PNP Contents

Long-Haul Truck Drivers

This sub-category allows trucking firms to bring long-haul truck drivers to Saskatchewan. To qualify for this project, long-haul truck drivers:

• Must begin working for an approved trucking firm in Saskatchewan on a temporary foreign work permit.
• If an approved trucking firm offers permanent employment, the trucker may apply to the SINP for permanent resident status after at least six months employment.
• Meet the sub-category criteria. Criteria can change at any time, but we'll use what was on this website when we received your complete application.

Eligibility

To apply for SINP nomination through this sub-category, you must:

• Be working for an SINP-approved Saskatchewan trucking firm for at least six months on a temporary work permit. The permit must be issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and based on a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Service Canada;
• Have a current Saskatchewan Class 1A driver's licence;
• Have an offer of full-time, permanent employment from your employer which must be an approved trucking firm in Saskatchewan; and,
• Have at least Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 4 or higher English language ability in all four categories (listening, speaking, reading and writing).
  
  • See Learning English for more information on acceptable language assessments.
• Have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter.

See the Saskatchewan Trucking Association for a list of firms that may be hiring foreign drivers. Check with companies to see if they’ve been SINP-approved. Only apply after they’ve been SINP-approved.

The federal government sets the amount of nominations the SINP can make every year. The SINP also accepts a maximum number of applications for each year. No application is guaranteed to be accepted and/or nominated.

Student

This sub-category is for students who:

• Have graduated from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Canada.
• Want to apply for nomination by the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
• Meet the sub-category criteria. Criteria can change at any time, but we'll use what was on this website when we received your complete application.

Students may apply to any of the other SINP categories, if they meet their criteria.

Eligibility

Students who have graduated from a Saskatchewan institute

• You may qualify in this sub-category if:
• You’ve graduated from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Saskatchewan with:
  
  • A certificate;
  • A diploma; or
  • A degree.
• You’ve worked for a minimum of 6 months (or 960 hours) of paid employment in Saskatchewan.
  • Eligible types of work experience in Saskatchewan 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.
• You’ve applied for and received a valid post-graduation work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
• You have a current, permanent, full-time job offer in your field of study from a Saskatchewan employer. The job should be:
  
  • In an occupation in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) Matrix level “A”, “B”, “0” or
  • In a designated trade, or
  • A job offer that is related to your field of study and requires post-secondary education.
    
    • Food and Beverage Servers/Persons must apply under the Hospitality Sector Project sub-category.
• You have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter.
• You must have a minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 if your job offer is in a NOC ‘C’ occupation.

Students who have graduated from an institute in Canada

You may qualify in this sub-category if:

• You’ve graduated from a program equivalent to at least one academic year (8 months) of full-time study from a recognized post-secondary educational institution in Canada (outside of Saskatchewan) with:
  
  • A certificate;
  • A diploma; or
  • A degree
• You’ve applied for, and received a valid post-graduation work permit from IRCC.
• You’ve worked after graduation with a post-grad work permit for at least six consecutive months (minimum 960 hours) of paid employment in Saskatchewan in a position related to your field of study.
  
  • Eligible types of work experience in Saskatchewan include work experience gained on a post-graduate work permit.
• You have a current, permanent, full-time job offer in your field of study from a Saskatchewan employer. The job should be:
  
  • In an occupation in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) Matrix level “A”, “B”, “O” or
  • In a designated trade, or
  • A job offer that is related to your field of study and requires post-secondary education.
    
    • Food and Beverage Servers/Persons must apply under the Hospitality Sector Project sub-category.
• You have a valid SINP Job Approval Letter.
• You must have a minimum language score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 if your job offer is in a NOC ‘C’ occupation.

The federal government sets the amount of nominations the SINP can make every year. The SINP also accepts a maximum number of applications each year. No application is guaranteed to be accepted and/or nominated.

The Entrepreneur Category

Through the SINP Entrepreneur Program, you and your family can start, obtain or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and be actively involved in managing it, while residing in Saskatchewan.

The Entrepreneur Category Process

There are three steps to the nomination process:

1. Expression of Interest (EOI) submission to the SINP;
2. EOI Selection and Invitation to Submit an Application;
3. Nomination.

Learn more about each steps.

