Saskatchewan receives increased immigration quota

Saskatchewan has received an increase of 1,136 nominations under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) for 2025.

This brings the total allocation for the year under the SINP to 4,761.

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In a phone call to CIC News, a representative confirmed that 25% of the new nominations will go toward jobs in trucking, accommodation, food service, and retail trade.

These are sectors that reached their 25% nomination cap in June, after which the SINP began returning applications in these sectors.

With the increase in allocations, processing for some applications in these sectors will begin again.

The remaining 75% of the new nominations will go towards any non-capped sector, with priority sectors being healthcare, agriculture and skilled trades.

Changes to the SINP in 2025

In January, the SINP’s allocation for 2025 was cut by 50% (compared to the previous year).

The federal government also introduced a new requirement that 75% of nominees must already be in Canada.

Of the 25% allocation for nominees coming from outside Canada, the SINP is prioritizing candidates in healthcare, agriculture, and skilled trades.

Some other changes introduced earlier this year by the SINP include

• Closing its Entrepreneur and Farm Owner/Operator PR pathways;
• Removing eligibility for some Open Work Permit holders;
• Restricting eligibility for the SINP’s Student Category; and
• Removing spas, salons, and pet care services (excluding veterinarians) from eligibility for recruitment through the SINP.

Provinces and territories receiving increased allocations

Saskatchewan is the latest province to announce an increase in nomination allocation from the federal government.

Newfoundland and Labrador negotiated an increase of 1,000 to its 2025 Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allocation in February. Newfoundland and Labrador’s allocation under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is 475 spaces, bringing the total immigration allocation for Newfoundland and Labrador to 2,525.

New Brunswick followed suit, announcing an increased allocation in June. The province received an additional 1,500 spots for its PNP. The province also has 1,250 slots allocated to its portion of the AIP, bringing its total allocation for the year to 4,250.

Yukon also received an additional 67 nomination slots earlier this month.

Other provinces – including Ontario and British Columbia – have announced cuts of 50% to their allocations. These cuts have led provinces to make changes to their PNPs, including closing some streams, and capping the number of applications being processed in 2025.

Assess your eligibility for enhanced PNP streams