The Saskatchewan Entrepreneur stream is one of the streams of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), operated by the province of Saskatchewan. This stream is designed to target experienced business owners or senior business managers who want to live in Saskatchewan. Successful applicants must start a new business or buy an existing business in which they participate in the day-to-day management duties.
After operating a Saskatchewan business for a minimum of 6 months, the entrepreneur may be nominated for permanent resident status. Interested candidates must first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the SINP Online Portal. After registering a profile the candidate will be assigned a score based on the SINP Entrepreneur Ranking System. The candidates with the most competitive scores will be invited to submit an official application to the program.
In order to qualify to submit an EOI for the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur stream, a candidate must be able to prove they have the interest, ability, and financial resources to own and actively manage a Saskatchewan business. For this reason, the program requires a high level of business management experience as well as a significant financial net worth. The applicant must have at least three (3) years of work experience as a business manager or entrepreneur. This experience must have been obtained within the previous 10 years. The applicant will also have to maintain an active role with their proposed business.
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. The minimum investment amount varies depending on the location of the proposed business:
Candidates will be required to develop a Business Establishment Plan (BEP) explaining how they will establish and invest in the Saskatchewan business. The proposed business must meet certain criteria, including creating at least two employment opportunities for Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
The Saskatchewan Entrepreneur stream operates on an Expression of Interest (EOI) system. Candidates who meet the minimum stream requirements can register a profile and submit an EOI through the SINP Online Portal. Once the profile has been submitted, candidates will be ranked against one another using the SINP Entrepreneur Ranking System. The highest ranking candidates will be invited to apply to the stream. SINP releases draw dates in advance and interested candidates may view the dates on the SINP Entrepreneur Draws.
Candidates who receive an invitation to apply have 20 business days to pay the $2,500 CAD processing fee and select a recognized third party financial review service who will assess their net worth and proposed investment amount. A complete application must be submitted within 90 days of receiving the invitation to apply. Note that if an application is complete, the next stage of the application requires the applicant to attend an interview with SINP officials. This interview may be conducted in-person or online by video call.
If the application is approved, the applicant will have to sign a business performance agreement with Saskatchewan. Once the performance agreement is signed, the SINP will issue a work permit support letter, enabling the applicant to apply to IRCC for a temporary work permit. Select business categories of immigration, including Saskatchewan Entrepreneur, 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).
Once arriving in Canada, the applicant must establish their business. After successfully operating their business for at least 6 months and meeting the conditions of their business performance agreement, applicants may submit an official request to SINP for provincial nomination. If an applicant’s request is approved by the SINP, they will receive an official provincial nomination. With a provincial nomination in hand, the applicant may apply for Canadian permanent residence.
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.