Home > Permanent Residence > Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) > Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) > SINP - Entrepreneur stream
The guide below takes a deep look into one of the streams of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), the Entrepreneur stream. The guide will go through an overview of the stream, its eligibility requirements, how it works, the documentation needed, its cost and processing times.
Overview of the Entrepreneur stream
The Entrepreneur stream is one of the three Saskatchewan PNP streams that are dedicated to international entrepreneurs who wish to invest their money in the province.
When receiving a nomination under the Entrepreneur stream, candidates can then apply for Permanent Residence to the federal government of Canada. |
This stream is not aligned with Express Entry, which means that candidates cannot take advantage of the 6-month average processing times of Express Entry. Processing times of Provincial Nominee Programs (not aligned with Express Entry) are usually longer and take at least 1 year.
The Entrepreneur stream has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the SINP does not send Invitations to Submit an Application to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 140 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the SINP conducts periodic Entrepreneur draws, and each draw has its minimum threshold score, and all candidates with scores above or equal to that draw's threshold are invited to apply. More information is available in the Draw History section of this guide.
The Entrepreneur stream has minimum eligibility requirements, however, the SINP does not send Invitations to Submit an Application to every candidate that meets these minimum criteria. Each candidate, when entering the system, has a score (up to 140 points) that depends on multiple factors (explained in detail in the Eligibility Requirements section). In fact, the SINP conducts periodic Entrepreneur draws, and each draw has its minimum threshold score, and all candidates with scores above or equal to that draw's threshold are invited to apply. More information is available in the Draw History section of this guide.
Eligibility Requirements
Eligible and ineligible businesses
To be eligible to the SINP Entrepreneur stream, your proposed business must meet the following criteria:
Additional criteria apply if (i) purchasing an existing business or business succession, or (i) purchasing an existing business from a previous SINP Entrepreneur nominee:
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the SINP Entrepreneur stream:
Partnerships:
In addition to the requirements above, if you are proposing a joint venture with another SINP applicant in the operation of a new business, the purchase of an existing business, or a partnership with a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen, below are additional guidelines and requirements:
Minimum criteria and Entrepreneur Points Grid:
In order to meet the minimum criteria you must:
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an Invitation to Submit an Application from the SINP. Each draw has a minimum threshold score, and you need to have a score above or equal to the threshold to receive an invitation to apply.
There are 3 factors (each with sub-factors) under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
To be eligible to the SINP Entrepreneur stream, your proposed business must meet the following criteria:
- Meet the requirements under the Canada-Saskatchewan Immigration Agreement, 2005,
- Have the potential to create economic benefit for Saskatchewan, as assessed by SINP immigration officers,
- Be the continued operation of an existing business or the establishment of a new business meeting economic needs in Saskatchewan. The SINP does not pre-approve or endorse any business proposals or projects,
- Be sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations but must meet the legal requirements of the community they operate in,
- Be for-profit entities with the primary purpose of earning profits through the sale of goods and/or services, and
- Be considered a "permanent establishment" as defined under subsection 400(2) of the Canadian Income Tax Regulations, 1985.
Additional criteria apply if (i) purchasing an existing business or business succession, or (i) purchasing an existing business from a previous SINP Entrepreneur nominee:
- (i) Purchasing an existing business or Business succession:
- The Saskatchewan based business must have been in continuous operation by the same owner for the past 3 years,
- You must complete an exploratory visit to meet the previous owners. This applies even if you're buying a business succession opportunity,
- You must provide evidence that you made reasonable efforts to establish a fair market value for the business,
- The succession buy-out must result in a complete change in ownership with you assuming full control of the business,
- You must commit to maintaining employment for existing Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and
- You must commit to keeping the existing wages and employment terms.
- (ii) Purchasing an existing business from a previous SINP Entrepreneur nominee:
- The business must have been in continuous operation by the previous owner for at least 5 years following the previous owner’s Permanent Residence application approval by IRCC (or receiving a Good Faith Deposit return if the applicant had applied to SINP prior to 2015),
- The business must demonstrate a net profit for at least 2 of the previous 3 years. This should be evident in the business registration and licence documents, financial statements, etc
- The previous owner must be either a Permanent Resident or a Canadian Citizen,
- You must complete an exploratory visit to meet the current owners,
- You must provide evidence that you made reasonable efforts to establish a fair market value for the business,
- The succession buy-out must result in a complete change in ownership with you assuming full control of the business,
- You must commit to maintaining employment for existing Canadian citizens or permanent residents, and
- You must commit to keeping the existing wages and employment terms.
