Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program (RNIP)
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program
About The Rural And Northern Immigration Pilot
Currently, 10 communities are accepting applications under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program (NRIP), the most recent being the North Bay area in Ontario.
Although many communities are open to applicants, the COVID-19 health crisis has led some of these communities to limit applications to candidates who already live in the area.
Those interested in applying must ensure that they meet the program’s federal requirements as well as the conditions laid forth by each municipality.
An eligible employment offer from an employer in one of the participating towns falls under this category.
Please see the table below for updated information on all participating communities and the community opening calendar.
Which communities are involved?
Eleven rural and northern communities in four Canadian provinces were selected for the new Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Project.
These communities, some of which already have over 100,000 residents, will be able to invite newcomers to turn these communities into new homes.
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot was announced in January 2019 as a Canadian immigration initiative to address the labour market needs of smaller communities.
As Canada’s population ages and the birth rate declines, Canada’s rural workforce has experienced a significant drop in the available workforce.
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot will help attract the people who are needed to drive economic growth in these communities.
The new Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program is a five-year initiative to test community-based approaches to address the labour market needs of small communities.
Rural & Northern Communities.
Look at the interactive map below for the locations of these communities. Click on one of the pins for more information about a specific community.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: Information and Community Draws.
| Community | Economic Development Organization | Community boundaries | Period | Community website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon, MB | Brandon Immigration Pilot Board | An area in Manitoba bounded by a radius of 55 km centred on latitude 49°50′35.4″ North and longitude 99°57′01.6″ West | Nov 1, 2019 to Oct 31, 2022 | www.economicdevelopmentbrandon.com |
| Claresholm, AB | Claresholm Economic Development Committee | An area in Alberta bounded by a radius of 25 km centred on latitude 50°01′12.6″ North and longitude 113°35′00.6″ West | Jan 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022 | claresholm.ca/rural-northern-immigration-pilot |
| West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), BC | Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Kootenay | In British Columbia, an area bounded by a radius of 35 km centred on latitude 49°34′13.1″ North and longitude 117°14′10.4″ West and an area bounded by a 35 km radius centred on latitude 49°06′49.3″ North and longitude 117°32′55.6″ West | Jan 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022 | www.wk-rnip.ca |
| Vernon, BC | Community Futures Development Corporation of the North Okanagan | In British Columbia, an area bounded by a radius of 40 km centred on latitude 50°15′54.6″ North and longitude 119°16′29.4″ West, excluding the census subdivision of Kelowna (City), as defined by Statistics Canada | Jan 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022 | www.rnip-vernon.ca |
| Sudbury, ON | Greater Sudbury Development Corporation | The census metropolitan area of Greater Sudbury in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada | Nov 1, 2019 to Oct 31, 2022 | www.investsudbury.ca |
| Moose Jaw, SK | Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce | The census agglomeration of Moose Jaw in Saskatchewan, as defined by Statistics Canada | Apr 1, 2020 to Mar 31, 2023 | moosejawrnip.ca |
| North Bay, ON | North Bay Chamber of Commerce | An area in Ontario bounded by a radius of 45 km centred on latitude 46°18′31.4″ North and longitude 79°27′45.4″ West | Jan 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022 | northbayrnip.ca |
| Sault Ste. Marie, ON | Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation | The census agglomeration of Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada | Nov 1, 2019 to Oct 31, 2022 | www.welcometossm.com |
| Altona/Rhineland, MB | 10018513 Manitoba Ltd. (commonly known as Supporting Entrepreneurs through Economic Development in the Rhineland, Plum Coulee, Gretna, and Altona) | An area in Manitoba bounded by the Canada-United States border, Road 18 West, Road 18 North, Meridian Road, Road 6 North, and Road 6 East | Nov 1, 2019 to Oct 31, 2022 | www.seedrgpa.com |
| Thunder Bay, ON | Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission | The census metropolitan area of Thunder Bay in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada | Nov 1, 2019 to Oct 31, 2022 | www.gothunderbay.com |
| Timmins, ON | Timmins Economic Development Corporation | The census agglomeration of Timmins in Ontario, as defined by Statistics Canada | Jan 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2022 | www.timminsedc.com |
The participating communities were selected as a representative sample of regions across Canada to assist in establishing the blueprint for the rest of the country.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now begin working with selected communities to position them to begin identifying permanent residency applicants.
How do I apply for a Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?
Applicants for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program must meet two sets of criteria.
First, all applicants are required to meet the requirements established by Canada’s federal immigration authorities.
Second, applicants must adhere to the additional requirements set by the participating communities.
How can I register for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program?
Applicants interested in applying for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program must meet the following requirements designated by Canada’s federal government.
However, please note that applicants must also comply with the requirements established by the participating community to which they choose to apply.
Skilled work experience or international studies.
Applicants must have a minimum level of work experience OR have completed a minimum level of study at a facility in one of the participating communities.
To qualify for work experience, candidates must have a minimum of 12 months of full-time work experience (or a part-time equivalent amount, 1,560 hours), acquired within the three years preceding the application.
There is no requirement for continued work experience to qualify. Work experience needs to be acquired in one occupation, although it can come from multiple employers.
Work experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is admissible.
To have foreign students considered eligible, Applicants must have completed a minimum of two years of full-time post-secondary education OR a master’s degree or higher education at an institution within one of the participating communities.
Education must be completed within 18 months of applying for permanent residency. Students must have lived in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months of their studies (or the full period if the credential was less than two years.)
Job offers from a participating community
Applicants are required to receive a job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
To be considered valid and bona fide, the job offer must meet the following requirements:
Full-time, non-seasonal, and permanent;
Meets minimum wage requirements for the position’s NOC skill level;
Must be at a NOC skill level that is within one skill level of the applicant’s qualifying work experience. For example, for a candidate with qualifying experience at NOC Skill Level A, the position could be at NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B. Exception: If your qualifying experience is at NOC Skill Level D, then your job offer must also be in NOC Skill Level D; and
Candidates’ experience must match the requirements for the position.
Interested candidates can look for available jobs on the websites of the participating communities.
English or French Language Requirements
The English or French language requirement depends on the NOC skill level of the candidate’s qualifying work experience:
- NOC Skill Level 0 or A: Canadian Language Benchmark of Level 6 (CLB6)
- NOC Skill Level B: CLB 5
- NOC Skill Level C or D: CLB 4
To demonstrate language proficiency, candidates must submit results from an approved language test completed within the two years prior to applying.
Education Requirements
All applicants must have achieved a minimum level of educational attainment equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma.
Applicants who have completed education outside Canada must submit a credential assessment along with their application.
Settlement Funds
Unless an applicant is already employed in Canada, they must demonstrate that they have the financial resources to settle in Canada.
The following table outlines the required settlement funds based on the number of family members included in an application:
| Number of family members | Required funds (in CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 (single applicant) | $13,310 |
| 2 | $16,570 |
| 3 | $20,371 |
| 4 | $24,733 |
| 5 | $28,052 |
| 6 | $31,638 |
| 7 | $35,224 |
| For each additional family member, add | $3,586 |
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