SINP Farm Owners and Operators Sub-Category

The SINP Farm Owners and Operators Sub-Category offers candidates and their families the opportunity to immigrate to Saskatchewan to purchase and operate a farm in the province.

This sub-category is designed to attract potential immigrants with proven experience in farming, considerable capital to invest in a farming operation, and a genuine intention to reside in the province of Saskatchewan. Under this sub-category, applicants are required to make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan prior to submitting an application to the SINP. During this visit, which is to be no less than five business days, the applicant will meet with a representative of the SINP.

To help you learn about the SINP Farm Owners and Operators Sub-Category, this page will cover the following topics:

• Minimum Eligibility Criteria
• Exploratory Visit
• Business Performance Agreement and Refundable Deposit
• Farm Establishment Plan
• When Not to Apply

Minimum Eligibility Criteria

Minimum Requirements for Applicants

In order to be eligible as a farm owner/operator, applicants must:

• Have a minimum net worth of $500,000 CAD, verified by a Ministry approved professional third party;
• Demonstrate through documented proof that the claimed net worth was accumulated through legal means, verified by a Ministry approved professional third party;
  • The third party must also verify that the claimed net worth of the applicant’s spouse has been accumulated through legal means.
• Have relevant farm operation knowledge and experience, demonstrated through documentation; and
  • This refers to active ownership of a farming operation using agricultural practices similar to those used in Saskatchewan-based farming.
  • The applicant is required to demonstrate how this knowledge and experience relate to owning and actively operating a Saskatchewan farm through the submission of a Résumé and a Farm Establishment Plan.
  • The Résumé must clearly identify the applicant's other work experience (if applicable), including job title, place of employment, responsibilities, and business skills.
• Have a viable, considered proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity.
  • Farm proposal viability refers to the feasibility of establishing the proposed farming operation in Saskatchewan.
  • The proposal must sufficiently illustrate the candidate's intent to reside in the province.

Minimum Requirements for the Young Farmer Stream

Applicants who are under 40 years of age are eligible to meet the Farm sub-category’s amended criteria to be considered for nomination under the Young Farmer Stream. To be eligible under this stream, applicants must:

• Have a minimum net worth of $300,000 CAD, verified by a Ministry approved professional third party;
• Demonstrate through documented proof that the claimed net worth was accumulated through legal means, verified by a Ministry approved professional third party;
• Have relevant farm operation knowledge and experience, demonstrated through documentation;
• Have at least three years experience in:
  • Farm ownership;
  • Farm management; or
  • Practical farming experience;
• Have a viable, considered proposal for a commercial Saskatchewan farming opportunity; and
• Have the potential to supplement their farming income with their accompanying spouse/common-law partner's marketable employment skills, based on education and experience.

Exploratory Visit

To be considered under the SINP's Farm Owners and Operators Sub-Category, applicants are required to make an exploratory visit to Saskatchewan. This visit must take place prior to submitting an application to the SINP and must be for a minimum of five business days. On this trip, the candidate is expected to conduct comprehensive research into the Saskatchewan farming industry and community in the form of meetings with service professionals. Finally, candidates are expected to meet with a representative of the SINP to discuss their proposed farm operation while in Saskatchewan.

Business Performance Agreement and Refundable Deposit

If the application is approved for nomination, the applicant will be sent a Nomination Approval and Request for Deposit letter, and a Business Performance Agreement. The Business Performance Agreement must be signed by the applicant. In doing so, he or she is committing to purchase and actively operate a farming business in Saskatchewan. The letter will provide instructions on how to make the required refundable $75,000 CAD Good Faith Deposit, with regard to the requirements of the performance agreement.

Return of the Good Faith Deposit

In order to have the deposit refunded, the applicant must submit an Application for Deposit Refund Request to the SINP. This may be done:

• Within two years of landing in Saskatchewan;
• When all terms of the Business Performance Agreement have been met; and
• When the applicant can demonstrate that he or she has actively invested in the Saskatchewan farm for no less than six months.

The SINP assesses this application based on the criteria found in the Business Performance Agreement.

• If the SINP determines that all conditions for deposit return have been met, the full $75,000 CAD deposit will be returned plus any interest accumulated on it.
• If the SINP determines that the conditions for return have not been met, the applicant will be notified of the criteria that she or he is required to meet before the deposit can be returned.
• If the SINP determines that the applicant does not intend to become a Permanent Resident, land in Saskatchewan, or meet the conditions of the Business Performance Agreement, the deposit, and any interest accumulated on it, will be forfeited to the province.
• If the SINP determines that the applicant purposefully misrepresented him or herself and/or committed fraud to obtain permanent residence status, it will retain the deposit and any interest accumulated on it.
• If the applicant is approved for nomination but is unable to accept the nomination for humanitarian reasons, the full deposit will be returned plus any interest accumulated on it.

Farm Establishment Plan

The Farm Establishment Plan (FEP) must be a coherent and well-thought-out plan for successful settlement and business development in Saskatchewan. The FEP should show that the candidate has conducted extensive research into the economic and market factors relevant to the proposed farming operation. The applicant must also take into consideration his or her management strengths and weaknesses.

A third party may help the applicant develop the FEP, however, it is crucial that the applicant has complete knowledge and understanding of his or her plan. In the event that the applicant is unaware of the FEP’s contents, he or she will be assessed accordingly and may subsequently be deemed ineligible.

The FEP must include the following:

• Proposed industry/sector (NAICS Code);
• Proposed investment amount;
• Number of jobs to be created for Saskatchewan residents;
• Management contribution the nominee will make with respect to the proposed farming operation;
• Fore-casted start-up funds and expenses;
• Business ownership information;
• Proposed location for the farming operation;
• Preparation and training for farm operation in Saskatchewan (including course titles and institution names, if applicable);
• A list of planned past and/or future visits to Saskatchewan, if applicable (include: Dates, purposes, agendas, inviting organizations, etc.);
• Plans for establishing residence in Saskatchewan;
• The name, organizations, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and emails of contracted professional business service providers whom the nominee has contacted and/or established an active working relationship or paid contractual agreement with;
• The name, organization name, mailing address, email, and phone number of the person who compiled the FEP; and
• A summary of people contracted or consulted in preparation of the FEP.

When Not to Apply

Applicants are considered ineligible under this sub-category if they:

• Do not meet one or more of the eligibility criteria listed above;
• (or any dependent family member, accompanying or not) have a serious medical condition;
• (or any dependent family member over the age of 18, accompanying or not) have a criminal record;
• Have unresolved custody or child support disputes affecting any member of their family;
• Have intentionally committed misrepresentation during the application process; and/or
• Have intentionally committed fraud during the application process.