SINP: How to Immigrate

There are many ways to come to Saskatchewan either temporarily or permanently.  You can come temporarily to visit, study or work.  If you want to work permanently or start a business in Saskatchewan, there are several options:

• Immigrate through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Most SINP categories require that you have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer that you have the qualification to fulfil.
• Immigrate through a federal category of Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

Although you may be eligible to immigrate to Saskatchewan through a federal immigration category, this does not guarantee that your qualifications will be recognized or that there will be a job opening in your occupation.

If your occupation is regulated in Saskatchewan, you should contact the regulatory body for your occupation to learn if your education and work experience will be recognized in Saskatchewan.  For more information on working in Saskatchewan, please visit the Working section.

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is an alternative program to the Canadian federal immigration program if you want to come to Saskatchewan as a permanent resident of Canada.

If you want to immigrate to Canada under the nominee program, you must have the specific skills, education and work experience that match Saskatchewan’s economic needs.  You must also be ready to make Saskatchewan your new home.

How does the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) work?

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) operates under an agreement with the federal government allows Saskatchewan to select applicants based on criteria established by the province.  The criteria for this program are different from those of the federal immigration program.

There are eight categories for nomination:  Skilled Workers, Entrepreneurs, Family Members, Farmers, Health Professions, Hospitality Sector Pilot Project, Long Haul Truck Drivers, and Students.

Most of the categories require you to have a job offer from a Saskatchewan employer that is related to your education and work experience.  See the Working section for more information.

If you apply and are eligible under the nominee program, the SINP will issue you a nomination letter confirming that you have been selected.  (If your application is not approved, you can request a second review.)  After you receive the nomination letter, you will submit your application and provincial nomination letter to the Canadian visa office that serves your country of nationality.  If you have been legally living in another country for at least one year, you may submit your application to the Canadian visa office that serves that country.

Although Saskatchewan may nominate you, your application for immigration to Canada must be approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). CIC completes health, criminality and security assessments and they make the final decision to issue your visa.

The SINP works through Government of Canada embassies and consulates around the world and does not engage the exclusive services of any agencies or representatives in any jurisdictions. SINP applicants may choose to engage the services of an immigration consultant or not, however, no immigration consultant has or will be allocated an immigrant quota from the Province of Saskatchewan.  Application from immigration consultants are processed according to the same rules and with the same priorities as other applications.

Why choose the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)?

Some applicants who do not meet federal immigration criteria may be eligible under the SINP.  The SINP assists you with your application for permanent residency by reviewing your forms and documentation before you submit them to CIC.

As a provincial nominee, your application will be processed on the priority basis by CIC because you have already passed an immigration selection process through the SINP.

Who may want to apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)?

You may want to apply to this program if:

• You have family relatives who have been living inSaskatchewan for a minimum of a year;

• You have a job offer to work inSaskatchewan;

• You are already working inSaskatchewan;

• You have completed an educational program inCanadaand are currently working on a post graduation work permit inSaskatchewan; or

• You are planning to start a business or buy and operate a farming operation in Saskatchewan.

If you are not eligible to apply under the SINP, you may still be eligible to apply through a federal immigration category.