If you were planning to apply for permanent residence (PR) in Saskatchewan through a job offer, there’s an important update you should know. Saskatchewan has temporarily stopped accepting new applications for job approval forms (JAFs), which are required for some immigration pathways.
What Does This Mean?
Starting February 18, 2025, foreign workers and employers can no longer submit new job approval forms (JAFs) under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). Without a JAF, employers can’t get a Job Approval Letter (JAL), and without a JAL, foreign workers can’t apply for certain job-offer-based immigration programs in Saskatchewan.
However, if your application was submitted before February 18, it will still be processed.
Why Did Saskatchewan Stop Accepting JAFs?
The reason for this pause is that the federal government has reduced Saskatchewan’s PR nomination quota by 50% in 2025. The province says they need time to adjust their programs to fit this change.
This pause is expected to last a few weeks, but Saskatchewan has not given an exact date for when they will start accepting applications again.
Which Immigration Programs Are Affected?
This pause affects any immigration stream that requires a Job Approval Letter (JAL), including:
International Skilled Worker Category
- Agriculture Talent Pathway
- Health Talent Pathway
- Employment Offer
- Tech Talent Pathway
Saskatchewan Work Experience Category
- Skilled Worker with Existing Work Permit
- Agriculture Talent Pathway
- Tech Talent Pathway
- Health Talent Pathway
- Students
If you were planning to apply through any of these programs, you will have to wait until Saskatchewan resumes accepting JAFs.
What If I Still Want to Immigrate to Saskatchewan?
If you don’t have a job offer, there are still ways to apply for PR in Saskatchewan.
1. International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand
- If you have at least one year of work experience in a high-demand job in Saskatchewan, you can apply for PR without a job offer.
- You need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI). If selected, Saskatchewan will invite you to apply for provincial nomination, and if successful, you can apply for PR with the federal government.
2. Express Entry
- You can apply through Canada’s Express Entry system, which selects candidates based on points for work experience, education, language skills, and other factors.
- If you have a high Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, you have a good chance of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.
- Some special category-based selections, like French-speaking candidates, have better chances of receiving invitations.
3. Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
- Saskatchewan is part of Canada’s new Rural Community Immigration Pilot.
- If you receive a job offer from a designated employer in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, you may qualify for PR.
- The official website for this program is not yet available, but updates are expected soon.
Final Thoughts
This temporary pause only affects job-offer-based immigration streams in Saskatchewan. If you were planning to apply through one of these pathways, you will need to wait. However, other pathways like Occupation In-Demand, Express Entry, and RCIP are still open for eligible candidates.
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Disclaimer: This is for informational purposes only and not legal advice. Always consult experts like us or the official IRCC website for up-to-date details.