Saskatchewan is one of the provinces in Western Canada with wealth resources of minerals, oil, natural gas and potash. The prairie province’s population used to be rural but now shifting to urban as the development of resources are driving an economic boom.
Due to the job opportunities and reasonable cost of living, Saskatchewan is a popular province for immigrants.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is a provincial nomination where the Federal Government selects immigrants with in-demand job skills and work experience desired in the province to apply for Canadian permanent residency.
There are two ways to apply for the program:
- Send the program an Expression of Interest (EOI) directly to the SINP. Once you have been nominated, you can import your credentials once you have created an Express Entry profile.
- Create an Express Entry profile and select Saskatchewan for interested provincial. If you are selected, you will receive an invitation to apply for the SINP and immediately receive 600 points under the Comprehensive Ranking System. In the next Express Entry draw, you will then receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada.
Four SINP Immigration Categories
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International Skilled Worker
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Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience
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Entrepreneur
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Farm Owner and Operator
International Skilled Worker
Skilled workers who wish to live and work in the province can apply for this subcategory. Candidates will need to meet the criteria and skills, including but not limited to, education, work experience and language proficiency in English and/or French.
The International Skilled Worker category is divided into the following subcategories:
- Employment Offer
- Occupations in Demand
- Saskatchewan Express Entry
Employment Offer
Skilled workers who live abroad or in Canada with a job offer from a qualified employer in the province can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| SINP Point Assessment Grid | At least 60 points |
| Job Offer | Required, full-time job in the province. Offer must be in an occupation in the NOC level 0, A, or B; or in a designated trade in Saskatchewan. |
| Level of Education | Proof of license is required if your occupation is in a regulated profession or compulsory apprenticeship trade |
| Work Experience | Required, at least 1 year work experience in your intended occupation in the last 10 years |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher |
Occupation in Demand
Skilled workers who live abroad or in Canada, do not have a job offer in the province but are highly skilled in an in-demand occupation in the province can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| SINP Point Assessment Grid | At least 60 points |
| Job Offer | Not required |
| Level of Education | Post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship that is comparable to a Canadian diploma, certificate or degree
Note 1) Education outside of Canada: must provide educational credential assessment (ECA) Note 2) Saskatchewan licensure is required if you have completed trades or job training as part of your high school education |
| Work Experience | Required, 1 year of full-time work experience (min. 30 hours per week) in your intended occupation in the last 10 years. Work experience must be in a high skilled occupation (NOC level 0, A or B) that is in-demand in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher |
Saskatchewan Express Entry
Skilled workers who live abroad or in Canada that are in the candidate pool of Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Express Entry system can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Required |
| SINP Point Assessment Grid | At least 60 points |
| Job Offer | Not required |
| Level of Education | 1 year of post-secondary education or training that is comparable to a Canadian diploma, certificate or degree
Note 1) Education outside of Canada: must provide educational credential assessment (ECA) Note 2) ECA is not required for those who have finished training as part of high school, but Saskatchewan licensure is required |
| Work Experience | Required, 1 year of Canadian experience in your intended occupation in the past 3 years AND
For skilled professionals: 1 year of additional work experience in your intended occupation in the last 10 years For skilled tradespeople: 2 years of additional work experience in a skilled trade in the past 5 years |
| Language Proficiency | Need to meet the federal Express Entry language requirements |
Saskatchewan Work Experience
This category is for foreign workers who currently holds a valid work permit to work and live in Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Work Experience category is divided into the following subcategories:
- Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
- Semi-Skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit
- Health Professionals
- Hospitality Sector Project
- Long-Haul Truck Driver Project
- Students
Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
Workers ‘occupation must be in NOC level 0, A or B; or in a designated trade and have been working in Saskatchewan for at least 6 months with a valid work permit can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required from the employer you have been working in for the past 6 months with a valid work permit. Your job offer must be for the same occupation. |
| Level of Education | Proof of license eligibility is required if your occupation is in a regulated in Saskatchewan |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of NOC level 0, A or B; or in a designated trade work experience in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Semi-Skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit
Workers who have been working as a General Farm Worker (NOC 8431) or Nursery and Greenhouse Worker (NOC 8432) in Saskatchewan for at least 6 months with a valid work permit can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required from the employer you have been working in for at least 6 months with a valid work permit. Your job offer must be for the same occupation. |
| Level of Education | Secondary education equivalent to Canadian secondary school or above, must provide ECA) |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of General Farm Worker (NOC 8431) or Nursery and Greenhouse Worker (NOC 8432) work experience in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Health Professionals
Workers who have been working as a Physician, Nurse or other professionals in Saskatchewan for at least 6 months on a temporary work permit can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements – Physician
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the health education institution where you are currently working or have a permanent arrangement to practice medicine in Saskatchewan with verifiable documents such as business plan, contract, partnership agreement and/or other documents describing your practice |
| Level of Education | Letter of support from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CoPSS) is required. The letter must state your type of licence, expiry date and CoPSS’ support for you to become a permanent resident in Saskatchewan.
