On March 23, 2015, Saskatchewan relaunched its immigration policy, introducing an Expression of Interest (EOI) selection system. After passing the selection and relevant reviews, applicants first obtain a work permit to establish a business in Saskatchewan. Upon meeting the government's business requirements, they may apply for provincial nomination and ultimately obtain Canadian permanent resident status. What is the application process for the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur stream?
Application process for the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur stream:
Step 1: Submit a Saskatchewan EOI:
(1) The Saskatchewan EOI is similar to Express Entry; it is an expression of interest, not a formal application.
(2) Submitting an EOI is free of charge and is valid for 12 months.
(3) After submitting an EOI, eligible applicants will enter the candidate pool.
(4) If there are updates to your information after submitting an EOI, you may update it at any time.
(5) Age is calculated based on the age at the time of EOI submission.
(6) The EOI system automatically calculates scores based on the information submitted; those with higher scores are ranked higher and may be prioritized for selection.
(7) Selected EOIs will be removed from the pool, and information cannot be changed.
Step 2: EOI Selection and Invitation:
(1) If an EOI is selected, the applicant will receive an Invitation to Submit an Application (ISA) letter, which will include a file number (FN).
(2) Upon receiving the ISA letter, the applicant has 60 days to submit a complete electronic application and pay the CAD 2,500 application fee.
(3) Failure to submit a complete application within the validity period will result in the application being closed and information removed. To re-apply, a new EOI must be submitted.
Step 3: Review Process:
(1) Once the initial review confirms that the applicant meets the requirements, they will be required to attend an interview, either in person or via video conference.
(2) After the final interview is passed, the applicant will receive a Business Performance Agreement (BPA). The applicant must sign it after verifying the details and send the scanned copy to the SINP within 30 days.
(3) Once the SINP receives your signed BPA, they will issue a SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter and provide guidance on how to apply for a temporary work permit from CIC.
Step 4: Land in Saskatchewan and Establish a Business:
(1) Applicants must submit their temporary work permit application within 3 months of receiving the SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter and land in Saskatchewan within 12 months. If the applicant does not land in Saskatchewan within 18 months of receiving the SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter, it will be considered a failure to meet the terms of the BPA, and the application will be closed.
(2) Requirements after landing in Saskatchewan:
- Within 60 days of landing, meet with the designated business service provider; contact details are provided in the BPA.
- Provide all required documentation.
- Within 12 months of landing, submit a business establishment progress report to the SINP, outlining all your business activities.
Step 5: Application for Nomination:
(1) When applying for nomination, the applicant and accompanying family members must already be residing in Saskatchewan with legal status and have fulfilled the relevant terms of the BPA, including transferring funds to Canada. The business in Saskatchewan must have been in operation for at least 6 months prior to the nomination application.
(2) Applicants may submit their nomination application through the SINP online system.
(3) Once the nomination is approved, the SINP will send a nomination certificate to CIC and issue a nomination letter to the applicant.