Overview: how the SINP works in 2026
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) nominates foreign nationals who want to live and work permanently in Saskatchewan. After nomination, the nominee applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which decides on permanent residence. The SINP has two worker categories:
International Skilled Worker
For skilled workers inside or outside Canada: Employment Offer, Saskatchewan Express Entry, Occupation In-Demand, and three talent pathways (Health, Agriculture, and Innovation and Tech).
Saskatchewan Experience
For people already living and working in Saskatchewan: Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit and Students. The three talent pathways are also open to workers in Saskatchewan.
Employer Position Assessment
Job-offer categories require the employer to register with the SINP and obtain an Employer Position Assessment (EPA), which replaced the old Job Approval Form.
Business categories closed
Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm Owner and Operator accept no new EOIs or applications. Files already in process continue.
Categories and who they are for
| Sub-category | Who it is for | Key requirements |
|---|---|---|
| ISW: Employment Offer | Skilled workers with a Saskatchewan job offer, inside or outside Canada | At least 60 of 110 points; one year of experience in the intended occupation in the past 10 years; CLB 4; permanent full-time offer in TEER 0 to 3 backed by an EPA; Saskatchewan licensing if required. Truck drivers must use Existing Work Permit; health occupations (NOC broad category 3) must use Health Talent or Students |
| ISW: Saskatchewan Express Entry | Candidates in the federal Express Entry pool without a job offer | EOI first; at least 60 points; Express Entry profile number and job seeker code; federal Express Entry language level; post-secondary education related to the occupation, with ECA; experience in an occupation not on the excluded list; settlement funds and plan |
| ISW: Occupation In-Demand | Skilled workers without a job offer and without an Express Entry profile | EOI first; at least 60 points; CLB 4; related post-secondary education with ECA; one year of full-time experience in an in-demand TEER 0 to 3 occupation in the past 10 years; settlement funds (held for at least three months before applying and kept throughout processing) and plan |
| Health Talent Pathway | Physicians, nurses and other health workers with a Saskatchewan health job offer | EPA-backed offer in a listed health occupation; CLB 5 (CLB 7 for the Express Entry option); related post-secondary education; experience rules; licensing |
| Agriculture Talent Pathway | Farm, greenhouse and selected food-processing workers | EPA-backed offer in a listed occupation (for example 85100, 85101, 85103, 94141); CLB 4; high school; one year of experience in the past three years, or six months with the supporting employer |
| Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway | Workers in listed high-skilled technology and innovation occupations | EPA-backed offer; related post-secondary education; one year of related experience in the past five years (or six months with the employer); CLB 5 unless already working for the employer; professional registration for some engineering and agrology roles |
| Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit | Workers already employed in Saskatchewan | At least six consecutive months (780 hours) full time with the supporting employer on a valid work permit; permanent full-time EPA-backed offer in TEER 0 to 3 or a designated trade (TEER 4 and 5 only for LMIA, CUAET or Francophone Mobility permit holders); CLB 4 for TEER 4 or 5 |
| Students | Graduates of a Saskatchewan designated learning institution | Certificate, diploma or degree from a Saskatchewan institution; valid PGWP, study permit or CUAET open work permit; six months (780 hours) of paid Saskatchewan work related to the field of study; permanent full-time offer in TEER 0 to 3 or a designated trade, related to the studies |
Who is restricted in 2026
- Spousal open work permit holders: not eligible for Existing Work Permit; may apply through the three talent pathways or Employment Offer.
- PGWP holders: only through Students, the three talent pathways or Employment Offer. Those who studied outside Saskatchewan can no longer use the Saskatchewan Experience categories.
- Study permit holders: only if they completed their education in Saskatchewan and have a job offer in a priority sector.
- Refugee claimants in Canada: cannot apply. A person whose claim was refused may apply only after the claim is fully resolved and the whole family has left Canada.
- Capped-sector candidates: must be working for the employer with valid status or maintained status when they apply; restoration status is not enough.
Priority sectors, capped sectors and the 2026 allocation
Saskatchewan's initial 2026 allocation was 4,761 nominations. Its statistics page now shows a total of 5,261, with 4,023 nominations (76%) issued as of the latest quarterly update. Unlike 2025, there is no federal minimum share for temporary residents in 2026.
Priority sectors (at least 50%)
Health care, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy and technology. At least 750 nominations are reserved for graduates of Saskatchewan institutions with a job offer in these sectors. No intake windows apply, and candidates can apply at any time, including from overseas.
Capped sectors (at most 25%)
Accommodation and food services 15% (714), trucking 5% (238) and retail trade 5% (238); these position counts are based on the initial allocation of 4,761. Employers can submit EPAs only during intake windows, and only for candidates with six months or less left on their work permit.
Other sectors
Sectors that are neither priority nor capped have continuous intake and no six-month work permit rule.
