Saskatchewan Immigration: SINP Pathways, Requirements and Application Process

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) helps eligible workers and graduates pursue permanent residence through provincial nomination. The right pathway depends on your occupation, job offer, work experience, education and immigration status.Current Saskatchewan immigration options focus heavily on employment. Applicants must check both the requirements of their chosen pathway and the intake rules affecting their employer’s sector.This guide explains the main SINP pathways, job offer requirements, points system, application process and recent changes.Last reviewed: November 4, 2026. All fees are in Canadian dollars.

What Is the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program?

The SINP is Saskatchewan’s provincial nominee program. It allows the province to nominate applicants who meet its immigration needs and intend to live and work in Saskatchewan.Provincial nomination and permanent residence are separate stages. After receiving a nomination, you must complete the applicable federal permanent residence process.For a comparison with other provinces, see our provincial immigration overview.

Is Saskatchewan Immigration Open?

Saskatchewan continues to offer worker immigration pathways, subject to eligibility, employer approval and nomination availability.However, “SINP is open” does not mean every occupation, employer or pathway is accepting applications without restrictions.Before preparing an application, establish:

• Which SINP pathway fits your circumstances.
• Whether your occupation and employer are eligible.
• Whether your work permit type is accepted.
• Whether sector caps or intake windows apply.
• Whether an invitation is required.

The province’s official eligibility guide provides a starting point for choosing a pathway.

Priority and Capped Sectors

For 2026, Saskatchewan identifies these priority sectors:Healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, energy, mining, manufacturing and technology.At least 50% of the initial nomination allocation was reserved for priority sectors. Accommodation and food services, trucking and retail trade are capped sectors, collectively limited to a maximum share of the annual allocation.Capped-sector employers face intake windows and restrictions involving the candidate’s work permit expiry. Non-capped sectors generally have continuous intake, subject to the remaining program requirements.Check current notices before relying on a calendar published earlier in the year. Saskatchewan’s OASIS notice identifies September 14–15 as the final capped-sector intake scheduled for 2026.

Main Saskatchewan Immigration Pathways

Pathway	Main applicant group
International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer	Skilled workers with an eligible Saskatchewan job offer
Health Talent Pathway	Workers with eligible healthcare job offers
Agriculture Talent Pathway	Workers in designated agricultural and related occupations
Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway	Workers in eligible innovation and technology occupations
Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit	Eligible workers already employed in Saskatchewan
Students	Qualifying graduates of Saskatchewan institutions

Each pathway has separate requirements. Meeting one pathway’s language or experience threshold does not establish eligibility for another.

International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer

This pathway is for skilled workers with an eligible permanent, full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer.Main requirements include:

• At least 60 points on the SINP assessment grid.
• At least one year of relevant work experience within the preceding 10 years.
• At least CLB 4, although employers or regulators may require more.
• Eligibility for occupational licensing where required.
• An eligible job, generally in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
• A valid Employer Position Assessment (EPA).

Occupation-specific exclusions apply. For example, truck drivers must use the Existing Work Permit pathway, while specified healthcare occupations must use Health Talent or Students.

Health Talent Pathway

The Health Talent Pathway serves workers with eligible permanent, full-time healthcare job offers.For the non-Express Entry option, the main considerations include:

• At least CLB 5.
• Relevant education and work experience.
• An educational credential assessment for education completed outside Canada.
• Saskatchewan licensing eligibility, where applicable.
• An approved employment position.

Experience and education rules vary, including specific alternatives for certain healthcare support occupations. Applicants using an Express Entry option must also meet the applicable federal requirements.

Agriculture Talent Pathway

This pathway covers specified agricultural and related occupations with an eligible permanent, full-time Saskatchewan job offer.Main requirements include:

• At least CLB 4.
• Secondary school education or higher.
• Either one year of relevant full-time experience within the preceding three years, or six months of qualifying experience with the supporting employer.
• A valid EPA.
• Intention to work and reside in Saskatchewan.

Working for an agricultural business is not enough by itself; the offered occupation must qualify.

Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway

This pathway supports workers with eligible innovation or technology job offers.The non-Express Entry requirements address relevant education, work experience, licensing and employer approval. Applicants not already working for the supporting employer generally need at least CLB 5. Those already employed by that employer are assessed against the employer’s language requirements.Relevant experience generally involves one year within the preceding five years, with a six-month supporting-employer option for qualifying applicants working in Saskatchewan.Check the eligible occupation list and the requirements for the chosen Express Entry or non-Express Entry option.

Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit

This pathway generally requires:

• An eligible permanent, full-time Saskatchewan job offer.
• A qualifying work permit.
• At least six consecutive months—780 hours—of qualifying full-time employment in the job with the supporting employer.
• A valid EPA.
• Licensing and language evidence where required.

Work permit type matters. Post-Graduation Work Permit and spousal open work permit holders cannot use this pathway. Other SINP routes may be available to them.Occupation eligibility also varies by permit type. Truck drivers and food and beverage servers face specific permit restrictions.Read our Canadian work permit guide to understand the difference between immigration status and provincial nomination eligibility.

Saskatchewan Immigration for International Students

The SINP Student pathway is intended for qualifying graduates of Saskatchewan designated learning institutions.Main conditions include:

• A completed Saskatchewan certificate, diploma or degree.
• An accepted immigration document.
• At least six months—780 hours—of paid Saskatchewan work experience related to the field of study.
• An eligible permanent, full-time job offer connected to the studies.
• A valid EPA.
• Language evidence where required.

Certain qualifying work completed during studies can count, including eligible on-campus, off-campus and co-op employment. Study permit holders must have a job offer in a priority sector and satisfy the pathway’s conditions.

