Rural & Northern Immigration
A pathway to permanent residence for students and experienced workers with ties to Rural and Northern communities
Rural & Northern Pilot Immigration is a community-driven program to attract economic immigration to smaller communities. The program is a pathway to permanent residence for students or workers who have lived and studied or have a valid job offer from an employer inside participating communities.
Employability
A 2-year post-secondary credential from a public institution within the last 18 months, and resided in a participating community for at least 16 months of the last 24 months during your studies, or
A full-time master's degree or higher from a public post-secondary institution within the last 18 months and resided in a participating community during your studies
Community referral letter
Job offer
Settlement fund
Language
CLB 5 (TEER category 2, 3)
CLB 4 (TEER category 4, 5)
Ties to the province
Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee the applicant will be granted permanent resident status.
The candidate may qualify for multiple programs.
Process timeline of reviewing the application between applicant with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Application submission
Submit the permanent resident application to IRCC when all minimum requirements are met and have legal status.
Biometrics collection
Receive a request from IRCC for biometrics collection at visa application centers to verify identity and admissibility.
Medical examination
Receive a request from IRCC for a medical examination with panel physicians to provide proof of the health conditions.
Get PR Status
Application approved, the applicant gets Permanent Resident status after landing or confirming on IRCC Portal.Confirmation valid within 12 months
Eligible applicants may apply for a 1-year work permit
to work for the same employer who offered the job while waiting for the decision on their permanent residence application.
Crucial elements affect the decision
Benefits the applicant and their accompanying family members are entitled to when becoming permanent residents
Family-friendly
The immigration application includes the applicant's spouse and children
Work and study
May qualify for 1-year work permit while waiting for permanent residence
Medical
Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian
Education
Free or lower tuition for children depends on the level of education
Benefits
Access to social benefits as same as Canadian
Mobility right
Live and work anywhere under Permanent Resident status
Sponsorship
Ability to sponsor relatives if the conditions are met
Naturalization
Ability to obtain citizenship if residency conditions are met
Important requirements the applicant should note
- Rural & Northern Pilot Immigration is a community-driven program to attract economic immigration to smaller communities. The program is a pathway to permanent residence for students or workers who have lived and studied or have a valid job offer from an employer inside participating communities.
- Applicants may qualify for 1-year work permit while waiting for permanent residence
Immigration Ineligibility
- Misrepresentation: directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts that cause or may cause administrative errors of the government
- Have failed to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Have a family member who is inadmissible to Canada
- Financial ground: unable or unwilling to financially support yourself and accompanying family members
- Medical ground: have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have committed a crime, including impaired driving
- Membership in criminal organizations for activities such as human trafficking or money laundering
- National security reasons: espionage, subversion of government, violence or terrorism, or membership of related organizations
- Violations of human rights or international law such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, or being a prescribed senior official of a government that engages or has engaged in these activities
Basic requirements
- Intend to live permanently in the participating community
- Meet the community-specific requirements which are available on these websites
- North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie , Thunder Bay (Ontario)
- Brandon, Altona/Rhineland (Manitoba)
- Moose Jaw (Saskatchewan)
- Claresholm (Alberta)
- Vernon, West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson) (British Columbia)
Employability
- Have completed a 2-year post-secondary program from a public institution within the last 18 months and resided in a participating community for at least 16 months of the last 24 months during your studies, or
- Have completed a full-time master's degree or higher from a public post-secondary institution within the last 18 months and resided in a participating community during your studies, or
- 1 year of continuous work experience (at least 1560 hours) from inside or outside Canada within the last 3 years and related to the job offer
- TEER 0, 1 must have experience in 0, 1, 2, 3
- TEER 2, 3 must have experience in 1, 2, 3, 4
- TEER 4 must have experience in 2, 3, 4
- TEER 5 must have experience in the same occupation
- Experience in NOC 31301 (Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses - TEER category 1) is eligible for the job offer under NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates - TEER category 3) or 44101 (Home support workers - TEER category 4)
Job offer
- From a business located inside the participating communities
- Permanent full-time non-seasonal with a wage that meets or exceeds the lowest starting wage for your occupation in the region
- Under any TEER category occupations
Language
Minimum at:
- CLB/NCLC 6 for the job offer under TEER category 0 or 1 occupations
- CLB/NCLC 5 for the job offer under TEER category 2 or 3 occupations
- CLB/NCLC 4 for the job offer under TEER category 4 or 5 occupations
Assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
- Pearson Test of English - Core (PTE-Core)
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)
Settlement fund
Proof of funds to support yourself and family members during the period of adaptation after your arrival, based on Low Income Cut-Off threshold and family size:
| Number of family members | Funds required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| *1* | $2,528 |
| *2* | $3,147 |
| *3* | $3,869 |
| *4* | $4,697 |
| *5* | $5,328 |
| *6* | $6,009 |
| *7* | $6,690 |
| *If more than 7 people, for each additional family member, add* | $681 |
