In this article about Canada immigration, we look at how to get Canada PR through the rural and northern immigration pilot, and how to apply rural and northern immigration pilot program with a special emphasis on rural and northern immigration pilot eligibility for Sudbury Ontario.
What's Covered in This Article
About the rural and northern immigration pilot program (RNIP)
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities in Canada by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in one of the participating communities.
The Sudbury rural and northern immigration pilot program process
The Sudbury RNIP program is delivered by the City of Greater Sudbury’s Economic Development division and funded by FedNor, the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, and the City of Greater Sudbury.
The RNIP is a unique permanent residence pathway for international workers, aimed toward filling important labour shortages in the Sudbury community.
The RNIP is designed for workers who have an intention to reside in the City of Greater Sudbury over the long term, and if approved, are granted the ability to apply for permanent residency as well as an LMIA-exempt work permit.
Greater Sudbury is centrally located in Northeastern Ontario and is home to approximately 165,000 people. It is a multicultural and truly bilingual community.
Sudbury is home to the third largest French population outside of Quebec and approximately 38 per cent of people identify as knowing both official languages.
Sudbury is a world class mining centre. The city’s mining companies employ approximately 6,000 people and support a 300-company mining supply and service sector cluster that employs a further 14,000 people. The city is also a regional centre in financial and business services, tourism, health care and research, education and government for Northeastern Ontario.
Sudbury is a regional hub for many Ontario residents who live in nearby communities.
The RNIP application deadline has been extended to February 2024.
There are 10 steps to applying for permanent residence under rural and northern immigration pilot.
Step 1: Check that you meet IRCC eligibility requirements
Step 2: Check to see if you match with the Sudbury community-specific requirements..
You should meet at least the Assessment Factor Point minimum cut-off. Further information can be found on Form SRNIP001
- The Community Selection Committee will be assessing your ties to the community to ensure that you and your family are prepared to reside in Sudbury after you receive your permanent residency.
Step 3: Find an eligible job with an employer in Sudbury, Ontario in one of the eligible occupations.
- The job must be full-time permanent employment in Sudbury
- You are required to be currently employed or have a job offer from an employer in Sudbury in order to qualify for the Sudbury RNIP.
Click here for a list of employers in Sudbury Ontario currently hiring through the RNIP program
Below is a list of employers currently hiring as at the writing of this video. Click on each name for available jobs.
- A candidate may only apply to the RNIP if they have secured an offer of employment in an eligible occupation. For this current period, the following are identified as eligible occupations in Sudbury:
*NEW* As of February 1, 2023, all occupations and wages are now eligible for the RNIP program under two separate streams:
1: Conventional Stream
The Conventional Stream has no draw restrictions. All eligible candidates in this stream, regardless of hourly wage, will be considered for the monthly draws.
NOC Code Occupation Name 0 / all TEER 0 occupations Management Occupations 1 Business, finance and administration occupations 2 Natural and applied sciences and related occupations 31 Professional occupations in health (except nursing) 32 Technical occupations in health 33 Assisting occupations in support of health services 42201 Social and community service workers 42202 Early childhood educators and assistants 42203 Instructors of persons with disabilities 44101 Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations 62200 Chefs 63201 Butchers – retail and wholesale 65202 Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale 63202 Bakers 62021 Executive housekeepers 62022 Accommodation, travel, tourism and related services supervisors 62023 Customer and information services supervisors 62024 Cleaning supervisors 63210 Hairstylists and barbers 7 Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations**For all drivers, chauffeurs, couriers, and operators – local drivers only, long-haul drivers are ineligible.
As per the IRCC, only those working within the community boundaries are eligible, therefore, long-haul drivers are ineligible for the RNIP program.8 Natural resources, agriculture and related production occupations 9 Occupations in manufacturing and utilities Additionally, those in any NOC earning 20$ per hour or more qualify for the expedited stream.
NOC Codes Hourly Wage All NOCs 20$ per hour or more 2: *NEW* Limited Stream
A maximum of 24 candidates per year under the Limited Stream may be considered for the Sudbury RNIP Program. A maximum of two candidates in this category, that meet the minimum draw cut-off, may be drawn per month. Should more than two meet the minimum cut-off, only the two top-scoring candidates in this category will be drawn.
NOC Code Hourly Wage Any NOC not listed in the Conventional Stream Under 20$ per hour
- If the Sudbury community recommends you, apply for permanent residence to RICC.
Step 4: Submit your application through the RNIP Survey Monkey Apply Portal.
*If you prefer to submit your RNIP application by registered mail, please contact us.
Step 5: Application Review – RNIP Coordinator
If selected, your application will be reviewed by the RNIP Coordinator and you may be requested to undergo an interview. Only selected candidates will be contacted.
Step 6: Application Review – Community Selection Committee
Selected candidate applications will be reviewed by the Community Selection Committee.
Step 7: Meeting the requirements
If it is determined that you meet the requirements of the RNIP, you will be given a recommendation letter from the Community selection committee. If you are determined not to meet the requirements of the RNIP, you will be advised that you will not be issued a recommendation from the Community Selection Committee. Your application will not be returned to the pool of candidates for future consideration.
Step 8: Apply for Permanent Residency
Using the community recommendation letter, you can apply directly to IRCC for your Permanent Residency.
Step 9: IRCC Review
Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada will do further review, including a medical review, financial review, and criminal record checks.
Step 10: Move to Sudbury
Once you have received your Permanent Residency, you can make arrangements for you and your family to move to Sudbury.
Timeline:
- Draws will occur on a regular basis throughout the year. Eligible applications not drawn may be retained for future draws.
- Applications will be reviewed by the Community Selection Committee on a regular basis.
- Job application timelines will vary depending on the employer and job you are applying for.
Other important information:
- Due to the high volume of applications and expressions of interest, Sudbury will not be able to answer all inquiries. If you do not hear from them within 8 weeks, it is likely your application is not being considered at this time.
- Email is the preferred method of communication. Please contact movetosudbury@sudbury.ca before visiting municipal offices in person.
- The City of Greater Sudbury is not affiliated with any immigration representative, nor do they give preferential treatment to applicants who have hired an immigration representative. However, if you choose to have your paperwork completed by an immigration representative, please refer to the IRCC website for information on making an informed choice.
- There are other pathways to immigration through IRCC that you may wish to explore.
Please note that applications will not be considered if they are incomplete and/or do not meet the minimum criteria.
Community Requirements
In addition to the federal eligibility criteria, applicants for the RNIP program will be assessed on their intention to live and work in Greater Sudbury* after they have received their permanent residence.
We will prioritize candidates for recommendation using a point-based system. An applicant’s score will assist us in determining the likelihood that an applicant and their family will be able to:
- Contribute to an urgent or important need in Sudbury’s local economy
- Build strong relationships with community members
We believe that applicants with higher scores will have a better ability to integrate into Sudbury and stay in our community in the long-term.
For details on the assessment factors to be used to assess candidates, please refer to form SRNIP 001 – the RNIP Candidate Assessment Form.
*Refers to the area within the boundaries of Sudbury as defined by the Ministerial instructions.