Letter from Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada may be required too. |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of Specialist Physician (NOC 3111) or General Practitioners and Family Physicians (NOC 3112) work experience in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | No minimum |
Eligibility Requirements – Nurse
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency or another publicly funded health employer |
| Level of Education | SINP will confirm with the appropriate licensing body that you have an unrestricted licence to practice in Saskatchewan. |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of nursing work experience in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | No minimum |
Eligibility Requirements – Other Health Professionals
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required from the Saskatchewan Health Authority, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency or another publicly funded health employer.
A letter of support from your employer is required stating that your job was posted as per the relevant collective agreement and remains vacant |
| Level of Education | 1 year of post-secondary education. Letter of support from the appropriate licensing body is required |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of healthcare work experience in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Hospitality Sector Project
Workers who have been working as a Food/Beverage Server (NOC 6513), Food Counter Attendant/Kitchen Helper (NOC 6711) or Housekeeping/Cleaning Staff (NOC 6731) for at least 6 months (780 hours) at an SINP Hospitality-approved employer with a temporary work permit through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required, employer must be an approved SINP employer. If you start working for the employer before the employer has been approved by the SINP, your application will be denied. |
| Level of Education | Equivalent to Canadian High School |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of Food/Beverage Server (NOC 6513), Food Counter Attendant/Kitchen Helper (NOC 6711) or Housekeeping/Cleaning Staff (NOC 6731) work experience in Saskatchewan.
If you are not yet working in Saskatchewan, you can apply to the Hospitality Sector category as a Food/Beverage Server (NOC 6513). You must proof that you worked in Saskatchewan before for a minimum 6 months as a Food/Beverage Server (NOC 6513) |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Long-Haul Truck Driver Project
Workers who have been working as a Truck Driver (NOC 7511) for at least 6 months at an SINP-approved employer with a temporary work permit through a LMIA from Service Canada can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required, employer must be an SINP-approved trucking firm in Saskatchewan |
| Level of Education | Saskatchewan Class 1A driver’s licence required. If you are not yet working in Saskatchewan, you can apply without the Class 1A driver’s licence, but you will need to get it once you arrive |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of Truck Driver (NOC 7511) work experience in Saskatchewan |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Student
Students who have graduated from a Saskatchewan institute or a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Canada and have worked for a minimum of 6 months (780 hours) in Saskatchewan with a valid post-graduation work permit from IRCC can apply for this subcategory.
Eligibility Requirements – Students Who Have Graduated from a Saskatchewan Institute
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required, employment must be in your field of study, NOC level 0, A or B; or in a designated trade |
| Level of Education | Post-secondary institution in Saskatchewan and earned a certificate/diploma or degree |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of work experience in Saskatchewan. Eligible types of work experience include on-campus/off-campus/co-op terms/graduate fellowships that can be verified by your institution and work experience gained on a post-graduate work permit |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Eligibility Requirements – Students Who Have Graduated from an Institute in Canada
| Express Entry Profile | Not required |
| Job Offer | Required, employment must be in your field of study, NOC level 0, A or B; or in a designated trade |
| Level of Education | At least 1 academic year (8 months) study from a recognized post-secondary institution in Canada (outside of Saskatchewan) and earned a certificate/diploma or degree |
| Work Experience | Required, 6 months of work experience in Saskatchewan. Experience must be gained on a post-graduate work permit |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher if your occupation is in NOC level C |
Entrepreneur
This category is for foreigners who wish to obtain or partner in a business in Saskatchewan while residing in Saskatchewan. Candidates must be actively involved in managing the business.
