July 13, 2026
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program follows a sector-based selection model in 2026. Applicants working in priority sectors such as healthcare, skilled trades, and technology can apply from Pakistan throughout the year. Applicants in capped sectors face a limited number of spots, available only during scheduled intake windows.
Key Takeaways: Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
- What it is: Saskatchewan’s provincial nominee program, run with IRCC, that nominates skilled workers for Canada PR.
- 2026 quota: 4,761 nomination spots. By early July, 2,628 were already used, so about 45 percent of the quota remains for the rest of the year.
- Priority sectors: Healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, and technology hold at least half of all spots and accept applications from overseas all year.
- New fee: Since 1 April 2026, each skilled worker application costs CAD 500. This category had no fee before that date.
- Status now: The old EOI draws for Saskatchewan Express Entry and Occupations In-Demand remain paused, so a Saskatchewan job offer is required to apply in 2026.
What Is the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program?
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, or SINP, is the province’s economic immigration program, operated in partnership with IRCC to nominate workers who meet Saskatchewan’s labour market needs for permanent residence. The program has operated since 1998, and around 7 out of every 10 newcomers to the province arrive through it.
It operates through two categories: International Skilled Worker for candidates applying from outside the province, including applicants in Pakistan, and Saskatchewan Experience for those already working there. Every application is submitted through OASIS.
SINP nomination supports your PR application in one of two ways. Through the SINP Express Entry sub-category, it adds 600 points to your CRS score. Through a non-Express Entry route, you receive a base nomination and file your PR application directly to IRCC. Our guide on Express Entry vs PNP compares both routes in detail.
SINP 2026 Changes: The New Sector Model
The most significant of the SINP 2026 changes is the shift to sector-based selection, where your work sector is more important than your score. Saskatchewan received 4,761 nomination spots for 2026, a 40.5 percent reduction from its 2024 allocation of 8,000, as reported by CIC News. To manage the smaller quota, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program divided all occupations into three groups.
Sector group | Share of 4,761 spots | Sectors | How you can apply |
Priority | At least 50% (2,381) | Healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, technology | Anytime, from inside or outside Canada |
Capped | At most 25% (1,190) | Food services (714), trucking (238), retail (238) | Only in scheduled intake windows, in-Canada workers only |
Other | Around 25% | All remaining sectors | Continuous intake |
Intake Windows for Capped Sectors
Capped sector applications are accepted only during scheduled intake windows, and only from workers with six months or less remaining on their permit. In July, Saskatchewan accepted just 125 employer applications across trucking, retail, and accommodations, and all of them were claimed within hours. The next windows open on 14 September and 2 November 2026.
Overseas Applications for Priority Sectors
A 2025 federal condition reserved 75 percent of nominations for people already in Canada. That rule is removed for 2026, so priority sector candidates can apply from overseas throughout the year.
Which SINP Streams Work for Pakistani Applicants?
The realistic streams in the SINP for Pakistani applicants are the priority sector pathways, because they accept overseas applications all year.
Health Talent Pathway
The Health Talent Pathway is the most practical route for Saskatchewan immigration from Pakistan. It covers nurses, physicians, physiotherapists, medical laboratory technologists, care aides, and other regulated health roles.
The SINP processed these applications in around two weeks on average in early 2026, one of the fastest provincial processing speeds in Canada. Our guide on Canada immigration for healthcare professionals explains the requirements for this group step by step.
Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway
This pathway serves 32 high-skilled occupations in the innovation and technology sector, including software developers, IT analysts, and life sciences research roles. It gives Pakistan’s IT professionals a provincial option while the federal STEM category remains inactive, though a Saskatchewan job offer is still required.
Agriculture Talent Pathway
This pathway covers general farm workers, greenhouse workers, and select food and beverage processing occupations. The language requirement is CLB 4 and the education requirement is a secondary school diploma.
International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer
This is the general stream for any TEER 0 to 3 job offer outside the capped sectors, with no fixed occupation list. You must score at least 60 points on the SINP assessment grid, which measures education, work experience, language ability, age, and connections to Saskatchewan.
