The best is yet to come
OK
Log out of UNA?
Log out
Cancel
Revolutionizing Immigration with AI
Tools
CRS CalculatorExpress Entry Invitations
My Appointments
Welcome to UNA
Sign In
English中文(简体)中文(香港)中文(台灣)
Major Adjustments to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP): Several Streams Closed, Overseas Recruitment Focuses on Three Key Industries
Published Date: April 2, 2025

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) recently announced a series of significant policy adjustments aimed at better addressing the province’s labor market needs and economic development goals. The new policy officially took effect on March 27, 2025, and will have far-reaching impacts on foreign nationals who hope to immigrate to Canada through this program.

Resumption of Job Approval Form (JAF) Acceptance and Limits on Overseas Recruitment

The much-watched Job Approval Form (JAF) application process for employers resumed on March 27. Previously, the province had suspended the acceptance of JAFs on February 18, 2025. JAF is a crucial document that Saskatchewan employers must submit to SINP when sponsoring a foreign worker for provincial nomination for permanent residence (PR); once approved, it generates a Job Approval Letter.

Although the acceptance of JAFs has resumed, SINP has made it clear that this year’s focus will be on processing immigration applications from temporary residents already in the province, with these applications expected to account for 75% of the annual nomination quota. Therefore, for applicants outside Canada, SINP will prioritize candidates working in the three key sectors of healthcare, agriculture, and technical trades when issuing job approvals. Overseas recruitment in all other sectors and occupations will only be supported for applicants who already hold a valid Canadian work permit or work authorization and are working within Canada. SINP indicated that it does not expect to suspend JAF acceptance again in 2025.

Closure of Entrepreneur and Farm Owner/Operator Immigration Streams

Under the current reforms, SINP has closed the following three immigration categories:

  • Entrepreneur category
  • International Graduate Entrepreneur category
  • Farm Owner/Operator category

Effective March 27, 2025, these streams will no longer accept new applications. For applicants who submitted an Expression of Interest (EOI) before this date but have not yet received an invitation, their EOIs will be removed from the system and they will not be able to proceed further in the application process. Cases that submitted a formal application before this date will continue to be processed under the old policy standards. SINP stated that there are no plans to reopen these closed streams in the near term.

Annual Nomination Caps Imposed on Specific Industries

To balance development across various industries, SINP has implemented annual nomination caps on the following three sectors:

  • Accommodation and food services
  • Retail trade
  • Truck transportation

According to the new rules, the total number of provincial nominations that can be allocated to these three sectors collectively cannot exceed 25% of SINP’s total nomination quota for the year. This cap will be reviewed and adjusted annually based on the project priorities of each year. SINP has defined the specific occupational scopes for these sectors by integrating both the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes and the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes.

Even if applications received have reached the 25% cap, SINP will continue to accept JAFs. However, JAFs submitted after the cap is met will only be processed if SINP still requires additional job approvals to meet the overall nomination quota for 2025; otherwise, these later-submitted JAFs will expire at the end of the year, and employers wishing to continue recruiting will need to resubmit in the following year.

Certain Open Work Permit Holders Lose Eligibility

The new policy also restricts the eligibility of some individuals holding open work permits (OWP) from applying for immigration through SINP. According to information on the SINP website, holders of “certain open work permits, such as spousal work permits,” will no longer be eligible to apply. At present, SINP has not provided a detailed list of other OWP types affected by this change. The province’s immigration office stated that this measure is taken due to the “higher risk of exploitation” and “lower retention outcomes” associated with these categories, which contradicts SINP’s goal of attracting new immigrants to make legitimate, stable, and long-term economic contributions.

