Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
Saskatchewan offers newcomers a good quality of life, a strong sense of community, and career opportunities, making it an excellent place for you and your family to call home. It is one of the fastest growing provinces in Canada.
Saskatchewan is one of the three prairie provinces in western Canada with an economy that is largely based on agriculture and natural resources.
The province provides one-third of the world's potash and a fifth of the world's uranium and is also a powerhouse for supplying more than a third of the world's total exported durum wheat.
The province is the fifth-largest oil producer in North America and offers a thriving arts and culture scene, beautiful provincial parks, and a wide range of sports and leisure activities.
Saskatchewan is an excellent place to establish a business, invest, live, and raise a family. Housing costs are lower in the province than in most major Canadian cities, and most people can afford and own a home.
Saskatchewan's education system provides affordable options at all levels. For example, all Saskatchewan residents who graduated from an approved program at an eligible institution in 2006 or later are eligible to apply for the province's Graduate Retention Program.
The program reimburses up to $20,000 to eligible graduates (including international graduates) who live in Saskatchewan and file a Saskatchewan income tax return.
Saskatchewan has population of just over one million and newcomers have a high rate of immigration success.
Saskatchewan Immigration Pathways
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) was established to address the province's economic and labour market needs through immigration.
The SINP has been extremely successful. The province has a high employment rate for newcomers. Saskatchewan is encouraging and welcoming skilled workers, professionals, investors, and students to take advantage of its immigration pathways to settle in the province.
Applicants to the SINP program will receive a Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Certificate allowing them to apply for permanent residence if they meet the minimum requirements.
Foreign nationals who have the experience and interested in living permanently in Saskatchewan should explore the following four options;
International Skilled Worker Category
Saskatchewan Experience Category
Entrepreneur and Farm Category
International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
International Skilled Worker Category
This stream was designed for skilled workers who wish to live and work in Saskatchewan, and has four pathways;
Tech Talent Pathway
This program accepts highly skilled workers who have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in tech occupations.
Employment Offer
This program offers a pathway for workers who have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer.
Occupation in Demand
This category accepts highly skilled workers with experience in an in-demand occupation in Saskatchewan who do not have a job offer in the province.
Saskatchewan Express Entry
This pathway is for candidates who are already in the federal Express Entry pool and have skilled experience in an in-demand occupation in Saskatchewan.
Processing Time
Type
Employment offer
Occupation In Demand
Saskatchewan Express Entry
Category
4 weeks
35 weeks
37 weeks
Minimum Requirements
Category
Tech Talent Pathway
Requirements
- Meet language requirements
- Have a permanent job offer from a Saskatchewan employer or satisfy licensure requirements if applicable
- Have at least one year of paid work experience in the past 5 years in the intended occupation or six months if working for
Employment Offer
- Meet language requirements
- Have a permanent, full-time job from a Saskatchewan employer for an eligible job, meet licensure requirements if required
- Have at least one year of paid work experience in the last 10 years in the intended occupation
Occupations In-Demand
- Meet language requirements (CLB 4)
- Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education or training
- Have a minimum level of work experience related to your field of education or training, in an in-demand skilled occupation;
- Get proof of Professional Status or Licensure if required by Saskatchewan;
- Have enough money to settle in the province and have a settlement plan.
- Job offer is not a requirement*
Saskatchewan Express Entry
- Be in the Express Entry pool and have an Express Entry Profile Number and Job Seeker Validation Code;
- Meet language requirements
- Have at least one year of post-secondary education or training;
- Have a minimum level of work experience related to your field of education or training in an in-demand skilled occupation;
- Get proof of Professional Status or Licensure if required by the SINP;
- Have a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade, if your work experience is in a skilled trade;
- Have enough money to settle in the province and have a settlement plan.
Application Process
Saskatchewan uses an Expression of Interest (EOI) for the Express Entry and Occupations In- Demand pathways.
To be eligible for the EOI, an applicant must score at least 60 out of 110 points on the EOI Points Grid. The EOI Points Grid evaluates you on five criteria: education and training, skilled work experience, language ability, age and connections to the Saskatchewan labour market, and adaptability.
When your application is approved, you can apply directly to Canadian immigration for permanent residence.
Saskatchewan Experience Category
There are six pathways in the Saskatchewan Experience Category.
Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
This category is for skilled workers with a valid work permit who have been working in Saskatchewan for at least six months.
Semi-skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit
The Semi-skilled Agriculture Worker with Existing Work Permit program is designed for people who have worked in Saskatchewan for at least six months with a valid work permit for an employer, or who have previously worked in Saskatchewan for at least six months. Eligible applicant must have a full-time permanent job off from a Saskatchewan employer as a General Farm Worker (NOC 8431) or Nursery and Greenhouse Worker (NOC8432).
