Starting February 18, 2025, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has temporarily paused the acceptance of new Job Approval Forms (JAFs). This means that foreign nationals and employers who have not yet submitted a JAF will no longer be able to pursue provincial nominations through the SINP’s job offer-based streams.
At this time, the province has not provided a specific date for when JAF intake will resume, but they anticipate the pause will last for “several weeks.” JAF applications submitted before February 18, 2025, will still be reviewed as usual. Additionally, this pause is part of the process for implementing necessary changes to the SINP program.
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The pause comes after the federal government decided to cut the SINP’s nomination allocations by 50% for 2025, aligning with the reduced immigration targets outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan 2025-2027.
What is a Job Approval Form (JAF)?
The SINP is Saskatchewan’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), designed to help foreign workers gain permanent residency (PR) through various pathways. Foreign nationals who have a job offer from an eligible employer can apply for provincial nomination.
A Job Approval Letter (JAL) is required for an employer to hire a foreign worker under the SINP. To obtain a JAL, the employer must first submit a JAF via their online OASIS account. With the current pause, employers will be unable to submit JAFs, which delays the issuance of JALs and, subsequently, foreign workers’ ability to apply for provincial nomination through job offer-based streams.
Which SINP Streams are Affected?
This pause impacts all SINP streams that require a Job Approval Letter (JAL), including:
- 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
Additionally, the SINP excludes certain business types and occupations from its job offer-based streams unless applicants meet specific requirements. You can download a list of these excluded business types and occupations from the SINP website.
Options for Immigrating to Saskatchewan Without a Job Offer
While job offer-based streams are on hold, there are alternative pathways for those interested in immigrating to Saskatchewan:
- International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand
- This pathway is for foreign workers with at least one year of full-time experience in a high-skilled occupation that is in-demand in Saskatchewan. To apply, candidates must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and may be invited to apply for provincial nomination if selected from the pool. After receiving a nomination, applicants can then apply for Canadian permanent residency.
- Express Entry
- Candidates can also apply through the federal Express Entry system. Those who meet the eligibility criteria for one of Canada’s three federal immigration programs (Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker Program, or Federal Skilled Trades Program) can create an online profile. The system issues Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to top-ranking candidates based on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which factors in age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
- Rural Community Immigration Pilot
- Foreign workers may be eligible for this new pilot program if they receive a job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating rural communities. In Saskatchewan, Moose Jaw is one of the 14 eligible communities. Though the community website has yet to launch, candidates who meet the criteria and secure a job offer from a designated employer in Moose Jaw may qualify for Canadian PR.
Though the pause on JAF intake is a temporary setback for some, these alternative pathways provide other opportunities for those looking to immigrate to Saskatchewan.
