Saskatchewan Opens Second SINP Intake for Capped Sectors

Saskatchewan Opens Second SINP Intake for Capped Sectors

The Government of Saskatchewan has opened the second 2026 intake window for employer applications under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) capped sectors. The new round began on March 2, 2026, allowing employers in selected industries to nominate foreign workers for provincial endorsement.

The intake applies to employers in accommodation and food services, retail trade, and trucking—three sectors with annual position limits. It follows the province’s first capped intake of the year, which opened in January and quickly reached capacity.

• The second SINP capped-sector intake opened on March 2, 2026.
• Employers can apply in accommodation and food services, retail trade, and trucking.
• A total of 400 positions are available across all capped sectors.
• Most sectors have already reached their intake limits.
• The intake is open until position caps are filled, with no fixed closing date.

Program Overview

Under the SINP, capped-sector intakes allow Saskatchewan employers to nominate foreign nationals for provincial nomination in industries with labour shortages. Employers must hold an approved Job Approval Letter (JAL) for each position, obtained through the province’s job-offer stream process.

Only candidates whose Canadian work permits will expire within six months or less are eligible under this intake. The second capped intake will remain open until all 400 available positions are filled.

Sector Distribution and Quotas

The SINP has distributed the 400 available positions among three capped sectors. The accommodation and food services sector received 240 positions, retail trade 80, and trucking 80. This represents an increase of 100 positions compared to the first intake in January 2026.

As of the latest update, the accommodation and food services and trucking sectors have already reached their quotas, with approximately 40 positions remaining in retail trade.

By comparison, the first intake allocated 180 positions to accommodation and food services, and 60 each to retail trade and trucking. The higher cap this round reflects the significant demand observed during the earlier window, when some sectors met their limits within the first day of opening.

Future Intake Schedule for 2026

Saskatchewan has set six total intake windows for capped sectors in 2026. The first intake opened on January 13 and has closed, while the second began on March 2. The remaining intakes are scheduled for May 4, July 6, September 7, and November 2, 2026.

The number of positions available for future intakes has not yet been announced, as the province indicated that allocations could change if specific sector caps are reached or if the total nomination quota from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is adjusted.

Provincial Nomination Allocations

For 2026, IRCC has granted Saskatchewan a total of 4,761 nomination spaces. Of these, 25% are designated for capped sectors, while 50% are allocated to priority sectors and 25% to other industries. Adjustments can occur throughout the year depending on labour market demand and nomination uptake.

Within the 25% distribution for capped sectors, accommodation and food services receive 60% of available nominations per intake, retail trade 20%, and trucking 20%. Across the full year, this equates to 714 nominations for accommodation and food services and 238 each for retail and trucking.

Priority and Other Sectors

Unlike capped sectors, employers in priority or other sectors can apply at any time without waiting for intake windows. Priority sectors for 2026 include healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, and technology.

Priority sectors are allocated half of Saskatchewan’s total nominations for the year, while other sectors receive 25%. These proportions can be adjusted to ensure all available nominations are used efficiently.

Application Process and Requirements

Employers seeking to hire foreign workers through the SINP must first complete a Job Approval Form (JAF) to confirm that the position meets program requirements. Once approved, a Job Approval Letter (JAL) is issued, which the prospective nominee can use to apply for provincial selection.

Each JAF submission counts toward the intake cap, and forms received outside active intake periods are not processed. The process applies only to capped-sector employers; those hiring in priority or other sectors are unaffected by intake windows.

Context Within Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs

The SINP operates alongside other provincial nominee programs across Canada, including Manitoba’s Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP), which also allocates quotas based on labour market needs. These programs collectively aim to address regional workforce shortages through targeted immigration pathways.

By managing intake windows and sector allocations, Saskatchewan’s approach helps balance employer demand with available provincial nomination spaces, ensuring that labour needs in key industries are met while maintaining program integrity.

Ongoing Monitoring and Updates

The province has not confirmed an official closing date for the March 2 intake but previously stated that each window would remain open for several days. Intake progress is monitored on an ongoing basis, and updates are typically released once sector quotas are reached.

Further information on the number of positions available for the remaining 2026 intakes is expected later this year as Saskatchewan continues to implement its planned schedule.

Readers interested in broader immigration program updates can explore recent coverage on provincial nominee allocations and intake changes across Canada.