Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot for Nigerians

Are you Considering the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot?

If you are interested in learning how you can move to Canada through this pathway, reach out to our team of experienced lawyers today. We provide accurate and reliable information on up-to-date requirements, amongst other related conditions, ensuring that you have a clear understanding of all aspects involved.

Nigerian Emigration

For Nigerian emigration matters, please call +2342013306361 or +44 (0) 3316300929

Other Immigration and Emigration Matters

For immigration/emigration to/from other countries, please call:

US –  +1 844 290 6312

Ireland –  (+353) 061 518 025

UK –  (+44) 333 4149244

Overview of Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

Note: The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot has closed for new applicants as of 31 August 2024.

Throughout 2022 and 2023, the Canadian government has been implementing and expanding its RNIP program. At the time of writing, there were 11 rural communities involved:

• 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, British Columbia.

There are several factors that connect each of these communities. Firstly, they share the geographical characteristics of having a small population. RNIP communities must have a population of 50,000 or less and be located 75 km or more from a major city. Alternatively, they can have a population of up to 200,000 if they are considered to be remote.

These communities often have a significant skills shortage, and RNIP is a community-centred initiative that allows rural communities to enjoy the benefits of economic immigration.

RNIP is a five-year-long program, and there are still plenty of opportunities for Nigerians to get involved.

Requirements to Come to Canada as an RNIP Immigrant

There are a range of requirements established by the federal government which Nigerians must follow if they want to be involved in this immigration pilot. If they are coming based on their work experience, they need to be able to prove the following:

• 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 feature the majority of the main and essential duties which can be found in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• The work experience cannot be unpaid or self-employed.

International students do not need to prove 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 of the community they are applying for. In this case, they must have spent 16 of the last 24 months during which they were studying inside of 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 fulfil. Nigerians must be able to prove the following:

• Minimum language requirements. Nigerians must achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) grade of between 4 and 6, depending on the exact job they are applying for.
• Minimum education requirements. Nigerians must have achieved a high school diploma or higher.
• Minimum settlement funds. Nigerians must have enough savings to support themselves. This starts at around Can$15,263 and rises for every family member you bring with you.
• The intention is to reside permanently in the community.

Please note that these are only the basic requirements that are enforced on a federal level. You will also need to align with the requirements that each community has established.

Applying for RNIP and Permanent Residence

Overview

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:

1. Apply for community recommendation.
2. Apply for permanent residence.

The following section will help you to navigate these stages to get permanent residence via the RNIP program.

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. With this position, you are then able to apply for community recommendation. Research your chosen community to discover what their specific process is, 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

Next, apply for permanent residence online. There are a host of forms that you will need to complete as PDFs, sign by hand, and then re-upload onto the system. All applicants will need to complete the following forms for themselves and any family members they are bringing with them from Nigeria.

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Supplementary Information – Your Travels (IMM 5562).

They 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 you 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 permanent residency. 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.

RNIP Fees and Processing Times

It should be noted that the fees and processing times for RNIP are quite extensive. The fee is a total of Can$1,590. This combines an Can$990 processing fee and a Can$660 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. You can expect this to take roughly 12-18 months.

How Can IAS Help?

Applying for permanent residency in Canada through RNIP can be a challenging process because every community involved has a different application procedure for community recommendation. IAS’ expert immigration lawyers and advisors are well-positioned to help you succeed in this application. We have worked with people from all over the world to work through the complex nature of the Canadian federal and provincial immigration services to realise their dream of moving to Canada.

Our team can help you throughout each stage of the application, and once you have lived in Canada for long enough, we can help you apply for citizenship. If you want to find out more about how we can assist you, call our Lagos office at +2342013306361 or +44 (0) 3316300929.