The Expression of Interest (EOI)

The EOI is not an application; it is an expression of your interest in the SINP. Prospective immigrants will indicate their interest in operating a business and living in Saskatchewan by providing required information about their entrepreneurial experience, assets, and Business Establishment Plan (BEP), among other factors.

Candidates who meet the minimum entry criteria will be accepted into the EOI candidate pool.
Once submitted, EOIs are scored and ranked using the Points Grid.
We select EOI’s based on the EOI Points Assessment ranking and SINP nomination targets. Submitting an EOI does not guarantee selection for processing.

Before You Submit Your EOI

Note the following important information, before you submit your EOI:

• To submit an EOI to the SINP, you must:
  • Meet the minimum entry criteria; and
  • Complete the Points Assessment Grid in order to be scored once your EOI is in the pool of candidates.
• To meet the minimum entry criteria you must:
  
  • Have $500,000 (CAD) at minimum in Net Business and Personal Assets;
  • Have a minimum of three years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience gained in the past ten years; and,
  • Intend to invest a minimum of $300,000 (CAD) in Regina and Saskatoon or a minimum of $200,000 (CAD) in all other Saskatchewan communities.
• We'll assess the information you provide in your EOI against the points grid to rank your EOI in the pool of candidates. Candidates are then selected from the EOI system based on their score, with top scoring EOIs being prioritized for selection. Selected candidates are invited to apply to the SINP.
• If you are invited to apply you must submit a Business Establishment Plan (BEP) that corresponds to the information in your EOI. Your BEP must include:
  
  • Your plan to establish a business that aligns with the points assigned in the Entrepreneur Category Points Grid, if applicable (for investment amount and sector);
  • Your ownership of at least one third (33 1/3 per cent) of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan, unless your total investment is $1 million CAD or higher;
  • Your commitment to provide active and on-going participation in the day-to-day management and direction of the business; and
  • The creation of two employment opportunities in Saskatchewan for Canadians or permanent residents who are not related to you.
    
    • This only applies if you're establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon.

Please note that the SINP reserves the right to have Business Establishment Plans assessed by professional third parties identified by the Government of Saskatchewan. The assessment conducted by Third Parties will focus on the preparation and due diligence conducted by the applicant in preparing their proposed business plan.

Expression of Interest (EOI) Submission to the SINP

Please follow these steps to submit your EOI to the program:

• Only those who meet the minimum eligibility criteria can submit an EOI.
• If you are eligible to apply under the Entrepreneur category review the Points Grid.
• Complete your EOI online. Instructions are provided during the online application. The system will calculate your score based upon the information you enter and your EOI will be placed in a pool for potential selection. Only EOIs with all sections completed can be submitted.
  
  • If selected, your EOI will form part of your application. You must be sure your EOI is up to date at the time of submission, and that all answers are accurate and truthful. If your EOI is not up to date and it's found that you or any person associated with your application omitted relevant information or provided misleading or fraudulent information at the time of assessment, your application will be rejected and you'll be unable to apply to the SINP for a period of two years.
  • Be sure you understand the questions before you provide an answer. If you're unsure, use the help icons or review this page again.
  • There's no fee for submitting an EOI.
  • You won't need to attach any documents to your EOI. However, you will be required to attach documents, including translations if necessary, if you're invited by the SINP to submit an electronic application.
• Your EOI is ranked based upon your points assessment score, after which it's placed in an EOI pool.
  
  • EOI's can remain in the pool for 12 months from the date of receipt.
  • If your EOI is not selected during this time it will be removed from the pool and you will be able to reapply if you want to.
  • If you're able to acquire additional points after starting your EOI, you can update your pending EOI with current information before it's submitted.
  • Once your EOI has been submitted you'll not be able to update it. If your EOI is selected it will be removed from the pool and you'll no longer be able to update it. Points for age are awarded based on your age on the date you submit your EOI.

Application for Nomination

To qualify for nomination, you and your immediate family must be residing in Saskatchewan and you must meet the terms of your BPA, including:

• Transferring the required funds to Canada;
• Maintaining legal status in Canada; and
• Operating your business in accordance with your BPA for at least six months before requesting nomination.

