Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Immigration
The Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program offers individuals and families the opportunity to establish, purchase, or partner in a business in Saskatchewan while participating actively in its management and daily operations. This program has been designed to target experienced business owners and senior managers who want to live in Saskatchewan. It could be the most appropriate for those applicants who are enthusiastic about business opportunities in Saskatchewan as well.
Through the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program, the candidates can obtain a Temporary Work Permit to start or purchase a business in Saskatchewan. After running a business successfully in Saskatchewan for a minimum of six months, the qualified entrepreneur may then apply for provincial nomination under criteria established by the province, and subsequently may be nominated for Canadian permanent resident status.
There are four steps for the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program:
- Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the SINP through the SINP Online Portal and enter the candidate pool.
- Receive an Invitation to submit an official application to the program during a Selection.
- Establish and operate a business in Saskatchewan.
- Get provincial nomination.
How does it work?
Prospective immigrants express their interest in living and operating a business in Saskatchewan by providing information about their relevant entrepreneurial or professional experience, assets, and Business Establishment Plan (BEP) in an online survey.
The Saskatchewan EOI system for Entrepreneur candidates operates in a similar way to the system for International Skilled Worker (ISW) candidates. Candidates who meet the minimum criteria may enter the pool. The EOI is not an application; it is an expression of someone’s interest in the SINP. Unlike the ISW criteria, there is no minimum score requirement for Entrepreneur candidates to enter the EOI pool. Though the EOI score is a major factor in selecting candidates for the invitation, Saskatchewan considers other factors for business and settlement success as well. Another crucial difference from the ISW process is that candidates may not update their EOIs once submitted (the SINP clarifies that points for age are based on the candidate’s age on the date of submission).
During EOI Selections, the Saskatchewan immigration authorities invite the candidates with the most competitive scores from the EOI pool. The scores are based on the SINP Entrepreneur Ranking System. The selected candidates are invited to apply to the SINP under the Entrepreneur immigration sub-category. The SINP does not provide preferential treatment for any application, even for the Saskatchewan-based companies. The candidates who pass the verification process will be issued a SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter. It will convey support of the applicant’s request to IRCC for a temporary work permit for 2 years in Saskatchewan. As soon as the applicant satisfies the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement, s/he can apply to be nominated by the SINP for permanent residence.
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Minimum Eligibility Criteria for entering the Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program EOI candidate pool:
To be considered eligible under the Entrepreneur Category, Potential candidates must:
- Have a minimum of CAD 500,000 in net business and personal assets, verifiable and legally acquired;
- Demonstrate at least three years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience in the last ten years; and
- Intend to invest a minimum of CAD 300,000 in Regina or Saskatoon, or at least CAD 200,000 in another Saskatchewan community.
Saskatchewan Entrepreneur Program Points Grid
The Saskatchewan Entrepreneur stream uses the following points-grid to rank candidates who have submitted EOIs under three categories: human capital, business experience, and business establishment plan. Only top-ranking candidates will be invited to apply to the program.
| Factor | Description | Points |
| Age | 20 or less | 0 |
| 21–29 | 10 | |
| 30–30 | 15 | |
| 40–54 | 10 | |
| 55+ | 0 | |
| Exploratory visit | At least five working days spent in Saskatchewan, with evidence of relevant business contacts, within the 12 months preceding the EOI submission | 15 |
| Official language ability: English/French* | No language test | 0 |
| CLB level 4 | 5 | |
| CLB level 5 | 10 | |
| CLB level 6+ | 15 | |
| Education / Qualifications (Only the highest qualification may be considered, for a maximum of 15 points in this factor) | Trade or occupational certification from a post-secondary training or apprenticeship of at least one year, full-time | 10 |
| Bachelor or Post-graduate degree/designation in a Business, Agriculture, or Science/Technology field | 15 | |
| Net business and personal assets (CAD) | $500,000–$549,999 | 0 |
| $550,000–$749,999 | 5 | |
| $750,000–$999,999 | 10 | |
| $1,000,000+ | 15 |
Total possible points for section 75
*Note that while a language test is not a compulsory requirement of the program, it is recommended you take one if you are interested in applying, even (or particularly) if English or French is your first language – with up to 15 points available for language ability, it is a relatively simple way to improve your chances of receiving an invitation to apply.
