Thunder Bay’s Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) creates a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in Thunder Bay.
The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) recommends applicants with the skills and experience that the Thunder Bay economy needs, for permanent residence under RNIP.
In the first year of the Pilot, the federal government has permitted Thunder Bay CEDC to make up to 100 recommendations.
Community Requirements for Employers
To be qualified under the RNIP in Thunder Bay, an employer must:
- Be located within the Thunder Bay Census Metropolitan Area (CMA);
- Be a recognized business that has operated in Thunder Bay for a minimum of 2 years
OR
be a new company that has recently set up business operations in Thunder Bay, but has existed as a company elsewhere in Canada for at least 3 years;
- Not be listed by IRCC as an ineligible company to participate in immigration programs;
- Offer full-time, permanent employment in a priority occupation as defined by Thunder Bay CEDC;
- Not receive any form of payment in exchange for the job offer;
- Demonstrate his/her efforts made to recruit a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident prior to providing the job offer
Priority occupations
National Occupation Classification – Skill Level A
- 3012 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses
- 3142 Physiotherapists
- 2131 Civil Engineers
- 2132 Mechanical Engineers
- 2133 Electrical and Electronics Engineers
National Occupation Classification – Skill Level B
- 2223 Forestry Technicians and Technologists
- 2271 Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
- 2272 Air traffic controllers and related occupations
- 321 Medical Technologists and Technicians
- 3219 Pharmacy Technician
- 2231 Civil engineering technologists and technicians
- 2232 Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians
- 3233 Licensed practical nurses
- 4214 Early childhood educators and assistants
- 6321 Chefs
- 6331 Butchers and Bakers
- 7283 Tile setters
- 731 Machinery and transportation equipment mechanics (except motor vehicles)
- 732 Automotive service technicians
- 733 Other mechanics and related repairers
- 8231 Underground production and development miners
- 8241 Logging Machine Operators
National Occupation Classification – Skill Level C
- 3411 Dental assistants
- 3413 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
- 7441 Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- 7511 Transport truck drivers
- 7521 Heavy equipment operators (except crane)
- 8411 Underground mine service and support workers
- 9411 Machine operators, mineral and metal processing
- 9414 Concrete, clay and stone forming operators
- 9415 Inspectors and testers, mineral and metal processing
- 9416 Metalworking and forging machine operators
- 9417 Machining tool operators
- 9418 Other metal products machine operators
- 9431 Sawmill machine operators
- 9432 Pulp mill machine operators
- 9433 Papermaking and finishing machine operators
- 9434 Other wood processing machine operators
- 9435 Paper converting machine operators
- 9436 Lumber graders and other wood processing inspectors and graders
National Occupation Classification – Skill Level D
- 7611 Construction Trade Helpers and Labourers
Community Requirements for Applicants
The CEDC will prioritize candidates for recommendation who are most likely to settle and reside in Thunder Bay and contribute to the local economy.
The CEDC may place caps on applications for recommendations, by occupation, sector, and skill level or otherwise. Presently, recommendations are capped by skill level:
| skill level A | skill level B | skill level C | skill level D | |
| Cap | 10 | 40 | 40 | 10 |
| Issued | 2 | 30 | 09 | 02 |
| Remaining | 8 | 10 | 31 | 08 |
Point score Criteria
Candidates will need to meet the required minimum score. The highest scoring candidates will be further assessed for recommendation.
The maximum points achievable are 138. At this time, the selection committee will review applications from candidates who achieve at least 60% of the points.
| Points Summary: Maximum Points Achievable | ||
| Factor | Applicant with Spouse | Single Applicant |
| Language Proficiency | 32 | 40 |
| Qualifications/Licenses & Work Experience | 36 | 42 |
| Age | 15 | 15 |
| Connection To the Community | 35 | 41 |
| Spouse | 20 | N/A |
| Total | 138 | 138 |
Application Process
- Meet the Federal eligibility criteria
- Receive a job offer for a full-time permanent position with an approved employer in a priority occupation
- After receiving a qualifying job offer, apply to the RNIP – Thunder Bay Selection Committee for a community recommendation
The Selection Committee will then evaluate application for community recommendations based on applicants’ intent to reside in Thunder Bay and various other factors.
- Thunder Bay CEDC will forward recommendations for successful candidates to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Candidates with a community recommendation and job offer are then eligible to submit a permanent residence application to IRCC.