Thank you for your interest in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) in the West Kootenay region.
West Kootenay Rural & Northern Immigration Updates
February 13, 2024:
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended the participation period of the West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. Our intake is now open.
PLEASE NOTE: Changes have been made to the Community Criteria for priority NOC job eligibility. Review the changes under: West Kootenay Priority NOC Jobs on the Community Criteria tab to ensure you meet eligibility.
A change to processing Permanent Residence applications as of March 1, 2024: Candidates who receive a recommendation from our community must submit their permanent residency application before August 31, 2024.
Please visit this page regularly for updates as our intake will close again.
The Pilot will only accept applications from candidates who have lived in the West Kootenay region boundaries for 6 months or more. The Pilot will no longer accept applicants from out of the region or overseas.
The Pilot has a limited number of community recommendations. For this reason, some people will not be able to use the Pilot before it ends. Please visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s website to learn about other pathways to immigrate to Canada.
The West Kootenay Region was recognized as an area that could benefit from this pilot and entered into a partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2019-2020. The West Kootenay region uses this pilot to strengthen local economies and support workforce development. Each of the 11 participating communities across across Canada have tailored the pilot to address their needs and economic development goals. For more information on the benefits of immigration, please go to Immigration Matters.
If you are interested in participating in this program, please click on one of the two buttons below: