Saskatchewan SINP Changes: Job Approval Forms

As we were warned late last year, the Canadian federal government’s Immigration Levels Plan for 2025-2027 hinted at a significant reduction in overall immigration numbers. As part of these changes, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), a key immigration pathway to Canadian permanent residency for skilled workers, has been cut by 50%. In accordance with this reduction, the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has announced the temporary suspension of all new Job Approval Forms (JAFs), a move that will impact employers seeking to hire foreign nationals in the province.

As of February 18, 2025, SINP has officially put a pause on the acceptance of new Job Approval Forms (JAFs) from employers.

What is a Job Approval Form

The Job Approval Form (JAF) is the initial step in obtaining a Job Approval Letter (JAL) through the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Once the JAF is approved, the employer will receive the JAL. This form is a critical component of the immigration process, as it grants the necessary authorization for employers to hire foreign workers. Without an approved JAF, employers are unable to proceed with the hiring process under the SINP program.

What is the SINP

The SINP is an immigration pathway program under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program, which has been designed to attract immigrants who can contribute to the economic development of Saskatchewan while working towards permanent residency. The SINP has been an advantageous program for certain employers facing labour shortages by enabling them to hire foreign workers when qualified Canadian workers were unavailable to fill job vacancies. However, with Canada’s current unemployment rate rising, the government of Saskatchewan has reassessed its immigration strategy, leading to a significant reduction in the number of available spots under the SINP. According to a CBC news article, the SINP has not seen a cut this significant in the program’s allocation since 2009.

Suspension Duration

The Canadian government anticipates this temporary suspension to last for several weeks, though no specific end date has been announced. Additionally, the government of Saskatchewan has explicitly stated that there will be no exceptions granted during this period, meaning all new applications will be placed on hold until the suspension comes to an ens.

The SINP International Skilled Worker and Saskatchewan Work Experience programs will be affected because of these new changes. Employers in industries that require skilled/experienced workers to fill job vacancies such as healthcare, and construction may face increasing challenges due to this pause.

Contact Us

As the situation continues to evolve, it is important that you as the employer or potential applicant stay informed about updates to the SINP program. We are closely monitoring any changes and will update with new news releases as well as update this page with timely updates as more news unfolds or when the Job Approval Form (JAF) submission process resumes.

If you have questions about your eligibility for alternative immigration pathways or need legal assistance navigating the new SINP changes, contact us at Canadim today and we will guide you through the process in addition to helping you explore all immigration options/pathways available to you.