Health Professionals
This category is for physicians, nurses and other health care workers who have worked for at least six months in Saskatchewan.
Hospital Sector Project
This pathway is for food and beverage servers, food counter attendants, kitchen helpers or housekeeping and cleaning staff in Saskatchewan. They must have been working for at least six months in the province.
Long Haul Trucker Driver Project
This route is for those who have worked for at least six months at a Saskatchewan-approved trucking company.
Students
This pathway is designed for students who graduated from a post-secondary institution anywhere in Canada and worked for at least 24 months in Saskatchewan.
Students who have graduated from a Saskatchewan institution must have worked in the province for just six months.
Eligibility Requirements
Type
Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
Minimum Requirements
- Have a valid work permit,
- Have a permanent, full-time job offer from in an eligible job,
- Have worked for at least six months for the employer offering the permanent job,
- Meet the language requirement of CLB 4,
- Have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter; and Have proof of eligibility for licensure if required.
Semi-skilled Agriculture Working with Existing Work Permit
- Have been working for more than six months with a valid work permit for the employer offering a job; or,
- Have previously worked in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six months;
-
Have a permanent full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer in the following National Occupation Classification (NOC) occupations:
NOC 8431: General Farm Worker
NOC 8432: Nursery and Greenhouse Worker - Meet other criteria of the sub-category.
Health Professionals
Health professionals require different criteria and eligibility requirements, but applicants must generally;
- Have a valid work permit,
- Have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter
- Have a permanent, full-time job offer
- Have a job offer
- Must meet several other requirements
Hospitality Sector
- Have a valid work permit for Food/Beverage Server (NOC 6453); Food Counter Attendant/Kitchen Helper (NOC 6641); or Housekeeping/Cleaning Staff (NOC 6661),
- Be employed in Saskatchewan for at least six months, working for an approved employer;
- Have a permanent, full-time job offer from an approved employer;
- Have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter;
- Have at least a high school education,
- Meet the language requirement of CLB 4.
Long Haul Truck Driver Project
- Have been working for an approved trucking firm for at least six months with a work permit,
- Have a current Saskatchewan Class 1A driver’s license,
- Have a full-time, permanent job offer from their employer,
- Have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter, and
- Meet the language requirement of CLB 4.
Students
- Have graduated with a certificate, diploma, or degree outside or in Saskatchewan,
- Meet the language requirement of CLB 4,
- Have worked for at least six months in Saskatchewan,
- Hold a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP),
- Have a permanent, full-time job offer in their field of study from a Saskatchewan employer in an eligible occupation,
- Have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter.
If you need assistance applying to the Saskatchewan Experience pathway, please call us or schedule a consultation and our experienced immigration professional will be happy to help you.
Entrepreneur and Farm Category
The Entrepreneur and Farm category is intended for people who want to invest in Saskatchewan by starting, buying, or forming business partnership.
Applicants are expected to play an active management role in the company.
Farm Owners and Operators Sub-Category
This route is for experienced farmers with significant capital who want to invest in a farming operation and relocate to Saskatchewan.
Eligibility Requirements
Type
Entrepreneur Sub-Category
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have at least three years of entrepreneurial experience within the past 10 years,
- Must have a minimum equity investment of $300,000 CAD in Regina or Saskatoon, or of $200,000 CAD in another Saskatchewan community.
- Must have a minimum equity investment of $300,000 CAD in Regina or Saskatoon, or of $200,000 CAD in another Saskatchewan community.
- Must own at least one-third of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan (unless their total investment is $1,000,000 CAD or higher);
- Must create or maintain at least two jobs for Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents in Saskatchewan (if business is in Regina or Saskatoon),
- If purchasing a business in Saskatoon or Regina, you must maintain the number of Canadian or permanent resident workers at the time of purchase,
- You must live in Saskatchewan with your family,
- You must sign a business performance agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan, which will be provided by the SINP after the application is approved.
Farm Owners and Operators Sub-Category
- Must have relevant farm operation knowledge and experience,
- Must have a viable, considered proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
This program was designed for international graduates of eligible post-secondary institutions who intend to start a business.
To be eligible for a provincial nomination for permanent residence, candidates must have operated and managed a business in Saskatchewan for at least a year.
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible, an applicant must;
- Be at least 21 years old,
- Have completed a full-time post-secondary degree or diploma that is at least two years in duration from a Saskatchewan Designated Learning Institution
- Hold a valid Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) that is valid for at least two years,
- Have lived in Saskatchewan for the duration of their academic program;
- Meet the language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark 7.