Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: Work permit (optional)
1-year work permit
If you have applied for permanent residence under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, you may also be eligible for a 1-year work permit. The work permit lets you work while your permanent residence application is being processed.
To qualify for a work permit, you must
- have an eligible offer of employment from your employer
- have a recommendation from a participating community
- be eligible to apply for a work permit
- have received an acknowledgement of receipt letter from us
This work permit
- is only for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- is valid for 1 year
- only lets you work for the employer who offered you the job, in the participating community
Work permits for spouses or common-law partners
Your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit at the same time as you apply for your 1-year work permit.
Their work permit will only let them work in the same community as you.
How to apply for the work permit
You must apply online for the work permit. You can’t apply on paper.
Your application must include all of the following:
- the acknowledgement of receipt letter from your RNIP permanent residence application
- a job offer number (see Employer Portal for details)
- the IMM 0112 form: Recommendation from the designated Economic Development Organization – Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- proof of work experience
- education credentials
- language test results
The application forms and process you need to follow depend on where you’re applying from.
If you’re in Canada as a visitor only (you don’t have a study or work permit), find out how you can apply for a work permit from inside Canada.
Applying from outside Canada
Step 1: make sure you have what you need
To apply online, you’ll need
Note: your employer must give you an offer of employment number before you start your work permit application.
Step 2: create your online account or sign in
You need an account to apply online. You can use your account to
- pay your fees
- submit your application
- check your status
Step 3: check your country-specific application requirements
Some countries have additional visa office requirements. Use the tool below to check if you have additional requirements.
Where are you applying from?
| Country | Country-specific visa office requirements |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Afghanistan (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Albania | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Algeria | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Andorra | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Angola | Visa office requirements for applicants in Angola (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Anguilla | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Antigua and Barbuda | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Argentina | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Armenia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Aruba | Visa office requirements for applicants in Aruba (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Australia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Australia (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Austria | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Azerbaijan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Azerbaijan (PDF, 334 KB) |
| Bahamas | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Bahrain | Visa office requirements for applicants in Bahrain (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Bangladesh | Visa office requirements for applicants in Bangladesh (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Barbados | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Belarus | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Belgium | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Belize | Visa office requirements for applicants in Belize (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Benin | Visa office requirements for applicants in Benin (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Bermuda | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Bhutan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Bhutan (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Bolivia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Bonaire | Visa office requirements for applicants in Bonaire (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Botswana | Visa office requirements for applicants in Botswana (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Brazil | Visa office requirements for applicants in Brazil (PDF, 258 KB) |
| British Virgin Islands | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Brunei | Visa office requirements for applicants in Brunei (PDF, 258 KB) |
| Bulgaria | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Burkina Faso | Visa office requirements for applicants in Burkina Faso (PDF, 320 KB) |
| Burma (Myanmar) | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Burundi | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Cambodia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Cambodia (PDF, 242 KB) |
| Cameroon | Visa office requirements for applicants in Cameroon (PDF, 242 KB) |
| Canada | No additional Visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Cape Verde | Visa office requirements for applicants in Cape Verde (PDF, 242 KB) |
| Cayman Islands | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Central African Republic | Visa office requirements for applicants in Central African Republic (PDF, 378 KB) |
| Chad | No additional Visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Chile | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| China (People’s Republic of) | Visa office requirements for applicants in China (People’s Republic of) (PDF, 406 KB) |
| Colombia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Colombia (PDF, 406 KB) |
| Comoros Island | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Congo | Visa office requirements for applicants in Congo (PDF, 258 KB) |
| Costa Rica | Visa office requirements for applicants in Costa Rica (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Côte d’Ivoire | Visa office requirements for applicants in Côte d'Ivoire (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Croatia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Cuba | Visa office requirements for applicants in Cuba (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Cyprus | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Czech Republic | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | Visa office requirements for applicants in Democratic Republic of the Congo (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Denmark | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Djibouti | Visa office requirements for applicants in Djibouti (PDF, 296 KB) |
| Dominica | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Dominican Republic | Visa office requirements for applicants in Dominican Republic (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Ecuador | Visa office requirements for applicants in Ecuador (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Egypt | Visa office requirements for applicants in Egypt (PDF, 223 KB) |
| El Salvador | Visa office requirements for applicants in El Salvador (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Equatorial Guinea | Visa office requirements for applicants in Equatorial Guinea (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Eritrea | Visa office requirements for applicants in Eritrea (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Estonia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Ethiopia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Ethiopia (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Fiji | Visa office requirements for applicants in Fiji (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Finland | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| France | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Gabon | Visa office requirements for applicants in Gabon (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Gambia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Gambia (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Georgia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Georgia (PDF, 334 KB) |
