What is the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)?
Direct answer: The SINP is Saskatchewan's provincial nominee program. It allows the province to nominate candidates whose skills, education and experience match Saskatchewan's labour needs. A nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry CRS score, which to date has placed candidates above every Express Entry cut-off.
The SINP accounts for a large share of economic immigration to Saskatchewan. For 2026 the province has 4,761 nominations, with at least half reserved for priority sectors, so spots are limited and files have to be right: incomplete Expressions of Interest, mismatched NOC codes, unverifiable work experience letters and settlement-fund errors are among the most common reasons applications fail.
Do I qualify for the SINP?
Since the program was restructured in 2025, the SINP is employer-driven: most candidates need an approved job offer (Job Approval Letter) from a Saskatchewan employer. Where you stand depends largely on your sector:
- Priority sectors: healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy and technology. At least 50% of 2026 nominations are reserved here, applications are accepted year-round, and candidates can apply from overseas.
- Capped sectors: accommodation and food services (15%), retail trade (5%) and trucking (5%) share a 25% cap, with set intake windows, and applicants must already be working in Saskatchewan on a valid permit.
- Saskatchewan graduates: 750 of the 2026 nominations are set aside for graduates of Saskatchewan institutions working in priority sectors. Post-graduation work permit holders who studied outside Saskatchewan no longer qualify for Saskatchewan Experience pathways.
The Entrepreneur, Graduate Entrepreneur and Farm Owner/Operator streams closed to new applications in March 2025. Language, education and experience requirements still apply and vary by pathway; we confirm the current criteria for your situation before anything is filed. Program details on this page are current as of July 2026. For the latest rules, see the official SINP website.
How does the SINP process work?
We review your education, experience, language results and stream fit, and identify problems before the province does.
Your profile enters the SINP pool and is assessed against the current criteria for your pathway. We make sure every claimable factor is documented.
If selected, you submit a full application with documentary proof. This is where most refusals happen, and where precision matters.
With your nomination (and its 600 CRS points), we prepare your permanent residence application to IRCC, including medicals and admissibility.
What if my SINP application is refused?
A refusal is not necessarily the end. Depending on the reason, options can include addressing the deficiency and re-applying, requesting reconsideration, or, at the federal stage, judicial review in Federal Court. Only a lawyer can represent you in Federal Court, which is one strong reason to have a lawyer on your file from day one. See our appeals and refusals guide for deadlines and remedies.
Frequently asked questions
How do I qualify for the SINP in 2026?
Since the 2025 restructuring, most pathways are employer-driven and built around an approved Saskatchewan job offer, with nominations concentrated in priority sectors like healthcare, agriculture and the skilled trades. Requirements change frequently; we confirm the current criteria for your situation.
Do I need a job offer for the SINP?
For most candidates, yes. Priority-sector candidates can apply year-round, including from overseas. Capped sectors (accommodation and food services, retail, trucking) have limited intake windows and require applicants already working in Saskatchewan.
What happens after a nomination?
Your nomination adds 600 CRS points or supports a paper-based application. You then apply to IRCC for permanent residence, where medical, security and admissibility checks are completed.