RNIP - PROGRAM RQMT CHANGES

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced changes to make the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) more flexible for applicants

The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program that spreads the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities. 

RNIP aids these communities to invite workers they need by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers.

Under the changes to the program, candidates will no longer have to obtain eligible work experience over a continuous period of time. 

Instead, they can demonstrate that they have accumulated the required 1 year of eligible work experience (1,560 hours) in the 3 years preceding their application, even if there were breaks in their employment. 

IRCC has also introduced a temporary measure that allows RNIP applicants who are waiting for a decision on their permanent residence application to apply for a work permit without being penalized due to processing delays caused by the pandemic.

Quick facts

• Immigrants account for 1 out of every 4 health-care workers in Canada
• Immigrants make up 36% of all pharmacists and family physicians across Canada, as well as 39% of all dentists, 27% of all licensed practical nurses and 35% of nurse aides and related occupations.