| Germany | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Ghana | Visa office requirements for applicants in Ghana (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Greece | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Grenada | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Guatemala | Visa office requirements for applicants in Guatemala (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Guinea | Visa office requirements for applicants in Guinea (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Guinea-Bissau | Visa office requirements for applicants in Guinea-Bissau (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Guyana | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Haiti | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Holy See | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Honduras | Visa office requirements for applicants in Honduras (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Hong Kong (SAR) | Visa office requirements for applicants in Hong Kong (SAR) (PDF, 303 KB) |
| Hungary | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Iceland | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| India | Visa office requirements for applicants in India (PDF, 296 KB) |
| Indonesia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Iran | Visa office requirements for applicants in Iran (PDF, 334 KB) |
| Iraq | Visa office requirements for applicants in Iraq (PDF, 162 KB) |
| Ireland | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Israel | Visa office requirements for applicants in Israel (PDF, 313 KB) |
| Italy | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Jamaica | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Japan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Japan (PDF, 395 KB) |
| Jordan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Jordan (PDF, 162 KB) |
| Kazakhstan | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Kenya | Visa office requirements for applicants in Kenya (PDF, 367 KB) |
| Kiribati | Visa office requirements for applicants in Kiribati (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Kosovo | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Kuwait | Visa office requirements for applicants in Kuwait (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Kyrgyzstan | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Laos | Visa office requirements for applicants in Laos (PDF, 242 KB) |
| Latvia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Lebanon | Visa office requirements for applicants in Lebanon (PDF, 242 KB) |
| Lesotho | Visa office requirements for applicants in Lesotho (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Liberia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Liberia (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Libya | Visa office requirements for applicants in Libya (PDF, 239 KB) |
| Liechtenstein | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Lithuania | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Luxembourg | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Macao | Visa office requirements for applicants in Macao (PDF, 303 KB) |
| Madagascar | Visa office requirements for applicants in Madagascar (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Malawi | Visa office requirements for applicants in Malawi (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Malaysia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Malaysia (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Maldives | Visa office requirements for applicants in Maldives (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Mali | Visa office requirements for applicants in Mali (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Malta | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Marshall Islands | Visa office requirements for applicants in Marshall Islands (PDF, 395 KB) |
| Martinique | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Mauritania | Visa office requirements for applicants in Mauritania (PDF, 320 KB) |
| Mauritius | Visa office requirements for applicants in Mauritius (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Mexico | Visa office requirements for applicants in Mexico (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Micronesia (Federated States of) | Visa office requirements for applicants in Micronesia (Federated States of) (PDF, 395 KB) |
| Moldova | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Monaco | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Mongolia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Mongolia (PDF, 303 KB) |
| Montenegro | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Morocco | Visa office requirements for applicants in Morocco (PDF, 322 KB) |
| Mozambique | Visa office requirements for applicants in Mozambique (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Namibia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Namibia (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Nauru | Visa office requirements for applicants in Nauru (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Nepal | Visa office requirements for applicants in Nepal (PDF, 303 KB) |
| Netherlands | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| New Caledonia | Visa office requirements for applicants in New Caledonia (PDF, 273 KB) |
| New Zealand | Visa office requirements for applicants in New Zealand (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Nicaragua | Visa office requirements for applicants in Nicaragua (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Niger | Visa office requirements for applicants in Niger (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Nigeria | Visa office requirements for applicants in Nigeria (PDF, 396 KB) |
| North Korea | Visa office requirements for applicants in North Korea (PDF, 406 KB) |
| North Macedonia (Republic of) | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Norway | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Oman | Visa office requirements for applicants in Oman (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Pakistan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Pakistan (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Palestinian Authority (Gaza) | Visa office requirements for applicants in Palestinian Authority (Gaza) (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Palestinian Authority (West Bank) | Visa office requirements for applicants in Palestinian Authority (West Bank) (PDF, 162 KB) |
| Panama | Visa office requirements for applicants in Panama (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Papua New Guinea | Visa office requirements for applicants in Papua New Guinea (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Paraguay | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Peru | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Philippines | Visa office requirements for applicants in Philippines (PDF, 395 KB) |
| Poland | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Portugal | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Puerto Rico | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Qatar | Visa office requirements for applicants in Qatar (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Romania | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Russia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Rwanda | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Samoa | Visa office requirements for applicants in Samoa (PDF, 273 KB) |
