 PNP SASKATCHEWAN
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) operates under an agreement with the federal government, can provide an alternate and quicker means of entry into Canada. This program allows Saskatchewan to nominate applicants, who qualify under criteria established by the province, to the federal government for landed immigrant status.
SINP eligibility criteria reflect the specific needs of Saskatchewan’s labour market and economy. The SINP currently has seven categories for nomination: Skilled Workers, Family Members, Long Haul Truck Drivers, Health Professions, Entrepreneurs, Foreign Students, and Farmers.
Skilled Workers:
You may apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) under the Skilled Workers category if you have an offer of permanent full-time employment in Saskatchewan:
- As a skilled worker or professional; or
- In a management position; or
- Have worked in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six months on a temporary work permit.
Skilled Workers/Professionals:
To be eligible in this sub-category you must:
- Have a confirmed permanent full-time offer of employment with a Saskatchewan employer;
- Be applying in an occupation or trade that falls into the National Occupational Classification Matrix level “A” or “B” or is equivalent to an apprenticeship-able trade in Saskatchewan;
- Score a minimum of 35 points on the self-assessment form.
Health professionals are excluded under this category and should review the Health Professions Category. Foreign health professionals can contact the SINP for further details.
Critical Occupations:
SINP can also nominate a designated individual whose occupation is in a management position listed in the NOC code “0” and, if hired, will create a significant economic impact for the organization and Saskatchewan.
To be eligible in this sub-category, you must fulfill the following criteria:
- Have a permanent offer of employment from a Saskatchewan employer in a position that has been approved by SINP as a Critical Occupation Position
- Your occupation is in a management position that falls into the National Occupational Classification Matrix level 0.
- Have a minimum of 35 points in the Skilled Workers Assessment rating.
Health Care Professionals:
Physicians:
Under this category, Saskatchewan can nominate individuals whose educational and professional certifications qualify them for employment in Saskatchewan as a physician. The applicant must be currently working on Temporary Work Permit for a Saskatchewan health occupation employer and be supported by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CoPSS), Saskatchewan Health and the appropriate regional health authority.
The Physicians Category requires the following FIVE criteria be met:
- Temporary work permit confirming the applicant has been practicing as a physician in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six (6) months.
- Offer of permanent employment
(a) An offer of permanent employment issued by a provincial health authority; and/or
(b) Documents describing the applicant’s permanent arrangement to practice medicine in a Saskatchewan medical office (e.g., a business plan or contract, partnership agreement, or other documents describing the applicant’s practice); and/or
(c) An offer of permanent employment from a health educational institution where employed.
- Letter of support from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Saskatchewan (CoPSS).
- Letter of support from Saskatchewan Health.
- Letter of support from the Regional Health Authority where the applicant is employed.
Nurses:
Under this category, Saskatchewan can nominate nurses as Licensed Practical Nurses, Psychiatric Nurses or Registered Nurses, whose educational and professional certifications qualify them for employment in Saskatchewan. The applicant must be currently working on Temporary Work Permit for a Saskatchewan health occupation employer and be supported by the appropriate licensing body, Saskatchewan Health and the appropriate regional health authority.
If you are not currently employed in Saskatchewan as a nurse, to ascertain what further studies, examinations and/or certifications are needed in order to qualify to work in Saskatchewan contact either the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN), the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS), or the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA).
Applications from nurses hired in positions with publicly funded health employers that are not covered by nursing collective agreements will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
The Nurses Category requires that the following FIVE criteria be met:
- Temporary Work Permit: this permit confirms that the applicant has been practicing as a nurse in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six (6) months.
- Offer of Permanent Full-time Employment issued by a Saskatchewan Regional Health Authority, the Saskatchewan Cancer Agency or other publicly-funded health employer.
- Letter of support from the appropriate licensing body indicating the applicant has an unrestricted license to practice. This must be one of the following: the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan (RPNAS), the Saskatchewan Association of Licensed Practical Nurses (SALPN) or the Saskatchewan Registered Nurses’ Association (SRNA).
- Letter of support from Saskatchewan Health.
- Letter of support from the Regional Health Authority where the applicant is employed.
Other Health Care Professionals:
Under this category, Saskatchewan can nominate other health professionals currently working in health occupations that fall into the National Occupational Classification Matrix level “A” or “B” or requires at least one (1) academic year of post secondary education or 1 year of job specific training and is supported by the appropriate licensing body (if applicable), Saskatchewan Health, the appropriate regional health authority or other employer.
Many health occupations require a license or other credential in order to practice in Saskatchewan. There are twenty-three health regulatory authorities in Saskatchewan that license and certify health occupations.
Entrepreneurs:
The Entrepreneur Category of the SINP is an alternative to federal immigration classes for business immigrants who wish to live in Saskatchewan and operate a business.
Eligible businesses include establishing a new business, purchasing an existing business or entering into a joint venture or partnership. In all cases the applicant must have an active management role in the day-to-day operation of the business. In addition, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Have a minimum of 3 years business experience or management background;
- Have conducted a comprehensive exploratory visit to Saskatchewan of no less than five working days prior to submitting the SINP application. During your exploratory visit, an interview with the SINP is required;
- Are able to provide evidence of their general knowledge of the Province;
- Provide documented assessment of business opportunities in Saskatchewan by way of a business proposal which can be assessed or a relocation and investment plan that includes the proposed level assessment, the industry to be invested in and intended professional and financial advisors in Saskatchewan;
- Have a minimum personal net worth of $250,000 CDN;
- Are willing to invest adequate funds to a proposed business (minimum $150,000 CDN);
- Intend to own no less than 33.3% of their business in Saskatchewan or invest at least $500,000 into the business; and
- Make a refundable deposit of $75,000 CDN into a trust account in Saskatchewan and sign a Performance Agreement based on the business proposal or relocation and investment plan.
