The EPA SINP

The EPA SINP (Employer Position Assessment) is a mandatory approval step in theSaskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)process, allowing employers in Saskatchewan to hire international workers with settlement in view. It is a new mechanism the province has adopted to replace the previous Job Approval Letter (JAL) entirely, with a comprehensive assessment of the business, the position and the candidate’s profile.

This article analyses in detail what the EPA SINP is, the conditions for applying, the specific requirements for businesses and candidates, and sets out the process and the latest rules applying for 2026.

What the EPA SINP is and why it replaced the JAL

The EPA SINP is an approval document issued by Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Immigration and Career Training, confirming that an employer is eligible to hire an international worker into a specific position and that the candidate hired also meets the requirements of theSaskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP).

Theo Government of Saskatchewan, the EPA process entirely replaces the Job Approval Letter (JAL). The greatest difference lies in the scope of assessment: whereas the JAL focused mainly on the position, the EPA SINP assesses three pillars at once — the business, the position and the candidate.

Each EPA SINP is tied to a specific position. The employer must file a separate EPA for each position to be filled, and every candidate identified in the file must confirm their information through the OASIS online system to complete the approval process.

This mechanism helps the province monitor both business quality and candidate suitability more closely before issuing a nomination letter, reducing the risk of the programme being abused on either side.

The mandatory conditions for EPA SINP approval

The EPA SINP assessment requirements divide into several groups, each with its own strict rules.

Workplace location requirements

The position must be located within the geographical boundaries of Saskatchewan. The business address must be in a 100% commercially zoned area, or at least 50% commercial with fixed opening hours, public access and clear separation from residential space.

An important point many employers overlook: positions based on a work-from-home model, shared co-working space or a virtual office will not receive EPA approval. Farms, childcare centres and care homes are exceptions that may be considered separately.

Employer requirements

The business must establish a genuine employer-employee relationship with the candidate. Independent contractors, workers through staffing agencies, shareholders or equity owners and immediate family members (parents, spouse, children) are all ineligible under the EPA SINP.

In addition, the business must hold a valid Certificate of Registration (COR), valid for 2 years. Where the COR expires or is cancelled during the EPA assessment, the application will be assessed as ineligible. The COR is also a mandatory requirement when recruiting through theTemporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)needing aLabour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Occupation requirements

The position must be within the occupation list SINP accepts. The province uses Canada’sNational Occupational Classification (NOC)system to determine skill level through the TEER system (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) with 6 levels from TEER 0 to TEER 5.

In 2026, SINP applies a particular cap: nominations in accommodation and food services, retail and road transport account for at most 25% of all nominations. EPAs for these capped sectors may be filed only in 6 set intake windows during the year, and the candidate must be a current employee of the business with awork permitexpiring within 6 months or less.

Job offer requirements

The information in the EPA file must match exactly theJob Offersigned with the candidate. The mandatory fields comprise:

• The employer’s contact details (name, telephone, email, company address)
• The average hours worked each week (a minimum of 30 hours — full-time)
• The salary for the position offered
• The job title, with a detailed description of duties and responsibilities
• The actual address where the candidate will work
• Overtime entitlements and annual leave

Salary requirements

The salary for the position must be fair against workers who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents. SINP uses the Regional Median Wage from the National Job Bank as the reference standard. The salary offered must not be below the Regional Low Wage for that occupation.

Saskatchewan is divided into 6 economic regions with different reference wages: the Northern region, the Prince Albert region, the Regina–Moose Mountain region, the Saskatoon–Biggar region, the Swift Current–Moose Jaw region and the Yorkton–Melville region.

The EPA SINP process

The EPA SINP process comprises 3 main stages, carried out entirely through the OASIS system.

The first stage is assessing the business’s eligibility. The province verifies that the business is genuinely operating in Saskatchewan, has the financial capacity to hire an international worker, and fully complies with the law in force.

The second stage is assessing the job offer. SINP examines the job content, working conditions, salary and the business’s recruitment capability. At the same time, it checks whether candidates SINP has previously supported are still working in the position approved.

The third stage is assessing the candidate’s eligibility. Once the EPA is provisionally approved, the candidate logs into OASIS to confirm their information and then files the SINP application. The assessment team compares the candidate’s education and work experience against the criteria of each programme category.

The EPA’s period of validity

Every approved EPA is valid for 60 calendar days from the date of approval. Within the first 10 calendar days after approval, the candidate must confirm the information in the file. Where they do not, the file is closed.

After confirming, the candidate has the remainder of the 60 days to file the SINP application. Where no candidate has been recruited or the candidate is not yet working in Saskatchewan, the employer may request one extension of a further 30 days, provided the request is filed 15 days before the EPA expires.

Standard processing times

On the Saskatchewan Ministry of Immigration and Career Training’s published figures, the standard processing time for each EPA is 6 weeks. However, the following cases receive priority processing:

• Candidates in a priority sector whose work permit expires within 3 months
• Those already nominated who have unexpectedly lost their job and have a new job offer

Employers wanting to request expedited processing must email the relevant information to [email protected].

The steps after the EPA is approved

Once a candidate is nominated by SINP, they have 6 months to file withImmigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)for permanent residence and an employer-specific work permit.

For the candidate to be issued an employer-specific work permit, the business must submit the job offer through the IRCC Employer Portal and pay the Employer Compliance Fee of CAD 230. The candidate uses the A-number on the receipt for this fee to file the work permit application.

Once the work permit is issued, the candidate may start work in Saskatchewan. When the permanent residence application is approved, the candidate formally becomes a Saskatchewan resident and can access the province’s settlement support services.

The differences between the EPA SINP and the other processes

The EPA SINP has several distinctive features compared with the other international recruitment processes in Canada. For uncapped sectors, each EPA allows the employer to include up to 10 current employees, temporary residents who are not employees, or candidates from abroad to fill newly arisen vacancies.

For truck drivers (NOC 73300), the rules are stricter. Only heavy vehicles registered, licensed and insured in Saskatchewan are considered, and at most 2 drivers are approved per eligible vehicle. The business must provide any vehicle lease agreement, current carrier records and a National Safety Code (NSC) certificate.

For the capped sectors, a Second Review process applies. Employers may request a review of an ineligibility decision within 30 calendar days of receiving the notice, by sending a completed Second Review form to [email protected].

Summary

The EPA SINP is the central approval instrument in the international recruitment process in Saskatchewan, entirely replacing the Job Approval Letter (JAL) with a wider scope of assessment and stricter rules. Employers with a valid Certificate of Registration and a position meeting the location, occupation and salary conditions have a good chance of approval within the standard 6-week period.

Before filing, both employer and candidate need to be clear about the latest changes for 2026, particularly the 25% cap on retail, food service and road transport. Preparing complete documentation with information matching the job offer is the decisive factor in a smooth process, avoiding a file being closed through a failure to confirm within the first 10 days after approval.