IRCC eligibility requirements for the RNIP

A community-driven program, Canada’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot [RNIP] has been specifically designed for spreading the benefits of economic immigration to the smaller communities in Canada. The RNIP creates a pathway to Canada's permanent residence for skilled foreign workers that have the intention to work and live in any of the communities participating in the Pilot.

The Pilot was announced in a Press Release – “Eleven communities to attract newcomers to support middle-class jobs” – dated June 14, 2019.

A basic 4-step process for applying for the RNIP

STEP 1: Meeting eligibility requirements that are – Laid down by the IRCC Community-specific

STEP 2: Finding an eligible job with an employer in a participating community

STEP 3: Once a job offer has been secured, submission of an application for a recommendation to the community

STEP 4: If community recommendation received, applying for Canada permanent residence

Here, we shall see the IRCC eligibility requirements for the RNIP.

IRCC eligibility requirements for the RNIP

CRITERIA 1: Have either – Qualifying work experience OR Have graduated from any public-funded post-secondary institution in the specific community.

CRITERIA 2: Language requirements, to be met or exceeded

CRITERIA 3: Educational requirements, to be met or exceeded

CRITERIA 4: Proof of funds

CRITERIA 5: Intention to live in the community

CRITERIA 6: Community-specific requirements to be met

If meeting all the requirements above-mentioned, the immigration candidate can begin the process by looking for an eligible job in the community that they intend residing and working in.

Work experience

By “qualifying work experience” is implied 1 year of uninterrupted work experience – a minimum of 1,560 hours – in the previous 3 years.

For the calculation of hours of work experience, hours worked full-time as well as part-time will be counted. While the required work hours have to be in 1 occupation, the work hours can be while working with different employers.

The work hours have to be spread across a minimum of 1 year’s duration.

While the working hours can be either within or outside Canada, due authorization to work must have been there if the work experience is from within Canada.

Hours spent towards self-employment, volunteer work, or unpaid internships will not be taken into consideration.

As per IRCC, the work experience of the immigration candidate applying for the RNIP must include “most of the main duties and all the essential duties” that are listed in their National Occupational Classification [NOC]. Activities listed in the lead statement of their NOC must also be included in their work experience.

International students

Exemption from work experience is given to international candidates that have graduated with –

A credential* from a post-secondary program for a duration of 2 years or above AND Studying as a full-time student for the entire duration of the 2+ years Having received their credential within the 18 months prior to applying for Canadian permanent residence Being in the community for a minimum of 16 out of the 24 months spent studying OR A master’s degree or higher AND Studying full-time for the duration of the degree Having received a degree within 18 months before applying for Canada PR Being in the community for the duration of the studies.

Note. – By ‘credential’ here is implied a diploma, degree, certificate or trade or an apprenticeship from a Canadian publicly funded institution in the recommending community. Valid temporary resident status for the duration of studies is also required.

An international student CANNOT apply for the RNIP in situations wherein their credential is from a program which –

• Involved studying English/French for more than half of the program
• Distance learning comprised more than half of the program
• A fellowship/scholarship awarded requiring the student to return to their home country for applying what was leaned by them

Language requirements

The immigration candidate must meet the minimum language requirement – either Canadian Language Benchmarks [CLB] for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens [NCLC] for French – as per their specific NOC category as applicable to the job offer in the community.

The minimum language requirements for each of the NOC categories –

NOC Category	Minimum language requirement
Skill Type 0 [zero]: Management jobs For example, restaurant managers.	CLB / NCLC 6
Skill Level A: Professional jobs For example, doctors.	CLB / NCLC 6
Skill Level B: Technical jobs For example, plumbers.	CLB / NCLC 5
Skill Level C: Intermediate jobs For example, long-haul truck drivers	CLB / NCLC 4
Skill Level D: Labour jobs For example, fruit pickers.	CLB / NCLC 4

Test results – not more than 2 years old at the time of applying – from a designated language test will have to be provided.

Educational requirements

In terms of educational requirements as part of the IRCC eligibility for the RNIP, a candidate must have –

A high school diploma from Canada OR An Educational Credential Assessment [ECA] report testifying the completion of a foreign credential equivalent to Canadian high school

Note. – The ECA report must not be more than 5 years old at the date of applying.

Settlement funds

The candidate must prove that they have enough money as settlement funds for supporting themselves as well as other family members [even if they are not coming to Canada with them] for settling in the community.

Proof of funds will not be required when the candidate is already legally working in Canada at the time of applying.

Currently, the amount required for a family of up to 4 members as settlement funds –

No. of family members	Funds required
1	CAD 8,922
2	CAD 11,107
3	CAD 13,654
4	CAD 16,579

Intention

To be eligible for a community recommendation under the RNIP, the immigration candidate must plan on living in that community.

Community-specific requirements

Each of the communities participating in the RNIP has its own specific requirements.

The attraction and retention of newcomers with the required skills are equated to a recipe for success for the rural and northern communities in Canada.

A similar immigration pilot – the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program [AIPP] – has been tested in Atlantic Canada, revealing tremendous results for the newcomers as well as Canadians.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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