.
Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship that’s comparable to the Canadian education system. You should have earned a diploma, certificate or degree.
Have at least one of the following:
- One year of work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
- Two years of work experience in a skilled trade in the past five years; or
- One year of work experience in Canada in the past three years (trades and non-trades).
Have work experience in a high skilled occupation in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B considered in demand in Saskatchewan.
Obtain the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan where your profession is regulated, or a skilled trade. For skilled trades, a certificate is required from the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission.
Have proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

How We Can Help Applicants Move to Canada

At immigration.ca we offer our international clients top to bottom assistance in both immigration and employment. We provide individual clients with extensive legal counsel drawing on our more than 60 years of in-house combined professional experience.

For employment, we give all our individual clients a comprehensive job search service through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.skilledworker.com and www.grnmontreal.com.

We will empower you on how to raise your profile including your CRS score in the Express Entry Pool.

We do this by giving our clients extensive contacts to 500 Canadian employers, conducting a comprehensive job search which includes a live 60-minute individualized face-to-face tutorial on how to harness the power of LinkedIn. We will also help create or revise their digital, online profiles to maximise their hiring opportunities.

In short, we teach you how to find a job in Canada from overseas.

How Can We Help Employers Looking to Hire International Candidates?

If you are an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.grnmontreal.com and our newest asset, www.skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

From technology workers in British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec, Long-haul truck drivers in the Prairies and doctors in Nova Scotia we are able and ready to help with your search for the right staff to get your business grow.