SINP: Farm Owners / Operators

The Farm Owner/Operator category is for individuals with proven experience in farming and substantial capital available to invest in a farming operation and who intend to purchase and operate a farming operation in Saskatchewan.

The Young Farmer stream of the Farm Owner/Operator Category is designed to allow young farm families to establish their lives and farming operations in our province’s rural areas.

Applicants considering applying under this category are encouraged to contact SINP officials to learn more about the eligibility criteria of the program.  SINP officials will also ensure applicants are contacted by officials in Saskatchewan Agriculture–Food and Rural Revitalization who can advise them on the type of farming operation they intend to operate in Saskatchewan.

For more information on farm ownership legislation pertaining to non-residents, please visit the Saskatchewan Farm Land Security Board’s website at www.farmland.gov.sk.ca/.

To be considered for the Farm Owner/Operator category you must meet all of the following four criteria:

1. Available Equity – you must provide financial documents showing a net worth of $500,000 Canadian Dollars (CAD).
2. Refundable Cash Deposit – you must sign a Performance Agreement committing to purchase a farm operation in Saskatchewan and make a “good faith” deposit of $75,000 CAD in trust.  The cash deposit will be returned to you 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.
3. Mandatory visit to Saskatchewan – you must have conduct a comprehensive exploratory visit to Saskatchewan of no less than five working days and must meet with an SINP representative.
4. Farm operation knowledge and experience – you must provide documentation (e.g. education and training, work experience, financial documents of their previous operations) that demonstrates that you are a knowledgeable farm operator.  If necessary, we may further verify this information through an interview when you are in Saskatchewan.

The farm owner/operator category is restricted to proprietary businesses that include primary agricultural production.  Agri-business operations may qualify under the Entrepreneur category of the SINP.

Application Criteria:

• Have a minimum personal net worth of $300,000 CAD, which is verifiable to 80% certainty.
• Verifiable legal accumulation of funds to 80% certainty.
• At the time of your application you must be under age 40.
• You must have a minimum of three years farm ownership, farm management or practical farming experience.
• You must provide a documented proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity based on research, consultations or formal coursework relevant to Saskatchewan agricultural conditions.  Hobby Farms are not eligible.  The farming proposal must be a commercial venture undertaken with a reasonable expectation of profit.  In Saskatchewan, a qualified farming business must have a minimum of $10,000 CAD annual revenue.
• You or your spouse must have marketable employment skills, based on education and experience that allows you to supplement your farming income.

Nomination Requirements:

• Before submitting your application you must have conducted an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan that lasted at least five days.
• You must have practical farming experience with skills that are relevant to Saskatchewan farming conditions.
• You must make a minimum equity investment of $150,000 CAD in a new or existing farming operation in Saskatchewan comprised of either capital assets (land, machinery) or working capital.
• You must make a $75,000 CAD refundable deposit into the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Trust Fund ($2,500 upon acceptance of application and $72,500 upon nomination).

All applicants to this category must complete the provincial forms, the required federal forms, any other federal forms that apply to their situation and photocopies of supporting documents detailed below.  You must submit all of the completed, signed forms to the SINP.  Original or certified copies of documents may be required, at the discretion of an SINP Immigration Officer.

Information for Entrepreneur and Farm Category Applicants:  CIC has updated their Schedule 4A form effective May 31, 2009.  All applications submitted to the SINP/Entrepreneur and Farm Owner and Operator categories after that date must include the updated CIC form Schedule 4A.  As well, nominee’s applications to CIC Visa Offices after May 31, 2009 must include a copy of the updated Schedule 4A.

Please continue to submit SINP 200-2 form Personal Net Worth Statement.