The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is an economic and community-driven program. Created in 2019, it targets foreign nationals looking to move to Canada. It helps fills Canada’s working and rural communities’ growing labour, skills, expertise, and diversity gaps. The RNIP is driven by its motivations to improve community lifestyle and progress. It is a program built on sharing the benefits of integrating diverse and skilled workers worldwide. The program focuses solely on sharing these benefits with smaller and more rural regions. Smaller and more rural communities benefit from the RNIP program as they struggle to attract immigrants. However, it’s been recently reported that immigrants have been choosing to reside in smaller towns and rural communities as opposed to large metropolitan areas. This makes the RNIP a great option for newcomers looking to join a smaller community.

What are the requirements for international graduates who apply for RNIP?

Usually, applicants would need 1 year of work experience – or at least 1,560 hours – in the past 3 years to apply for the RNIP program. However, students who immigrate to Canada do not have to accumulate a minimum of work experience to qualify for the program. The requirements for international graduates to be exempt from the work experience criteria have split into two options.

Be an international student who graduated with a credential from a post-secondary program of 2 years or longer, and you:

1. You were studying as a full-time student for the full duration of the 2+ years.
2. You received the credential up to 18 months before you applied for permanent residence.
3. You were in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months spent studying to get your credential.

To be exempted from the work experience criteria, your program of study needs to be 2 years long. You can’t add two 1-year programs to meet the work experience requirements under this exemption.

Be an international student who graduated with a master’s degree or higher lasting less than 2 years, and you:

1. You were studying as a full-time student for the duration of your degree.
2. You got your degree no more than 18 months before you applied for permanent residence.
3. You were in the community for the length of your studies.

You cannot apply as an international student if your credentials are from a program in which

Studying English or French made up more than half of the program.
Distance learning made up more than half of the program.
A scholarship or fellowship is awarded that requires you to return to your home country to apply what you learned.

Which communities participate in RNIP?

To be qualified for the pilot, a community must meet one of two qualifications. The first option is having a population of 50,000 or less and being located at least 75km from the core of a Census Metropolitan Area. The other option is to have a population of up to 200,000 people and be considered remote from other large cities. There are a total of 11 communities currently in the RNIP. Each community will also have additional requirements for applicants that meet the community’s economic goals and develop their local economy.

Ontario

North Bay: This pilot encompasses the communities of North Bay, Callander, Powassan, East Ferris, Bonfield, West Nipissing and some unorganized townships.
Sudbury: Greater Sudbury is centrally located in Northeastern Ontario and is a multicultural and truly bilingual community. It is also a world-class mining centre employing approximately 6,000 people. In addition, the city is also a regional centre in financial and business services, tourism, health care and research, education and government.
Timmins: The current Timmins pilot is spearheaded by the Timmins Economic Development Corporation and numerous community partners. Its pilot has currently moved to an Application Pool and Draw system.

Sault Ste. Marie: is a welcoming community of 73,000 and provides a mix of urban and natural amenities that offer an affordable, active lifestyle in the heart of the Great Lakes. The pilot also supports the community’s economic development and strengthens the local business capacity to develop and retain a skilled workforce.
Thunder Bay: Located in the centre of Canada and with close proximity to the United States, Thunder Bay is the regional capital of Northwestern Ontario. Thunder Bay is an emerging top city with its multimillion-dollar waterfront, downtown revitalization, a new generation of creative entrepreneurs, global transport connections, epic outdoor adventures, a mix of global cultures and balanced quality of life.

Manitoba

Brandon: A welcoming community of just over 51,000 people located in the southwest corner of Manitoba, one hour from the USA and Saskatchewan borders. In addition, Brandon has welcomed over 7,000 newcomers in the past decade.
Altona/Rhineland: Located in southern Manitoba, the region has a long history of welcoming newcomers and integrating both immigrations and refugees into the community’s social fabric.

Saskatchewan

Moose Jaw: The city began accepting applications in December 2020, and by 2021, 33 community recommendations were awarded. The city is also looking for applicants who will contribute to the community’s economic needs, integrate into community life, and intend to stay long-term in the community.

Alberta

Claresholm: Experience what southern Alberta has to offer while living and working in Claresholm. The city offers a selection of community services that help facilitate transportation, nutrition, child care and inclusion of all residents. In addition, the town has an average personal income and a skilled workforce far above the national median average.

British Columbia

Vernon: A welcoming city of over 42,000 people in the beautiful North Okanagan. This pilot boasts a diversified economy poised to continue growing and developing.
West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson): The pilot for this city has helped over 350 newcomers apply for their permanent residency in Canada. Additionally, over 125 West Kootenay employers have used the pilot. They either use it to support existing employees or hire skilled foreign workers to support their workforce needs.

How can mana immigration help you apply for RNIP?

Contact us if you want to be part of the growing number of immigrants in the 11 communities that make up the RNIP. We are a full-service immigration firm with more than thirty years of experience in Canadian visas. Our team of Certified Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants specializes in business, economic and family classes. They are here to represent and advise individuals to become permanent residents of Canada and live their dreams. We offer free consultations to help you find the best pathway suited for you. You might even be eligible for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP). To find out and talk to one of our immigration specialists, click the link here to get started today.