Rural Community Immigration Pilot: Comprehensive Guide

On This Page, You Will Find:

• An overview of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and how it works
• The full list of the 14 participating rural communities
• Eligibility criteria: work experience, language, education and settlement funds
• How the employer designation and community recommendation process works
• Whether the RCIP is open in 2026 and how applications are capped
• How the RCIP differs from the closed RNIP and from the FCIP
• Frequently asked questions

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a federal economic immigration pilot that gives skilled workers a path to permanent residence in exchange for settling long-term in a participating rural community. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched the RCIP on January 30, 2025, alongside a companion program for French-speaking newcomers, the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP).

The RCIP replaces the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which stopped accepting new applications on August 31, 2024. IRCC has said it intends to eventually turn the rural pilot concept into a permanent program.

This guide covers who can apply, the participating communities, how employer designation and community recommendations work, and how the RCIP compares with the RNIP and the FCIP.

What Is the Rural Community Immigration Pilot?

Under the RCIP, a local economic development organization in each participating community works with IRCC to identify labour shortages, designate trustworthy local employers, and recommend suitable candidates for permanent residence. Candidates must first secure a genuine job offer from a designated employer before they can apply.

The pilot is community-driven rather than points-based: each community sets its own priority sectors and occupations based on local labour market needs, and only recommends candidates who match those needs.

The 14 Participating RCIP Communities

IRCC selected 14 rural communities to take part in the RCIP:

• Pictou County, Nova Scotia
• North Bay and Area, Ontario
• Sudbury, Ontario
• Timmins, Ontario
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
• Thunder Bay, Ontario
• Steinbach, Manitoba
• Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
• Brandon, Manitoba
• Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
• Claresholm, Alberta
• West Kootenay, British Columbia
• North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia
• Peace Liard, British Columbia

Each community publishes its own list of designated employers and current priority occupations on its own website, since these are reviewed and updated locally. Candidates should check the relevant community’s site directly for the most current job postings and priority-occupation lists, as these can change more often than the federal eligibility rules do.

RCIP Communities: Local Leads and Priority Occupations

Each participating community runs its own designation and recommendation process, and publishes its own priority occupations. The summaries below outline the local lead organization, the pilot goals and the priority occupations identified in each community. Because communities revise these lists locally, always confirm the current list on the community’s own website before relying on it.

Pictou County, Nova Scotia

Community Lead:

Pictou County Partnership, the region’s main economic development agency, manages the RCIP in Pictou County. This initiative supports both workforce growth and community integration, offering newcomers a long-term path to permanent residence.

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP in Pictou County helps local employers fill critical roles that match the area’s specific labour needs. It also focuses on ensuring newcomers thrive in the community through settlement supports and integration initiatives – described by the Partnership as offering a warm “community hug.”

Designated Area:

To be eligible, employers must operate within the official Pictou County RCIP boundaries, which include:

• Pictou Landing First Nation
• Municipality of Pictou County
• Towns of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton, and Westville

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Business, finance, and administration
• Health occupations
• Sales and services
• Trades, transport, and equipment operators
• Manufacturing

Priority Occupations (2025):

• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers – 12200
• Data scientists – 21211
• Cybersecurity specialists – 21220
• Business systems specialists – 21221
• Database analysts and administrators – 21223
• Software developers and programmers – 21232
• Pharmacists – 31120
• Pharmacy technicians – 32124
• Pharmacy assistants – 33103
• Restaurant and food service managers – 60030*
• Retail sales supervisors – 62010*
• Cooks – 63200*
• Sheet metal workers – 72102
• Telecom equipment technicians – 72205
• Plumbers – 72300
• Carpenters – 72310
• Auto service and repair technicians – 72410
• Drywall installers and finishers – 73102
• Roofers and shinglers – 73110
• Installers and servicers – 73200
• Printing press operators – 73401
• Supervisors, forest products processing – 92014
• Woodworking machine operators – 94124
• Other wood processing machine operators – 94129

Rubber processing machine operators – 94112

North Bay and Area, Ontario

Community Lead:

North Bay and Area’s RCIP program is developed in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to support local workforce stability and address regional labour shortages. The program focuses on connecting employers with skilled immigrants who plan to settle in the region long-term.