Some types of businesses are not eligible for the SINP Entrepreneur stream:
- Property rental, investment, and leasing activities,
- Real estate construction/development/brokerage, insurance brokerage or business brokerage,
- Professional services or self-employed business operators requiring licensing or accreditation,
- Pay day loan, cheque cashing, money changing and cash machines,
- Credit unions,
- Home-based businesses, including bed-and-breakfasts and lodging houses,
- Co-operatives,
- Investments into a business operated primarily for the purposes of deriving passive investment income,
- A business located in a multi-business retail condo/location/project or business incubator that is not completed/operational, and/or is targeted or dependent on investment or business operations by SINP entrepreneurs for the development, completion or ongoing operation of the project,
- Seasonal Businesses,
- Wholesale Trade Businesses, and
- Electronic, appliance, furniture, and home furnishing retail stores.
Partnerships:
In addition to the requirements above, if you are proposing a joint venture with another SINP applicant in the operation of a new business, the purchase of an existing business, or a partnership with a Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen, below are additional guidelines and requirements:
- When applying, all applicants must clearly indicate in their application forms that they're proposing a joint venture with a program applicant or a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, and identify their proposed business partners,
- Each prospective applicant must submit their individual Expression of Interest simultaneously,
- Each prospective applicant will be evaluated separately. They'll be selected based on whether they meet the eligibility criteria. They'll also earn points as individuals, not as part of a group or partnership,
- If any partner is not selected from the pool for processing, all remaining partners will have to update their business proposal. They'll need to make any required changes to ensure they continue to be eligible for the points they previously earned,
- If all partners are selected from the EOI pool and approved, each partner will be required to sign a separate Business Performance Agreement, and each partner must meet the agreement terms, to be approved for nomination, and
- If the SINP concludes that one or more partners failed to meet the terms of their individual Business Performance Agreement for reasons beyond humanitarian and compassionate circumstances, all remaining partners will be required to update their performance agreement to ensure they continue to meet program criteria. This includes, but is not limited to changes to the required investment amount.
Minimum criteria and Entrepreneur Points Grid:
In order to meet the minimum criteria you must:
- Have minimum 500,000 CAD in Net Business and Personal Assets,
- Have minimum 3 years of relevant business management or entrepreneurial experience gained in the past ten years,
- Intend to invest minimum 300,000 CAD in Regina and Saskatoon or minimum 200,000 CAD in all other communities,
- Own minimum one third (33,33%) of the equity of a proposed business in Saskatchewan unless your total investment is 1,000,000 CAD or higher,
- Provide active and on-going participation in the day to day management and direction of the proposed business,
- If you are establishing a new business in Regina or Saskatoon, your business plan must include the creation of two employment opportunities for Canadians or permanent residents in Saskatchewan (non-relative workers),
- Have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 5, and
- Conduct an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan for at least 5 calendar days in the previous 12 months before your Expression of Interest. You will have to complete and submit an Exploratory Visit Report that details and shows evidence of the activities carried out during the visit
As said earlier, meeting minimum eligibility requirements does not necessarily mean that you will receive an Invitation to Submit an Application from the SINP. Each draw has a minimum threshold score, and you need to have a score above or equal to the threshold to receive an invitation to apply.
There are 3 factors (each with sub-factors) under which you can score points that are explained in detail below. Remember that for each factor you will be claiming points for, you will have to provide supporting documents to prove you satisfy to the criteria of the factor.
Selection factors 140-point grid | Maximum Points |
---|---|
Factor 1 - Human Capital | 55 |
Sub-Factor 1.A - Age | 15 |
Sub-Factor 1.B - Official Language Ability | 10 |
Sub-Factor 1.C - Qualifications/Education | 15 |
Sub-Factor 1.D - Net Business and Personal Assets | 15 |
Factor 2 - Business Experience | 50 |
Sub-Factor 2.A - Entrepreneurial Experience | 20 |
Sub-Factor 2.B - Business Revenue | 20 |
Sub-Factor 2.C - Innovation | 10 |
Factor 3 - Business Establishment Plan | 35 |
Sub-Factor 3.A - Investment Amount | 20 |
Sub-Factor 3.B - Investment in Key Economic Sectors | 15 |
Total | 140 |