New Opportunities with the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

When immigrating to a new country as a professional, skilled tradesman, or semi-skilled worker, people tend to gravitate toward major cities. For example, 118,000 immigrants, 35% of the total number who arrived in Canada last year, went to Toronto. Major cities offer a lot of jobs in Canada and support networks of other immigrants who have successfully settled in the country. But what if you could secure a job offer in a smaller city before you even land in Canada, which also happens to be made up of the most diverse, multicultural, and welcoming communities in the world?

If that sounds good to you, then the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is good for you. This community-driven program was designed to bring the economic benefits of immigration to smaller often overlooked communities. A job offer in a participating community could mean permanent residency in Canada and the life you deserve. Not many people are aware of the program and the opportunities that lie within, so if you are thinking about immigrating to Canada, this may be the way to go about it.

Participating Communities

Each of the eleven participating communities across Canada will use the program to address their own economic needs. So that’s eleven different opportunities for you to find a job in Canada and secure permanent residency at the same time. There are numerous benefits to working in Canada. The first thing you need to know is whether you are eligible to immigrate to Canada and to land a full time, non-seasonal job in one of the following cities or large towns:

Participating Communities
Town/City	Population	Major Job Opportunities
Sudbury, Ontario	164,926	Nickel mining provides thousand of jobs in the city and surrounding towns
Timmins, Ontario	41,788	Trades workers and IT professionals are in high demand
Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario	73,368	Registered nurses, engineers, welders, mechanics, truck drivers and machinists
Thunder Bay, Ontario	110,170	Registered nurses, pharmacists, cooks, mechanics, support workers, truck drivers, operators and construction workers.
Brandon, Manitoba	48,859	Barbers, butchers, cooks, technicians, secretaries, pharmacy aides and physicians.
Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba	10,349	Mill operators, machinists, welders, painters, purchasing managers, construction workers and truck drivers.
Claresholm, Alberta	3,780	Truck Drivers, food counter attendants, food service supervisors, general farm workers and pastors.
Vernon, British Columbia	40,116	Cooks, cleaning supervisors, cleaners and lawyers.
West Kootenay, British Columbia	44,794	A wide variety in all skill levels.
North Bay, Ontario	not accepting applications yet	On the shores of Lake Nipissing
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan	not accepting applications yet	Home of Mac the Moose

Keep in mind that the labour requirements are constantly changing for these communities as employers post jobs when they become available. Some have job opportunities on their home pages while others urge you to apply to employers directly on various job platforms. However, getting a job offer is just the first piece of the puzzle, next you will have to meet the eligibility criteria for both the community and the Immigration and Refugee Council of Canada in your application for permanent residency.

Eligibility Requirements

Alright, so you’ve got the job offer, the next step (aside from your work permit) is to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The requirements will be as follows:

Work Experience:

You will need to have at least one years full-time work experience, 1,560 hours, within the last three years. The work experience can be accumulated inside or outside Canada. It goes without saying but the experience must be in the same field as your job offer. You must have been employed through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program; so as long as your employer has a LMIA and you apply for a valid work permit.

A Valid Job Offer:

The key ingredients for a valid job offer are:

• • The position have been approved by the RNIP community in the community;
  • The job must be full-time, this means a minimum of 30 hours per week;
  • The job cannot be seasonal, you must continue to work and be paid year round; and
  • The job offer is for a permanent position, no set end date;

Language Requirements:

A basic command of English or French is required to prove you can effectively communicate in your role and in society at large in Canada. To prove your ability you will need to take a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) test. Your minimum score required will depend on your job offer:

• • • NOC 0 and A jobs - minimum score 6
    • NOC B jobs - minimum score 5
    • NOC C and D jobs - minimum score 4

The test is made up of four categories; Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. The maximum score is out of 10, so don’t worry, you’ve got this. Test results cannot be more than two years old.

Educational Requirements:

You must have at least the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma. This is a requirement for all job offers in Canada anyway. You will need to have an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) done to show that your high school diploma is equivalent to a Canadian one. Make sure that the ECA is not older than five years when you submit your application.

Intention to Settle in the Community:

While a job offer is quite the motivating factor, anything more you can do to prove your intention to settle and live in the community will help your application for permanent residency’s chance of success. Purchasing a home, joining social clubs, enrolling children in school and so on all show intention to stay.

Settlement Funds:

If you are applying for permanent residency from outside of Canada, you will have to show you have sufficient funds to be able to relocate and settle in Canada, and further support any dependants you may have, including the ones who do not accompany you. If you are already working in Canada when you apply to this immigration pilot, you do not need to show any proof of funds.

Community Specific Requirements:

While they may be very similar to the ones listed above, each community still has their own requirements and application forms. These will differ depending on each community participating in the RNIP.

How MDC Can Help You

This Rural and Northern Immigration pilot can be a little trickier to navigate because you need to meet both the community requirements and the IRCC’s requirements. By using our accredited Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) you will not only improve your chances of success in your RNIP application, but you will be able to focus on the other aspects of your immigration such as preparing for job interviews, looking for a new home in your new community and researching everything about your new life. Our RCICs are highly qualified and are granted permission by the Canadian government to assist you with your eligibility evaluation, review all your documents and application forms and submit them for you. The communities will not deal with any representatives who are not registered with the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council, which our are, and we urge you to confirm this before visiting the website and validating our RCIC’s numbers. Let us handle the paperwork while you plan your future in Canada. All you have to do is complete our online form by clicking the link below and we’ll take care of the rest. It's just that simple.Start My Canadian Journey