Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) provides several avenues for qualified candidates to obtain permanent residence in Canada. SINP is among the most competitive Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) in Canada.
The program’s requirements are set to help Saskatchewan achieve its growth targets. Along with short processing times for employer-driven applications, it reflects the welcoming nature of one of the Canada’s fastest growing provinces.
How does Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program work?
Through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), prospective immigrants may receive a provincial nomination, also know as the Provincial Nomination Certificate. With the certificate, successful candidates can apply for permanent residence to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Candidates interested in SINP, must first qualify under one of the program’s stream streams. Each stream targets different groups of applicants and has different eligibility requirements.
Some of the stream accept applications on first come, first served basis. Others periodically draw candidates based on their score for key personal characteristics. Read on to learn about available immigration streams.
Main Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Categories
SINP, also know as Saskatchewan PNP, defines its immigration priorities through carefully designed immigration categories and streams. The main immigration categories are:
- International Skilled Worker Category is mainly intended for skilled workers abroad who want to immigrate permanently to Saskatchewan. Applicants in other parts of Canada or foreign nationals in Saskatchewan may also apply. Read more.
- Saskatchewan Experience Category is suitable for foreign nationals (e.g. workers, international graduates) who currently live and work in Saskatchewan and have obtained a job offer from their employer. Read more.
- Entrepreneur Category is for foreign nationals who have management or entrepreneur experience and want to start a business in Saskatchewan. Read more.
- Farm Category is for foreign experienced farmers who intend to buy and operate a farm in Saskatchewan. Read more.
SINP: International Skilled Worker Category
The International Skilled Worker Category has been designed to allow skilled workers from around the world to immigrate to Saskatchewan. The immigration streams are:
International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer
Candidates under this SINP stream need to secure a non-seasonal, permanent, full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer.
Eligible occupations include levels 0, A, B and selected C of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
Foreign nationals who receive a Nomination Certificate may apply for a work permit and start work in Canada while waiting for the Permanent Residence process to complete.
Provincial applications for nomination are processed on fist come, first-served basis. In order to qualify, a candidate must:
- obtain at least 60 points (of 100) on the SINP points assessment grid.
- have minimum 1 year of work experience in the last 10 years in the occupation, which he has a job offer for.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test.
- show eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure, if your intended occupation is in a regulated profession or compulsory apprenticeship trade. Regulated Occupations and Licensing Requirements.
- obtain a permanent, full-time employment offer from an employer in Saskatchewan in NOC 0, A, B level or in designated trade.
- get a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
Occupations that cannot apply under this stream:
- Food and Beverage Servers/Persons must apply under the Hospitality Sector Project.
- Health Professionals must apply under the Health Professionalssub-category.
International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand
This stream of SINP is dedicated to skilled workers who do not have a job offer from an employer in Saskatchewan, however, are highly skilled in one of the permitted occupations.
Unlike in most other SINP streams, candidates are invited to apply based on their Expression of Interest (EOI) and the points received for personal characteristics.
The complete requirements are:
- pay a non-refundable $350 CAD application fee.
- obtain at least 60 points (of 100) on the SINP points assessment grid.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test.
- have completed post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship (degree, diploma, certificate awarded) that is comparable to the Canadian education and is at least one year in length. For foreign education, candidates must provide an assessment report by one of the Designated Organizations.
- have at least one of the following in your field of education or training:
- 1 year work experience in the last 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
- 2 years work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years; or
- 12 months work experience in Canada in the last 3 years (trades and non-trades).
- have work experience in a skilled occupation that is NOT included in the SINP Excluded Occupation List.
- provide proof of Professional Status or Licensure (for regulated occupations or those with professional certification standards in Canada and/or Saskatchewan) for your occupation. Please see the Occupations In-Demand Requirements for these requirements.
- demonstrate sufficient settlement funds.
- submit a settlement plan.
Note that foreign nationals nominated under this stream of the Saskatchewan PNP cannot apply for a nomination-based work permit while waiting for the permanent residence process to complete. They can either apply for an LMIA-Based Work Permit or await the completion of the PR process and arrive as landed immigrants (i.e. Permanent Residents).
International Skilled Worker: Saskatchewan Express Entry
This stream of International Skilled Worker Category is aligned with the Federal Express Entry system, which allows faster processing of qualified candidates.
