Saskatchewan Farm Owners and Operators

Successful farmers who apply through this program will be nominated for permanent resident status. This program requires a highly individualized application based on the type of farm a person is proposing to launch in Saskatchewan. Interested applicants should contact the SINP to discuss the application. As well, farmers may wish to consult with the Saskatchewan Farm Land Security Board to learn more about farm ownership in Saskatchewan.

Program Requirements

Work Experience

In order to qualify for the SINP Farm Owners and Operators stream, a candidate must demonstrate experience owning and operating a farm. The candidate must have experience as a knowledgeable farm owner and/or operator. There is no specified amount of experience required, and relevant experience will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Interested candidates should contact SINP to discuss their experience and ensure that they are eligible for the program.

Investment Requirement

This stream requires a significant net worth and investment on the part of the applicant. The applicant must have a minimum net worth of at least $500,000 CAD, or $300,000 CAD if the applicant qualifies under the SINP Young Farmer substream. Successful applicants will be required to make a good faith deposit of $75,000 CAD prior to receiving their provincial nomination. This deposit will be returned to applicants once they successfully establish their farm in Saskatchewan and meet the conditions of their business performance agreement.

Interested candidates will have to provide an in-depth Farm Establishment Plan for the farm they wish to establish in Saskatchewan. The Farm Establishment Plan must demonstrate how an applicant will use their farming experience to establish a viable farm in Saskatchewan.

Young Farmer Stream

The SINP Young Farmer Stream is a substream of the Farm Owners and Operators. This substream is for farmers under the age of 40 who wish to establish farms in Saskatchewan. The eligibility criteria is identical to the regular farmer stream with one exception: the required personal net worth for young farmers is only $300,000 CAD rather than the $500,000 CAD required by regular farmers.

Application Procedure

Before applying to the SINP, an applicant must make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan. This visit must be a minimum of 5 business days in length. During the visit, the applicant must meet with an SINP representative to discuss their proposed farm operation. As well, an applicant must conduct comprehensive research with business professionals working in sectors relevant to their proposed farm.

An applicant must then submit a complete application to SINP. This application must include documentation demonstrating experience owning and/or operating a farm and a viable farm establishment plan for the new farm in Saskatchewan. As a part of the application, the applicant must demonstrate they meet the minimum net worth requirement for the program. This will be verified by an independent third party. Applications may be submitted in hard copy to the SINP offices, either in-person or via courier. Once the application has been submitted, SINP begins an extensive assessment.

If the application passes the initial pre-screening assessment, the applicant will be asked to pay a $2,500 CAD application fee. During the assessment, SINP may request to interview the applicant. If the application is approved, the applicant will be contacted by SINP. Successful applicants must sign a business performance agreement outlining their commitment to establish a farm in Saskatchewan. As well, applicants will be required to make a $75,000 CAD good faith deposit which will be refunded once the applicant meets the terms of their business performance agreement.

If an application is successful, the applicant will receive an official provincial nomination from the province. After receiving this nomination, the applicant may apply for Canadian permanent residence. The applicant may also request a work permit support letter from SINP enabling them to apply for a work permit. Select business categories of immigration, including Saskatchewan Farm Owners and Operators, allow foreign nationals to apply for temporary work permits allowing them to work in Canada while establishing their business practice. These work permits do not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), meaning they are LMIA-exempt. To apply for such a work permit, an applicant must include a work permit support letter issued by the province and submit their applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Applicants in this program must complete and submit a paper-based application for permanent residence and submit it by mail to the appropriate application centre. Paper-based PNP applications for permanent residence are generally processed within 18 months.

Related Links