Saskatchewan nominations: capped sectors nearly full, others still open
Saskatchewan has used all but 12% of its annual quota for nominations of workers in capped sectors, with 27% of quota still left for priority and other sectors.
The figures come from a quarterly update the province published in October on its Processing Statistics web page.
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| Sector | Allocation | Nominations issued | Percentage of allocation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Priority sectors and other sectors | 3,946 | 2,865 | 73% |
| Capped sectors | 1,315 | 1,158 | 88% |
| Total | 5,261 | 4,023 | 76% |
From January through September, the province issued 1,158 nominations to workers in accommodation and food services, trucking, and retail trade and other services, leaving just 157 capped-sector slots available for the remaining three months of 2026.
In contrast, nominations for uncapped sectors have been tracking close to pace with the year, with 1,081 spaces remaining, according to the October update.
The SINP notes that these figures do not include applications “currently in process,” and that actual remaining availability may be lower than shown.
Taking all sectors into account, Saskatchewan had issued 4,023 nominations by the end of September, representing 76% of its annual allocation of 5,261 spaces, according to the latest quarterly figures.
At the time of its latest nomination issuance update, the province had 1,238 nomination spaces remaining to distribute to workers in priority sectors, capped sectors, and other sectors—24% of its total 2026 allocation.
The latest figures reflect an increase in the province’s annual quota, which was raised in the July-to-September (Q3) period to 5,261, up from 4,761.
Prior to the increase, the province had used 55% of its then-allocation of 4,761 by the end of June.
Saskatchewan issued 1,395 nominations in the third quarter, from July through September—similar to the 1,405 nominations issued in the second quarter and higher than the 1,223 issued in the first quarter.
Capped sectors accounted for 440 of those, or nearly one-third.
The province has issued an average of about 447 nominations per month in 2026. To use its full allocation, Saskatchewan would need to issue about 413 nominations per month for the rest of the year.
For 2026, the SINP has reserved at least 50% of its total annual nomination allocation for the following priority sectors:
- Agriculture.
- Energy.
- Health care.
- Manufacturing.
- Mining.
- Skilled trades.
- Technology.
Saskatchewan has restricted nominations in three capped sectors to a combined maximum of 25% of its annual allocation, with individual limits of 15% for accommodation and food services and 5% each for trucking and retail trade and other services.
On its Immigration FAQs web page, the SINP states that priority sectors may be allocated more than 50% of nomination spaces if demand warrants, reducing the share available to other sectors.
Sectors that are neither designated as “priority” nor “capped” are grouped under the SINP’s “other” sectors classification.
Employers in capped sectors can only submit Employer Position Assessments during designated intake windows, rather than on an ongoing basis like those in other sectors.
Although capped sector nomination spaces remain available, the SINP’s final intake windows of 2026 opened on Sept. 14 and 15.
The province had originally scheduled a sixth intake window for Nov. 2, but cancelled it and moved those positions into the September intake.
According to the SINP’s Processing Statistics web page, the accommodation, food services and trucking windows have since reached their position limits, while 26 of 175 positions in the retail trade window had not been used at the time of the latest update.
A look into the SINP’s processing stats
The SINP's early October update included processing times for various application categories, reflecting the province's processing performance from July through September 2026.
Reported averages are based on 80% of finalized applications, excluding the fastest and slowest 10%, and are measured from when a complete application is received until it is finalized.
The table below compares these figures with those reported in the previous two quarters.
| Application category | Application type | Q3: July 1–Sept. 30 | Q2: April 1–June 30 | Q1: Jan. 1–March 31 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Skilled Worker | Employment offer | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
| International Skilled Worker | Innovation and Tech Talent Pathway | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| International Skilled Worker | Agriculture Talent Pathway | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
| International Skilled Worker | Health Talent Pathway | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Saskatchewan Experience | Existing Work Permit | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 3 weeks |
| Saskatchewan Experience | International Students | 2 weeks | 2 weeks | 2 weeks |
| *Second Reviews | Applicants with Job Offers | 1 week | 1 week | 2 weeks |
| Job Approval Process | **Employer Position Assessments | 4 weeks | 3 weeks | 4 weeks |
*The SINP permits a second review of provincial nomination applications deemed ineligible, provided applicants submit a justified request within 30 days of receiving their ineligibility letter.
**Saskatchewan employers must submit an EPA to obtain approval to hire a foreign national through the SINP.
The SINP notes that it aims to process all International Skilled Worker and Saskatchewan Experience applications within 16 weeks; the service standard for EPAs is six weeks.
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