The Canadian Government launched Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) in 2019. It is a community-driven program, purposing to support specific rural and northern communities.
The support to these communities is done by inviting skilled foreign workers to these communities. The foreign workers are invited to these smaller communities by creating a way for Canadian Permanent Residence. Moreover, this provides a boost to the economic sector, as well it fills the labor shortages and demographic needs.
Therefore, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is for those individuals who want to become Canadian Permanent Residents by living in smaller communities of Canada.
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Communities
The immigrants coming to Canada often prefer to reside in the famous metropolitan cities like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver. Therefore, the smaller communities with labor shortages are often neglected in the process; in order to populate and support them economically, the skilled foreign workers are encouraged to apply for permanent residence in those areas.
Eleven communities have been selected under this pilot. These communities are provided support and benefits from the Federal Government as well.
| Community | Website |
| North Bay, ON | https://northbayrnip.ca/ |
| Sudbury, ON | https://investsudbury.ca/why-sudbury/move-to-sudbury/rnip/ |
| Timmins, ON | www.timminsedc.com |
| Sault Ste. Marie, ON | www.welcometossm.com |
| Thunder Bay, ON | https://gotothunderbay.ca/ |
| Brandon, MB | www.economicdevelopmentbrandon.com |
| Altona/Rhineland, MB | www.seedrgpa.com |
| Moose Jaw, SK | https://www.moosejawrnip.ca/ |
| Claresholm, AB | www.claresholm.ca |
| Vernon, BC | https://rnip-vernon-northok.ca/ |
| West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), BC | https://wk-rnip.ca/ |
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Community Requirements
The communities are required to meet some requirements to be included in this pilot. The communities must have:
- A population of 50,000 people or less, and it must be located at least 75 km away from the core of the census metropolitan area
Or
- It must have a population of 200,000 people or less and be considered remote from other large cities.
Moreover, the communities must provide an economic development plan that a local economic development organization usually provides. The additional requirements include a demonstration of job opportunities and settlement options for new settlers.
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Steps For Permanent Residence
In order to apply for Permanent Residence under RNIP, the steps are as follows:
- The applicants are required to meet the eligibility criteria, including IRCC requirements.
- Receive a valid job offer from an eligible employer in the participating communities.
- Apply for a recommendation after receiving a job offer.
- After a recommendation from the community, the applicants can apply for Permanent Residence.
Moreover, each community can have its specific requirements.
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Eligibility Requirements
The Federal Government of Canada has set up the requirements for Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). Therefore, the candidates are required to meet those requirements.
The applicants need to have:
- Qualified Work Experience or they must be graduates from the public-funded institute from a selected community.
- The applicants must meet the language requirements.
- The applicants must meet the educational requirements.
- The applicants must provide proof of funds.
- The applicants must have the intention to live in a community.
- The applicants must meet the community requirements.
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Work Experience
The applicant must possess one year of continuous, full-time, and skilled work experience in the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups:
- Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
- Professional jobs (skill level A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)
The skilled work experience of the candidates must be within the previous ten years. Moreover, the work experience candidates possess must be paid, continuous, and not be a volunteer. The work experience as a student can also be considered.
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For International Students
The candidates who are international students are not required to possess any work experience. Moreover, there are two other cases for their application.
Case 1:
- Applicants are graduates with a degree from a minimum two-year-long post-secondary program.
- They were studying as a full-time student for the entire duration of two or more years.
- They have a degree no more than 18 months before the date of application.
- They have been living in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months spent studying to get the credential.
Case 2:
- They graduated with a master’s degree or higher
- They studied as a full-time student for the duration of the degree in the recommending community.
- They received the degree no more than 18 months before the date of application for permanent residence.
- They were in the community for the duration of their studies.
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Language Requirements
The applicants are required to undertake the approved language tests for the language proficiency checkup. The language tests are for the assessment of the candidates in the following sectors of the English or French language:
- Reading
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
The language requirements for each NOC category are
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NOC 0 and A: CLB/NCLC 6
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NOC B: CLB/NCLC 5
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NOC C and D: CLB/NCLC 4
The test must be taken within the previous two years, and the test should be valid when you apply for the application. The most commonly taken language test is IELTS.
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Educational Requirements
A Canadian high school diploma, a Canadian Post-Secondary certificate, or any foreign equivalent degree is required. In foreign education, the candidates are required to undergo an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). There are various degree assessment organizations from where you can get an equivalency of your degree. These credential assessment bodies in Canada can provide equivalence:
- WES
- ICAS
- IQAS
- CES
Moreover, the ECA report must be less than five years old on the date application.
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Settlement Funds
The primary applicant must demonstrate sufficient funds to support himself or his family members when they arrive in Canada. Moreover, the amount should not be borrowed; this amount should be utilized on living standards
The amount according to the number of members has been listed:
| Number of Family Members | Funds Required : |
| 1 | $9,096 (CAD) |
| 2 | $11,323 (CAD) |
| 3 | $13,920 (CAD) |
| 4 | $16,902 (CAD) |
| 5 | $19,169 (CAD) |
| 6 | $21,621 (CAD) |
| 7 | $24,071 (CAD) |
| For an additional member | $2,450 (CAD) |
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Intention To Live in Canada
The applicant must have an intention to live in the community in which they are applying.
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Community Requirements
Each community sets its own requirements that can be viewed on its website.
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