Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduces several programs for individuals who seek to work, live, and engage with communities in Canada that are not urban.
The Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP) is a community-focused program that focuses on inviting applicants to immigrate to specific, chosen areas in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
Why the RNIP?
The IRCC introduced the RNIP to:
- Propagate the economic advantages of an incoming immigrant population in communities in Canada that are smaller in nature.
- Provide foreign skilled workers with the opportunity to move to a community in Canada that they might otherwise not have immigrated to.
How do I apply for the RNIP?
There are a set of steps to apply for permanent residence under the RNIP.
- You must meet IRCC eligibility requirements and community specific requirements.
- You must find an eligible job offer located in one of the participating communities.
- Once your job offer is secured, you must submit your application to receive a recommendation from the chosen community.
- If you secure a recommendation from a community, you may proceed to apply for permanent residence.
What are the participating communities in the RNIP?
The communities are as listed below:
Community | Community website |
North Bay, ON | |
Sudbury, ON | |
Timmins, ON | |
Sault Ste. Marie, ON | |
Thunder Bay, ON | |
Brandon, MB | |
Altona/Rhineland, MB | |
Moose Jaw, SK | |
Claresholm, AB | |
Vernon, BC | |
West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), BC |
Source canada.ca
What is the process of getting a community recommendation?
The RNIP’s main goal is to serve the community involved, and therefore it allows the community of choice to make the decision about whether you are a suitable addition to it.
The community will:
- Evaluate the prospective candidate to:
- Consider the economic implications of having the candidate in the community .
- Consider the genuine nature of their potential employment in the community and whether it meets what the community requires.
- Consider whether the applicant will stay in the community.
- If approved, recommend the chosen candidate for permanent residency.
- Facilitate the connection of newcomers with settlement services and mentoring opportunities to initiate them into the community and introduce them to established members of the community.
Stay tuned for Sawubona Canada’s in-depth guide to the RNIP, including an exploration of what the IRCC and the community based eligibility requirements for the program are.