Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) Program
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Note: The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) ministerial instructions have been amended to allow communities to issue recommendations until July 31, 2024. Applicants will still be required to submit their complete applications for permanent residence by August 31, 2024, the date when the pilot expires.
This section describes how to process applications for permanent residence submitted by applicants in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) Program through the paper-based or online application process.
The RNIP is an economic pilot program that targets foreign nationals who have received a recommendation from a participating community and obtained a job offer within the same community’s boundaries; who meet the minimum education, work experience, language proficiency, and settlement fund requirements; and who intend to reside in the community that recommended them.
Intake
- Application process and who can apply
- Completeness check upon receipt
- Putting an application into processing
Processing
- Assessing the application against selection criteria – Applications locked-in before September 23, 2022
- Assessing the application against selection criteria – Applications locked-in on or after September 23, 2022, and before November 16, 2022
- Assessing the application against selection criteria – Applications locked-in on or after November 16, 2022
- Community boundaries
- Ability to become economically established
- Other situations
- Employer-specific work permits
- Open work permits for spouses or common-law partners
- Admissibility and making a final decision
- Examination before granting permanent residence