Pilot Goals:

The North Bay and Area RCIP is an employer-driven initiative that helps fill local vacancies that cannot be met by the existing labour force. The program aims to strengthen community resilience and promote economic growth by targeting critical employment gaps.

Designated Area:

Employers must operate within North Bay and surrounding areas, as defined by the local RCIP boundaries. Designation is based on eligibility and the employer’s capacity to offer genuine jobs in priority occupations.

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Business, finance, and administration
• Health
• Education, law, and social, community, and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades and transport

Note: Fast food and retail occupations, including jobs in convenience stores and gas stations, are currently excluded from the program. Occupation codes are reviewed annually.

Priority Occupations (2025):

• Financial auditors and accountants – 11100
• Human resources professionals – 11200
• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers – 12200
• Administrative assistants – 13110
• Banking, insurance, and financial clerks – 14201
• Shippers and receivers – 14400
• Licensed practical nurses – 32101
• Dental assistants and lab assistants – 33100
• Nurse aides and patient service associates – 33102
• Pharmacy technical and pharmacy assistants – 33103
• Social and community service workers – 42201
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202
• Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants – 43100
• Home support workers and caregivers – 44101
• Corporate sales managers – 60010
• Hotel front desk clerks – 64314
• Security guards and related occupations – 64410
• Machinists and tooling inspectors – 72100
• Welders and related machine operators – 72106
• Electricians – 72200
• Carpenters (including apprentices) – 72310
• Heating, refrigeration, and A/C mechanics – 72402
• Aircraft mechanics and inspectors – 72404
• Automotive service and mechanical repair technicians – 72410
• Construction trade helpers and labourers – 75110

North Bay and Area’s RCIP streamlines immigration by placing skilled newcomers in meaningful employment, supporting their success in the community while addressing real economic needs.

Sudbury, Ontario

Community Lead:

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) in Greater Sudbury are managed by the City of Greater Sudbury’s Economic Development division. These programs are funded by FedNor, the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation, and the City itself.

Pilot Goals:

Sudbury’s RCIP and FCIP aim to address local labour shortages by attracting international workers who intend to settle in the region long term. In addition to supporting community growth, these pilots provide a pathway to permanent residence and an LMIA-exempt work permit for qualified candidates.

Program Status:

As of now, both RCIP and FCIP in Greater Sudbury are in the development phase. Applications are not yet being accepted, but a program launch is expected later this spring.

Designated Area:

The RCIP applies to Greater Sudbury and surrounding communities, as defined by the City’s jurisdiction and program guidelines.

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Natural and Applied Sciences
• Health
• Education, Social, Community and Government Services
• Trades and Transport
• Natural Resources and Agriculture

Priority Occupations (2025):

12200 – Accounting Technicians and Bookkeepers

13110 – Administrative Assistants

21330 – Mining Engineers

21301 – Mechanical Engineers

21331 – Geological Engineers

22300 – Civil Engineering Technologists and Technicians

22301 – Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians

22310 – Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians

31202 – Physiotherapists

31301 – Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

32101 – Licensed practical nurses

32109 – Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment

33102 – Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates

33100 – Dental Assistants

42201 – Social and Community Service Workers

42202 – Early Childhood Educators and assistants

44101 – Home Support Workers, Caregivers, and related occupations

72401 – Heavy Duty Equipment Mechanics

72410 – Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics, and Mechanical Repairers

72106 – Welders and Related Machine Operators

72400 – Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics

73400 – Heavy Equipment Operators

75110 – Construction Trades Helpers and Labourers

73300 – Truck Drivers

95100 – Labourers in Metal Processing

Timmins, Ontario

Community Lead:

The Timmins Regional Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) are led by the Timmins Economic Development Corporation (TEDC) in partnership with multiple community stakeholders.

