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In a decisive shift to streamline its immigration strategy, Saskatchewan has unveiled sweeping changes to its Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The province’s immigration authority announced today that it is not only resuming the intake of Job Approval Forms (JAFs) but also introducing a host of revised eligibility criteria and pathway closures designed to better align with the region’s evolving labor market needs.
Resumption of Job Approval Forms Intake
Effective March 27, 2025, Saskatchewan has lifted the pause on receiving new JAFs—a critical first step for employers looking to recruit skilled foreign workers. Previously halted on February 18, 2025, this intake is essential, as JAFs lead to the issuance of Job Approval Letters and pave the way for job-offer-based permanent residency applications. The province has made it clear that no further pauses are expected throughout 2025, underlining its commitment to maintaining momentum in its immigration enrollment process.
Targeted Recruitment for Key Sectors
To concentrate resources where they are needed most, the SINP is now prioritizing overseas applicants in three crucial sectors: health, agriculture, and skilled trades. Candidates from these areas will receive preference when their employers submit JAFs, ensuring that positions in these high-demand industries are filled swiftly. Conversely, recruitment efforts for sectors outside these focus areas will be restricted to applicants already in Canada on valid work permits or other work authorizations.
Tightened Eligibility and Pathway Closures
Saskatchewan’s revamped program imposes several significant constraints aimed at sharpening the focus of its immigration strategy:
- Pathway Closures: The province has permanently closed the Entrepreneur, International Graduate Entrepreneur, and Farm Owner/Operator streams. Any Expressions of Interest (EOIs) currently in these categories will be removed from the SINP’s system. Applicants who submitted applications before March 27, 2025, will continue under the old criteria, but no new applications will be accepted in these streams.
- Nomination Caps for Specific Sectors: To ensure a balanced distribution of nominations, a cap has been set for candidates in the Accommodation and Food Services, Retail Trade, and Trucking sectors—limiting these to a maximum of 25% of the overall annual nominations. Although JAFs will still be accepted after reaching this quota, only additional job approvals that contribute to the annual target will be processed. Once the cap is met, any further forms will automatically expire, requiring employers to reapply in the following year.
- Changes for Open Work Permit Holders and Student Category: Certain open work permit holders—for instance, those on spousal work permits—are now deemed ineligible to apply through the SINP. In addition, eligibility for the Student Category has been narrowed. Only graduates from Saskatchewan Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) who have accrued a minimum of six months (780 hours) of paid employment with a Saskatchewan employer in their field will qualify. Moreover, post-graduate work permit holders who completed studies outside of Saskatchewan are excluded from this category and must consider other available immigration streams.
- Employer Restrictions: The updated rules also disqualify three types of employers from recruiting foreign skilled workers via the SINP: spas, salons, and pet care service providers (except for veterinarians). This measure is intended to address risks of exploitation and improve retention outcomes, ensuring that nominations contribute to long-term, stable economic integration.
Information Sessions Kick Off
To assist both prospective applicants and employers in navigating these new changes, the SINP is hosting dedicated information sessions. The sessions are scheduled for April 3 and April 9, 2025, with separate times for prospective applicants and employers:
- Prospective Applicants:
- April 3 at 3 p.m. CST
- April 9 at 10 a.m. CST
- Employers:
- April 3 at 10 a.m. CST
- April 9 at 3 p.m. CST
- Prospective Applicants:
Registrants are encouraged to email the program offices directly—prospective applicants at immigration@gov.sk.ca and employers at employerservices@gov.sk.ca—to secure their spots.
A Strategic Pivot in Saskatchewan’s Immigration Landscape
These transformative changes come at a time when the federal government’s recent cuts to provincial nominee allocations have forced Saskatchewan to re-strategize its approach. With only 3,625 nominations available for 2025—the lowest since 2009—the province is determined to make every nomination count by focusing on sectors where the economic impact is greatest. By prioritizing candidates already living in Canada on temporary status for non-key sectors and favoring overseas applicants in health, agriculture, and skilled trades, Saskatchewan hopes to ensure sustainable growth and a more efficient immigration process.
Saskatchewan’s overhaul of its Provincial Nominee Program marks a bold step toward addressing both immediate labor market shortages and long-term economic objectives. Employers and potential immigrants alike will need to adapt quickly to these changes, but the province’s decisive actions promise a more targeted and streamlined pathway to Canadian permanent residency.
What other adjustments or policy shifts do you think will emerge as provinces respond to federal changes in immigration allocations? This evolving landscape continues to challenge and reshape Canada’s approach to economic migration.
