Maple News reports that international applicants seeking to immigrate to Canada may be eligible to apply for permanent residency in Saskatchewan—even without a job offer—through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed to support regional immigration goals, helping provinces and territories attract talent that aligns with their labor and economic needs. Saskatchewan, a prairie province in Western Canada rich in agriculture and natural resources, actively welcomes skilled workers through this program.
The SINP is Saskatchewan’s own PNP component and offers multiple pathways for skilled foreign nationals to become permanent residents. Unlike Canada’s federal Express Entry system, which awards top scores to candidates with job offers, SINP includes two popular streams that don’t require a job offer to apply.
The first is the SINP’s Express Entry sub-category. To qualify, applicants must have an active profile in Canada’s federal Express Entry system. This stream is ideal for candidates who meet SINP criteria but prefer provincial nomination to increase their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, significantly boosting their chances of obtaining permanent residence.
The second stream is the Occupations In-Demand sub-category. It targets skilled workers with experience in specific high-demand occupations in Saskatchewan—but without requiring a Canadian employment offer. Applicants must demonstrate relevant education, work experience, and language proficiency, and they must not appear on the federal ineligible occupations list.
These two streams reflect Saskatchewan’s goal of addressing labor shortages across industries, particularly in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, engineering, and skilled trades. Being nominated by SINP gives candidates 600 additional CRS points, virtually guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence under the federal system.
Immigrating through the SINP may appeal to applicants who face challenges securing a Canadian job offer before applying. This route supports Saskatchewan’s long-term growth while offering international professionals an accessible and strategic pathway to build a future in Canada.
By offering these job-offer-free pathways, SINP reinforces the Canadian government’s broader effort to ensure more balanced immigration across regions rather than heavy concentration in large urban centers.
Maple News will continue to monitor changes and updates to provincial nomination streams as Canada refines its immigration approach to meet evolving economic and demographic needs.