Canada Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is a community-driven program devised to support economic development to smaller communities in Canada.

RNIP program allows skilled foreign workers to obtain permanent residence if they’d like to live and work in one of these participating communities.

Although there are community-specific requirements, every candidate must:

• Have a genuine economic opportunity that alines with the community requirements
• Fit the community’s economic needs
• Intend to live in the community

However, the acceptance decision lies with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Page Contents

• What Is Rural And Northern Immigration Pilot?
• Who is Eligible for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?
• How Do I Apply For Community Recommendation?
• How Do I Apply For a Canadian Permanent Residence?
• How Can IAS Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

You must meet the following requirements to be eligible for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot:

• Continuous work experience for at least 1 year (1560 hours) in the past 3 years in any of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupations. Alternatively, be a graduate of the recommended community’s publicly funded post-secondary institution.
• Minimum language requirements: CLB/NCLC 6 for NOC 0 and A jobs; CLB/NCLC 5 for NOC B jobs; and CLB/NCLC 4 for NOC C or D jobs.
• Minimum educational requirements: A valid high-school diploma, post-secondary certificate or degree similar to a Canadian equivalent.
• Proof of your financial stability like a bank statement: Enough funds to support our establishment in the community.
• Compliance with the specific community’s requirements.
• Temporary resident permit (if applying from Canada).
• Intention to live in your recommended community.

If you’re eligible, you can apply for a valid job offer, after which you apply for the community recommendation and finally for permanent residence.

You apply for the community recommendation from its website. Here you get the guidelines for the application process and supporting documents (provide copies, not originals) for the specific community.

However, there are requirements that cut across all communities, including the following:

Proof of your compliance with all the requirements of RNIP.

An eligible job offer.

You can then apply for permanent residence if you successfully obtain a community recommendation.

You apply for Canadian Permanent residence by filling out a form on paper or online. Use the documents checklist form to ensure you didn’t miss out on any.

Your application form should include the following information:

• Additional Dependants/Declaration, if applicable
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Document Checklist (IMM 5987)
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Schedule 1 – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (IMM 5911)
• Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409), if applicable
• Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada (IMM 5604), if applicable
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476), if applicable

Also, your employer must fill in the IMM 5984 form: Offer of Employment to a Foreign National – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. You must include this form in your application.

The Economic Development Organization of your recommended community must also fill in the IMM 0112 form: Recommendation from the designated Economic Development Organization – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. You must include this, too, in your application.

After including all the relevant information and documents, you must pay the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot fees (about $CAN 1365) and then submit your application.

It takes around 12-18 months to process the RNIP application.