What is Canada’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?

A community–driven initiative, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) was launched by the federal government of Canada in 2019. The Pilot’s launch was announced in a News Release dated June 14, 2019 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

What is the aim of the RNIP?

The RNIP aims at spreading the benefits of economic immigration to the smaller communities in Canada. The RNIP is specifically targeted at and designed around the need to get newcomers to Canada to settle in any of the 11 selected communities, making these communities their forever home.

How will the RNIP help communities?

Attracting the individuals required by a specific community will help in driving economic growth locally, thereby helping to support various middle class jobs within these communities.

The participating RNIP communities will be given access to a range of support systems for testing the new innovative, community-driven model to fill gaps in the local labour market.

How many communities are a part of Canada’s RNIP?

11 rural and northern communities have been shortlisted to be a part of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot of Canada.

How were the RNIP communities selected?

The 11 communities part of RNIP Canada were selected as being a representative sample of the regions throughout Canada. These communities will help in laying down the blueprint for the rest of the country.

Which communities are a part of the RNIP of Canada?

11 communities from five Canadian provinces - Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan - are a part of RNIP Canada. Five communities are from Ontario, two communities each are from British Columbia and Manitoba, and one community each is from Alberta and Saskatchewan.

11 communities part of RNIP Canada 

Who can apply to RNIP Canada?

To be eligible for applying to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), you must meet all of the eligibility requirements. These are  - 

1.Work experience OR education in community

Qualifying work experience for the RNIP means:

• A minimum of one year - that is, 1,560 hours - of work experience within the three years prior to applying. 
• In full-time or part-time jobs.
• Can be collected working in more than one occupation with different employers. 
• The work hours must be spread across a minimum of 12-month duration. 
• The work experience could have been gained overseas or in Canada (with due work authorization). 
• Self-employment, volunteer work, and unpaid internships don’t count towards qualifying work experience for the RNIP. 

A work experience exemption will be applicable in case of international students that had secured their credential (degree, diploma, certificate etc.) from a Canadian publicly-funded institution in the community that gave them their RNIP recommendation.

Valid temporary resident status in Canada must have been maintained for the duration of the study. 

2. Language requirements

You will have to meet, or exceed, the minimum language requirements as per the NOC category applicable to your RNIP community job offer.

The language requirement can be met either in Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) levels for English, or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) levels for French. 

The language requirements will be as per the job offer by the RNIP community. 

RNIP Canada - Language Requirements 

You can only submit results from a language test designated by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). There are four IRCC-designated language tests - 

• CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. 
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System
• TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
• TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

Your language test results should not be more than two years old when applying to IRCC. 

3. Educational requirements

You will have to meet, or exceed, the educational requirements. Any of the following can be shown - 

• A Canadian educational credential. Secondary school diploma or post-secondary degree, diploma, or certificate completed in Canada. 
• For overseas education, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization or professional body. IRCC accepts ECA Reports from - CES, WES, ICAS, IQAS, ICES, MCC, and PEBC. Your ECA Report should not be more than five years old when you apply to IRCC.

4. Proof of funds

 You will require enough ready funds to support yourself and any family members while you settle in your Canadian community. The proof of funds requirement will have to be met for the family members even if they will not be coming to Canada with you. The funds requirement does not have to be met if you are already working legally in Canada on a Canadian work permit.

This money can’t be borrowed and must be available to pay the living costs for your family, even if not coming to Canada with you. The proof of funds will have to be shown both at the time of - applying to IRCC, and at the time of the grant of your Canada PR visa. 

 Settlement funds required will be as per the size of the family.

RNIP Canada - Settlement Funds Requirement 

Note: This includes family members that you will be supporting even if they aren’t immigrating to Canada with you. 

5. Intention to live in community 

To be eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residence through RNIP Canada, you must have the intention of living within the community recommending you for your PR visa. 

6. Meet the community-specific requirements 

Each of the 11 participating communities in the RNIP has its own community requirements that must be met by an individual. 

Do note that you must have temporary resident status in Canada if you are already within the country at the time of applying to the RNIP.

How does RNIP lead to Canadian permanent residence?

Step-by-step guide to permanent residence in Canada through the RNIP immigration route - 

STEP 1: A total of 11 communities from five provinces selected to take part in the Pilot.

STEP 2: The community and/or employer get connected with the candidate, either the candidate can approach on their own or be approached.

STEP 3: The candidate submits an application for RNIP recommendation. 

STEP 4: The community reviews the RNIP applications submitted to it and selects the “best fit” among them. 

STEP 5: The community recommends the candidate under the RNIP, making them eligible to apply to IRCC for permanent residence in Canada based on their recommendation.  

STEP 6: The candidate submits their Canada PR application to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). 

STEP 7: Assessment against the Federal Selection Criteria for the RNIP and other requirements. 

STEP 8: The candidate obtains their Canadian permanent residence. 

STEP 9: The RNIP recommending community receives the candidate and their family members in Canada. The recommending community will also be responsible for providing services to support them for their settlement and integration. 

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