To ensure you maintain legal status in Canada, you're encouraged to have at least six months remaining on your TWP when you apply for nomination. You're responsible for maintaining your legal status in Canada in line with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

• Once you've fulfilled your BPA and operated your business for at least six months you'll be eligible to apply to the SINP for nomination.
• The SINP will assess your application for nomination and advise you of the outcome. You'll be assessed upon your compliance with your BPA and any other criteria in place at the time you started your application process.
• Submit your application for nomination electronically, using the SINP online system. See Nomination Request – Required Documents for the list of documents you'll need to provide.
• If approved for nomination the SINP will:
  
  • Send a nomination certificate to IRCC; and,
  • Send a nomination letter to you explaining how to send your permanent residency application to the IRCC Centralized Intake Office (CIO).

Application for Permanent Residence

Once you’ve successfully completed all three steps above, you may apply for permanent residency. To gain permanent residence status, you must apply to IRCC with your SINP nomination.

You must also:

• Ensure you maintain your legal status in Canada; and
• Have a valid TWP while you are waiting for IRCC to process your permanent residence application.

IRCC considers your application after it receives the nomination certificate from the SINP, and is responsible for assessing each nominee's eligibility for Permanent Residence. It completes health, security and criminality reviews. It may also ask for any other information it thinks is needed, at any time during the application process. After all these reviews, if approved, IRCC will issue visas to you and your family members, as applicable.

• The SINP is not responsible for IRCC's decision to grant or deny Permanent Residence status.

EOI Selection and Invitation to Submit an Application

EOI's are assessed based upon the criteria in place at the time when your EOI was submitted. If your EOI is selected it will be removed from the application pool and you will no longer be able to update it. Selection doesn't guarantee your application will be approved or that you'll receive a nomination or permanent residence.

After your EOI has been selected:

• You'll receive an Invitation to Submit an Application (ISA) letter. The letter will include a file number. If your application doesn't match the information in your EOI it will be rejected and you'll be unable to submit an EOI or apply to the SINP for two years.
  
  • If your situation or any of your information has changed and the changes would result in a loss of points or you would no longer meet the minimum criteria then you should request to withdraw your EOI and not submit an application.
• You'll have 20 calendar days from the date of the ISA letter in which to:
  
  • Pay a $2,500.00 CAD non-refundable processing fee; and,
  • Select and identify a recognized third party financial review service provider on your online application.
• You'll have 90 calendar days from the date of the ISA letter in which to:
  
  • Submit your complete electronic application, including all required supporting documents; and
  • Submit your BEP.
• You’ll have 180 calendar days from the date of the ISA letter in which to:
  
  • Submit your Third Party Verification Report.
    
    • You're responsible for submitting the required documents to the Third Party Verification provider (see the Third Party Entrepreneur Category Document Checklist).
    • The Third Party Verification provider may request further documents or information and may call you for an interview if necessary.
• If you've not submitted the required information or processing fee within the time given, your invitation to apply will expire and your application may be closed and removed from the system.
  
  • If your application has been removed from the system and you're still interested in applying to the SINP you'll have to submit a new EOI, under the relevant criteria in place at the time of submission.
• You'll need to upload supporting documents to your electronic application.
  
  • Carefully review the document checklists for a full list of all required documents.
• All documentation must be provided in English or French.
  
  • Where documents are in a language other than English or French, you must submit an electronic copy of the original document, as well as an electronic copy of its translation and a translator affidavit.

If your application is accepted for processing and the information you provided changes, such as your family composition, marital status, country of residence, contact information, etc., you must inform the SINP. You're required to update your application even if your visa has already been issued.

Required Documents

Required documents are the documents required for your immigration application (e.g. documents that prove your identity, entrepreneurial experience, language ability, finances, etc.).

For a complete list of required documents, review:

• SINP Entrepreneur Category Document Checklist
• Third Party Entrepreneur Category Document Checklist

You'll need to upload copies of your required documents to your electronic application. All uploaded documents must be clear and easy to read. If any documents are not in English or French you must submit the following:

• An electronic copy of the original document;
• An electronic copy of the English or French translation of the document; and
• An electronic copy of a Translator Affidavit that describes the ability of the translator.

Translations may be done by anyone, except:

• Your spouse;
• A member of your family; or
• A paid third party that has prepared your application to the SINP.