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP and FCIP aim to address labour shortages by allowing skilled workers to gain permanent residence while building their lives in Timmins. The pilots focus on matching qualified international talent with local employers in key sectors where workforce gaps exist.

Designated Area:

The pilot applies to the City of Timmins and surrounding regional areas as defined by TEDC. Employers must operate within these zones and meet eligibility requirements tied to sector and occupation.

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Health
• Education and social, community and government services
• Trades and transport
• Natural resources and agriculture
• Business, finance and administration

Priority Occupations (2025):

• Financial advisors – 11102
• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers – 12200
• Administrative officers – 13100*
• Geological and mineral technologists and technicians – 22101*
• Metallurgical and materials engineers – 21322*
• Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses – 31301
• Licensed practical nurses – 32101
• Veterinary technicians and animal health technologists – 32104
• Medical laboratory technologists – 32120
• Nurse aides and patient service associates – 33102
• Elementary school and kindergarten teachers – 41221
• Social and community service workers – 42201
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202
• Home support workers and caregivers – 44101
• Welders and machine operators – 72106
• Industrial electricians – 72201
• Millwrights and industrial mechanics – 72400
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – 72401
• Automotive service and repair technicians – 72410
• Transport truck drivers – 73300
• Heavy equipment operators – 73400
• Parts installers and servicers – 74203
• Construction trades helpers and labourers – 75110
• Underground miners – 83100
• Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing – 95103

*Occupations unique to the RCIP

Excluded Occupations:

The following are not eligible under the Trades and Transport sector:

• Dispatchers employed by taxi companies – 14404
• Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs – 75200

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

Community Lead:

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in Sault Ste. Marie is managed by the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.

Pilot Goals:

RCIP in Sault Ste. Marie supports economic development by helping local employers recruit and retain skilled workers. It offers a permanent residence pathway to foreign workers who intend to live and work in the community long term. The pilot is designed to address regional labour shortages and strengthen the city’s workforce capacity.

Designated Area:

The program applies to businesses and employers operating within Sault Ste. Marie’s municipal boundaries. Employer designation is required and tied to priority occupations and sectors.

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Health
• Education, law and social, community and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades and transport
• Manufacturing and utilities

Priority Occupations (2025):

Health Occupations:

• Pharmacy Technicians – 32124
• Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses – 31301
• Licensed Practical Nurses – 32101
• Personal Support Workers – 33102

Education, Law, and Social, Community and Government Services:

• Therapists in counselling and related therapies – 41301
• Social and community service workers – 42201
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202

Sales and Service:

• Food service supervisors (hotels and dine-in restaurants only) – 62020*
• Guest service supervisors (hotels only) – 62022*
• Security guard supervisors – 62029*

Trades, Transport, and Equipment Operators:

• Mechanical engineers – 21301
• Electrical and electronics engineers – 21310
• Drafting technologists and technicians – 22212
• Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians – 22301
• Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians – 22310
• Machining and metal trades supervisors – 72010
• Electrical trades and telecom supervisors – 72011
• Construction trades supervisors – 72014
• Industrial electricians – 72201
• Transit operators – 73301
• Machinists and tooling inspectors – 72100
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics – 72400
• Aircraft instrument and avionics technicians – 72404
• Trade helpers and labourers – 75119

Manufacturing and Utilities:

• Production workers – 94107

Special Caps and Intake Limits (2025):

• 62020 – Food service supervisors: 25 total annually, maximum of 2 per employer; hotels and dine-in restaurants only
• 62022 – Guest service supervisors: 10 total annually; hotels only
• 62029 – Security guard supervisors: 20 total annually

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Community Lead:

The Thunder Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is administered by the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC).

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP in Thunder Bay is designed to help local employers attract and retain skilled workers by providing a pathway to permanent residence. The program is tailored to meet local workforce needs while making Thunder Bay a welcoming and prosperous destination for newcomers.

Designated Area:

The RCIP applies to employers operating within the Thunder Bay Census Metropolitan Area (CMA). Businesses must be designated by the CEDC to use the program, either to retain an existing foreign national worker or to recruit a new one.

