Q1: What changes have been made to the Entrepreneur Category application process and eligibility criteria? 

Q2: What are the eligibility criteria for the SINP Entrepreneur Program?  

Prior to nomination by the SINP, you must submit a refundable good faith deposit of $75,000 CAD and sign a Performance Agreement based on your Business Establishment Plan.  This deposit is refundable when you prove that you have met the conditions of the Performance Agreement within two years of landing in Canada.

Q3: Who is not eligible to apply for the SINP Entrepreneur Program? 

Persons with an active request for refugee status from the government of Canada are not eligible to apply for nomination under by the SINP.  However, if your refugee claim has been refused and any appeals have been concluded, you may apply to the Entrepreneur Category. 

Applicants must have valid immigration status in Canada to apply to the Entrepreneur Category from within Canada.  If you are unable to obtain valid status in Canada, you may apply from a country in which you do have legal status.

In addition, you may be ineligible for provincial nomination and/or immigration to Canada, if:

Q4: Is it necessary to make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan as part of the application process?  

The exploratory visit is no longer a compulsory component of the application process for those applying to the Entrepreneur category.If you are applying under theEntrepreneur category, you can score above the 55 points required without making an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan as long as you provide a well researched and coherent Business Establishment Plan (BEP) and can show the Business Immigration Officer satisfactory evidence in the remaining categories included on the points grid.  Further information on the points grid can be found online in the Application Guide for SINP Entrepreneur Program.

If you wish to make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan, you must first find out if you require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) and Letter of Invitation to visit Saskatchewan.  Applicants are encouraged to contact relevant business service providers in Saskatchewan that may be of assistance to them when they arrive, such as lawyers, accountants, consultants, local Chambers of Commerce, Economic Development Agencies, and Settlement Agencies.

Q5: Do I require a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Saskatchewan? 

Not all applicants may need a Temporary Resident Visa to visit Saskatchewan.  Temporary Resident Visas are issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and there are different factors that may cause an applicant to require a visa to enter Canada and visit Saskatchewan, such as where you currently live and the proposed length of your stay.  For more information regarding Temporary Resident Visas, including application instructions, eligibility and a list of countries and territories that require visas to enter Canada, contact CIC directly or visit CIC website.

Q6: Can I apply for a Temporary Resident Visa without a Letter of Invitation from the Saskatchewan Provincial Government, recognized business, or agency in Saskatchewan? 

No.  If you require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada then you must first obtain a Letter of Invitation and submit it to a Canadian Embassy or Consulate outside of Canada.

Q7: How can I get a Letter of Invitation to facilitate my travel to Canada with a Temporary Resident Visa?  

Once reviewed and accepted, all applications to the Entrepreneur Program will receive a Letter of Invitation from the SINP to facilitate an independent business exploratory visit and an interview with a Business Immigration Officer, if necessary.  If you are interested in making an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan prior to applying to the SINP Entrepreneur program, we encourage you to obtain a Letter of Invitation from your business contacts within Saskatchewan to facilitate a Temporary Resident Visa issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).  A Letter of Invitation can be issued by any individual, agency, company or organization in support of your planned visit to Saskatchewan.  

Applicants are advised that all Letters of Invitation are reviewed and verified by CIC to ensure legitimacy, and any fraud or misrepresentation committed to gain a Letter of Invitation will result in the refusal of your Temporary Resident Visa and your SINP application. 

For more information regarding Letters of Invitation, please contact CIC directly or visit CIC website.

Q8: If I make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan, will a translator be provided to me, or will I have to make my own arrangements for a language translator? 

No.  Translators will only be provided during events organized by the Entrepreneur Program such as interviews.  For any other activities that you wish to participate in during your visit to Saskatchewan, such as meeting with business service providers or community agencies, it will be your responsibility to provide your own personal translator.

Q9: At what point of the application process do I have to submit my Business Establishment Plan (BEP)? 

The BEP must be submitted at the same time as your original application package.

