Maple News reports that Saskatchewan is now returning certain applications for provincial nomination under its Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) after hitting its sector-specific quota. The affected industries include transportation, retail, accommodation, and food services.
Earlier this year, the province implemented a 25% cap on annual nominations for candidates working within these sectors, effectively limiting how many applicants in these occupations could receive a provincial nomination. According to officials, that cap has already been reached for the year.
As a result, any new applications under these specific sectors are being returned. According to correspondence from SINP representatives, these submissions are no longer eligible under the current allocation due to the fulfilled quota. However, the province has noted that if there are unused nominations later this year, it could reopen opportunities for these sectors.
Importantly, Saskatchewan will continue to process Job Approval Forms (JAFs) for employers in these industries. A JAF is a prerequisite document employers must obtain if they wish to hire a foreign worker through SINP streams. Once approved, the employer receives a Job Approval Letter (JAL), which is critical for foreign workers to enter the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool and be considered for provincial nomination.
This policy forms part of broader changes to the SINP introduced in March 2025, aimed at refining the province’s immigration strategy. Among these changes, the SINP also announced that it would place restrictions on offshore candidates unless they were working in specific, high-demand occupations.
These updates reflect Saskatchewan’s strategic shift toward balancing labor market needs with economic priorities, especially as the province continues to refine how it allocates its limited nomination spaces for the year.
Maple News will monitor and report on any further adjustments to SINP allocations throughout 2025.