Immigration FAQs

What is the 2026 nomination allocation?
The SINP's initial nomination allocation for 2026 is 4,761. Unlike 2025, there are no federal requirements specifying that a certain percentage of nominees must come from temporary residents. Additional nominations may become available throughout 2026 at the discretion of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

How will nominations be distributed across sectors?
The 4,761 nominations will be distributed as follows:

• A minimum of 50% (2,381 nominations) reserved for priority sectors: Healthcare, Agriculture, Skilled Trades, Mining, Manufacturing, Energy, and Technology
• A maximum of 25% (1,190 nominations) for capped sectors: Accommodation and Food Services (15%; 714), Trucking (5%; 238), and Retail Trade (5%; 238)
• Within the priority sector allocation, 750 spots are specifically reserved for Saskatchewan post-secondary graduates working in priority sectors.

What if demand in priority sectors is higher or lower than expected?
Priority sectors may exceed the 50% minimum if demand warrants, which could reduce the share available for other sectors. The SINP will conduct a mid-year assessment to evaluate progress. If the 50% target cannot be achieved, additional nominations may become available for other sectors.

How are nominations allocated within capped sectors?
The allocation for capped sectors is divided as follows:

• Accommodation and Food Services: 15% (714 nominations)
• Trucking: 5% (238 nominations)
• Retail Trade: 5% (238 nominations)

This structure provides clear expectations for each industry and prevents any single sector from using the entire capped allocation. The SINP may reallocate unused portions within the year.

What will happen to unused Job Approval Letters from 2025?
Unused Job Approval Letters for employers in capped sectors will be closed ahead of any intake rounds in 2026. Employers whose letters are closed may re-apply in a 2026 intake window if they continue to meet eligibility requirements. All candidate applications received will be processed.

What happens if a capped sector reaches its allocation early?
Employers in a sector that reaches its cap may be unable to submit additional applications for the remainder of the year. However, the SINP will reassess allocations after each intake and may redistribute unused nominations from one capped sector to another if demand warrants.

Why is Saskatchewan implementing caps on certain sectors in the SINP?
Saskatchewan is implementing sector caps to ensure our limited nomination allocation is distributed strategically across all economic sectors. This approach supports stronger settlement outcomes, prevents disproportionate use of the program by any single sector, and helps meet new federal requirements while addressing Saskatchewan’s diverse economic needs.

Which sectors will be affected by these caps?
The caps apply to the Accommodations and Food Services, Retail Trade, and Trucking sectors. Other sectors remain unaffected.

Why were these sectors selected for the caps?
These sectors have historically received a disproportionate share of SINP nominations. The caps ensure that high-priority sectors essential to Saskatchewan's economic growth have fair access to the program.

How will I know if my business is affected by these caps?
If your Certificate of Registration (COR) is classified as NAICS 72, 44, 45, 48 or 49, or if the work of your business (or the job position you are recruiting for) is primarily related to accommodations and food services, retail trade, or trucking, you may be impacted by these caps.

How long will these caps remain in place?
The caps will be reviewed annually based on our federal allocation and any related federal requirements. We will assess their effectiveness and impact on program outcomes and adjust as needed.

What options are available if I cannot fill positions domestically?
Employers can explore other temporary or permanent immigration pathways or work with Immigration and Career Training’s Career and Employment Services on training and recruitment solutions.

How will SINP verify my company's NAICS code?
The SINP will primarily use the NAICS code identified on your Certificate of Registration (COR). However, if there appears to be a discrepancy, the Immigration Services Branch will work with the Program Compliance Branch to validate the appropriate classification.

Can I change my company's NAICS code to avoid the caps?
NAICS codes should accurately reflect your primary business activity. Misrepresenting your business activity to circumvent program requirements would be considered a program integrity issue and could affect your eligibility to participate in the SINP.

When are the 2026 intake windows?
For capped sectors, there will be six intake windows throughout 2026, currently planned for January, March, May, July, September, and November. These windows may remain open for several days to allow applicants and employers time to coordinate their submissions. For additional information about these intake windows, please see SINP Processing Statistics. Priority and all other non-capped sectors will have continuous open intake throughout the year.

Why is the SINP using scheduled intake windows?
Multiple intake periods throughout the year create fair opportunities for candidates whose work permits expire at different times. This approach also allows for mid-year adjustments based on application volumes and helps ensure the program can fully utilize its annual allocation.