Business Experience
| Factor | Description | Points |
| Entrepreneurial or farming experience | 4 to 7 years | 10 |
| 8 or more years | 15 | |
| 4 to 7 years and 50%+ ownership in the business | 15 | |
| 8 or more years and 50%+ ownership in the business | 20 | |
| Business revenue (CAD)
|
$50,000–$99,999 | 5 |
| $100,000–$249,999 | 10 | |
| $250,000–$499,999 | 15 | |
| $500,000+ | 20 | |
| Innovation (a maximum of 10 points can be claimed for this factor) | Previous verifiable experience in: | |
| Export trade | 10 | |
| Registered patents | 10 | |
| Gazelle business | 10 |
Total possible points for section 50
Business Establishment Plan
| Factor | Description | Points |
| Investment amount: Total equity investment to establish, or to purchase and expand an eligible business (CAD) | $200,000–$349,999 | 0 |
| $350,000–$499,999 | 5 | |
| $500,000–$749,999 | 10 | |
| $750,000–$999,999 | 15 | |
| $1,000,000+ | 20 | |
| Investment in key economic sectors (proposed business activity – a maximum of 15 points may be claimed for this factor) | Science and technology | 15 |
| Manufacturing | 15 | |
| Export | 15 | |
| Rural business development | 15 | |
| Rural business succession | 15 | |
| Rural business development | 15 |
Total possible points for section 35
Total possible points overall: 160
What next?
During periodic draws from the candidate pool, known as EOI Selections, the SINP will issue invitations to the candidates with the most competitive scores from the EOI pool. The candidates may then submit a full application to the program. The submission process involves several steps with strict time limits, so it is crucial to be prepared and focused during the application.
Candidates have 20 business days from receiving the invitation to pay a non-refundable processing fee of CAD 2,500 and identify a recognized third-party financial review service for their online application.
The complete electronic application, including supporting documents and the Business Establishment Plan, must be submitted within 90 calendar days of receiving the invitation. The BEP reinforces the information supplied in the EOI, and must include:
- Details of how the candidate will establish a business, in line with the points assigned in the points grid if applicable (for investment amount and sector);
- Proof of ownership of at least one third (33.3 percent) of the equity of a business in Saskatchewan, unless the total investment amount is $1 million or higher;
- The commitment to actively participate in and manage daily operations and direction of the business; and,
- If establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon, plans for the creation of two employment opportunities in Saskatchewan for Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are not related to the candidate.
Candidates have 180 calendar days from receiving the invitation to submit the third party verification report.
The assessment process includes an interview with SINP officials in person or online via video conference.
Successful applicants will receive a Business Performance Agreement (BPA) which they must review and sign. This is a legal agreement with the government of Saskatchewan outlining the business sector, investment, and any other relevant information, and it is based on the information submitted in the BEP. It must be signed and submitted to the SINP within 30 days of receipt.
Once an applicant receives a SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter, s/he is required to apply to IRCC for a Temporary Work Permit (TWP). With the TWP, the applicant can arrive in Saskatchewan and establish or purchase the proposed business. The applicant also needs to attend an arrival meeting in Saskatchewan within 18 months of receiving the SINP Entrepreneur Approval Letter, or the application will be closed.
After six months of operating the business and complying with the BPA, s/he can then apply for provincial nomination. The applicant must maintain legal status in Canada during this time – the SINP recommends applicants have at least six months remaining on their TWP when they apply for nomination. Once the nomination is granted, the applicant can then apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent resident status.