There are 4 steps in the nomination process:
- Submit EOI to the SINP
- Get invited to apply and submit a Business Establishment Plan (BEP). Your BEP must include:
– Your plan to establish an eligible business that aligns with the points in the Entrepreneur Category Points Grid
– Your ownership of at least 1/3 (33 1/3%) of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan, unless your total investment is CAD$1 million or higher
– Your commitment to the day-to-day management of the business
– Creation of 2 employment opportunities in Saskatchewan for Canadians or permanent residents who are not related to you (only if you are establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon)
- Establish business
– Candidates that pass the verification stage will be issued a SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter along with a 2 year temporary work permit from IRCC - Apply to be nominated by the SINP for permanent residency
To meet the entry criteria, you must:
- Have a minimum of CAD$500,000 in Net Business and Personal Assets
- Have at least 3 years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience gained in the past 10 years
- Intend to invest a minimum of CAD$300,000 in Regina and Saskatoon or a minimum of CAD$200,000 in all other Saskatchewan communities
International Graduate Entrepreneur
This category is for international student graduates from a Saskatchewan institution who wants to become an entrepreneur. Candidates must be at least 21 years of age and have completed a full-time post-secondary degree or diploma of at least 2 years. They also must be actively involved in managing the business.
There are 4 steps in the nomination process:
- Submit EOI to the SINP
- Get invited to apply
- Establish business
– If you hold a valid Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), you must operate your proposed business - Apply to be nominated by the SINP for permanent residency once you have fulfilled the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement (BPA)
To meet the entry criteria, you must:
- Have a valid PGWP with at least 24 months remaining
- Have lived in Saskatchewan during your academic program (distance-learning programs or accelerated academic program are not eligible)
- Have a minimum of CLB level 7
To be approved by the SINP, you must:
- Actively own and operate a business in Saskatchewan for at least 1 year prior to applying
- Own at least 1/3 (33%) of the business and take part in the day-to-day management. Ownership must be the result of a verifiable investment made directly by the applicant, either from their own equity or from an eligible source
- Demonstrate that the business is generating the minimum required revenue amount after one year of operation (please refer to the ‘Eligible Sources of Investments/Revenue’ section of the Application Guide
Farm Owner and Operator
Farmers who have proven experience in farming, have considerable capital (money, assets) to invest in a farming operation and plan to buy and run a farm in Saskatchewan can apply for this category (only for business in primary agricultural production – crops and livestock). As part of the application process, Saskatchewan immigration officials will connect candidates with staff at Saskatchewan and they will help candidates with the type of farm that they have in plan.
To meet the entry criteria, you must:
- Provide financial documents that show a net worth of CAD$500,000
- Sign a Performance Agreement to purchase and actively operate a farm in Saskatchewan. You will also need to make a “good faith” deposit of CAD$75,000 in trust. The case deposit will be returned when you have met the terms of the Performance Agreement. If you do not meet the terms within 2 years of being in Saskatchewan, the deposit will be paid to the Province
- Make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan for at least 10 working days
- Provide documents that demonstrates you are an experienced farm operator. Saskatchewan immigration officials may verify this further through an interview
- Have a practical, proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity
To be approved by the SINP, you must:
- Have a personal net worth of at least CAD$500,000
- Have accumulated your net worth legally
- Have at least 3 years experience in:
– Farm ownership
– Farm management
– Practical farming experience
- Give a propose for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity with plans to invest a minimum of CAD$150,000. Your proposal should be based on research, consultations or formal coursework relevant to Saskatchewan agricultural conditions. Hobby farms do not qualify. The proposal should be a commercial project with an expectation of profit. In Saskatchewan, a qualified farming business must have a minimum of CAD$10,000 in annual revenue
- Score at least 55 points on the Farm Owner/Operator Category Intent Grid
Farm Owners and Operators – Young Farmer Stream
This category allows young farm families (under the age of 40) to establish their lives and farming operations in rural areas of Saskatchewan.
To be approved by the SINP, you must:
- Have a personal net worth of at least $300,000
- Have accumulated your net worth legally
- Have at least 3 years experience in:
– Farm ownership
– Farm management
– Practical farming experience
- Give a propose for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity. Your proposal should be based on research, consultations or formal coursework relevant to Saskatchewan agricultural conditions. Hobby farms do not qualify. The proposal should be a commercial project with an expectation of profit. In Saskatchewan, a qualified farming business must have a minimum of CAD$10,000 in annual revenue
- Have employment skills, based on education and experience, to supplement your farming income (you or your spouse)
Kunal Thakur
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant R#519955
Kunal Thakur is a passionate Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), holding close to two decades of immigration experience, during which he has successfully guided thousands of immigrants in their immigration journey. He is quick in responding to client queries and would always give his clients the right advice. Kunal also brings immense value in all his talks and discourses on immigration and when not in front of his laptop reading and analysing client cases he could be seen exploring new places and trying new things. Kunal is currently based in Adelaide, Australia. You can book a time with him here.
RCIC: R519955