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Pilot Immigration Programs
Pilot Immigration Programs
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is aimed at attracting skilled workers to smaller communities. This five-year federal pilot helps smaller towns with aging populations and labor shortages by facilitating the retention of immigrants. The program is community-driven to distribute the benefits of immigration more evenly.
Eligible communities must:
- Have a population of 50,000 or fewer and be located at least 75Kmfrom a Census Metropolitan Area, OR
- Have a population of up to 200,000 and be considered remote from larger cities, based on the Statistics Canada Remoteness Index.
Steps to Permanent Residency:
- Ensure compliance with both federal and community-specific requirements.
- Secure an eligible job with an employer in one of the participating communities (listed below).
- Apply for a community recommendation after obtaining a job offer.
- Once recommended, submit an application for permanent residency.
This version keeps the original structure intact while paraphrasing the content as requested.
RNIP Participating Communities
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 |
Federal Government Eligibility Requirements
1. Work Experience/International Student Exemption
Candidates must have qualifying work experience or have graduated from a publicly-funded post-secondary institution in the recommending community.
Work Experience:
- Candidates need at least one year (1,560 hours) of full or part-time work experience within the last three years.
- The work experience doesn't need to be continuous but must be accumulated over the past three years.
- Work experience may be in multiple occupations or with different employers.
- It must cover most of the essential duties listed in the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
- Unpaid and self-employed work hours don't count.
International Students:
International students are exempt from work experience requirements if they meet one of the following criteria:
Scenario 1:
- Graduated from a post-secondary program in the recommended community, lasting at least two years.
- Studied full-time for two or more years.
- Received the credential no more than 18 months before applying for permanent residence.
- Lived in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months of study.
Scenario 2:
- Graduated with a master’s degree or higher.
- Studied full-time for the entire duration of the degree in the recommended community.
- Received the degree no more than 18 months before applying for permanent residence.
- Lived in the community for the length of their studies.
2) Language Requirements:
Candidates need to meet the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de competence linguistigue canadiens (NCLC) standards, depending on their job's National Occupational Classification (NOC). Minimum language requirements are:
- TEER 0 and 1: CLB/NCLC 6
- TEER 2 and 3: CLB/NCLC 5
- TEER 4 and 5: CLB/NCLC 4
3) Educational Requirements:
Candidates must have either a Canadian high school diploma or a foreign equivalent validated by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
4) Settlement Funds:
Candidates must show proof of sufficient funds to support themselves and their families during the settlement period in the community. Those already working legally in Canada are exempt from this requirement.
5) Intention to Reside:
Candidates must intend to live in the community to qualify for this pilot program.
Community-Specific Requirements:
Each participating community has its own specific requirements. Check the community's website for details.
Agri-Food Pilot
What Industries Are Eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) identifies these eligible industries:
- Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
- Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, or 1129)
What Jobs Are Eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
1) Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- NOC 63201 – Butchers, retail and wholesale
- NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers, retail and wholesale
- NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock laborers
- NOC 95106 – Laborers in food and beverage processing
2) Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production, Including Mushroom Production (NAICS 1114):
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock laborers
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting laborers
3) Animal Production, Excluding Aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, or 1129):
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock laborers
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting laborers
Application Limits:
Canada processes a maximum of 2,750 applications per year under the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot.
Agri-Food Immigration Pilot: Candidate Requirements
- 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation within the past three years under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
- A Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French for reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
- Education equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma or higher.
- A full-time, non-seasonal, indeterminate job offer in Canada, outside Quebec, paying at least the prevailing wage.
- Proof of settlement funds unless already working in Canada.