In a significant update to its immigration strategy, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has started returning applications from candidates working in certain sectors—namely transportation, retail, and accommodation and food services.

This move follows the province hitting its 25% nomination cap for these industries, a limit introduced in March 2025 as part of a broader reform to its PNP intake system.

🚫 What’s Changing — and Why

Applicants working in these capped sectors will now have their applications returned, even if they met the eligibility criteria. This decision stems from allocation restrictions placed by the provincial government. In an email to CIC News, a SINP representative explained that no further nominations will be issued in these categories unless additional spots become available later this year.

Despite this, Saskatchewan will still accept Job Approval Forms (JAFs) from employers hiring in these industries, allowing companies to remain prepared if the situation changes.

 What’s a Job Approval Form (JAF)?

For those unfamiliar, a Job Approval Form (JAF) is a document employers submit to SINP when they wish to hire a foreign worker. If approved, the employer receives a Job Approval Letter (JAL)—which allows the foreign worker to enter the Expression of Interest (EOI) pool under Saskatchewan’s immigration streams.

Even with the cap reached, employers can still get their JAFs approved, which could prove beneficial if the province reopens nominations for the capped sectors later in the year.

🌎 Restrictions on Overseas Applicants

In addition to the sector cap, SINP also rolled out new limits on overseas recruitment. As of now, candidates not currently residing in Canada can only qualify for nomination if they’re working in one of the following sectors:

• Healthcare

• Agriculture

• Skilled Trades

Applicants from other industries must already be temporary residents in Canada to be considered.

Interestingly, the SINP confirmed on June 2, 2025, that it hasn’t yet hit the cap for non-temporary resident applications—leaving the door open for eligible candidates abroad in approved occupations.

🧩 What’s Driving These Changes?

This isn’t happening in isolation. The federal government’s decision to slash PNP allocations by 50% in 2025 has left provinces scrambling to prioritize essential sectors and local applicants. Saskatchewan, like others, now also faces a new federal requirement: 75% of provincial nominees must already be living in Canada.

To cope with the new quota system, Saskatchewan is refining its intake strategy to better match labour market demands with the province’s reduced nomination capacity.

🔄 Other Updates to SINP in 2025

To adapt to its new reality, the province has made a series of other updates to SINP this year:

• Shut down its Entrepreneur and Farm Owner/Operator streams

• Removed eligibility for some Open Work Permit holders

• Limited access to its Student Category

• Excluded occupations in salons, spas, and pet care services (except veterinarians) from recruitment

🧭 Final Word

If you’re eyeing Saskatchewan for permanent residency, it’s crucial to stay current with the evolving SINP criteria. These latest updates show that even eligible candidates can be turned away due to sector-specific caps or broader federal mandates.

➡️ Need clarity on your eligibility under SINP’s updated policies? Connect with an immigration expert today and take the guesswork out of your application process.