Saskatchewan PNP 2026: Major Nomination Changes Revealed

The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) will allocate 4,761 nominations in 2026, the same as 2025, as reported by CIC News. Key takeaways: the nomination number remains steady, and Saskatchewan plans major changes to how nominations are distributed to better match immigration with labor market needs.

This announcement follows ongoing federal reductions to provincial nomination quotas. At the start of 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) imposed these reductions, requiring provinces to be more selective in admitting candidates.

How Saskatchewan Will Allocate Its 2026 Nominations

Under the new framework, Saskatchewan’s 2026 nominations will be allocated as follows: at least 50 percent (2,381 spots) to candidates in designated priority sectors, up to 25 percent to capped sectors, and the remaining 25 percent to all other eligible SINP categories.

In 2025, the federal government required that 75 percent of SINP nominees reside in Canada. Saskatchewan confirms this restriction will not apply in 2026, giving overseas applicants more flexibility.

Priority Sectors Take Center Stage In 2026

Saskatchewan expanded its priority sectors for 2026. The list now includes healthcare, agriculture, skilled trades, mining, manufacturing, energy, and technology. Within these, 750 nomination spots are set aside for graduates of Saskatchewan-based designated learning institutions working in priority occupations.
The province indicates that if demand in these sectors surges, nominations for priority sectors may exceed the 50 percent minimum. If targets fall short, authorities may reallocate unused nominations to other categories later in the year.
Applicants in priority sectors benefit from fewer restrictions. They can submit applications at any time without waiting for intake windows, are exempt from the six-month work permit expiry rule, and may apply from outside Canada, according to SINP policy details.

Capped Sectors And Limited Intake Windows

Capped sectors will receive a maximum of 25 percent of Saskatchewan’s 2026 nominations. CIC News reports that Accommodation and Food Services will get up to 714 nominations, trucking will get 238 spots, and retail trade will get 238.
Applications for capped sectors will be accepted only during six scheduled intake windows across 2025 and 2026. The province states that these limits manage labor-market balance while supporting key service industries.
Capped-sector candidates can submit applications only in the last six months of their valid work permit. This rule prioritizes workers at risk of losing status, according to SINP program guidance.

Key Takeaway

The 2026 reforms impose stricter eligibility on international students and Post-Graduation Work Permit holders. To qualify under the SINP Student category, applicants must graduate from a Saskatchewan-designated learning institution and remain employed in the province in a field related to their studies, as provincial authorities state.
PGWP holders who studied outside Saskatchewan are no longer eligible for Saskatchewan Experience pathways but can apply through specific subcategories: Health Talent Pathway, Agriculture Talent Pathway, Tech Talent Pathway, Student Pathway, or International Skilled Worker with Employment Offer.
Exemptions are no longer available for PGWP holders in restricted occupations. Some open work permits, like those for spouses, are now excluded from certain SINP pathways. Applicants in these categories must show extra proof of Saskatchewan residency.

Saskatchewan will hold an informational virtual session to explain these changes on January 7, 2026, at 3 p.m. CST, giving prospective applicants the opportunity to seek clarification directly from program officials.

The 2026 allocation matches 2025 levels, but it is 40.5 percent below Saskatchewan’s 2024 total of 8,000 nominations. Provincial officials say more nominations could be issued mid-year if the federal government approves, as happened in 2025.