What is the Rural Community Immigration Pilot

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot was announced alongside the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. Both these pilots were modelled after the success of the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which is becoming a permanent program.

The pilot will provide pathways to permanent residence for newcomers who can help to overcome critical labour job shortages and want to live long term in these smaller communities.

With a launch date set for the fall of 2024, this new immigration pathway aims to ensure that rural communities continue to have the ability to access programs that address labour shortages. In doing so, it will also help local businesses find the workers they need.

This new immigration pathway comes as part of Canada’s immigration strategy to increase immigration to Canada’s rural communities, as outlined in  An Immigration System for Canada’s Future.

As a pilot, it can accept no more than 2,750 applications per year. It will run for five years, after which time the pilot will either be discontinued or become a permanent Canadian immigration program.

Communities will be able to apply to participate in the pilot starting in the spring of 2024.

Check this page as more information about this program comes available.

In the meantime, check your eligibility for more than 20 Canadian immigration programs by taking Moving2Canada’s free Canada Immigration Quiz.