Some employers and foreign nationals will need to wait before they can apply for provincial nominations for permanent residency in Saskatchewan.
On February 18, 2025, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) announced a temporary pause on all new Job Approval Forms (JAFs). This means that employers and foreign nationals who have not yet submitted a JAF to the SINP will not be able to pursue provincial nominations through the job offer-based streams at this time.
The Saskatchewan government has not specified when they will resume accepting Job Approval Forms (JAFs), but they indicated that the pause is expected to last “several weeks.”
JAFs that were submitted before February 18, 2025, will continue to be processed and reviewed as usual.
The announcement also hinted at upcoming changes to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), explaining that the pause allows time to “implement necessary program changes.”
The pause is due to the federal government’s decision to cut SINP nomination allocations by 50% in 2025. This reduction aligns with the federal government’s lowered targets for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) landings in 2025, as outlined in the Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027.
What is a Job Approval Form?
A Job Approval Form (JAF) is a critical step in the process for employers who wish to hire a foreign worker under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The form is submitted online through the employer’s OASIS account, and it is necessary for the employer to obtain a Job Approval Letter (JAL).
The JAL is a pre-approval from the province that authorizes an employer to hire a foreign worker. Once the employer receives the JAL, the foreign worker can apply for provincial nomination for permanent residence (PR) through SINP’s job offer-based streams.
However, since the SINP has temporarily paused the intake of new JAFs, employers will not be able to submit these forms during the pause. As a result, the issuance of new JALs will be delayed, which in turn delays foreign workers’ ability to apply for provincial nomination under SINP’s job offer-based streams.
Which streams are affected?
The pause on the intake of Job Approval Forms (JAFs) will impact all SINP streams that require a Job Approval Letter (JAL) for foreign workers to apply for provincial nomination. These affected streams include:
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, it’s important to note that certain business types are not eligible to obtain a JAL through the SINP, and some occupations may also be ineligible for SINP pathways that require a job offer and a JAL, unless specific conditions are met.
For detailed information, employers and foreign workers can download a list of excluded business types and occupations from the SINP website.
What are my options if I still want to immigrate to Saskatchewan?
In addition to the streams that require a Job Approval Letter (JAL), there are several pathways in Saskatchewan that do not require a job offer. These include:
1. International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand
This pathway is for foreign workers, whether inside or outside Canada, who meet specific criteria. These criteria include:
- A minimum of one year of full-time work experience in a high-skilled occupation that is currently in demand in Saskatchewan.
- To apply, candidates must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). Once submitted, candidates are entered into a pool, and the SINP periodically selects individuals from this pool to invite them to apply for provincial nomination.
- Not all EOIs will lead to an invitation, as selection depends on demand and competition in the pool.
- If nominated, candidates can then apply to the federal government for permanent residence.
2. Express Entry
Express Entry is a system managed by the federal government, where candidates who meet the criteria for one of three immigration programs are eligible:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Candidates create an online profile in the Express Entry system, and those with high-ranking profiles (determined by their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score) are invited to apply for permanent residence (PR). The CRS score is based on factors like:
- Age
- Education
- Work experience
- Language proficiency
Candidates with strong CRS scores and those qualifying for specific category-based draws (such as those for French language proficiency) have higher chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA).
3. Rural Community Immigration Pilot
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is another pathway aimed at skilled foreign workers. This employer-focused program targets foreign workers who receive job offers from designated employers in specific rural communities.
- One of the 14 pilot communities is Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
- Foreign skilled workers who meet the criteria and secure a job offer from a designated employer in Moose Jaw may become eligible for Canadian PR.
- The community’s specific website has not yet launched, but candidates interested in this pilot should stay updated for more information.
These pathways offer alternatives to the JAF-based streams and may provide opportunities for foreign workers to apply for permanent residency in Saskatchewan and Canada.
