Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
A community-driven initiative, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, also referred to as Canada’s RNIP, has been specifically designed with the aim of spreading the benefits of economic immigration to the comparatively smaller communities in Canada.
The RNIP offers a path to Canadian permanent residence for skilled foreign workers that intend working and living in any 1 of the 11 participating communities.
11 Communities part of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
A total of 11 communities from 5 Canadian provinces – Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan – are participating in the RNIP.
Eligibility for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
| Community | Province | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brandon | Manitoba | Accepting applications |
| Claresholm | Alberta | Accepting applications |
| Altona/Rhineland | Manitoba | Accepting applications |
| Moose Jaw | Saskatchewan | Accepting applications |
| North Bay | Ontario | Accepting applications |
| Sault Ste. Marie | Ontario | Accepting applications |
| Sudbury | Ontario | Accepting applications |
| Thunder Bay | Ontario | Accepting applications |
| Timmins | Ontario | Accepting applications |
| Vernon | British Columbia | Accepting applications |
| West Kootenay | British Columbia | Accepting applications |
Step-by-Step Guide to Permanent Residence in Canada through the RNIP
STEP 1: Selection of communities for participating in the RNIP.
STEP 2: The community and/or employer approaches the prospective candidate, or The prospective candidate approaches the community and/or employer.
STEP 3: The candidate submits their application for a community recommendation.
STEP 4: The community receives applications and selects candidates that are the “best fit”.
STEP 5: The community recommends the candidate, thereby making them eligible for applying to IRCC for Canada PR.
STEP 6: The candidate submits their Canadian permanent residence application to IRCC.
STEP 7: The candidate is assessed against the IRCC selection criteria for the RNIP and other federal admissibility requirements.
STEP 8: The candidate obtains their Canadian permanent residence.
STEP 9: The community welcomes the candidate and family members. Community services are provided for supporting the settlement and integration of the newcomers into the community.
To be eligible for the RNIP, a candidate will be required to meet both – [1] the IRCC eligibility requirements, and [2] the community-specific requirements.
5-STEP RNIP APPLICATION PROCESS
- Meeting IRCC eligibility requirements for the RNIP.
- Meeting the community-specific requirements.
- Finding an eligible job with an employer in any 1 of the participating communities.
- After securing a job offer, applying for community recommendation.
- Following a community recommendation, applying to IRCC for Canada PR.
Worthy of Note
- An eligible job offer with an employer in any 1 of the participating communities will be required.
- The application for community recommendation can be submitted only after the candidate has secured their job offer.
- Applying for Canada PR comes after the community recommendation.
AM I ELIGIBLE FOR THE RNIP?
To be able to apply to the RNIP, a candidate must –
- Have 1 year of continuous work experience [a minimum of 1,560 hours], within the previous 3 years.
- Have graduated from a publicly-funded post-secondary institution in the recommending community.
- Meet the English language requirements – CLB/NCLC 6 for jobs under NOC 0 and A; CLB/NCLC 5 for jobs under NOC B; and CLB/NCLC 4 for jobs that come under NOC C or D. Here, by ‘NOC’ is implied the National Occupational Classification
- Meet or exceed the educational requirements.
- Possess the Settlement Funds required.
- Have the clear intention of living within the community on being granted permanent residence in Canada.
- Meet the community-specific requirements.
- Have a valid job offer. A potential candidate must have a genuine, full-time, permanent job offer in any 1 of the 11 participating communities.