After RNIP: the routes that replaced it
Published 2026-03-23 · Updated 2026-03-23
RNIP closed on 2024-08-31. In Thunder Bay or Sudbury today, what is worth looking at is RCIP (and FCIP), plus Ontario's OINP Employer Job Offer route.
Thunder Bay RCIP guide
Year 2 is running: designated employers and the points grid in full
Sudbury jobs & immigration (Chinese)
RCIP and FCIP both open
Small-town immigration overview
RCIP / FCIP / OINP side by side
Local news (Chinese)
Events and how the community actually runs
Common searches
RNIP closed, RNIP replacement, RCIP designated employer, Thunder Bay immigration, Sudbury FCIP, Ontario employer sponsorship.
FAQ
Is RNIP still open?
No. Canada.ca states plainly that RNIP ended on 2024-08-31 and that new applications are no longer accepted; IRCC continues to process only those received before that date.
What did Thunder Bay's RNIP actually require?
Historically it was never a single score to clear: a valid job offer, a community recommendation, language, education, work experience and intent to settle locally were assessed together. If you are re-planning your route in Thunder Bay today, the thing to read instead is RCIP and its designated employers.
How does RNIP differ from a provincial nomination?
RNIP was a community-driven federal pilot that started with a community recommendation; OINP is a provincial nomination that starts with Ontario's process. For most readers the real difference is not the form's name — it is who offers you the job, who recommends you, and which city you intend to stay in.
How long did RNIP take to process?
There is no RNIP timeline that still means anything for a new applicant, because new cases are closed. If you are in the existing queue, IRCC continues to process it and allows eligible applicants to apply for a one-year work permit while PR is in progress.
Could you apply to RNIP without a job offer?
No. RNIP always required a valid job offer, and the RCIP and FCIP that replaced it likewise start from an offer at a designated employer.
So what should I look at in Thunder Bay or Sudbury now?
RCIP first. The initial RCIP communities IRCC announced on 2025-01-30 include both Thunder Bay and Sudbury; Sudbury additionally runs FCIP, so strong French gives you more options there.
More guides
Compiled by the lakebbs editorial team from federal and Ontario published material plus the cases members describe on the jobs and immigration boards, so that occupation matching, document preparation and whether you can actually settle in the north get weighed together.
Published 2026-03-23 · Updated 2026-03-23 · lakebbs editorial