Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) — closed
RNIP stopped accepting applications on 31 August 2024. If you have been told it is your pathway, that advice is out of date by two years. This page explains what happened, what it means if you already have a file in the system, and what replaced it.
What happened
RNIP ran from 2019 across eleven participating communities as a test of whether community-driven selection could direct newcomers to smaller centres. It worked well enough to be continued in a different form: IRCC closed it to new applications on 31 August 2024 and launched two successors on 30 January 2025 — the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. Roughly 8,580 people became permanent residents through RNIP.
Be careful with what you read online. A large number of consultant websites still advertise RNIP as an open programme, and some still take fees to prepare applications for it. It has not accepted an application since August 2024.
If you already applied under RNIP
Applications received on or before 31 August 2024 are still being processed to completion. You do not need to re-apply under RCIP, and doing so would not help. If you are in this position, the things worth checking are that your status in Canada is maintained while you wait, whether you are eligible for a bridging open work permit, and whether anything in your file has changed since you filed — a new address, a new job, a new family member.
We can review a pending RNIP file and tell you where it stands. If it has gone quiet for longer than it should have, there are proper routes to ask, and we use them.
What replaced it
- ● RCIP — 14 designated rural communities, including West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap and Peace Liard in BC. Language requirement scales with the occupation, from CLB 4 to CLB 6.
- ● FCIP — six Francophone minority communities including Kelowna, BC. French only, NCLC 5 in all four abilities.
- ● Both need a job offer from a community-designated employer plus a community recommendation, and both are pilots rather than permanent programmes.
If a rural pathway is still what you want
The logic that made RNIP attractive has not gone away — smaller communities, real employer demand, and a lower bar than a competitive Express Entry score. RCIP carries that logic forward, and for French speakers FCIP does too. What has changed is the community list and the intake mechanics, so a plan built around an RNIP community may need rebuilding around a different one. Talk to a licensed RCIC before you spend money on either.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Looking for related services? See our full Permanent Residency overview or all services.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7–10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book an appointment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Consultations are free for most enquiries. Permanent residence consultations (Express Entry, PNP and related PR pathways) are $25.
Frequently asked questions
Is RNIP still open?
No. RNIP stopped accepting new applications on 31 August 2024. IRCC continues to process applications received on or before that date, but there is no new intake and there will not be. Any website inviting you to apply to RNIP today is out of date.
Which is newer, RNIP or RCIP?
RCIP is newer. RNIP ran from 2019 to August 2024. RCIP launched on 30 January 2025 as its replacement, at the same time as the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. This gets stated backwards often enough that it is worth being clear about.
I applied under RNIP and I am still waiting. What should I do?
Nothing dramatic. Applications filed on or before 31 August 2024 are still being processed. Keep your status in Canada valid, keep IRCC updated on any change to your address, job or family, and check whether you qualify for a bridging open work permit. We can review the file and tell you if anything actually needs doing.
Can I transfer my RNIP application to RCIP?
No. They are separate programmes with separate requirements and separate community lists. A pending RNIP application continues on its own track. If you want to pursue RCIP you would be starting a new application, with a designated-employer job offer and a community recommendation from an RCIP community.
Were the RNIP communities carried over to RCIP?
Some, not all. RCIP's fourteen communities include several that took part in RNIP — Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Bay, Brandon, Altona/Rhineland, Moose Jaw, Claresholm and West Kootenay — alongside new ones such as North Okanagan Shuswap, Peace Liard, Steinbach and Pictou County. The employer designation and recommendation process was rebuilt, so previous RNIP designations do not carry across.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
More Permanent Residency services
Other pathways we handle in this area — or talk to a licensed RCIC about which fits your case.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.