Some employers and foreign nationals may have to wait on pursuing provincial nominations for permanent residency from Saskatchewan.
The SINP announced a temporary pause on all new Job Approval Forms (JAFs), effective February 18, 2025.
Foreign nationals and employers who have not yet submitted Job Approval Forms (JAFs) to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) can no longer pursue provincial nominations through the SINP’s job offer-based streams, as of the time of writing.
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The province has not announced when they will resume the intake of JAFs, but said the pause is anticipated to last “several weeks.”
JAF applications that have been received prior to February 18 will continue to be reviewed.
The announcement also hints at changes coming to SINP by stating that the pause gives the team time to “implement necessary program changes.”
The province stated that the pause is a result of the federal government’s decision to cut SINP nomination allocations by 50% in 2025.
The reduced allocations of nominations given to the provinces in 2025 is in line with the federal governments’ reduced landings targets for the PNP programs in 2025, as stated in the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027.
What is a Job Approval Form?
SINP is Saskatchewan’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), providing pathways for permanent residence (PR). Many foreign workers can apply to be nominated by the province for PR if they have a job offer from an eligible employer.
The Job Approval Letter (JAL) is a pre-approved authorization for an employer so that they can hire a foreign worker.
For an employer to receive a JAL, they need to submit a Job Approval Form (JAF) by accessing their online OASIS account.
SINP pausing intake means that employers will not be able to submit the JAFs. This will consequently delay the issuance of new JALs, which are necessary for foreign workers to apply for provincial nomination under SINP’s job offer-based streams.
Which streams are affected?
This pause will affect all streams that require a Job Approval Letter.
This includes:
The International Skilled Worker Category
- Agriculture Talent Pathway.
- Health Talent Pathway.
- Employment Offer.
- Tech Talent Pathway.
Saskatchewan Work Experience Category
- Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit.
- Agriculture Talent Pathway.
- Tech Talent Pathway.
- Health Talent Pathway.
- Students.
A number of business types are not eligible to obtain JALs through the SINP. Likewise, a number of occupations are also ineligible for SINP pathways that require a job offer and a JAL, unless certain requirements are met. You can download a list of excluded business types and occupations through the SINP website.
What are my options if I still want to immigrate to Saskatchewan?
There are some pathways that do not require a job offer in Saskatchewan. These include:
International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand:
This is a pathway for foreign workers, both within and outside Canada, who meet certain criteria including having a minimum of one year of full-time experience in a high-skilled occupation that is in-demand in Saskatchewan at the time of application.
To apply for this sub-category, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). You will then be entered into a pool of eligible candidates. The SINP periodically selects candidates from the pool and invites them to apply to the province for nomination. Not all candidates who submit an International Skilled Worker EOI will be invited to apply to the SINP.
After receiving a provincial nomination, a successful nominee can apply to the Canadian federal government for permanent residence.
Express Entry
Another way to receive an invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence is by creating an online profile in the federal government’s Express Entry system.
Express Entry invites top-ranking candidates to apply for PR based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which is determined by factors such as their age, educational qualifications, work experience, and language proficiency.
To be eligible, candidates must meet the requirements of one of Canada’s three federally managed immigration programs:
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC);
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FWSP); or
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
Candidates with high CRS scores and/or who qualify for category-based selection draws (like for French language proficiency) have the highest chances of receiving an ITA through Express Entry.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Candidates may also be eligible for the new Rural Community Immigration Pilot. This is an employer-focused pathway for candidates who receive job offers from designated employers in specific communities.
Of the 14 communities listed by the pilot, one is in Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw.
While the website for the community hasn’t been launched yet, foreign skilled workers who meet certain criteria and get a job offer from a designated employer in Moose Jaw may be eligible to apply for Canadian PR.
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