With the RNIP Closed, What Options Do Would-Be Applicants Have Now?

Key Takeaways

• The RNIP, announced on June 19, 2019, aimed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller Canadian communities by providing a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who wish to live and work in participating areas.
• As of December 2023, almost 5,000 immigrants received their Canadian permanent residence status through the RNIP.
• IRCC plans to turn the RNIP into a permanent immigration program.
• Two new pilot programs will be introduced, while IRCC create the Rural and Northern Immigration program. 
• Those who have applied to the RNIP are still eligible for a one-year open work permit.

Why Was the RNIP Not Extended?

Under Canadian Immigration law, pilot programs cannot exceed five years, starting the day on which the instructions take effect. The RNIP ran from August 2019 to August 2024, at which time, IRCC had no option but to close the program, irrespective of its success. Although IRCC will not accept any new applications, they will continue to process applications submitted before August 31, 2024.

In anticipation of the RNIP closing, in March 2024, IRCC announced that the RNIP would be turned into a permanent immigration program. Given the time taken to achieve this, IRCC confirmed its intent to introduce two new pilot programs and continue the legacy of the RNIP.

What Is Replacing the RNIP?

Two new pilot programs are set to be launched in the fall of 2024. These are: 

• The Rural Community Immigration Pilot
• The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.

Both pilot programs are designed to attract and retain skilled foreign workers in rural and francophone minority communities, boosting their economic and linguistic vitality.

We expect to receive an update on these two new pilot programs in the coming months. 

In addition to these pilot programs, the Rural and Northern Immigration permanent immigration program should be coming into force in the not-so-distant future, however, no additional information has been provided on this program.

What Options Do RNIP Hopefuls Have Now?

While the closure of the RNIP was expected, it may still come as a disappointment to some, especially considering the replacement pilot programs and the permanent program are not yet effective, meaning RNIP would-be applicants are forced to look for alternatives. 

These alternatives include:

• Entering the Express Entry system if they qualify for one of the three federal immigration programs that use the Express Entry system. These are: 
  • The Federal Skilled Worker Program;
  • The Canadian Experience Class; and
  • The Federal Skilled Trade Worker Program. 

Pursuing Express Entry might be a particularly attractive option for those who are eligible for at least one of the above programs and who boast a competitive score under the Express Entry points system, known as the Comprehensive Ranking System.

• Exploring Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) options in the province where they have a job offer or completed post-secondary education. The provinces involved in the RNIP (Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia) all have PNP Streams targeting individuals with a job offer or education from the province.

For those with an expiring work permit, it’s worth exploring options to extend this while applying for permanent residency.

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