Candidates are invited to apply based on their Expression of Interest (EOI) and the points received for their personal characteristics.
As a prerequisite of the stream, candidates must have an Express Entry profile and be qualified for at least one of the following Express Entry programs:
The stream requirements are:
- be accepted to the Express Entry Pool and have an Express Entry profile number and Job Seeker Validation Number.
- pay a non-refundable $350 CAD application fee.
- obtain at least 60 points (of 100) on the SINP points assessment grid.
- provide language test result from an approved testing agency. The language ability levels must meet the requirements of the Express Entry program, under which you qualified into the pool.
- have completed post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship (degree, diploma, certificate awarded) that is comparable to the Canadian education and is at least one year in length. For foreign education, candidates must provide an assessment report by one of the Designated Organizations.
- have at least one of the following in your field of education or training:
- 1 year work experience in the last 10 years in a skilled profession (non-trades);
- 2 years work experience in a skilled trade in the last 5 years; or
- 12 months work experience in Canada in the last 3 years (trades and non-trades).
- have work experience in a skilled occupation that is NOT included in the SINP Excluded Occupation List.
- provide proof of Professional Status or Licensure (for regulated occupations or those with professional certification standards in Canada and/or Saskatchewan) for your occupation. Please see the Occupations In-Demand Requirements for these requirements.
- demonstrate sufficient settlement funds.
- submit a settlement plan.
Saskatchewan Experience Category
This category facilitates immigration of foreign nationals currently working or studying in Saskatchewan. The individual streams are:
Saskatchewan Experience: Skilled Worker With Existing Work Permit
Through this stream, Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) facilitates permanent immigration of skilled workers and workers in designated trades, who currently work in Saskatchewan.
With a provincial nomination, foreign workers may extend their work permits and apply for permanent residence. For workers in NOC 0, A and B, no language test is required.
The complete requirements are:
- obtain a permanent, full-time employment offer from an employer in Saskatchewan in NOC 0, A, B level or in a designated trade.
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
- work for at least 6 months for the same employer who is offering you a permanent job.
- you must have a valid work permit.
- your permanent job offer must be in the same occupation, in which you have been working for the last 6 months.
- have eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure, if your occupation is regulated in Saskatchewan. Regulated Occupations and Licensing Requirements.
Saskatchewan Experience: Students
Saskatchewan PNP provides an avenue for international graduates from any province or territory in Canada to apply for a provincial nomination through this sub-stream. Note that the requirements for Saskatchewan graduates and graduates from other parts of Canada are different.
Graduates from a Saskatchewan institute must:
- have graduated from a recognized post-secondary educational institution (i.e Designated Learning Institution) in Saskatchewan with a certificate, diploma or degree.
- have worked a minimum of six months (or 960 hours) of paid work in Saskatchewan. Importantly, eligible experience include work on-campus, off-campus, co-op terms, verifiable graduate fellowship and work experience gained on Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- hold a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- have a permanent, full-time employment offer in the field of your study from an employer in Saskatchewan, and which requires post-secondary education.
- have an employment offer in NOC 0, A, B level or in a designated trade.
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test, if your job offer is in NOC C level.
Graduates from educational institutes in Canada (outside Saskatchewan) must:
- have graduated from a program that had at least 8 months in length from a recognized post-secondary educational institution (i.e Designated Learning Institution) in Canada with a certificate, diploma or degree.
- hold a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit.
- have worked, after graduation, a minimum of six months (or 960 hours) of paid work in Saskatchewan gained on Post-Graduation Work Permit in an occupation related to their field of study.
- have a permanent, full-time employment offer in the field of your study from an employer in Saskatchewan, and which requires post-secondary education.
- have an employment offer in NOC 0, A, B level or in a designated trade.
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test, if your job offer is in NOC C level.
Saskatchewan Experience: Semi-skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit
This stream has been designed to provide a pathway towards permanent residency for General Farm Workers and Nursery and Greenhouse Workers. In order to qualify, the worker must be currently working in Saskatchewan with a valid work permit.
In order to qualify, you must:
- have a permanent, full-time employment offer from an employer in Saskatchewan and be in an occupation that falls under one the following National Occupational Classification:
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
- have worked for more than 6 months for the same employer as the one who is offering you permanent employment.