Nominees under this stream also receive a letter of support for a temporary work permit, which allows you to move and start working in Saskatchewan while IRCC processes your PR application.
Confused between the four SINP streams?
An application filed under the wrong pathway risks refusal, and the province does not return the CAD 500 fee. AIRCS Group examines your occupation, NOC code, and grid score before you submit, so your file enters the correct stream the first time. Message our team on WhatsApp for a free profile review.
SINP Requirements in 2026
The core SINP requirements are consistent across the worker streams, with small differences by pathway. You must hold a full-time job offer from a registered Saskatchewan employer, supported by a valid Employer Position Assessment.
Work Experience and Reference Letters
You also need at least one year, or 1,560 hours, of paid work experience in your intended occupation within the last ten years. Reference letters must state your duties, hours, and dates, and the SINP assesses those duties against your NOC code, not your job title.
Language and Education
The minimum language level is CLB 4, while the health and tech pathways require CLB 5, and employers or licensing bodies often set higher standards. Your Pakistani degree or diploma needs an ECA report, with HEC attestation completed beforehand.
SINP Cost and Processing Time
The provincial application fee for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program is CAD 500 for skilled worker streams, introduced on 1 April 2026. The fee is not refunded if your file is refused.
Item | Fee (CAD) | Paid to |
SINP application fee (skilled worker streams) | 500 | Saskatchewan |
Secondary review request (optional, after refusal) | 250 | Saskatchewan |
PR processing fee (main applicant) | 990 | IRCC |
Right of Permanent Residence Fee | 600 | IRCC |
Biometrics | 85 | IRCC |
Fees change from time to time, so always confirm the latest figures before you pay.
The SINP targets 16 weeks for International Skilled Worker applications, while Health Talent Pathway files averaged around two weeks in early 2026. After nomination, you must file your PR application with IRCC within six months.
How to Apply for the SINP from Pakistan
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program accepts applications online through the OASIS portal. Follow these steps in order.
- Confirm your sector and stream. Check that your occupation falls in a priority or other sector, then match it to the correct pathway.
- Secure a Saskatchewan job offer. Start your search on ca. Your employer registers with the SINP and obtains the Employer Position Assessment that supports your position.
- Validate the position in OASIS. Once the assessment is conditionally approved, you have 10 days from the notification to log in and confirm the job details your employer submitted.
- Prepare your documents. Get your ECA report, your IELTS or another approved language test, your reference letters, and certified English translations ready before you apply.
- Submit your application and pay CAD 500. Submit a complete file, since incomplete applications are returned and the fee is not refunded.
- Get nominated, then apply for PR. An Express Entry linked nomination adds 600 CRS points and secures your ITA, while a base nomination lets you file directly to IRCC. In both routes, your PR application must reach IRCC within six months of the nomination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for the SINP from Pakistan without a job offer?
Not at present. The EOI draws that once selected overseas applicants without offers have been paused since September 2024. In 2026, a Saskatchewan job offer in a priority sector is the realistic route.
How many points does a SINP nomination add?
A nomination through the SINP Express Entry sub-category adds 600 points to your CRS score. A base nomination adds no points, but it allows you to apply for PR directly to IRCC.
What is the SINP application fee in 2026?
SINP application fee is CAD 500 for skilled worker streams, introduced on 1 April 2026. A secondary review after a refusal costs an additional CAD 250. Both fees are non-refundable.
Which sectors are priority in the SINP for 2026?
Healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, and technology are in priority. These sectors hold at least half of the 4,761 nominations and accept overseas applications all year.
Is Saskatchewan a good province for Pakistani applicants?
Yes, for the right profile. Living costs are among the lowest in Canada, Regina and Saskatoon have established Pakistani communities, and health files were processed in around two weeks in early 2026. See our guide on the best PNPs for Pakistani professionals.
Ready to Apply Through the SINP?
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program favors applicants who choose the correct stream and submit a complete file, and 55 percent of the quota was already used by July. AIRCS Group has guided many Pakistani professionals through provincial nominations to Canada PR. Book your free assessment today, and we will confirm your NOC code, verify your score on the SINP grid, and identify your fastest route to a Saskatchewan nomination.
