Farm Owner / Operator Category
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Farm owner/operator nominees will be individuals with proven
experience in farming, substantial capital available to invest
in a farming operation, and who have made a signed offer
to purchase land for a farming operation in Saskatchewan.
ASSESSMENT OF FARM OWNER/OPERATOR
APPLICATIONS
Under the Saskatchean Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP), Saskatchewan
can nominate individuals who intend to purchase and operate
a farming operation in Saskatchewan. Applicants considering
applying under this category are encouraged to contact SINP
officials to learn more about the eligibility criteria of the
program. SINP officials will also ensure applicants are contacted
by officials in Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization
who can advise them on the type of farming operation they intend
to operate in Saskatchewan.
There are four eligibility criteria for the Farm Owner/Operator
category:
- Available Equity — applicants must provide financial
documents showing a net worth of $500,000.
- Refundable Cash Deposit - applicants must sign a Performance Agreement committing them to purchasing a farm operation in Saskatchewan and make a "good faith" deposit of $75,000 in trust. The cash deposit will be returned to them when the terms of the Performance Agreement are met. The deposit will be forfeited to the province if the terms are not met within two years of landing in Saskatchewan.
- Mandatory visit to Saskatchewan — applicants are
required to visit Saskatchewan within the two-year period
prior to making a signed offer to purchase.
- Farm operation knowledge and experience —
applicants must provide documentation (e.g. education and
training, work experience, financial documents of their
previous operations) that demonstrate that they are knowledgeable
farm operators. If necessary, this may be further verified
by a personal interview with the applicant in Saskatchewan.
The farm owner/operator category is restricted to proprietary
businesses that include primary agricultural production. Agri-business
operations that do not involve primary agricultural production,
or farm operations that involve some form of joint venture
with existing Saskatchewan operations, would be eligible to
apply under the Business category.
APPLYING
The farm owner/operator category applicant must submit the following SINP application package to the Saskatchewan Immigration Branch. This package must include the original SINP form, the original Government of Canada forms, and photocopies of supporting documents detailed below. Original or certified copies of documents may be required, at the discretion of an SINP Immigration Officer. Please note only the original Government of Canada forms will be returned.
Forms:
- SINP-100-3: Saskatchewan
SINP Application—Farmer Owner/Operator
This form must be completed by the principal applicant.
- SINP-200-1: Net
Worth
This form must be completed by the principal applicant.
- IMM-0008:
Application for Permanent Residence in Canada
This form must be completed by the principal applicant.
- Schedule 1: Background /
Declaration
This form must be completed by the principal applicant and:
• his or her spouse or common-law partner (if applicable);
and
• all dependant children aged 18 years or older listed
in the application for
permanent residence.
- Schedule 4: Economic Classes—Provincial
Nominees
This form must be completed by the principal applicant.
- IMM-5406:
Additional Family Information
This form must be completed by the principal applicant and:
• his or her spouse or common-law partner (if applicable);
and
• all dependant children aged 18 years or older listed
in the application for
permanent residence.
- The principal applicant may complete one or both of the
following forms, if applicable:
(a) Use this form to designate an authorized representative
to handle your file: IMM-5476
— Use of a Representative. This form also authorizes
CIC to release information to and deal with your representative
on matters pertaining to your file.
(b) Use this form if you wish to have your application
information sent to a designated individual other than
your representative: IMM
5475 — Authority to Release Personal Information
to a Designated Individual.
For more information: Instructions
on using a representative (PDF file).
Additional Documents:
- Professional confirmation of personal/business funds.
- Birth certificate (for applicant and immediate family-members)
that lists both parents, marriage certificate, divorce,
custody, and maintenance documents, as applicable.
- Education credentials, as applicable.
- Trade credentials, as applicable.
- English language competency documentation, as applicable.
- Police report(s) if the applicant or any family member
over the age of 18 has committed an offence or been convicted
of a crime; please provide a copy of a police report from
the country or countries where the offence(s) occurred. In
addition to the police report, submit any proof of rehabilitation,
if applicable.
- Valid passport with expiry date no less than two years
hence. Each individual family member must obtain a personal
passport.
Where documents are in a language other than English, the
applicant must submit a photocopy of the original document
AND a photocopy of the English translation. Translators can
be any person other than a family member of the applicant or
spouse and must not work for a paid consultant or representative
who is preparing the application. The applicant must also supply
an affidavit from the translator describing their translation
ability. Please be aware that some Canadian immigration visa
offices may require that the translator is certified by a regulatory
body as a translator. It is the responsibility of the applicant
to ensure all federal requirements are met with respect to
translations.
Please submit the application and supporting documentation
to:
Saskatchewan Advanced Education and Employment
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
300 - 1942 Hamilton Street
Regina, SK S4P 2C5
Canada
Phone: (Canada 001) 306-798-SINP (7467)
Fax: (Canada 001) 306-798-0713
E-mail: immigration@gov.sk.ca
OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES
For information on agriculture in Saskatchewan, see:
Saskatchewan Agriculture,
Food and Rural Revitalization website
The Western
Producer website (agricultural newspaper) |