Q10: Can I write a Business Establishment Plan without visiting Saskatchewan first? 

Yes.  If you choose not to make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan, you are encouraged to conduct research into the Saskatchewan economy, their proposed business plan, and potential settlement resources, as well as make contact with potential business service providers through other mediums, such as phone, fax, email and the internet. 

It is fully understood that the BEP is a business proposal and it is likely and expected that market conditions and opportunities may change over the course of the immigration application process, whether you chooses to visit Saskatchewan or not.  So the profitability of the business plan will not be evaluated.  Instead, we will focus on the depth and quality of the research in your Business Establishment Plan to determine if you intend to live and work in Saskatchewan.

Q11: Can I change my BEP once I’ve submitted it as part of my application? 

Yes.  The BEP is a business proposal and we expect that market conditions and opportunities may change over the course of the immigration application process.  You may make changes or additions to your BEP up to the point of file review by a Business Immigration Officer. 

If there are changes to any information you provided in a required form or supporting document, you are encouraged to provide the most up-to-date supporting documents available.  Applicants may submit updated documentation related to program criteria up until the point of assessment by a Business Immigration Officer, when the file will be officially closed for review and assessment.

If you are asked for an interview with a Business Immigration Officer, you are encouraged to provide an up-to-date BEP.  You are also encouraged to submit an updated BEP if you have made an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan and gathered additional information about your business proposal.

Q12: Will my BEP be evaluated and judged on the potential success of my proposed business? 

No.  The profitability of the business plan will not be evaluated.  Instead, we will focus on whether your business plan demonstrates that you intend to live and work in Saskatchewan by evaluating the clarity, careful planning, and quality of research in your business plan.

Q13: What constitutes a minimum three (3) years relevant business management experience, and will alternative work experience be considered? 

You must provide evidence of a minimum three years’ relevant business management experience of a company that you own or owned, in a senior management position as an employee, or relevant entrepreneurial experience in order to be eligible for nomination under the SINP Entrepreneur program. 
 
“Entrepreneurship” means that the applicant has had active ownership of a company.  Applicants will still meet criteria if they have owned a company that has gone into bankruptcy or been closed.

“Business management” means that the applicant has had a role with significant decision-making responsibility involving two or more of the following aspects of business:

You must demonstrate how your management experience and transferable skills relate to owning and actively managing a business in Saskatchewan.  Your title, place of employment, responsibilities and business skills must be described clearly in the application.

Professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and accountants who own all or a significant portion of the firm where they practice their profession, and can demonstrate management of the firm’s business operations, will be considered to fulfill the senior management experience criteria.

Supporting documentation required to prove experience includes:

Q14: Can I include any acquired loans from Canadian held lending agencies as part of my stated minimum investment amount? 

No.  You are required to make a minimum equity investment of at least $150,000 CAN to meet eligibility criteria.  While you can receive loans from lending institutions in Canada, you may not include the loaned amount as a portion of your stated minimum investment in Saskatchewan.

Q15: Can I invest in a business in Saskatchewan before I have been nominated by the SINP? 

You may be able to come to Canada to research potential businesses on a Temporary Resident Visa while your nomination application is in process.  But, please be aware that you will need a valid work permit to work in the business.

There is some risk involved in making investments or purchases in Saskatchewan prior to nomination, as you may not ultimately be approved for nomination and a permanent resident visa.

For additional information regarding investing in Canada, please visit Federal Government “Invest in Canada” website.

Q16: Once I have been nominated by the SINP, why do I have to participate in a Landing Interview after I arrive in Saskatchewan? 

The primary purpose of the Landing Interview is for Business Immigration Officers to welcome nominees to Saskatchewan.  For the Entrepreneur Program, the immigration process does not end once a nominee has arrived in Saskatchewan.  The process is only complete once you have settled in Saskatchewan and started a business as part of the Performance Agreement.  A Business Immigration Officer will meet with you when you arrive to discuss your preliminary plans in Saskatchewan and will offer useful referrals to business and settlement services you may require.