Are there restrictions on when workers in capped sectors can apply?
Yes. Applicants in capped sectors may only apply during the last six months of their work permit's validity period. This policy prioritizes workers who face the most immediate risk of losing status. Applicants in non-capped sectors are not subject to this restriction and may apply at any time.

What are the priority sectors for 2026?
The SINP will prioritize the following sectors, which align with the Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy:

• Healthcare
• Agriculture
• Skilled Trades
• Energy
• Mining (including critical minerals)
• Manufacturing
• Technology

What benefits do applicants in priority sectors have?
Applicants working in priority sectors can apply at any time, can apply from overseas, and are not subject to the six-month work permit expiry rule that applies to capped sectors.

Why is the SINP removing eligibility for some open work permits holders?
Some open work permits, such as spousal work permits, will no longer be eligible to apply to some SINP pathways due to higher risks of exploitation and poor retention outcomes, which undermine the program’s goals of fostering stable and long-term economic contributions.

Will spousal work permit holders be able to apply to the SINP categories not requiring work permits?
Yes. Holders of spousal work permits may be eligible under the Agriculture Talent Pathway, Health Talent Pathway, Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway, and International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer subcategories as work permits are not considered part of the criteria for these streams. However, additional documents may be required to validate the Saskatchewan residency history of you and your immediate family, if applicable.

What graduates are eligible under the Student category?
Eligibility is limited to graduates from Saskatchewan Designated Learning Institutions. Further, applicants will be required to reside in Saskatchewan during their studies and gain work experience relevant to their degree while in the province. This ensures stronger ties to Saskatchewan and better retention outcomes.

Are there restrictions on Post-Graduation Work Permit holders?
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders are only eligible to apply to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program’s Student, Health Talent Pathway, Agriculture Talent Pathway, Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway, and International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer subcategories ensuring alignment with labour market priorities. Additionally, exemptions for PGWP holders under restricted occupations have been removed.

Are there reserved spaces for Saskatchewan graduates?
Yes. 750 spaces are reserved for individuals who graduate from a Saskatchewan post-secondary program that leads to employment in a priority sector (Healthcare, Agriculture, Skilled Trades, Energy, Mining, Manufacturing, or Technology). These spaces are available to graduates from any Saskatchewan Designated Learning Institution, including universities, polytechnics and regional colleges.

Can graduates in non-priority sectors still apply?
Yes. Graduates working in non-priority sectors remain eligible to apply to the SINP but will not benefit from the 750 reserved spaces. Reserved spaces are exclusively for graduates employed in priority sectors.

I didn’t study in Saskatchewan, but I’ve worked in my field of education here for six months. What categories am I eligible for?
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders who studied in a province other than Saskatchewan but have been working in Saskatchewan are no longer eligible to apply through any of the Saskatchewan Experience pathways but may be eligible to apply through the International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer subcategory, as well as the Health Talent Pathway, Agriculture Talent Pathway and Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway.

How to Use OASIS
The SINP's online application system, OASIS, is used to administer program applications and issue correspondence. Please review the OASIS User Guide for additional information about how to use and navigate OASIS.

How can I check my SINP application status?
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) applicants can check the status of their application by logging into their account on OASIS. From the OASIS homepage, you may navigate to “View Part 2” icon or “Summary of Applications – Click Here.” You will see the status of your application in the upper right-hand corner of your screen. The SINP is unable to provide you with further details regarding the status of your application. If your application is submitted by a representative, kindly request a status update from them.

To check SINP application processing times, please visit SINP Processing Statistics.

How do I submit a request for a revision and/or extension?
Please refer to the procedures for requesting a revision and/or extension to a Nomination Certificate to be made through your application portal.

How long do I have to request an extension to my Nomination Certificate after it has expired?
Nominees will now have 90 days after the expiration of their nomination to apply for an extension.

What happens if the terms of my employment have changed?
Nominees who experience change in employment conditions or lose their job are provided 45 days to find a new job offer from an employer and receive a new JAL (and can request two 45-day extensions). Nominees are encouraged to find a job in the same occupation (NOC code) that they were nominated in but may find a job in a different occupation if they meet category criteria in the new occupation. If necessary, the nominee can change the SINP stream they were originally nominated under.

If you were nominated under the Existing Work Permit sub-category, and change your job, your nomination certificate will not be eligible for revision unless you have obtained six months of work experience with the new employer or are eligible to have your SINP stream revised.

The SINP must be notified immediately if the job held by a nominee or existing applicant changes, they are laid off, or their job is terminated. Withholding this information is misrepresentation.