What If You Graduated Outside Saskatchewan?

Graduates who received their PGWP based on studies outside Saskatchewan cannot use the Student pathway. They may qualify through Employment Offer, Health Talent, Agriculture Talent or Innovation and Tech Talent, depending on their circumstances.For 2026, 750 nomination spaces are reserved for qualifying Saskatchewan graduates with job offers in priority sectors. This reservation does not guarantee nomination.

Can You Apply to SINP Without a Job Offer?

Saskatchewan maintains published information for the Occupations In-Demand and Saskatchewan Express Entry subcategories, which use an Expression of Interest system.However, published eligibility and current invitation availability must be considered separately. At the review date, the official EOI page states that no EOI draws are scheduled.Submitting an EOI:

• Is a preliminary expression of interest.
• Does not constitute a nomination application.
• Does not guarantee an invitation.
• Does not provide immigration status.

The official system describes EOI profiles as valid for one year. Review the current SINP EOI instructions before relying on this option.If you have no Saskatchewan job offer, assess other immigration options alongside the SINP rather than basing your entire plan on a future provincial invitation.

SINP Points System and Eligibility

The SINP International Skilled Worker assessment grid has a maximum of 110 points:

Assessment area	Maximum points
Education, experience, language and age	80
Saskatchewan labour market connections and adaptability	30
Total	110

A 60-point minimum applies to specified International Skilled Worker subcategories. It is not a universal requirement for every SINP pathway.Points must be supported by documents, and reaching the minimum does not guarantee selection.

SINP Points vs. Express Entry CRS Points

The SINP grid and the federal Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) serve different purposes.An accepted Express Entry provincial nomination can add 600 CRS points. You must qualify for the relevant provincial stream and a federal Express Entry program. A non-Express Entry nomination does not simply add points to an Express Entry profile.See our Express Entry overview and CRS guide for the federal assessment process.

Saskatchewan Job Offers and Employer Position Assessments

For job offer pathways, the employer must obtain approval for the position through an Employer Position Assessment.The process involves:

1. The employer submitting the position through OASIS.
2. Saskatchewan assessing the employer and position.
3. Conditional approval being issued.
4. The identified candidate confirming the employment information in OASIS.

Current pathway instructions require candidate confirmation within 10 days of notification, or before the EPA expires, whichever comes first.The EPA replaces the older Job Approval Form process. It is also separate from a federal work permit application. Review the official employer position approval instructions.For capped sectors, approval availability also depends on intake capacity, current employment and the applicable work permit timing rules.

How to Apply for Saskatchewan Immigration

1. Identify the Appropriate Pathway

Assess your occupation, actual job duties, employer, education, work history, language ability and immigration status.Check occupational restrictions before investing time in an application.

2. Complete the Required Employer or Invitation Stage

Job offer applicants need the applicable EPA approval and confirmation. EOI-based applicants must receive an invitation before submitting a nomination application.These are different processes; follow the instructions for your selected pathway.

3. Prepare Your Documents

Depending on the pathway, evidence can include:

• Passport, identity and family documents.
• Immigration status and work permits.
• Employment references and payroll records.
• Education documents and an ECA where required.
• Language results.
• Licensing evidence.
• The job offer and employer assessment information.

Use the pathway’s current checklist. Missing documents can result in an application being closed and returned.

4. Submit the SINP Application

Complete the applicable online application, upload the required evidence and pay the fee.Keep your information consistent across the job offer, employment records, application forms and any federal immigration profile.

5. Apply for Permanent Residence After Nomination

Follow the federal process specified for your nomination: Express Entry or non-Express Entry.For non-Express Entry nominees, the federal application is submitted after nomination. IRCC assesses the permanent residence application separately.Plan temporary status and work authorization separately while applications are processed.

SINP Application Fees

The current worker-category application fee is CAD500, including applications associated with a job offer.The new fee for worker applications with job offers took effect on April 1, 2026. A CAD250 second-review fee also applies to worker-category ineligibility reviews; it is refunded if the decision is reversed.Budget separately for federal fees, language tests, credential assessments, medical examinations, translations and professional assistance where needed.

SINP Processing Time

Processing has several distinct stages:

Stage	What is assessed
Employer Position Assessment	Employer and position eligibility
SINP nomination application	Applicant eligibility and supporting evidence
Federal permanent residence application	Federal immigration requirements and admissibility

For July–September 2026, Saskatchewan reported approximately two weeks for the listed worker nomination categories and four weeks for EPAs.These are historical figures for finalized applications. The province explicitly advises against using them to predict future processing times. Its stated targets are generally 16 weeks for complete worker nomination applications and six weeks for EPAs. Check the official SINP processing statistics when planning.Federal processing is additional and varies with application type, completeness, verification and available admission capacity.

Saskatchewan Entrepreneur and Farm Programs Are Closed

Effective March 27, 2025, Saskatchewan permanently closed its:

• Entrepreneur category.
• International Graduate Entrepreneur category.
• Farm Owner and Operator category.

No new applications, EOIs or invitations are accepted through these business pathways. Existing applications already in the system continue to be processed according to the government’s notice.The Agriculture Talent Pathway remains a worker route and should be distinguished from the closed Farm Owner and Operator category.Read our Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program status guide for closure information, or compare other provincial entrepreneur programs.

Assess Your Saskatchewan Immigration Options

A useful assessment should identify the pathway that fits your profile, whether the employer and occupation qualify, and which intake or work permit restrictions affect the application.Prepare your job duties, employment history, education, language results, immigration documents and any Saskatchewan job offer before seeking advice.Complete our free immigration assessment to share your profile, or book a consultation for a detailed review of your Saskatchewan and broader Canadian immigration options.