Some Canadian visa offices ask that documents are translated by a certified translator. The SINP doesn't ask for this, but you should still make sure your translated documents meet all federal requirements.

Although the SINP requests you upload copies of documents to an electronic application, IRCC may require original documents or certified copies.

Your SINP Application Assessment

Once your application Processing Fee, Third Party Verification Report, and Electronic Application including all Supporting Documentation are received, we'll review your application and verify the information.

Please note that only complete applications will be accepted.
Incomplete applications will be closed and all submitted information and supporting documents removed from the system.
If your application has been closed and you wish to reapply, you must
submit a new EOI, under the relevant criteria in place at the time of submission.
Your application will be assessed against the Entrepreneur Eligibility Criteria and your EOI Points Assessment will be verified.
A Business Immigration Officer may contact you for more information or call you for an in-person interview.
If, upon review of your application, you don't meet the program's Eligibility Criteria your application will be ineligible.
If your application is found ineligible, all submitted information and supporting documents will be removed from the system. You may choose to submit a new EOI once you meet program criteria.
If the SINP determines that your score on the Points Assessment Grid differs from the points you have claimed and that this was due to intentional misrepresentation, or that you or any person associated with your application omitted relevant information or provided misleading information:
Your application will be rejected; and,
You will not be permitted to submit an EOI or application to the SINP for a period of two years.
If you appear to meet the Entrepreneur Eligibility Criteria you'll be contacted to participate in a final interview. This could be in-person or through a web-based video conferencing service. Please note that applicants are responsible for ensuring they have access to the web-based video conferencing service, including all equipment and software required.
Upon completion of your final interview, you’ll be sent a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) for your review and signature.
Your BPA is your legal agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan.
It will state the amount you’ll invest in your business, and the business sector you will operate your business under. The BPA will also list any other information relevant to your application including, but not limited to job creation, business succession and business location. This is based upon the information you supplied in your Business Establishment Plan.
You must scan and attach your signed and dated BPA to the SINP within 30 days.
Once we receive your signed and dated BPA, we’ll issue an SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter that includes instructions on how to apply to IRCC for a Temporary Work Permit (TWP), along with a Temporary Work Permit Support Letter. The letter is issued to facilitate your application to IRCC for a TWP. A TWP allows you to settle and operate your business in Saskatchewan.
You must apply to IRCC for your TWP within three months of the date on the SINP Approval letter.
If IRCC refuses your TWP application, your SINP application will be ineligible.

Who to include in Your Application

You must list all dependents on your application to the SINP Entrepreneur Category even if they're not coming to Canada with you. As well, you'll have to declare any new dependents to us and IRCC before visas are issued.

IRCC may change the definition of dependents or the policies regarding dependents at any time. You can review IRCC's policies and procedures on the IRCC website.

Presently, accompanying dependents include your:

• Spouse (See Important Terms: Spouse).
• Common-law partner (See Important Terms: Common-law partner).
• Dependent children (See Important Terms: Dependent children).
  
  • Dependent family members that are not included in your application can't be nominated for permanent residence as part of your SINP application later.
  • If you want your dependent family members to join you in Canada later, you'll need to make a separate application to the Government of Canada's Family Sponsorship program, or another immigration category. The application will have to be approved before your dependent family members will be allowed to join you.

Please note: If you're the principal applicant, your parents, brothers and sisters may not be included in the SINP application.

Net Worth Evaluation - Third Party Financial Service Providers

The SINP uses two professional third-party financial service providers to assess the net worth and legal accumulation of net worth of applicants to this category.

When you receive an Invitation to Submit an Application (ISA), you'll find an SINP file number included.

1. Submit all relevant documents listed on the Third Party Document Checklist, with your file number to one of the third-party providers listed above. Your information won’t be reviewed without this file number.
2. Make sure all your information (financial statements, property evaluations, bank account information, etc.) are up-to-date and correct. This will help speed up the evaluation process.
3. Once your assessment is complete, you'll receive an evaluation report from the service provider.
4. To complete your application, submit the evaluation report and updated information to the SINP. Submit your application for nomination to the SINP and include your evaluation report and any updated information.
5. Be sure to submit your application within 90 days of receiving your evaluation report.

