The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is designed to help bring new skilled worker immigrants to smaller communities!
The federal government is launching a five-year immigration pilot program to help smaller towns that struggle to draw and keep new immigrants due to job shortages and aging populations.
As such, foreigners still have many options to participate. Eleven communities are currently accepting applications through the Rural and Northern Immigration pilot, with North Bay, Ontario, being the latest addition.
This article will further discuss how you can immigrate to Canada easily through the rural and northern immigration pilot.
The Rural Communities Open to Applicants
- Claresholm, Alberta
- West Kootenay Region, British Columbia
- Vernon, British Columbia
- Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
- Brandon, Manitoba
- North Bay, Ontario
- Sault Ste-Marie, Ontario
- Sudbury, Ontario
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Timmons, Ontario
- Moosejaw, Saskatchewan
Candidates who are interested in applying must ensure that they meet the federal requirements for the program and the requirements set out by each community.
This includes an eligible job offer from an employer in one of the participating communities.
Federal Requirements to Relocate to Canada through the RNIP Route
The federal government has established a range of requirements that foreigners must follow if they want to participate in this immigration pilot.
If they are coming based on their work experience, they need to be able to prove the following:
- Posses one year of full-time work experience in the last three years. The year does not have to be continuous.
- Work experience must be in one occupation, but it can be with different employers.
- It must include the majority of the main and essential duties listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
- The work experience cannot be unpaid or self-employed.
International students can only prove work experience if they provide work experience. However, they must fit one of two scenarios.
The first scenario is for a graduate of a two-year or longer post-secondary program inside the community they are applying for.
In this case, they must have spent 16 of the last 24 months studying inside the community. The second scenario is graduates who studied for a master’s degree or higher in the recommended community.
Master’s graduates must have remained inside the community for the length of their studies. Whichever scenario or work experience is relevant to your RNIP application, you have a range of basic requirements to fulfill.
In addition, applicants must be able to prove the following:
- Achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) grade of between 4 and 6, depending on the exact job they are applying for.
- Must have achieved a high school diploma or higher.
- They must have enough savings to support themselves. This starts at $8,722 and rises for every family member you bring with you.
- The intention is to reside permanently in the community.
Eligibility Criteria for Interested Communities
Communities looking to participate in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot must meet the following criteria:
- Have a population of 50,000 people or less and be located at least 75 km from the core of a Census Metropolitan Area.
- OR up to 200,000 people and be considered remote from other larger cities (using Statistics Canada’s index of remoteness).
- Be in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Ontario, Saskatchewan, or Yukon.
- Have job opportunities.
- Have an economic development plan.
- Have a local economic development organization that can manage the pilot for the community.
- Be able to settle new immigrants in the community by having or developing relationships with local or regional immigrant-serving organizations. They must also have opportunities to connect newcomers with established members of the community, such as through mentoring or networking. They must have access to key services like education, housing, transportation and healthcare.
- Communities must also have the support, shown through letters of support from the municipality (local leaders) and a local or regional immigrant-serving organization.
- The government encourages communities with French-speaking populations to apply and identify themselves in their application.
How to Apply for RNIP and Permanent Residence
If you match the requirements listed above and the additional requirements specified by the community you want to apply for, you can begin the application process.
There are two stages to be aware of:
- Apply for community recommendation.
- Apply for permanent residence.
Applying for Community Recommendation
Community recommendation is the seal of approval to confirm that a community would like you to migrate there. It is a vital precursor to applying for permanent residence and has a distinct application process.
The first step is to get a job offer for a position that meets the community’s eligibility requirements. Once you have this position, you can apply for a community recommendation.
Research your chosen community to discover its specific process, and show in your application how you are a fit for their economic development needs.
Once you have been awarded a community recommendation, you can apply for permanent residence.
Applying for Permanent Residence
You will need to apply for permanent residence online. To do so, you must complete a host of forms as PDFs, sign by hand, and then re-upload them onto the system.
All applicants must complete the following forms for themselves and any family members they are bringing with them from their home country.
- Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
- Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
- Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM 5562).
There are a few additional forms that some applicants may need to complete. If you are in a common-law partnership, you must complete the Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409).
If you are bringing children with you but are not accompanying them on their travels, you must also complete a Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada (IMM 5604).
Your prospective employer will also have to complete the Offer of Employment to a Foreign National – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (IMM 5984).
Once they have completed it, you will need to sign the form and upload it onto your application for permanent residency. Finally, the recommending community will need to prove that they have recommended you for PR.
They will complete a Recommendation from the Designated Economic Development Organization – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (IMM 0112).
Again, you will need to upload the completed form onto your application.
Fees and Processing Times for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
It should be noted that the fees and processing times for RNIP are quite extensive. The cost is $1325, which combines a $825 processing fee and a $500 right of permanent residence fee.
The processing time is also lengthy. The amount of time taken to receive a recommendation from a Canadian community varies based on the community.
You will need to contact community immigration representatives to learn what this will be.
The processing time is clearer after you have received your community recommendation, as your application will move to the federal level to get your permanent residency approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens when you arrive in your Community?
When you arrive in your host community within the RNIP system, you are free to begin your new life as a permanent resident in the Canadian community.
You will be connected to non-profits or local government organizations that will help you adapt to the community.
This includes settlement services to help you get permanent accommodation and mentoring with local community leaders.
Can I work in Canada while my permanent residence is being processed?
An individual applying for Canada PR under the RNIP might also be eligible for a 1-year work permit for Canada.
This work permit will let the individual work in Canada while their permanent residence application is under processing.
What is the age limit for the RNIP Canada program?
Under this program, there is no specified age limit for immigrating to Canada.
However, being over 45 can lower your chances, but if you meet all the community-specific requirements, you can hope for approval despite age limitations.
What are the benefits of the RNIP?
After a successful application for permanent residency through the Canada RNIP, a candidate can avail of the following benefits:
- Select a specific community across five selected provinces in Canada.
- Have a higher quality of life.
- Have advanced education and healthcare facilities.
- Exposure to diverse cultures and government benefits.
- Eligibility for a 1-year work permit to give work authorization while the applicant’s permanent residence application is being processed.
How long is the process for RNIP?
The average processing time for a Canada Permanent Residence visa through RNIP is about 12 to 18 months once you receive a recommendation from one of the participating 11 Canadian communities.
The application process can be affected by the following factors: the response time of the Program Coordinator after getting the application for a community recommendation.
IRCC verifies details after the PR application and takes over the process.
Can I move to another province after RNIP?
Yes, you can. Once you become a Canada PR holder, you can work, study and live anywhere in Canada. However, if you get PR through RNIP, you are chosen to bring specific skills to their territory.
It would be best if you reside in a participating community that recommends you under RNIP Canada. You must honor the agreement.