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Business, finance, and administration
• Health occupations
• Education, law, social, community, and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades, transport, and equipment operation

Priority Occupations (2025):

• Financial advisors – 11102
• Administrative assistants – 13110
• General office support workers – 14100
• Kinesiologists and related therapists – 31204
• Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses – 31301
• Licensed practical nurses – 32101
• Nurse aides and orderlies – 33102
• Pharmacy assistants – 33103
• Social workers – 41300
• Therapists in counselling – 41301
• Social and community service workers – 42201
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202
• Home support workers and caregivers – 44101
• Retail and wholesale trade managers – 60020
• Retail sales supervisors – 62010
• Food service supervisors – 62020
• Cooks – 63200
• Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers – 64100
• Store shelf stockers and clerks – 65102
• Food counter attendants and kitchen helpers – 65201
• Light duty cleaners – 65310
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics – 72400
• Automotive and mechanical repair technicians – 72410
• Heavy equipment operators – 73400
• Construction trades helpers and labourers – 75110

Steinbach, Manitoba

Community Lead:

The Steinbach Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is managed by the Steinbach Economic Development Corporation (SED), the primary driver of the city’s economic and workforce development.

Pilot Goals:

Steinbach’s RCIP addresses critical labour shortages by enabling local employers to hire qualified foreign workers. It supports long-term economic growth in the region while giving newcomers the opportunity to live and work in a welcoming rural community.

Designated Area:

The RCIP – Steinbach program covers the City of Steinbach census division and nearby communities, including:

• RM of Ste. Anne
• RM of Piney
• RM of La Broquerie
• Landmark
• Vita

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Health
• Education, law and social, community and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades and transport
• Manufacturing and utilities

Priority Occupations (2025):

• Advertising, marketing, and PR professionals – 11202
• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers – 12200
• Agriculture specialists and consultants – 21112
• Business systems specialists – 21221
• Database analysts and data administrators – 21223
• Industrial manufacturing engineers – 21321
• Drafting technologists and technicians – 22212
• Construction estimators – 22303
• General practitioners and family physicians – 31102
• Registered nurses and psychiatric nurses – 31301
• Licensed practical nurses – 32101
• Veterinary technicians and animal health technologists – 32104
• Pharmacy technicians – 32124
• Massage therapists – 32201
• Nurse aides and orderlies – 33102
• Lawyers and Quebec notaries – 41101
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202
• Retail and wholesale trade managers – 60020
• Food service supervisors – 62020
• Insurance agents and brokers – 63100
• Construction managers – 70010
• Welders and machine operators – 72106
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – 72401
• Automotive and mechanical repair technicians – 72410
• Electrical mechanics – 72422

Altona / Rhineland, Manitoba

Community Lead:

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) for Altona and Rhineland is administered locally to help employers fill key roles with skilled foreign workers. The program also supports existing temporary foreign workers in gaining permanent residence, building long-term workforce stability in the region.

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP offers approved foreign workers and their families a pathway to permanent residence in Altona and Rhineland. This helps meet local labour market demands while allowing newcomers to settle and thrive in the community.

Designated Area:

The RCIP applies to employers located in the town of Altona and the Municipality of Rhineland. Only employers offering permanent, full-time roles in the listed sectors and occupations may participate.

Priority Sectors (2025):

• Education, law and social, community and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades and transport
• Natural resources and agriculture
• Manufacturing and utilities

Priority Occupations (2025):

• Financial auditors and accountants – 11100
• Supervisors, supply chain, tracking and scheduling coordination occupations – 12013
• Shippers and receivers – 14400
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202
• Retail sales supervisors – 62010
• Food service supervisors – 62020
• Cooks – 63200
• Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations – 65201
• Customer service representatives – Financial institutions – 64400
• Welders and related machine operators – 72106
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics – 72400
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – 72401
• Printing press operators – 73401
• Material handlers – 75101
• Manufacturing managers – 90010
• Supervisors, food and beverage processing – 92012
• Metalworking and forging machine operators – 94105
• Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing – 94140
• Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers – 94141
• Camera, platemaking and other prepress occupations – 94151
• Binding and finishing machine operators – 94152
• Mechanical assemblers and inspectors – 94204
• Industrial painters, coaters and metal finishing process operators – 94213
• Labourers in food and beverage processing – 95106
• Other labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities – 95109