Arriving in Saskatchewan and Establishing Your Business

• We require you to submit your SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter along with your application for a TWP to the federal government within three months after you get the letter, to facilitate your arrival in Saskatchewan within 12 months of receiving your SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter. All approved applicants that don't attend an arrival meeting within 18 months of the date on the SINP Entrepreneur Approval letter will be deemed to have failed to fulfil BPA terms, and their applications will be closed.
• After you arrive in Saskatchewan you'll have to:
  
  • Meet with a business service provider that we designate within 90 calendar days of arriving in Canada. The contact details will be sent to you with your BPA. The business service provider is available to answer your questions related to fulfilling the terms of the BPA. They can also refer you to other service providers for relevant information and guidance related to the establishment of your business;
  • Submit your Arrival Report Form and the list of documents you should provide with it; and
  • No later than 12 months after the Landing Date, submit your Business Establishment Progress Report to the SINP Entrepreneur category. This report outlines your business establishment activities to date.
• Upon arrival in Saskatchewan you're to:
  
  • Begin to establish or purchase your business as per the requirements of your BPA. We recommend you start operating your business within six months of arriving in the province. To be eligible for nomination, you must operate your business for a minimum of six months.
• You're encouraged to use the settlement services available in Saskatchewan. You can access government funded settlement services through Regional Newcomer Gateways.
  
  • These organizations are welcoming centres for newcomers to Saskatchewan. They provide language assessment services, career and employment services (for your accompanying family members), and guidance and advice from a Settlement Coordinator. The Regional Newcomer Gateways can also connect you to community and ethno-cultural groups.

BPA Change Requests

• Applicants applying to change their BPA should have completed the mandatory arrival meeting within 90 calendar days of arriving in Canada, and, if required, should also have submitted the mid-term Business Establishment Activity Report. Applicants that haven't fulfilled these obligations won't be eligible to request a BPA change.
• BPA change requests will only be considered when the proposed new venture has been well researched and detailed documentation is provided.
• You'll have to show genuine attempts to purchase or establish the business in line with your original BPA. You must also provide detailed documentation to show that you've attempted to fulfil your original BPA, or clearly outline why the business is no longer possible in your intended location.
• You'll have to explain what obstacles you've encountered and what you've done to try to overcome these obstacles.
• BPA change requests will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
• You're not guaranteed to receive approval for a BPA change despite meeting program criteria.
• Change requests must be reviewed and the requested change must continue to meet program criteria, and be eligible.

BPA changes shouldn't result in you being assessed with fewer points than you were selected with, based on your EOI.

Nomination

Application for Nomination

To qualify for nomination, you and your immediate family must be residing in Saskatchewan and you must meet the terms of your BPA, including:

• Transferring the required funds to Canada;
• Maintaining legal status in Canada; and
• Operating your business in accordance with your BPA for at least six months before requesting nomination.

To ensure you maintain legal status in Canada, you're encouraged to have at least six months remaining on your TWP when you apply for nomination. You're responsible for maintaining your legal status in Canada in line with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

• Once you've fulfilled your BPA and operated your business for at least six months you'll be eligible to apply to the SINP for nomination.
• The SINP will assess your application for nomination and advise you of the outcome. You'll be assessed upon your compliance with your BPA and any other criteria in place at the time you started your application process.
• Submit your application for nomination electronically, using the SINP online system. See Nomination Request – Required Documents for the list of documents you'll need to provide.
• If approved for nomination the SINP will:
  
  • Send a nomination certificate to IRCC; and,
  • Send a nomination letter to you explaining how to send your permanent residency application to the IRCC Centralized Intake Office (CIO).

Application for Permanent Residence

Once you’ve successfully completed all three steps above, you may apply for permanent residency. To gain permanent residence status, you must apply to IRCC with your SINP nomination.

You must also:

• Ensure you maintain your legal status in Canada; and
• Have a valid TWP while you are waiting for IRCC to process your permanent residence application.

IRCC considers your application after it receives the nomination certificate from the SINP, and is responsible for assessing each nominee's eligibility for Permanent Residence. It completes health, security and criminality reviews. It may also ask for any other information it thinks is needed, at any time during the application process. After all these reviews, if approved, IRCC will issue visas to you and your family members, as applicable.

• The SINP is not responsible for IRCC's decision to grant or deny Permanent Residence status.