If you are nominated by Saskatchewan, you will need to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) who will conduct security, criminality, and a health review of yourself and your family members. This review may also consider the validity of supporting documentation. CIC may request interview and retains final authority in issuing the permanent resident visa.
Farmers:
Farm owner/operator nominees will be individuals with proven experience in farming, substantial capital available to invest in a farming operation, and who have made a signed offer to purchase land for a farming operation in Saskatchewan.
There are four eligibility criteria for the Farm Owner/Operator category:
- Available Equity — applicants must provide financial documents showing a networth of $500,000.
- Refundable Cash Deposit — applicants must sign a Performance Agreement committing them to purchasing a farm operation in Saskatchewan and make a “good faith” deposit of $75,000 in trust. The cash deposit will be returned to them when the terms of the Performance Agreement are met. The deposit will be forfeited to the province if the terms are not met within two years of landing in Saskatchewan.
- Mandatory visit to Saskatchewan — applicants are required to visit Saskatchewan within the two-year period prior to making a signed offer to purchase.
- Farm operation knowledge and experience — applicants must provide documentation (e.g. education and training, work experience, financial documents of their previous operations) that demonstrate that they are knowledgeable farm operators. If necessary, this may be further verified by a personal interview with the applicant in Saskatchewan.
The farm owner/operator category is restricted to proprietary businesses that include primary agricultural production. Agri-business operations that do not involve primary agricultural production, or farm operations that involve some form of joint venture with existing Saskatchewan operations, would be eligible to apply under the Business category.
Foreign Student Post Graduation Work Permit Category:
Graduated foreign students working for a Saskatchewan employer can apply for nomination and permanent landed status when:
- The applicant has graduated from a program of at least one academic year of full-time study in Saskatchewan and has received a certificate, diploma, or degree from a recognized Saskatchewan post secondary educational institution;
- The applicant has worked for a Saskatchewan employer for a minimum of six (6) months under a Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) post graduation work permit; and
- The applicant has a current permanent full-time job offer from their employer.
Foreign students who have studied in Saskatchewan and have been sponsored by an agency or government and are expected to return to their country of origin to work are excluded from this category.
Graduated foreign students working for a Saskatchewan employer on a post graduation work permit, who have received a certificate, diploma, or degree from a recognized Canadian post secondary educational institution outside of Saskatchewan, can contact the SINP for more information. Health professionals working in the public health system are not eligible under this category and should review the SINP Health Professionals category.
Family Members Category
People living in another country that have family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Saskatchewan may qualify. This includes:
- mother/father;
- daughter/son;
- brother/sister;
- niece/nephew;
- aunt/uncle;
- grandchild;
- grandfather/grandmother;
- first cousin; or
- step-relative or in-law of the same level
To be eligible under the Family Members category you must:
- Have a signed affidavit of support from one or more family members in Saskatchewan that indicates they will provide settlement assistance to you and your family. This may include financial support.
- Be between the ages of 18-49;
- Have completed at least one year of post-secondary education, training or apprenticeship and have received a diploma, certificate or degree;
- Have at least one year of work experience in your field of education/training;
- Have sufficient language capability to be employable in Saskatchewan that is verified by an employer affidavit or by education and language testing;
- Have a fulltime permanent job offer from an employer in Saskatchewan or, intend to find work in Saskatchewan and have adequate funds to live in the province after arrival ($10,000 for principal applicant and $2,000 for each additional accompanying family member). The funds may be from you or your supporting family members. Note the offer of full time permanent employment must come from a registered, income generating Saskatchewan business. Live in caregivers are excluded under this category and should refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Live-in Caregiver Program.
Applicants who intend to work in a medical profession requiring licensing or certification must apply under the SINP Health Professionals category.
Obtaining provincial or federal licensing or accreditation in your intended occupation does not guarantee you will be able to find employment in your field in Saskatchewan.
Supporting Family Members:
Supporting family members can include: parents; sister/brother; children; aunt/uncle; niece/nephew; grandparents; first cousin; or step-family member.
To be eligible as a supporting family member you must be:
- A Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada who has lived in Saskatchewan for the past year; and
- Financially self-supporting. You are not eligible to be a supporting family member if you have received financial support through the Saskatchewan Assistance Plan, Employment Insurance, or the Resettlement Assistance Program within the last six months.
Long Haul Truck Driver Project
Under the Long-Haul Truck Driver Project, Saskatchewan trucking firms may be authorized to bring in foreign workers initially under Services Canada’s (SC) Temporary Foreign Worker policy for occupations requiring high school diploma or specific on the job training, and subsequently retain them as permanent employees through the SINP. Long haul truck drivers can begin working in Saskatchewan for approved trucking firms on a foreign work permit and, if offered permanent employment by their employer after a minimum of six months employment, may apply to the SINP for permanent resident status.
Foreign Long-Haul Truckers:
To be eligible for a Foreign Temporary Work Permit and for nomination by the SINP, foreign drivers must:
- have a current trucking license equivalent to a Saskatchewan class 1A drivers license;
- prove they have completed two years trucking experience;
- be eligible to receive a security clearance and visa eligibility for travel to the United States (if needed by employer);
- speak and read English with reasonable fluency. Applicants whose first language is not English must prove they have had extensive education in English at the primary or secondary school level or have acquired English language ability by other means or have been tested at an International English Language Testing System (ELTS) as level 6 or greater; and,
- have a job offer from a Saskatchewan trucking firm approved under this category.
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