Foreign Ownership of Farmland in Saskatchewan: Rules for Non-Residents

If you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, or you run a company with foreign owners, Saskatchewan farmland is not open to you in the same way it is to residents. The province regulates this closely.

This article walks through the ownership limit, how an Exemption works, who decides, and what can happen if the rules are not followed. Because these rules were amended recently, confirm the current position before you act.

This article covers the law of Saskatchewan.

Who counts as a non-resident or non-Canadian entity

Under the Act, a resident person is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident of Canada. A Canadian citizen is still treated as a resident when living outside Canada.

Individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents, and entities totally or partly owned or controlled by non-Canadians, are the people and groups the ownership rules are aimed at. Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada, and corporations or membership organizations that are 100 per cent Canadian-owned and not publicly traded are eligible to hold an interest in Saskatchewan farm land without an exemption.

These definitions matter because the rules look at who is named on title and also at who stands behind a company. Ownership can be layered, so it helps to map out each person and company involved before you commit to a purchase. How the rules apply to a particular structure depends on the facts, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer.

The 10-acre limit and the Exemption

Non-residents may only acquire 10 acres. A larger acquisition needs an Exemption from the Farm Land Security Board, and the purchaser must obtain it. The application must be made before acquiring an interest in more than 10 acres of farm land.

The Board has developed exemption categories for non-eligible entities, and applicants use either a corporate or a non-resident exemption application form. Individuals with farming experience and capital to invest, for example under the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program, may qualify if they are serious about relocating to Canada and have a plan to do so.

In practice, this means the Exemption is something to plan for early in a purchase, not something to sort out after the deal is signed.

The role of the Farm Land Security Board

The Board is a quasi-judicial tribunal whose members are appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council. It administers Part VI of The Saskatchewan Farm Security Act, which regulates ownership and operation of Saskatchewan farm land by Non-Canadian entities.

The Board's work is wider than foreign ownership. It also administers Part II (farm foreclosure protection) and Part III (home quarter protection) of the same Act. Farm land follows a separate foreclosure process under Part II, where the Board reviews farm foreclosures and mediation is involved before the creditor can go to court.

Penalties and recent changes

The Board can order fines and penalties and issue land divestment orders to non-eligible entities. It can levy administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per contravention.

Regulation amendments in October 2025 name the contraventions:

• A non-Canadian acquiring more than 10 acres.
• A Canadian-owned corporation that becomes non-Canadian owned and does not divest above 10 acres.
• Acquiring land on behalf of a non-Canadian in breach of the Act.
• Failing to comply with the terms of an Exemption order.

The same amendments removed the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board's exemption, so it can no longer acquire farm land in Saskatchewan. Pension plans were barred from owning farm land in 2015, and that board kept about 167,000 acres under a grandfather exemption.

Because these changes are recent, older information you find online may be out of date. Check current guidance from the Government of Saskatchewan and confirm with a lawyer how it applies to you.

Family transfers and what to do next

One exception applies to families. Any amount of farm land can be transferred to a designated relative by a person who has been a resident for five consecutive years and acquired the land while a resident.

• Identify exactly who will hold title and who owns or controls any company involved.
• Count the acres you would acquire, including any land bought through an agent or corporation.
• Obtain the right Exemption application form, corporate or non-resident, before you buy.
• Make sure any Exemption conditions are written into your plans so you can comply with them.
• Ask a lawyer to review the structure, since an existing owner can also breach the rules if ownership later changes.

Frequently asked questions