Ineligible businesses
Since March 27, 2025, spas, salons and pet care services (other than veterinarians) cannot recruit through the SINP. Saskatchewan also publishes a job-offer exclusion list of business types and occupations.
| 2026 nominations | Allocation | Issued to date | Share used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority and other sectors | 3,946 | 2,865 | 73% |
| Capped sectors | 1,315 | 1,158 | 88% |
| Total | 5,261 | 4,023 | 76% |
Recent intake windows and selections
Saskatchewan does not run points-based draws for its job-offer categories. For capped sectors it opens intake windows, filled first come, first served. Recent windows:
| Window (2026) | Sector | Position limit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 14 | Trucking | 150 | Full on October 10 |
| September 14 | Retail trade | 175 | 137 used, 38 remaining |
| September 14 | Accommodations | 50 | Full the same day |
| September 15 | Food services | 175 | Full the same day |
| July 6 and 7 | Trucking, retail, accommodations, food services | 25, 50, 50, 50 | All full on opening day |
| May 4 | Retail, trucking, and accommodation and food services combined | 80, 80, 240 | All full on opening day |
One more capped-sector window is planned for November 2026. Each position requested on an EPA counts toward the window limit, and a used position is not a nomination. The International Skilled Worker EOI pool has had no selection since September 12, 2024, when 57 Express Entry and 32 Occupation In-Demand candidates were invited with a minimum score of 88.
The 110-point assessment grid
The Employment Offer, Saskatchewan Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories require at least 60 of 110 points. Reaching 60 is a minimum; it does not reopen an inactive pool or override occupation, licensing or job-offer rules.
| Factor | Maximum | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Education and training | 23 | Master's or doctorate 23; bachelor's or three-year degree 20; journeyperson trade certification 20; two-year diploma 15; one-year certificate 12 |
| Skilled work experience | 15 | Up to 10 for the past five years and up to 5 for the six to ten years before the application |
| First official language | 20 | CLB 8 or higher 20; CLB 7 18; CLB 6 16; CLB 5 14; CLB 4 12 |
| Second official language | 10 | CLB 8 or higher 10, down to 2 for CLB 4 |
| Age | 12 | 22 to 34: 12; 35 to 45: 10; 18 to 21 and 46 to 50: 8; over 50: 0 |
| Connection to Saskatchewan | 30 | Employment Offer: 30 for a high-skilled Saskatchewan job offer. Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand: close relative in Saskatchewan 20, past Saskatchewan work 5, past Saskatchewan study 5 |
Check your points with the SINP calculator. It shows whether the 60-point minimum is reached, not whether a pathway is currently selecting or your occupation is eligible.
NOC, TEER and licensing
Choose your National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 code by comparing the lead statement and main duties, not the job title. SINP staff will not choose a code for you.
- Experience must match. Work points and eligibility count only experience related to the intended occupation and, for the no-job-offer sub-categories, to your education.
- Excluded occupations. The SINP publishes an excluded occupation list for Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand; some of those occupations can still qualify through Employment Offer or Saskatchewan Experience with an approved job offer.
- Regulated work. If the occupation is a compulsory trade or legally requires a licence in Saskatchewan, you must show eligibility for licensure. A nomination does not grant a licence.
- Talent pathway lists. The Health, Agriculture, and Innovation and Tech pathways accept only their listed NOC codes; some agriculture codes also require the employer to be in specific NAICS industries.
How to apply
- Choose an active sub-categoryConfirm your status, work permit type, sector (priority, capped or other) and occupation restrictions.
- Employer obtains the EPAFor job-offer categories, the employer registers in OASIS and submits the Employer Position Assessment. Capped-sector employers can submit only during an intake window.
- Confirm the EPA within 10 daysWhen the EPA is conditionally approved, log in to OASIS within 10 days to confirm the details. You then have 60 calendar days to submit your SINP application.
- Submit a complete applicationUpload every required form and document at submission. Documents not in English or French need the original plus a translation by a certified translator in Canada, or by a non-certified translator who is not you, a family member or your representative, with an affidavit and a certified photocopy of the original. Incomplete or untranslated applications are closed, cannot be reopened and do not get a second review. Only one application may be active at a time; if you have more than one, you have 10 days to withdraw all but one. Requests for more information must be answered within 10 days through OASIS.
- Nomination and work permit supportIf approved, you receive a nomination certificate valid for six months; Employment Offer and Saskatchewan Experience nominees also receive a work permit support letter. A nominee with a job offer who does not already work for the supporting employer applies for the closed work permit within 90 days of nomination and must start work within 90 days of the permit being approved; missing either deadline risks withdrawal of the nomination.
- Apply to IRCC within six monthsSubmit the permanent residence application before the nomination expires, and keep the job and residence conditions of the nomination.
