Humza Yousaf has submitted his application to stand at the next Holyrood election.
SNP members interested in contesting the vote had until noon today to let the party's ruling NEC know.
Reports over the weekend suggested the former first minister had been weighing up his options after a difficult 13 months, which saw him forced to quit Bute House and return to the backbenches.
However, according to the Daily Record, sources close to Mr Yousaf say he has put his name forward for the May 2026 vote.
His application does not necessarily mean he will be the party’s candidate for Glasgow Pollok, but it will trigger the SNP’s internal vetting process. Mr Yousaf could still decide to stand down.
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The party was also waiting to hear if Nicola Sturgeon will stand again.
The ex-leader is widely expected to stand down from her Glasgow Southside seat.
“There’s no way she will stand again,” said a close ally told the Sunday Times.
Ms Sturgeon quit as first minister in March last year. She is writing her memoirs and is currently under investigation as part of Operation Branchform, the police probe into the SNP’s funding and finances.
Earlier this year, Peter Murrell, the party’s former chief executive — who is married to Ms Sturgeon — was re-arrested and charged with the alleged embezzlement of party funds.
Two months ago, Police Scotland handed a report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service asking for “advice and guidance” on Ms Sturgeon and the SNP's former treasurer, Colin Beattie, both of whom were arrested, questioned and released in April last year.
The force says they are still waiting for “direction on what further action should be taken.”
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So far, only James Dornan and Christine Grahame have said they will not seek re-election.
John Mason - who was recently kicked out of the SNP - has also confirmed he intends to stand down in 2026.
Fergus Ewing told The Herald he had applied to stand again.
Monday’s deadline only marks the start of the party’s selection process. They plan on having candidates in place by April 2025 – more than a year before the May 2026 vote.
In July, 39 of the party’s MPs lost their seats at the general election, with many of those likely to seek a seat at Holyrood.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader at Westminster, could also throw his hat into the ring for a Holyrood seat.
Speaking to journalists in September, he said he would think about the move next year.
“It's not often that you win elections, it's not often that you get re-elected. I'm very fortunate in that regard to have done so in Aberdeen South, the first SNP MP to ever be re-elected.
“And I've got a job to do for those folk. That's my priority just now, it will be my priority for the next few months, and obviously, then next year, I'll make a decision.”
There are questions too over former health secretary Michael Matheson. He has already seen off calls to resign after he served a 27-day ban over an iPad roaming bill of nearly £11,000.
He apologised, paid back the bill and resigned from government in February.
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