How do I get a hold of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)?
You can contact IRCC through a web form. You can also contact IRCC by telephone at 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only).
Automated telephone service (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week): If you have a touch-tone telephone, you can listen to pre-recorded information about our programs and check the status of your application.

Client Support Centre agents - Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., your local time, except for statutory holidays. Services are available in French and English. Agents can help you with general and case specific enquiries. They cannot make decisions on applications or help process applications faster, unless you meet the criteria for urgent processing. Further details on how to contact IRCC are available at Client Contact Support Centre.

IRCC posts their service standards for responses to web form inquiries and application processing. These standards change regularly. For information about the service standards, visit: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada service standards - Canada.ca

I just applied or am in the process of applying for Permanent Residence. Will there be delays in processing my application?
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) post their processing times online at Check Processing Times and updates them weekly.

I have a closed work permit but want to change jobs or employers. What do I need to do?
If you have an employer-specific (closed) work permit and want to change jobs or employers in Canada, you must apply for a new work permit. However, you may be able to start your new job before your work permit application is approved if you request authorization to work while your application is being processed.

You cannot start working for your new employer until you receive written confirmation from IRCC, even if you've submitted your application.

For detailed instructions and the specific text to include in your web form request, visit: Extend or change the conditions on your work permit: Changing jobs or employers

I am a temporary resident in Canada, and my status is about to expire. I have applied or am about to apply to extend my status. What happens now?
Temporary residents who are currently in Canada can apply to extend their status online if needed.

A temporary resident who has applied to extend their status may remain in Canada until a decision is made on their new application, even if their initial status expires while they are waiting for that decision. This is called a maintained status (previously called implied status).

If you need documentation from the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) to apply to the federal government for the extension, please visit Revise or Extend an SINP Nomination.

Can I travel to a port of entry to request service?
For information on services available at a port of entry, visit the Government of Canada's page: How to apply for a work permit at a port of entry.

Can I still travel to the U.S. border to get same-day work or study permit services in Canada?
No, the practice of "flagpoling" (leaving Canada briefly to obtain same-day immigration services at a port of entry) is no longer permitted as of December 23, 2024. Work and study permits will no longer be provided to flagpolers at a port of entry, with applications and renewals now required to be submitted through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
If you need to apply for or renew a work or study permit, you must now submit your application online through IRCC. While this means longer processing times compared to same-day border services, you can generally continue working while your application is being processed if you maintain valid status.

What health insurance is available for Temporary Foreign Workers?
If you are a TFW with a maintained status (formerly implied status), please contact eHealth to discuss your ability to extend your health coverage. eHealth can then advise you on the documents that are required to be submitted for review.

Will I get "maintained status" (formerly implied status) from IRCC and be able to start working during the temporary work permit application process?
Individuals on temporary permits are considered to be under maintained status (formerly implied status) if they apply before the expiry of their current status. Maintained status will remain in effect until the decision on their application is received.

Individuals with maintained status can only continue doing what they were authorized to do on their existing permit while waiting for a decision on their new permit application.
This means that they can only work for the employer that is listed on their original work permit if they have a closed work permit.

If the person was authorized to be in Canada as a visitor, they may remain in Canada as a visitor on maintained status while they wait for the decision on their work permit. They may not begin working until their work permit application is finalized and approved.

For SINP International Skilled Worker (ISW) applicants in Canada, will they get "maintained status" (formerly implied status) from IRCC during the temporary work permit process if they've never had a work permit before e.g. those on a visitor visa?
Someone who has maintained status can only continue doing what they were authorized to do on their existing permit. If the person was authorized to be in Canada as a visitor, they may remain in Canada as a visitor on maintained status while they wait for the decision on their work permit, provided they apply before the expiry of their current status. They may not begin working until their work permit application is finalized and approved.

I don't feel safe in my workplace. What can I do?
If you're being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada, you may be eligible for a federal open work permit for vulnerable workers.

It's illegal for anyone to request or require payment from a foreign worker for a job or to recoup employer recruitment costs or salary that is paid to workers. Saskatchewan's Program Compliance Branch will investigate evidence to determine if there are violations of The Immigration Services Act.

To share information or to learn more, contact us by email at pcb@gov.sk.ca or by phone at 306-798-1350.

If you're experiencing workplace safety concerns or employment standards violations, you can file a formal employment standards complaint with the Saskatchewan government to seek resolution and protection.