Representatives are optional. If you use one, the SINP requires a lawyer in good standing with a provincial law society or a consultant licensed by the Government of Saskatchewan, and the Use of a Representative form (IMM 5476) is part of the application; this is the SINP's own requirement and is not the same as IRCC's. No immigration consultant is given a nomination quota by the province.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| Application: ISW Employment Offer, Saskatchewan Express Entry, Occupation In-Demand and the three talent pathways | $500, non-refundable. Saskatchewan's 2026-27 fee summary says a new $500 fee applies from April 1, 2026 to skilled workers with job offers (previously free); the fee for those without job offers is unchanged at $500 |
| Application: Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit and Students | No fee is listed on these categories' pages, but both are job-offer categories. Confirm with the SINP whether the April 1, 2026 job-offer fee applies |
| Second review of an ineligible decision | $250 from April 1, 2026 (previously free) for job-offer applications, refunded in full if the original decision is overturned. Request within 30 days of the date on the ineligible letter, through the "Request for Second Review" button in the online application |
| International Skilled Worker EOI | No fee to submit |
IRCC permanent residence fees are separate: since April 30, 2026, $1,590 for the principal applicant, $1,590 for a spouse or partner and $270 per dependent child, plus biometrics.
What changed in 2025 and 2026
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| March 27, 2025 | Temporary pause ended. 2025 allocation cut to 3,625 (half of the previous level), with three-quarters of nominees required to be temporary residents already in Canada. Overseas candidates prioritized only in health care, agriculture and skilled trades. 25% cap on accommodation and food services, retail and trucking. Spas, salons and pet care made ineligible. Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm categories permanently closed. Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand applications without a Saskatchewan job offer returned |
| December 19, 2025 | 2026 rules published: initial allocation 4,761; at least 50% for priority sectors with 750 places for Saskatchewan graduates; capped-sector sub-caps and six intake windows; EPA replaced the Job Approval Form; new limits for PGWP, spousal open work permit and study permit holders |
| January 2, 2026 | The online Program Selector tool was archived |
| April 1, 2026 | New $500 application fee for skilled workers with job offers and new $250 second-review fee (refunded if the decision is overturned), under the Government of Saskatchewan's 2026-27 fee changes |
| 2026 | Allocation shown on the statistics page rose to 5,261; no dated notice of the increase was found |
Common mistakes
- Relying on 60 points without a job offer. The no-job-offer EOI pool is not selecting; check whether your route is actually active.
- Using a spousal open work permit or an out-of-province PGWP for Existing Work Permit or Students. These permits are restricted in 2026.
- Missing the EPA confirmation window. If you do not confirm within 10 days, the employer needs a new EPA, and a capped-sector employer must wait for the next intake.
- Applying in a capped sector too early. Capped-sector EPAs are accepted only when the worker has six months or less left on the work permit.
- Losing status before applying. Restoration status does not qualify for the job-offer sub-categories.
- Submitting an incomplete application. Missing or untranslated documents close the file, and the fee is not returned.
- Not reporting a job change. Employment changes must be emailed to the SINP within 10 business days, and changes to marital status, address or immigration status within 10 days; unreported changes can lead to revocation of the nomination certificate. Reduced hours below 30 a week and an absence longer than six consecutive weeks also count as changes.
- Misrepresentation. Processing is paused during an investigation, and the applicant and the employer or representative receive a procedural fairness letter with 10 days to respond with evidence. A finding can mean a suspension from the SINP of 2 to 5 years.
Frequently asked questions
Can I immigrate to Saskatchewan without a job offer in 2026?
In practice it is very difficult. The Express Entry and Occupation In-Demand sub-categories still exist, but no EOI selection has been held since September 12, 2024.
Is the SINP Entrepreneur category open?
No. The Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm Owner and Operator categories closed permanently on March 27, 2025.
What happens if my nomination certificate expires?
A nomination certificate is valid for six months. Nominees have 90 days after the expiry to apply for an extension, which is requested through OASIS with a detailed explanation. Each approved extension is valid for three months, at most two are granted for delays in submitting the PR application (only one for difficulty accumulating IRCC processing funds), and approval is not guaranteed.
What if my job ends or changes after I am nominated?
Tell the SINP immediately. A nominee who loses a job or whose employment changes is given 45 days to find a new job offer from an employer and can request two 45-day extensions. Employers must also notify the SINP within 15 calendar days of a change in a nominee's employment. Existing Work Permit nominees who change employers are generally not eligible for a certificate revision unless they have six months of experience with the new employer or qualify for a stream revision.
Does a nomination give me permission to work?
No. Eligible nominees receive a support letter and must apply to IRCC for a work permit.
Official sources
- Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
- Saskatchewan: Immigration FAQs (2026 allocation and rules)
- Saskatchewan: SINP processing statistics and intake windows
- Saskatchewan: Assess your eligibility (110-point grid)
- Saskatchewan: International Skilled Worker, Employment Offer
- Saskatchewan: International Skilled Worker, Saskatchewan Express Entry
- Saskatchewan: International Skilled Worker, Occupation In-Demand
- Saskatchewan: International Skilled Worker EOI system
- Saskatchewan: Health Talent Pathway
- Saskatchewan: Agriculture Talent Pathway
- Saskatchewan: Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway
- Saskatchewan: Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
- Saskatchewan: Students
- Saskatchewan: Occupation restrictions and requirements
- Saskatchewan: March 27, 2025 announcement on SINP changes
- IRCC: How the Provincial Nominee Program works
- IRCC: Permanent residence fees increasing (April 30, 2026)
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.