- hold a valid work permit, which was issued under one of the following programs:
- International Experience Canada;
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program; or
- Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program
- have an employment offer in the same occupation that you have been working in for the last 6 months.
- completed an equivalent of the Canadian secondary education (high school) or higher. For foreign education, candidates must provide an assessment report by one of the Designated Organizations.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test.
Saskatchewan Experience: Hospitality Sector Project
This stream is another example of a specialized avenue SINP provides to applicants in specific industries. Existing foreign workers in some low-skilled occupations in food and hospitality in Saskatchewan may obtain provincial nomination, extend their work permit and apply for permanent residence.
As a prerequisite, the employer must obtain approval to participate in the Hospitality Sector Project prior to the foreign workers starting work with this employer.
To apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program through this stream, you must:
- hold a valid work permit, which was issued based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment for one of the following occupations:
- complete Grade 12 education or its equivalent (e.g. secondary school, high school, vocational school, etc.).
- be working for an employer that has been approved to participate in the Hospitality Sector Project.
- work for this employer for at least 6 months in Saskatchewan.
- have a permanent, full-time employment offer from an employer in Saskatchewan that is approved for the Hospitality Sector Project.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test in all four abilities (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
Saskatchewan Experience: Long-Haul Truck Drivers
Saskatchewan employers in long-haul trucking may apply for approval to participate in this SINP stream. As a result, foreign workers employed as long-haul truckers by the employer may qualify to apply for provincial nomination and subsequently extend their work permit and submit a permanent residence application.
In order to qualify, candidates must:
- currently work for an employer that is approved by SINP to participate in the sub-stream
- hold a valid work permit that was issued as a result of a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment.
- have a valid Saskatchewan Class 1A driver’s license.
- have a permanent, full-time employment offer from an employer in Saskatchewan that is approved by SINP to participate in the sub-stream.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test in all four abilities (listening, speaking, reading and writing)
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
Saskatchewan Experience: Health Professionals
Health professionals, specifically: Physicians, Nurses, and other health professionals may qualify for provincial nomination under this stream. Subsequently, nominated applicants may submit an application for permanent residence under the provincial nominee program stream and extend their expiring work permit (if applicable).
In order to qualify as a physician, you must:
- show educational and professional credentials to work in Saskatchewan.
- hold a valid work permit
- work as a physician in Saskatchewan for minimum of 6 months
- obtain a full-time, permanent employment offer issued by a provincial health authority; or by health educational institution where you are currently working; or by Saskatchewan medical office. The latter must be verified with documents, such as:
- a business plan or contract;
- a partnership agreement; or
- other documents describing your practice
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
In order to qualify as a nurse, you must:
- show educational and professional credentials to work in Saskatchewan.
- hold a valid work permit
- work as a nurse in Saskatchewan for minimum of 6 months
- obtain a full-time, permanent employment offer issued by
- The Saskatchewan Health Authority;
- The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency; or
- Another publicly funded health employer.
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
In order to qualify as other health professions, you must:
- be working in a health job that is supported by the appropriate regional health authority, licensing body (as applicable) or other employer.
- have worked in an health occupation in NOC 0, A, B or C (National Occupational Classification).
- have completed at least 1 academic year of post-secondary education or job-specific training.
- hold a valid work permit.
- have worked in an approved health job in Saskatchewan for minimum 6 months.
- work the employer that is offering you the permanent job, in the same occupation.
- obtain a full-time, permanent employment offer issued by
- The Saskatchewan Health Authority;
- The Saskatchewan Cancer Agency; or
- Another publicly funded health employer.
- have a Job Approval Letter from your employer to verify your employment offer.
- demonstrate language ability at CLB 4 through an approved language test, if your job offer is in NOC C level.
- have a proof of eligibility for Saskatchewan licensure if the occupation is regulated in Saskatchewan and requires compulsory certification or licensure.
Entrepreneur Application
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) encourages foreign nationals to purchase or partner in business in the province while being actively involved in its day-to-day operations and reside in the province. Candidates are invited to apply based on their Expression of Interest (EOI) and the points received for their personal characteristics and the nature of their anticipated business.
In order to qualify as an Entrepreneur, you must:
- have $500,000 (CAD) at minimum in Net Business and Personal Assets;
- have at least three years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience gained in the last ten years; and,
- plan to invest at least o$300,000 (CAD) in Regina or Saskatoon or a minimum of $200,000 (CAD) in all other Saskatchewan communities.
