Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Overview
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is a community-driven immigration program that allows participating rural and northern communities to recommend foreign workers for permanent residence. Unlike most immigration programs, the RNIP places communities — not just employers or provinces — at the centre of the recruitment process. A community recommendation is required before an application can be submitted to IRCC. The pilot covers communities in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.
The RNIP was launched in 2019 to address the unique challenges of attracting and retaining workers in smaller communities that lack the immigration infrastructure of major urban centres. Each participating community has its own specific job opportunities and community-fit requirements beyond the federal eligibility criteria.
Eligibility
Federal minimum requirements
- Work experience: at least 1,560 hours of work experience in a TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 occupation within the 3 years before applying (TEER 4 and some TEER 5 eligible — broader than Express Entry)
- Language: CLB 4 for TEER 4/5 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 2/3; CLB 6 for TEER 0/1
- Education: Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent (ECA may be required for foreign credentials)
- Job offer: a full-time, non-seasonal job offer in the community from an eligible employer
- Intention to reside: genuine intention to reside in the recommending community
Community recommendation requirement
Meeting the federal requirements alone is not sufficient — the applicant must also receive a community recommendation. Each participating community has its own process for reviewing applicants and making recommendations to IRCC. Communities assess factors such as community fit, family ties to the community, and the specific labour needs of local employers. Community recommendations are limited in number — each community has an annual allocation.
Participating communities
As at 2026, participating communities include (by province):
- Ontario: North Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, Thunder Bay, Sudbury
- Manitoba: Brandon, Altona/Rhineland, Steinbach, Portage la Prairie
- Saskatchewan: Moose Jaw, Humboldt, Claresholm (AB border area)
- Alberta: Claresholm
- British Columbia: West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson)
The list of participating communities and their specific requirements should be verified on the IRCC website, as communities can exit or join the pilot.
Selection criteria
Application process
Application process
- Identify a participating community with a relevant job opportunity
- Secure a qualifying job offer from an eligible employer in that community
- Confirm federal eligibility (language, experience, education)
- Apply to the community for a community recommendation
- Receive the community recommendation (subject to community allocation limits)
- Submit a permanent residence application to IRCC within 6 months of the community recommendation
RNIP applications are processed outside Express Entry. They do not compete based on CRS score. Processing times depend on IRCC's workload for pilot applications.