Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is one of Canada's most accessible provincial pathways to permanent residence, and one of the few that can still work without a job offer. It lets Saskatchewan nominate skilled workers, workers already in the province, and entrepreneurs who match its labour-market needs. The program changed significantly for 2026, so strategy matters more than ever. SEP Immigration helps you find the right SINP stream and build an application that fits the current rules.

Key Facts About the SINP

• What it is: Saskatchewan's economic immigration program, run under agreement with the federal government.
• The payoff: a provincial nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry score, or opens a non-Express Entry route to permanent residence.
• How you are ranked: through an Expression of Interest (EOI) with a minimum of 60 points out of 100.
• Job offer: not always required, since the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry sub-categories can work without one.
• 2026 reality: a reduced allocation of 4,761 nominations, paused International Skilled Worker draws, and priority for candidates already in Canada.

What Is the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program?

The SINP is Saskatchewan's stream of the broader Provincial Nominee Program. The province selects candidates whose skills and experience meet its economic needs and issues a nomination. That nomination does not by itself grant permanent residence; it is a provincial endorsement that you then take to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which makes the final decision. For many applicants with moderate federal scores, a provincial nomination is the most realistic route to permanent residence.

SINP Categories and Streams

The SINP is organized into three main categories, each with its own sub-streams. The table below summarizes who each is for and whether a job offer is needed.

The International Skilled Worker category is the route for most people applying from outside the province, the Saskatchewan Experience category rewards those already working in Saskatchewan, and the Entrepreneur and Farm category is for business owners and farm operators.

How the SINP Expression of Interest (EOI) System Works

The International Skilled Worker Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand sub-categories use an Expression of Interest system. You submit an EOI, which is a pre-application profile, not the application itself. The province scores and ranks every profile, then invites the highest-ranked candidates in periodic draws through an Invitation to Apply. A few rules shape this:

• You need at least 60 points out of 100 on the assessment grid to submit an EOI.
• Meeting the minimum is not enough. The province invites the top of the pool, and recent cut-offs have been far above 60.
• You can hold only one active EOI profile, and you cannot be in both the Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry pools at once.
• Draw dates are not announced in advance.

The three International Skilled Worker sub-categories differ in what they require, as shown below.

You can read the province's own explanation on the Government of Saskatchewan's International Skilled Worker EOI system page.

SINP Eligibility Requirements

Requirements vary by stream, but for the International Skilled Worker category you generally need:

• At least 60 points on the SINP points assessment grid, which scores education, skilled work experience, language ability, age, and your connection to Saskatchewan.
• Skilled work experience, typically at least one year in an eligible occupation within the past ten years.
• Language test results meeting the required Canadian Language Benchmark, with higher scores earning more points.
• An educational credential assessment for education completed outside Canada.
• An eligible occupation, on the in-demand list for the Occupations In-Demand sub-category, and licensure if your profession is regulated.
• Proof of settlement funds and a settlement plan.

The points assessment grid scores five factors out of a total of 100 points, with a pass mark of 60.

2026 Update: Allocation Cuts and Sector-Based Selection

The SINP looks very different in 2026, and any honest guide has to say so. After the federal 2025 to 2027 Immigration Levels Plan cut Saskatchewan's annual nomination allocation to 4,761, a reduction of more than 40 percent, regular International Skilled Worker EOI draws were paused, and have been on hold since September 2024. To work within the smaller allocation, the province moved to a sector-based model with these features:

• Priority for candidates already in Canada. A large share of nominations is reserved for people already in Saskatchewan on a valid work permit.
• Priority sectors. At least half of the nominations are reserved for sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, and technology.
• Caps on some sectors, such as hospitality, retail, and trucking, with tighter rules for applying from those fields.
• Higher expected cut-offs. When International Skilled Worker draws resume, scores are expected to be higher than in the past.

The practical takeaway is that the pathway that fits you today may not be the one that fit a year ago, and choosing the right stream and timing is now central. Confirm the current status on the official SINP program pages before you act.

How to Apply for the SINP, Step by Step

1. Assess your eligibility. Identify which category and stream fit your profile, and estimate your points.
2. Prepare your documents. Gather language results, an educational credential assessment, proof of work experience, and settlement funds.
3. Submit your Expression of Interest, where the stream uses one, and enter the pool.
4. Receive an Invitation to Apply if you are selected in a draw.
5. Submit your SINP application with proof supporting every point you claimed, and pay the provincial fee.
6. Receive your nomination, then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.

SINP and Express Entry: The 600-Point Advantage

If you qualify under the Express Entry sub-category, a Saskatchewan nomination adds 600 points to your Comprehensive Ranking System score in the federal Express Entry pool, which effectively guarantees an invitation to apply. This is the same mechanism used by other provinces, and it is why nomination-based routes are so valuable for candidates whose federal scores are not competitive on their own. If you are weighing your options, our comparison of Express Entry and the PNP and our overview of the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program can help you see how Saskatchewan fits among the alternatives.

How SEP Immigration Helps With Your SINP Application

With a reduced allocation and paused draws, the SINP rewards a careful, well-timed strategy. SEP Immigration, led by Sepehr Falahati (CICC and IRB member R533959), assesses your eligibility across every SINP stream, builds a strong Expression of Interest, and prepares an application that stands up to the province's proof requirements. If Saskatchewan is one of several options you are considering, we help you compare it against Express Entry and other provincial programs so you commit to the route most likely to fit your profile.

This page is general information, not legal advice. SINP streams, allocations, and draw activity change frequently. Confirm current requirements on the Government of Saskatchewan's SINP pages and canada.ca, or with a licensed representative, before you act.