The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) will become a permanent immigration program or at least continue in some form beyond its slated end date of August next year., says Canada Immigration Minister Sean Fraser.
“From my perspective the Rural and Northern Immigration Program has been an enormous success,” the immigration reportedly said.
“The only critical feedback I’ve received is that the communities that benefit from the program would like to bring more people in through the program.”
Through the five-year RNIP, skilled immigrants are recruited to work in smaller communities with aging populations and labour shortages.
Launched as the COVID-19 pandemic was about to hit with its public health and travel restrictions which made immigration difficult, the RNIP nonetheless welcomed 390 new permanent residents in 2021, the latest data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals.
Read More Canada Immigration News
Rural And Northern Immigration Pilot Extended, Pleasing Thunder Bay Business Leaders
Canada’s Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot Set For Expansion
Businesses Call For Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot To Become Permanent
Then, last year, that number more than tripled to hit 1,360 new permanent residents through the RNIP.
So far this year, the IRCC only has data for the RNIP for the month of January but in that one month alone the program welcomed 510 new permanent residents.
That level of arrivals through the RNIP, if continued throughout the rest of 2023, would mean the arrival of 6,120 immigrants through the program this year, more than four times as many as last year.
Fraser cautioned that evaluating the RNIP’s performance will be somewhat difficult because it was launched during the pandemic.
“We haven’t made formally a decision to make the program permanent yet, not because we don’t like the program, but because the first few years of the program’s existence happened under very challenging circumstances during the COVID-19 pandemic,” he reportedly said.
To be included in the pilot, communities must:
Fraser’s suggestion that the RNIP would continue in some form beyond next year was music to the ears of participating communities’ mayors.
“I’ve heard first-hand from employers that had it not been for the (RNIP) program, you know, they might not have been able to stay open into the next year,” Timmins Mayor Michelle Boileau reportedly told the CBC.
“So, it’s having a very positive impact on our business community.”
Under this pilot program, candidates must meet both the federal and the community eligibility requirements.
There are currently 11 participating communities in the pilot program. These include:
Community | Community website |
North Bay, ON | https://northbayrnip.ca/ |
Sudbury, ON | https://investsudbury.ca/why-sudbury/move-to-sudbury/rnip/ |
Timmins, ON | www.timminsedc.com |
Sault Ste. Marie, ON | www.welcometossm.com |
Thunder Bay, ON | https://gotothunderbay.ca/ |
Brandon, MB | www.economicdevelopmentbrandon.com |
Altona/Rhineland, MB | www.seedrgpa.com |
Moose Jaw, SK | https://www.moosejawrnip.ca/ |
Claresholm, AB | www.claresholm.ca |
Vernon, BC | https://rnip-vernon-northok.ca/ |
West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), BC | https://wk-rnip.ca/ |
The federal requirements include qualifying work experience or an international student exemption.
Candidates must have one year (1,560 hours) of full or part-time work experience in the last three years but it doesn’t need to be continuous or be with just one employer. It must, however, include most of the main and essential duties listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) and unpaid and self-employed hours do not count.
Candidates who are international students are exempt from needing work experience provided they either graduated with a master’s or doctoral degree or:
Those who graduated with the higher degrees must still:
There are basic minimum language requirements for the RNIP with the level required based on the classification of the job under the National Occupational Classification system. Candidates must also have a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential with an accredited Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
The language proficiency can be demonstrated through either the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) standards with the minimum language requirements for each NOC category being:
These results must be submitted from a designated language test and be less than two years old at the time of the application.
Under the program, applicants must demonstrate they have enough money to support themselves and family members while they get settled in their community. This includes family members who may not be coming to Canada.
Candidates already working legally in Canada are exempt from settlement fund requirements.
This money cannot be borrowed from another person and the proof of funds can include:
The amount of settlement funds under the RNIP for new applicants who applied with a community recommendation after Sept. 23 last year is:
Number of family members | Funds needed | |
1 | $2,290 | |
2 | $2,851 | |
3 | $3,505 | |
4 | $4,256 | |
5 | $4,827 | |
6 | $5,444 | |
7 | $6,062 | |
For each additional family member | $618 |
Discover the latest trends in Canadian immigration with a notable decline in permanent residency applications.…
Learn about the Parti Québécois' call to halt temporary immigration in Quebec, its impact on…
In a recent panel discussion at the Canada Strong and Free Network conference in Ottawa,…
Discover Saskatchewan's enhanced Immigration Services Act, bolstering protection for foreign workers, combating fraud, and facilitating…
Discover how newcomers to Canada can access a wide range of benefits and tax credits…
Discover how immigrant children in Canada outshine their counterparts, excelling in education and earning higher…
This website uses cookies.