What is the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is an immigration program designed to drive immigration to smaller communities in Canada. It allows qualified applicants to apply for immigration directly to a participating community, with the intent of settling there.

Who are the participating communities for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?

Participating communities for the RNIP are: (a) Ontario – North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault St. Marie, Thunder Bay; (b) Manitoba – Brandon, Altona/Rhineland,; (c) Saskatchewan – Moose Jaw; (d) Alberta – Claresholm, (e) British Columbia – Vernon, West Kootenay.

How does an applicant qualify for immigration under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?

To qualify for the RNIP, an applicant must:

• meet both the community’s requirements and IRCC’s requirements for immigration
• have a valid job offer from an employer in the participating community
• apply for immigration to the community
• if accepted, apply for permanent residence with the IRCC

(IRCC stands for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)

Please note that each community will have its own eligibility requirements and application process.

Do applicants under the RNIP need work experience?

Work experience is not required IF the applicant is an international student who:

• graduated from a 2+ years post-secondary program as a full-time student;
• received the credential within the last 18 months before the application for permanent residence;
• was in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months spent studying.

Alternatively, an international student studying full-time for a master’s degree or higher can also apply for immigration, provided she was in the community for the duration of her studies.

Can family members accompany the principal applicant?

Yes, you can bring family members that you declared in your immigration application. These include:

• your spouse or common-law partner
• your dependent child (<22 years old)
• your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child
• a dependent child of a dependent child

How long is the processing time and what are the processing fees?

The processing time for applications under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) varies depending on the community and on the volume of applications being processed, as well as on the processing times of the IRCC.

Each community may charge their own processing fees.

For IRCC, the processing fee and right of permanent resident fee for the principal applicant is C$1,325. The same fee apply to his/her spouse or common-law partner. The fee for each dependent child is C$225.

What are the key considerations in submitting an application?

The requirements might look simple on paper, but often applications are rejected because the documents submitted were inaccurate, incomplete, or non-compliant. Here are some key considerations when applying for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot:

• Which immigration program is the best match for your background and qualifications?
• How do you determine that your education and work experience meet the requirements?
• Does your job offer qualify for the program?