Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) For Canada PR

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is a community-led program for small communities by providing Canada PR to foreign skilled workers who want to live and work in any one of the eleven participating communities. 

List of 11 Participating Communities

Participating Communities

North Bay, Ontario

Sudbury, Ontario

Timmins, Ontario

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Brandon, Manitoba

Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Claresholm, Alberta

Vernon, British Columbia

West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), British Columbia

RNIP – Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for Canada PR through RNIP, you must meet work experience, language, education and financial requirements, etc. 

• Meet IRCC requirements 
• Meet community-specific requirements
• Get a valid job offer from a community employer 
• After community recommendation, apply for Canada PR 

Let’s discuss these requirements in detail below. 

Work Experience Requirements

• You must have a minimum work experience of one year (1,560 hours) in the last 3 years. You can count hours, 

1. of both part-time and full-time work 
2. from more than 1 occupation or employer 
3. must be more than 12 months of work 
4. of both inside Canada or outside of Canada

NOTE: Do not count hours for unpaid  work or when you were self-employed unless it is medical practitioner work 

• Work experience must include the (TEER) category of National Occupational Classification (NOC) 

No Work Experience Required for International Students!

If you are an International student you are exempt from the work experience criteria as long as you, 

• Completed a two-year post-secondary program 

a. Have been studying as a full-time student for 2 years or more 

b. Spent at least 16 of the last 24 months studying to obtain the certificate in the community

• Have a master’s or higher degree lasting less than 2 years
• Applied for Canada PR no later than 18 months after receiving your degree
• Were part of the community during the length of your studies

International students can not apply if their program, 

• made up more than half duration of the total program (including studies of English and French language)
• was a distance learning program for more than half duration 
• included a scholarship or fellowship that requires you to return to your home country

Language Requirements

• Meet language requirements based on NOC; this can either be 

NOC Category	Language Requirements
TEER 0 and 1	CLB/NCLC 6
TEER 2 and 3	CLB/NCLC 5
TEER 4 and 5	CLB/NCLC 4

• Submit results from designated language test 
• Result must be less than 2 years old 

Educational Requirements

You must have one of the following:

Either Canadian Educational Credential such as,	Or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by a designated organization that
Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma	is less than 5 years old
Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree	Shows that you completed a foreign credential equivalent to Canadian education

Financial Requirements

You must show that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family in Canada unless you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit. 

NOTE: Do not borrow money from anyone else. This should solely be your money to pay your family’s living costs even if they are not coming with you to Canada. 

• The funds you require depend on your family size. 

Family Members	Required Funds
1	CAD 2,367
2	CAD 2,947
3	CAD 3,623
4	CAD 4,399
5	CAD 4,989
6	CAD 5,627
7	CAD 6,265
If 7+ then for each additional member	CAD 637

The counting family members include:

• you
• your spouse or common-law partner
• dependent children 
• your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent children

NOTE: You will be required to have funds for your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, even if they are, 

1. Canadian citizens or PR Holders 
2. Not coming with you to Canada 

Additional Requirements

To be eligible for RNIP, you must 

• have an intention to live in the community 
• fulfill the community-specific requirements

Employment Requirements

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot jobs requirements are, 

• Find a full-time non-seasonal job within any one community.
• Find an employer who continues the business within the community.
• The wage of this permanent job must meet or exceed the Job Bank’s minimum wage of your NOC
• You must have relevant experience for the job offer

The job offer must not be from: 

• A consulate 
• A staffing agency 
• Your own or spouse/common-law partner’s business 
• An employer referred to in paragraphs 200(3)(g.1) and (h) of IRPR (Immigration and Refugees Protection Regulations)

Community Requirements

To get community recommendation, you must meet community-specific requirements. 

General Requirements: 

• Provide copies of documents. 
• Meet requirements of RNIP
• Have a valid job offer 

Apply for PR Through RNIP

• Fill out the online application form 

1. Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
2. Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
3. Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
4. Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)

• Fill out the PDF forms 

1. Document Checklist (IMM 5987)
2. Schedule 1 – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (IMM 5911)

• Provide biometrics and pay the fees 
• Answer all questions on your e-application and submit it with a fee receipt

Work Permit (Optional)

If you have applied for PR through RNIP you may be eligible for a 1-year work permit. 

This work permit lets you, 

• Work in Canada while your PR application is being processed. 
• Work for the employer within the participating community. 

To be eligible for work permit, you must 

• Have a valid job offer from employer 
• Get recommendation from the participating community 
• Have receipt letter acknowledgement of RNIP PR application 
• Have work experience and its proof 
• Educational qualifications 
• Language proficiency test results

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot End Date

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is transitioning into a permanent program as announced by IRCC on March 6, 2024. Stay tuned for further information. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)