Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP)

International Skilled Worker (With or Without Job Offer)

With Job Offer: This category is for skilled workers who have a job offer for a skilled occupation in Saskatchewan. Candidates must score a minimum on the SINP point assessment grid and meet other criteria, such as language ability, education, and work experience relevant to their job offer in Saskatchewan.

Without Job Offer (Saskatchewan Express Entry/Occupation-In-Demand): This stream is aligned with the federal Express Entry system, allowing Saskatchewan to nominate skilled workers who are in the Express Entry pool and want to live and work in Saskatchewan. To qualify, candidates must create an Express Entry profile and also submit an EOI (Expression of Interest) to the SINP. They must meet criteria similar to the With Job Offer category but don’t need a job offer to apply. Instead, factors like work experience, education, language ability, and connections to the Saskatchewan labor market are considered.

Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience

Skilled Workers With Existing Work Permit: This category is designed for individuals who already have a valid work permit and are currently employed in Saskatchewan. To qualify, applicants must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in a skilled occupation (Teer 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5). The key requirements include having been working for the offering employer for at least six months under a valid work permit, demonstrating language ability if required for the occupation, and meeting the other criteria set by the SINP. This pathway is a recognition of the valuable skills and experience these workers bring to the province, offering them a stable future in Saskatchewan.

Health Professionals: The SINP extends a special pathway for health professionals who have been providing essential health services in the province. This category includes nurses, physicians, and other health practitioners. Eligibility requires at least six months of full-time work experience in Saskatchewan under a valid work permit, a job offer from a public health authority, and the appropriate licensure in Saskatchewan, if applicable. This pathway reflects the province’s commitment to retaining talented health professionals to ensure the continued provision of high-quality healthcare services.

Hospitality Sector Project: This project targets specific positions within the hospitality sector, acknowledging the unique needs of this industry for reliable, skilled labor. Eligible positions typically include food and beverage servers, food counter attendants, kitchen helpers, and housekeeping/cleaning staff. Applicants must have worked for an approved Saskatchewan employer for a minimum of six months on a valid work permit. The program aims to address labor shortages in the hospitality sector by offering a pathway to permanent residency for dedicated workers in these roles.

Students: The student category is for international students who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada and have subsequently gained work experience in Saskatchewan. To be eligible, students must have worked in Saskatchewan for at least six months (or 960 hours) on a Post-Graduation Work Permit. The job must be in a field related to their studies and classified as Teer 0, 1, 2, or 3. This pathway recognizes the contribution of international students to the provincial economy and offers them the opportunity to transition from education to permanent residency within the community they have come to know during their studies.

Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot: This pilot is designed to help Saskatchewan employers recruit foreign workers for positions that are challenging to fill with local labor. It targets specific occupations that do not necessarily require professional licensing or higher education qualifications but are crucial for the province’s economy. Candidates must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in one of the eligible occupations and meet language, experience, and other requirements specific to their job offer. This pathway reflects the province’s proactive approach to solving labor shortages in key sectors.

Tech Talent Pathway: The Tech Talent Pathway caters to individuals with experience in in-demand technology occupations, aiming to support Saskatchewan’s growing tech sector. Applicants must have a permanent, full-time job offer in Saskatchewan in one of the eligible tech occupations. This pathway prioritizes candidates with skills in areas like software engineering and development, information systems analysis and consulting, digital media design, and computer and information systems management, among others. The intention is to streamline the immigration process for skilled tech workers, bolstering innovation and competitiveness within the province’s tech industry.

Semi-skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit: This category is specifically for semi-skilled workers who are currently employed in Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector. It recognizes the importance of agriculture to the province’s economy and provides a route for workers in semi-skilled positions, who have been working in Saskatchewan on a valid work permit, to obtain permanent residency. Eligible applicants must have a full-time, permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in an agricultural occupation. The program looks for candidates with a commitment to the agricultural sector and the potential to contribute to its sustainability and growth.

Long-Haul Truck Driver Project: The Long-Haul Truck Driver Project allows Saskatchewan trucking firms to bring in long-haul truck drivers on temporary foreign work permits and subsequently support their application for permanent residency through the SINP. To qualify, drivers must first obtain a temporary foreign work permit, work for a Saskatchewan trucking firm, and complete a minimum amount of work experience as a long-haul truck driver in the province. This pathway addresses the critical need for long-haul truck drivers in Saskatchewan and offers a clear route for these workers to become permanent residents.

Entrepreneur

The Entrepreneur stream is for individuals who plan to start, acquire, or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and actively participate in its management. Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest to the SINP and, if invited to apply, provide a detailed business plan. Criteria for nomination include making a requisite investment in a new or existing business in the province and meeting other operational milestones specified by the program.

International Graduate Entrepreneur

The International Graduate Entrepreneur category under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is tailored for recent graduates from Saskatchewan’s post-secondary institutions who aspire to establish, acquire, or become partners in a business within the province. Candidates must have completed at least a two-year full-time degree or diploma from an eligible institution in Saskatchewan and hold a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit. To participate, applicants initiate the process by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI), which is evaluated based on factors like their business proposal, entrepreneurial experience, and language proficiency. High-scoring EOIs receive an invitation to apply, followed by the requirement to sign a Business Performance Agreement, outlining the business’s objectives and milestones. The entrepreneur must operate the business for a minimum of one year in Saskatchewan before being eligible for nomination for permanent residency. This pathway aims to retain skilled international graduates in Saskatchewan, contributing to the province’s economic development through new or enhanced business ventures. 

Farm Owner and Operator

This category is designed for experienced farmers who wish to purchase and operate a farm in Saskatchewan. Applicants must have proven experience in farming, sufficient available capital to invest in a farming operation, and a proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity. There is also a Young Farmer Stream within this category aimed at attracting younger farm operators who can inject new energy and ideas into Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector.

Each of these categories has specific eligibility requirements, application processes, and selection criteria, reflecting Saskatchewan’s goal of attracting immigrants who can contribute to the province’s economic development and cultural diversity.