If you are invited to apply, you must submit a Business Establishment Plan (BEP) that aligns with the information in your EOI. Your BEP must include:
- plan to establish a business that corresponds with the points assigned in the Entrepreneur Category Points Grid, if applicable (for investment amount and sector);
- ownership of at least one third (33 1/3 per cent) of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan, unless your total investment is $1 million CAD or higher;
- commitment to provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business; and
- the creation of two employment opportunities in Saskatchewan for Canadians or permanent residents who are not related to you. This only applies if you’re establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon.
Farm Owner and Operator Application
This category is open to all applicants who intend to buy and operate a farm in Saskatchewan. Prior farming experience is a prerequisite of this category. Applicants are chosen on first come, first served basis.
In order to qualify, you must at minimum meet the following criteria:
- have a personal net worth of at least $300,000 (CAD) that can be verified.
- have gained your net worth legally. Verification is part of the process.
- age under 40 at the time of your application.
- have at least three years experience in:
- Farm ownership;
- Farm management; or
- Practical farming experience.
- provide a documented proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity. Your proposal should be based on research, consultations or formal coursework relevant to Saskatchewan agricultural conditions. Also, the farming proposal should be a commercial project with a reasonable expectation of profit. In Saskatchewan, a qualified farming business must have a minimum of $10,000 CAD annual revenue.
- you or your spouse must have marketable employment skills, based on education and experience that allows you to supplement your farming income.
Saskatchewan Points Assessment Grid
SINP uses a points assessment grid to calculate your score, which qualifies you for SINP International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer. The same grid is used for calculation of your score for the Expression of Interest for International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand, and Saskatchewan Express Entry.
Interested candidates must have at least 60 of 100 points. For Expression of Interest, the higher the score, more likely it is that the candidate will be invited to apply.
The total score is the sum of points awarded for Education, Work Experience, Language Skills, Age, Connection to the Labour Market and Adaptability.
Education and Training (Maximum points 23)
Master’s or Doctorate degree, Canadian equivalency
23 points
Bachelor’s degree OR a three or more year degree program at a university or college
20 points
Trade certification equivalent to journeyperson status in Saskatchewan
20 points
Canadian equivalency Diploma that requires two but less than three years at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other formal post-secondary institution
15 points
Canadian equivalency Certificate or at least two semesters but less than a two year program at a university, college, trade or technical school, or other formal post-secondary institution
12 points
Skilled Work Experience I. (Maximum points 10)
In the 5 year period prior to application submission date, how many of full years (i.e. 12 months) of relevant work experience do you have?
5 years
10 points
4 years
8 points
3 years
6 points
2 years
4 points
1 year
2 points
Skilled Work Experience II. (Maximum points 5)
In the 6-10 year period prior to application submission date, how many of full years (i.e. 12 months) of relevant work experience do you have?
5 years
5 points
4 years
4 points
3 years
3 points
2 years
2 points
Less than 1 year
0 points
Language Ability (Maximum points 20)
CLB 8 and higher
20 points
CLB 7
18 points
CLB 6
16 points
CLB 5
14 points
CLB 4
12 points
English or French speaker without language test results
0 points
Age (Maximum points 12)
< 18 years
0 points
18 – 21 years
8 points
22 – 34 years
12 points
35 – 45 years
10 points
46 – 50 years
8 points
> 50 years
0 points
Connection to Labour Market and Adaptability
The following points are for the Employment Offer subcategory only. (Maximum points 30)
Do you have a high skilled employment offer from a Saskatchewan employer? (only applies to
30
The following points are for the Occupation In-Demand and Saskatchewan Express Entry subcategories only. (Maximum points 30)
Close family relative in Saskatchewan
(The applicant or accompanying spouse has a family relative that is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Saskatchewan. This includes: parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, cousin and step-family members or in-laws of the same relationships. The family members in Saskatchewan must meet the requirements as listed under “Required Documents” for your ISW sub-category)
20
Past work experience in Saskatchewan
(A minimum of at least 12 months of work in the past five years on a valid work permit)
5
Past student experience in Saskatchewan
(A minimum of one full-time academic year of study at a recognized Saskatchewan post-secondary education institution on a valid study permit)
5
