The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) Entrepreneur Category offers candidates the opportunity to establish, acquire, or partner in a business in Saskatchewan and be actively involved in its management.
Take the opportunity to learn more about the SINP Entrepreneur Category through the following sections:
There are three steps to the nomination process:
Prospective immigrants indicate their interest in residing in Saskatchewan and operating a business in the province by providing information about their entrepreneurial experience, assets, and Business Establishment Plan (BEP), among other factors, in an online survey. Those candidates who meet the minimum entry criteria will be accepted into the EOI candidate pool where they are ranked according to selection factors on the points criteria grid and given a score.
Candidates are selected from the EOI system based on their score. The top scoring EOIs are prioritized for selection and formal application submission. Selected candidates are invited to apply to the SINP under the Entrepreneur immigration sub-category. Candidates then undergo the verification process. Those who pass this stage will be issued a SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter, which will convey support of the applicant’s request to IRCC for a two year temporary work permit with which the candidate can reside and work legally in Saskatchewan while he or she implements the business proposal.
Once an applicant satisfies the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement he or she can apply to be nominated by the SINP for permanent residence.
In order to be considered eligible under the Entrepreneur Category, applicants must:
For a business to be considered eligible under this category, all of the following criteria must be met:
If purchasing a previously existing Saskatchewan business, the following requirements must be met:
If purchasing a previously existing Saskatchewan business from an SINP Entrepreneur Nominee, the following requirements must be met:
If proposing a joint venture with another SINP applicant in the operation of a new business, the purchase of an existing business, or a partnership with a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen, the following requirements must be met:
NOTE: Each prospective applicant in a joint venture application will be evaluated individually. Selection from the EOI pool for processing will depend on their individual abilities to meet eligibility criteria and earn points. If a partner is not selected from the pool, all other partners must update their business proposal in order to remain eligible for the EOI points previously earned. If all partners are selected from the pool and approved, each will sign a separate Business Performance Agreement, and each partner must meet the terms of his/her agreement to be nominated. If one or more partners fail to meet the terms of their Business Performance Agreement, all remaining partners must update their performance agreements to ensure they continue to meet program criteria.
An investment will be considered eligible if it is essential to the establishment and operation a new business, or to the purchase, improvement and operation of an existing business. Some investments may considered eligible within limitations.
Using the points assessment grid, candidates are allocated points for various elements under three categories: human capital, business experience, and business establishment plan.
Factor | Description | Points | Maximum points |
---|---|---|---|
Age | 20 or less | 0 | 15 |
21-29 | 10 | ||
30-39 | 15 | ||
40-54 | 10 | ||
55+ | 0 | ||
Exploratory Visit | Has conducted an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan for at least five working days with evidence of contact with relevant business contacts. | 15 | 15 |
Official Language Ability (English or French) | No language test | 0 | 15 |
Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 | 5 | ||
CLB 5 | 10 | ||
CLB 6+ | 15 | ||
Qualifications/Education | Has a trade or occupational certification that required at least one year full-time post-secondary training or apprenticeship equivalent | 10 | 15 |
Has completed a Bachelor Degree or Post-Graduate Degree/Designation in a Business, Agriculture, or Science/Technology field | 15 | ||
Net Business and Personal Assets | $500,000 - $549,999 CAD | 0 | 15 |
$550,000 - $749,999 CAD | 5 | ||
$750,000 - $999,999 CAD | 10 | ||
$1,000,000+ CAD | 15 |
Factor | Description | Points | Maximum points |
---|---|---|---|
Entrepreneurial Experience | 4 to 7 years entrepreneurial experience | 10 | 20 |
8 or more years entrepreneurial experience | 15 | ||
4 to 7 years entrepreneurial experience with 50%+ ownership in business | 15 | ||
8 or more years entrepreneurial experience with 50%+ ownership in business | 20 | ||
Business Revenue | $50,000 - $99,999 CAD | 5 | 20 |
$100,000 - $249,999 CAD | 10 | ||
$250,000 - $499,999 CAD | 15 | ||
$500,000 CAD+ | 20 | ||
Innovation Previous verifiable experience in: |
Export Trade | 10 | 10 |
Registered patents | 10 | ||
Gazelle business | 10 |
Factor | Description | Points | Maximum points |
---|---|---|---|
Investment Amount (Total equity to establish or purchase and expand an eligible business in SK) |
$200,000 - $349,999 CAD | 0 | 20 |
$350,000 - $499,999 CAD | 5 | ||
$500,000 - $749,999 CAD | 10 | ||
$750,000 - $999,999 CAD | 15 | ||
$1,000,000+ CAD | 20 | ||
Investment in Key Economic Sectors | Science and technology | 15 | 15 |
Manufacturing | 15 | ||
Export | 15 | ||
Rural business succession | 15 | ||
Rural business development | 15 |
The Business Establishment Plan (BEP) must be a coherent and well-thought-out plan for successful settlement and business development in Saskatchewan. The plan should outline the steps that the applicant will take to ensure that the business has a reasonable chance of success and can be implemented upon arrival. Additionally, it should demonstrate that the business meets the minimum required investment level and that the applicant will hold an active managerial position in the business. The BEP should show that the candidate has conducted extensive research into the economic, market, and cultural factors relevant to the proposed business.
A third party may help the applicant develop the BEP, however, it is crucial that the applicant has complete knowledge and understanding of his or her plan. In the event that the applicant is unaware of the BEP’s contents, he or she may be deemed ineligible and the points for the BEP on his or her EOI may not be awarded.
Regardless of whether the candidate intends to purchase an existing business or establish a new one, the BEP must touch on all of the following topics: the business idea, economic benefit, investment, business relationships, and human capital.
The business idea section of the Business Establishment Plan must:
This section of the BEP must describe the economic benefit to the community being served, such as:
The investment section of the BEP should include:
In this section of the BEP, the candidate should provide:
This final section of the plan should include:
For all applicants choosing to invest in a business succession opportunity, a joint venture, or a regional business opportunity, an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan is mandatory. These applicants must complete an Exploratory Visit Report, to be submitted along with their online application, that provides details on the activities undertaken during their visit to Saskatchewan. The report must cover the entire length of stay in Canada, including time spent in other provinces, if any.
The Exploratory Visit Report must include:
Applicants are considered ineligible if they:
The following types of businesses are considered ineligible for the SINP Entrepreneur Category:
The table below shows the history of invitations to apply issued under this SINP program.
Expression of Interest (EOI) Selections | |||
---|---|---|---|
May 2, 2019 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
120-135 | 125 | 43 | |
March 7, 2019 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
120-140 | 125 | 39 | |
January 3, 2019 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
115 - 150 | 120 | 90 | |
November 21, 2018 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
115 - 135 | 20 | 84 | |
September 19, 2018 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
110-135 | 115 | 71 | |
July 18, 2018 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
100-135 | 105 | 87 | |
April 18, 2018 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
90-135 | 100 | 231 | |
January 17, 2018 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
80-145 | 95 | 251 | |
October 31, 2017 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
80-135 | 100 | 265 | |
July 19, 2017 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
180-145 | 100 | 98 | |
May 24, 2017 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
80-140 | 105 | 142 | |
March 2017 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
95–135 | 110 | 107 | |
December 2016 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
120–130 | 120 | 14 | |
September 2016 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
110–135 | 115 | 57 | |
May 2016 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
110–155 | 120 | 88 | |
October 2015 | Points range | Average | Total Invitations Issued |
110–155 | 125 | 70 |