Raised Eligibility Thresholds for the International Student Category

SINP has also revised the eligibility requirements for the International Student Category. Under the new rules, only students who graduate from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Saskatchewan are eligible to apply, and they must meet the following condition:

  • They must have accumulated at least 6 months (a total of 780 hours) of paid work experience with a Saskatchewan employer in a field related to their targeted occupation and field of study. This work experience can be acquired on campus, off campus, through co-op programs, during a school-certified graduate scholarship project, or via a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Furthermore, PGWP holders who graduated from a DLI outside of Saskatchewan will no longer be eligible to apply through the International Student Category. SINP advises these applicants to consider other pathways, such as the Skilled Worker: Employer Job Offer sub-categories or other channels targeting specific talents (for example, in healthcare or agriculture).

Three Types of Employers Lose SINP Recruitment Eligibility

Effective March 27, 2025, the following types of employers will no longer be eligible to recruit overseas skilled workers through SINP:

  • Spas
  • Salons
  • Pet care services (with the exception of veterinary services)

Information Sessions Arranged

To address questions from employers and potential applicants regarding these policy adjustments, SINP has scheduled online information sessions on April 3 and April 9. Interested parties must register with SINP via email and specify which session they wish to attend.

  • Sessions for potential applicants
    • April 3, 2025, at 3:00 PM (Central Standard Time, CST)
    • April 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM (Central Standard Time, CST)
    • Registration email: immigration@gov.sk.ca
  • Sessions for employers
    • April 3, 2025, at 10:00 AM (CST)
    • April 9, 2025, at 3:00 PM (CST)
    • Registration email: employerservices@gov.sk.ca

This comprehensive reform of the SINP reflects a major strategic shift in Saskatchewan’s approach to attracting and retaining immigrants, placing greater emphasis on meeting the province’s specific labor market needs and prioritizing immigration pathways for temporary residents already in the province.

