3 Canada PNP's for Express Entry Without A Job Offer

10 March 2023, 01:00 PM, MST

Saskatchewan International Skilled Worker Stream

The province of Saskatchewan is in Canada’s prairie region, between Alberta and Manitoba. It is becoming increasingly popular because of its economic growth and job opportunities. 

Under Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker are Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry streams.

Additionally, Saskatchewan handpicks candidates using the Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

To submit an Expression of Interest under Occupations In-Demand, an applicant must have: 

• skilled experience of 1 year in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

  • Have experience in an occupation not on SINP’s Excluded Occupations List. 

• completed a post-secondary degree of 1 year or more.

• language proficiency of CLB 4 or higher.

• met the eligibility criteria of having a minimum of 60 points on the SINP Points Assessment Grid. 

Moreover, Express Entry candidates can apply under the Saskatchewan Express Entry stream. To apply under this stream, you must: 

• Have an Express Entry profile 

• At least one year of post-secondary education 

• One year of skilled work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (not included on SINP’s Excluded Occupations List).

Alberta Express Entry Stream

The province of Alberta picks candidates from the federal Express Entry pool to apply for provincial nomination. An applicant cannot apply to AAIP.

This stream is beneficial because it considers Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 300.

Therefore, many candidates have a chance to receive a Notification of Interest from the province.

However, having a CRS score above 300 does not guarantee an invitation from Alberta’s Express Entry stream. 

Furthermore, with each round of invitations, the Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program publishes the CRS scores of the lowest-ranking candidate.

However, it does not reveal any targeted criteria. Below are a few factors that may help improve chances, but are not mandatory requirements: 

• Job offer or work experience from an Albertan employer

• Graduate of a Canadian post-secondary institution from Alberta

• Having a parent, child, brother and/or sister who is a permanent resident living in Alberta, or a Canadian citizen living in Alberta.

Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities Stream 

Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities is another stream that selects candidates from the Express Entry pool. It is important to note that Nova Scotia does not post its targeted occupation or criteria. However, this stream does not essentially require a connection to the province. The minimum eligibility criteria include: 

• having a valid Express Entry profile 

• Indicating interest in Nova Scotia.

• Must receive a Letter of Interest in the Express Entry profile from the Nova Scotia Office of Immigration

• Must have legal status in the country of residence when applying.  

7 Canada Work Permits that do not need LMIA

10 March 2023, 02:30 PM, MST

Most Canadian work permits require an LMIA or Labour Market Impact Assessment. Employers usually avoid LMIA because it is long, tedious, and time-consuming.

However, there are a few types of work permits that are LMIA-exempt. 

Employers in Canada often need to obtain a positive LMIA from Employment and Social Development of Canada (ESDC), before they can employ a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA, also known as a confirmation letter, demonstrates that the employer looked for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job, but has been unsuccessful, requiring the employer to hire a foreign national.

Moreover, foreign nationals need to submit a copy of their positive LMIA with their LMIA number when applying for a Canadian work permit. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. 

Canadian work permits have three categories; closed, open, and LMIA-exempt closed work permits. 

In Canada, most work permits are closed and need a positive LMIA.

Foreign workers are generally issued a closed work permit that requires them to work for a specific employer in a specific position mentioned on their LMIA. 

In comparison, an open work permit allows foreign workers to work for any employer or role anywhere in Canada.

In addition, the open work permits do not need an LMIA because they are not tied to a particular employer or occupation.

You also are not required to have a job offer to apply for an open work permit. However, the closed LMIA-exempt work permit holds a middle ground.

These permits do not require an LMIA, but the foreign worker needs to work for a specific employer under a particular position.

Closed Work Permits Jobs That Do Not Require An LMIA

Closed LMIA-exempt work permits allow a foreign national to work for a specified employer in a certain capacity, but they are exempt from the requirement for a positive LMIA.

The type of the job typically determines whether or not a closed work permit is exempt from the LMIA. Below are 7 examples of closed work permits that do not need LMIA. 

1. Workers that benefit the Canadian economy 

If your company can demonstrate that you will provide a significant social, cultural, or economic value to Canada, you may qualify for this exemption. For instance:

2. Canadian interest and reciprocal employment

Through this exception, foreign employees get a chance to work in certain sectors of the Canadian economy, while Canadians can find similar employment overseas. For instance:

• Canadian teams’ professional athletes and coaches

• Professors, visitors, and participants in exchange programs for students

3. Intra-company transfers

Employers from abroad are not required to get an LMIA to transfer employees to a Canadian branch temporarily. It includes employers from international companies and businesses. 

4. Business owners, entrepreneurs and self-employed 

To be given an LMIA exemption, foreign nationals who wish to work for themselves or run their own business while in Canada must prove that doing so will significantly benefit Canadian citizens or permanent residents economically and culturally. 

For more details, click here.

5. Programs for international youth exchange

Canada also partakes in a few international youth exchange programs that let young people travel and work without needing an LMIA. 

For instance, International Experience Canada offers a Young Professionals category for people who have a job offer in Canada that help in their professional development.

6. International Free Trade Agreements 

International Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) may include clauses that make it simpler for entrepreneurs to conduct temporary operations in the member nations. As a result, they are excluded from the LMIA requirement, although foreign workers covered by a relevant FTA typically still need a closed work permit.

Examples of such agreements include the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

7. French-speaking workers

The requirement for an LMIA may not apply to French-speaking skilled workers with a legitimate job offer in a province or territory other than Quebec.

The IMP provides an exemption from the LMIA for the hiring of Francophone or bilingual temporary foreign employees outside of Quebec.

Employers profit from Francophone Mobility in a variety of ways, including the capacity to provide services in both French and English, as well as the development of minority language communities across the country.