| San Marino | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Sao Tome and Principe | Visa office requirements for applicants in Sao Tome and Principe (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Saudi Arabia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Saudi Arabia (PDF, 563 KB) |
| Senegal | Visa office requirements for applicants in Senegal (PDF, 563 KB) |
| Serbia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Seychelles | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Sierra Leone | Visa office requirements for applicants in Sierra Leone (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Singapore | Visa office requirements for applicants in Singapore (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Slovakia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Slovenia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Solomon Islands | Visa office requirements for applicants in Solomon Islands (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Somalia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Somalia (PDF, 273 KB) |
| South Africa | Visa office requirements for applicants in South Africa (PDF, 226 KB) |
| South Korea | Visa office requirements for applicants in South Korea (PDF, 395 KB) |
| South Sudan | Visa office requirements for applicants in South Sudan (PDF, 395 KB) |
| Spain | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Sri Lanka | Visa office requirements for applicants in Sri Lanka (PDF, 395 KB) |
| St. Kitts and Nevis | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| St. Lucia | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| St. Vincent and the Grenadines | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Sudan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Sudan (PDF, 320 KB) |
| Suriname | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Swaziland | Visa office requirements for applicants in Swaziland (PDF, 226 KB) |
| Sweden | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Switzerland | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Syria | Visa office requirements for applicants in Syria |
| Tahiti | Visa office requirements for applicants in Tahiti (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Taiwan (Republic of China) | Visa office requirements for applicants in Taiwan (Republic of China) (PDF, 303 KB) |
| Tajikistan | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Tanzania | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Thailand | Visa office requirements for applicants in Thailand (PDF, 242 KB) |
| Timor-Leste (Timor oriental) | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Togo | Visa office requirements for applicants in Togo (PDF, 285 KB) |
| Tonga | Visa office requirements for applicants in Tonga (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Trinidad and Tobago | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Tunisia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Tunisia (PDF, 239 KB) |
| Turkey | Visa office requirements for applicants in Turkey (PDF, 334 KB) |
| Turkmenistan | Visa office requirements for applicants in Turkmenistan (PDF, 334 KB) |
| Turks and Caicos Islands | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Tuvalu | Visa office requirements for applicants in Tuvalu (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Uganda | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Ukraine | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| United Arab Emirates | Visa office requirements for applicants in United Arab Emirates (PDF, 519 KB) |
| United Kingdom | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| United States of America | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Uruguay | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| US Virgin Islands | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Uzbekistan | No additional visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Vanuatu | Visa office requirements for applicants in Vanuatu (PDF, 273 KB) |
| Venezuela | Visa office requirements for applicants in Venezuela (PDF, 223 KB) |
| Vietnam | No additional Visa office requirements exist for your country. |
| Yemen | Visa office requirements for applicants in Yemen (PDF, 519 KB) |
| Zambia | Visa office requirements for applicants in Zambia (PDF, 258 KB) |
| Zimbabwe | Visa office requirements for applicants in Zimbabwe (PDF, 226 KB) |
Visa office requirements for applicants in Syria
Choose one of the following:
- Amman Visa office instructions (PDF, 162 KB) March 2015 or
- Beirut Visa office instructions (PDF, 217 KB)
If your country has additional visa office requirements, you need to follow the instructions in the document. In some cases, you need to upload a specific form as part of your online application.
Step 4: prepare your answers to get your online checklist
After you sign in to your online account
- Select “Apply to come to Canada.”
- Select “Visitor visa, study and or work permit” under the “Determine your eligibility and apply online:” heading.
- You’ll be asked some questions. You must answer all questions truthfully. We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you. To apply for a work permit, you must provide specific answers to some questions:
- When asked “What you would like to do in Canada?” select “work.”
- When asked “How long are you planning to stay in Canada?” select “Temporary, more than 6 months.”
- When asked “What type of work permit do you want to apply for?” select “a work permit with a labour market impact assessment exemption.”
- When asked “What is the status of your job offer?” select, “Temporary—at least one year.”
- Once you complete the questionnaire, you’ll receive your document checklist. Follow the instructions on screen to complete your application.
- When you see a request for a document called “Client information,” you must upload the following documents as one scanned file
- your community recommendation form
- your additional visa office requirements, if applicable for your country
- When you see a request for a document called “Client information,” you must upload the following documents as one scanned file
- Use the guide if you need help filling out the application form.
Applying from inside Canada
Step 1: Make sure you have what you need
To apply online, you’ll need
- a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents, and
- a valid credit or debit card.
Note: your employer must give you an offer of employment number before you start your work permit application.
Step 2: Create your online account or sign in
You need an account to apply online. You can use your account to
- pay your fees
- submit your application
- check your status
Step 3: Access the application tool and prepare your answers
After you sign in to your online account:
- Select “Apply to come to Canada.”
- Select “Visitor visa, study and or work permit” under the “Determine your eligibility and apply online:” heading.
- You’ll be asked some questions. You must answer all questions truthfully. We use your answers to create a personalized document checklist for you. To apply for a work permit, you must provide specific answers to some questions:
- When asked “What you would like to do in Canada?” select “work.”
- When asked “How long are you planning to stay in Canada?” select “Temporary, more than 6 months.”
- When asked “Which situation best describes your work situation?” select “I am eligible for a work permit through an active pilot program.”
- Once you complete the questionnaire, you’ll receive your document checklist. You must upload all of the required documents, and pay your fees.
- Upload your community recommendation under the “Optional documents section” as the document titled “Client information.”
- Use the guide, if you need help filling out the application form.
- After you complete your application, follow the online instructions to submit it.