Tags
Immigration NewsPNP
BannerFREE Personalized Plan
More
加拿大移民部公布2026—2028年移民水平计划问答：重点解析新政策影响与申请人机会
Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2026–2028 Q&A: Understanding the Impact, Priorities, and Opportunities
On November 4, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, maintaining annual permanent resident targets at 380,000 for the next three years while gradually reducing the number of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. The plan aims to balance population growth with Canada’s housing, healthcare, and infrastructure capacity, while increasing the share of economic and francophone immigrants. This Q&A explains the plan’s key points, policy direction, and what it means for prospective applicants.
11/06/2025
加拿大公布2026—2028年移民水平计划：永久居民人数稳定，临时居民规模收紧
Canada Announces 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan: Permanent Resident Targets Stabilized, Temporary Resident Numbers Tightened
On November 4, 2025, the Government of Canada officially released the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, setting an annual target of 380,000 permanent residents for each of the next three years. The plan aims to maintain steady immigration growth while tightening the inflow of temporary residents—including international students and foreign workers. Announced as part of the 2025 federal budget, the plan marks a policy shift from “expansion” to “stabilization,” emphasizing the balance between immigration growth and the country’s capacity in housing, healthcare, and infrastructure.
11/05/2025
加拿大更新临时居留申请者体检要求名单，四国新增、六地免除
Canada Updates Immigration Medical Exam Requirements for Temporary Residence Applicants — Four Countries Added, Six Removed
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced an update to the list of countries whose citizens must complete an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) when applying for temporary residence in Canada. Effective November 3, 2025, Argentina, Colombia, Uruguay, and Venezuela have been added to the list, while Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Latvia, Lithuania, and Taiwan have been removed. Applicants from newly added countries will now need to complete an IME, whereas those from the removed regions will no longer be required to do so. The new rules apply to individuals who have lived in or traveled to these countries for six consecutive months within the year before their intended arrival in Canada.
11/04/2025
曼尼托巴省提名项目邀请29名技术工人，重点关注特殊工作许可持有人
Manitoba PNP issues 29 invitations to skilled workers, focusing on candidates with special work permits
On October 31, 2025, Manitoba issued 29 Letters of Advice to Apply (LAAs) under the Skilled Worker Stream of the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP). This draw primarily targeted candidates already working in the province on facilitated work permits. Of the total invitations, 19 were issued under the Temporary Public Policy (TPP), while the rest were distributed among Francophone, regional, and employer-based recruitment initiatives.
11/03/2025
爱德华王子岛突举行省提名抽选，邀请本地高校国际毕业生
Prince Edward Island Holds Surprise PNP Draw Targeting International Graduates
On October 27, 2025, the Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP) conducted an unannounced draw, issuing 159 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to eligible candidates. The selection specifically targeted international graduates from the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI), Holland College, and Collège de l’Île who are currently living and working in the province. The move breaks from PEI’s regular draw schedule, signaling the province’s intention to accelerate its intake of skilled talent with local education and employment experience.
11/01/2025
纽芬兰与拉布拉多省2025年最新移民抽选发出100份邀请
Newfoundland and Labrador issues 100 invitations in latest 2025 draw
On October 22, 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador issued a total of 100 invitations through its Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) — the lowest number of invitations in a single draw so far this year. Of these, 55 invitations were issued under the NLPNP and 45 under the AIP. The province did not disclose which specific NLPNP streams were included in this round, but as of now, Newfoundland and Labrador has held 12 selection rounds across both programs in 2025.
10/31/2025
加拿大快速通道年度第三大规模抽签发出6,000份邀请，聚焦法语能力候选人
Canada Holds Third-Largest Express Entry Draw of 2025, Issuing 6,000 ITAs to French-Speaking Candidates
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted the third-largest Express Entry draw of 2025 on October 29, issuing 6,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates with French-language proficiency. The minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score required for this draw was 416. This result highlights IRCC’s continued commitment to supporting French-speaking communities across Canada through its language-focused immigration policies. So far, French-speaking candidates have received the most invitations this year, underscoring the federal government’s priority on promoting bilingualism and balanced demographic growth.
10/30/2025
加拿大快速通道最新抽签聚焦“加拿大经验类”，1,000名候选人获邀申请永久居民
IRCC Invites 1,000 Canadian Experience Class Candidates in Latest Express Entry Draw
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted a new round of Express Entry invitations on October 28, 2025, issuing 1,000 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) category. To be eligible for this draw, candidates needed a minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 533 and must have created their Express Entry profile before 4:16 a.m. UTC on March 21, 2025. This was the 11th CEC-specific draw of 2025, and the fourth consecutive CEC draw with a consistent invitation size of 1,000 and CRS cut-off around 533–534 points — demonstrating continued stability in this program’s selection trend.
10/29/2025
加拿大移民局再举行省提名类别抽签，302名候选人获邀
IRCC Holds Another Provincial Nominee Program Draw, Inviting 302 Candidates
On October 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducted another Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw through the Express Entry system, issuing 302 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to qualified candidates. This was the second PNP draw of October and the fifth overall Express Entry draw this month, highlighting the federal government’s continued focus on supporting provincial immigration priorities.
10/28/2025
爱德华王子岛举行2025年第二大规模省提名抽签，重点聚焦优先职业与国际毕业生
Prince Edward Island Holds Second Largest Provincial Nominee Draw of 2025, Focusing on Priority Occupations and International Graduates
On October 17, 2025, Prince Edward Island (PEI) conducted its second-largest immigration draw of the year under the PEI Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP), issuing 160 Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for provincial nomination. The draw primarily targeted skilled workers already employed in the province in priority occupations, as well as international graduates from designated educational institutions. As of October 26, 2025, PEI has issued a total of 1,081 ITAs through its PNP this year.
10/27/2025
More
# Can spouse of international students work in Canada?# How is the CRS Score Calculated?# What is Express Entry?# How to become a licensed immigration consultant in Canada?# Why Need a Professional, Licensed Immigration Consultant for Immigrating to Canada?# How to verify if my immigration consultant is licensed?# Difference between licensed and unlicensed immigration consultants?# Is it mandatory to be licensed to practice immigration consulting in Canada?
Sorry, your request failed
Please try again
OK