Last Updated on February 10, 2023

RNIP (Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot)

RNIP

Canada has always been one of the best countries for immigrants. Canada has a high standard of life quality and healthcare system and is one of the best multicultural and safest countries in the world.

While most immigrants compete with each other in the Express Entry system, trying to raise their points to meet the soaring CRS cut-off score, it might be a good idea for me to look a bit sideways, and consider provincial immigration programs.

One of those is an often overlooked Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot program, so don’t hesitate to check it out.

RNIP Overview

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot aims at providing an opportunity to spread immigration economic benefits to smaller communities. So, through RNIP, foreign skilled workers who would like to work and live in the participating communities will have the path to permanent residence. The 11 RNIP communities are North Bay (Ont.), Sudbury (Ont.), Timmins, (Ont.), and Sault Ste. Marie (Ont.), Thunder Bay (Ont.), Brandon (Man.), Altona/Rhineland (Man.), Moose Jaw (Sask.), Claresholm (Alta.), West Kootenay (BC) and Vernon (BC).

RNIP Img

August 26, 2022 Update

Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced a number of new improvements and the expansion of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), increasing the benefits of immigration in the 11 participating communities that include:

Expanding the geographic boundaries of the participating communities, to assist more employers
expanding the range of job offers available to candidates, with specific work experience, and facilitating the filling labor market needs
allowing communities to participate for a longer period, until August 2024
helping community partners provide greater support to candidates and employers
reducing the number of settlement funds for participants

Steps to apply To RNIP

In order to apply for permanent residence under RNIP, there are four steps.

STEP 1: You need to check you meet the requirements of both Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the participating community.

a) IRCC requirements:

Work Experience: at least 1 year of full-time work (or an equal amount in part-time work) within the last 3 years, whether continuous or not; OR

Credential: means a degree, diploma, certificate, or trade or apprenticeship from a Canadian publicly funded institution in the community recommending you, as well as a valid temporary resident status during studying.

Language requirements: Depending on the NOC you are applying different language requirements from the designated language test is required:

NOC 0 and A: CLB/NCLC 6

NOC B: CLB/NCLC 5

NOC C and D: CLB/NCLC 4

The results are valid if they are less than two years old.

Educational requirement:

Canadian educational credential; OR

Educational credential Assessment (ECA) report evaluating your foreign credentials that is less than 5 years old on the date you are applying.

Enough settlement fund: to financially support yourself and your family in the community, unless you’re already working in Canada with a valid work permit.

Depending on the size of your family this amount differs:

Number of family members Funds you need (in CAD)

$9,162
$11,407
$14,023
$17,026
$19,310
$21,779
$24,248

For each additional family member $2,469

Intending to live in the community is a must to participate in the pilot.

b) Community-specific requirements

Each community has its own additional requirements. So, depending on where you would like to reside, you need to check each community’s website.

STEP 2: You need to find an eligible job with an employer in the participating community you would like to reside. The offered job must be full-time, not seasonal, or permanent and the wage must meet or exceed the job bank’s minimum wage.

STEP 3: Applying for community recommendation.

Each community has its own recommendation process. For all of them, you need to prove you meet all the requirements for the pilot, and have a valid job offer.

STEP 4: Applying for permanent residence if you a community recommends you. The process includes giving your biometrics, filling out required forms, paying fees, and submitting the application.

Rural Northern Immigration Pilot