Brandon, Manitoba

Community Lead:

Economic Development Brandon (EDB) leads the implementation of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in Brandon, following its successful participation in the previous Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP allows eligible Brandon employers to hire skilled foreign workers for in-demand positions or to support existing employees on temporary status to obtain permanent residence. Approved workers and their families can apply for permanent residency to live and work in Brandon long term, helping strengthen the local workforce and community.

Designated Area:

Only positions within Brandon’s defined RCIP program boundaries are eligible. Job offers from employers outside these boundaries will not qualify under this program.

Allocation Policy:

In 2025, 15% of Brandon’s total RCIP allocation will be reserved for health sector roles. The remaining quota will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Priority Sectors and Occupations (2025):

Health Sector

• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates – 33102 (TEER 3, CLB 5)
• Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses – 31301 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• Licensed practical nurses – 32101 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• General practitioners and family physicians – 31102 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• Specialists in surgery – 31101 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine – 31100 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• Dentists – 31110 (TEER 1, CLB 6)

Trade and Transport

• Construction trades helpers and labourers – 75110 (TEER 5, CLB 4)
• Plumbers – 72300 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Welders and related machine operators – 72106 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Carpenters – 72310 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Heavy-duty equipment mechanics – 72401 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics – 72402 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers – 72410 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Painters and decorators (except interior decorators) – 73112 (TEER 3, CLB 5)
• Concrete finishers – 73100 (TEER 3, CLB 5)
• Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics – 72400 (TEER 2, CLB 5)

Manufacturing and Utilities

• Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers – 94141 (TEER 4, CLB 4)

Natural and Applied Sciences

• Civil engineers – 21300 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• Civil engineering technologists and technicians – 22300 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Mechanical engineers – 21301 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians – 22301 (TEER 2, CLB 5)
• Industrial and manufacturing engineers – 21321 (TEER 1, CLB 6)
• User support technicians – 22221 (TEER 2, CLB 5)

Education, Law and Social, Community and Government Services

• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202 (TEER 2, CLB 5)

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan was named as one of the 14 RCIP communities by IRCC, but has not yet secured the funding to launch its program.

Claresholm, Alberta

Community Lead:

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in Claresholm is a locally administered, employer-driven immigration program launched on April 29, 2025. It supports local businesses in addressing persistent labour shortages by enabling eligible foreign workers to apply for permanent residence and obtain an LMIA-exempt work permit.

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP helps employers in Claresholm and surrounding communities – including Granum and Stavely, within a 25 km boundary – hire skilled international workers who intend to live and work in the region long term. The program also supports existing temporary workers in transitioning to permanent residency.

Program Scope and Allocation:

Claresholm has a total of 30 allocations for 2025. Six of these are capped for the Sales and Services sector, with no more than two going to fast food employers.

Employer Designation:

Employers must be located within the Claresholm RCIP boundary and operate in a designated industry. Only occupations listed within each sector are eligible for the program. Applications are now open for eligible employers to become designated.

Priority Sectors and Occupations (2025):

Health Care

• Nurse aides – 33102
• Registered nurses – 31301
• Licensed practical nurses – 32101
• Cook – 63200

Manufacturing & Utilities

• Machine operators, food and beverage processing – 94140
• Labourers, food and beverage processing – 95106
• Administrative assistant – 13110
• Concrete finisher – 73100
• Carpenter – 72310
• Construction trade helpers – 75110
• Ironworker – 72105
• Crane operators – 72500
• Aerospace engineers – 21390
• Aircraft mechanic – 72404
• Aircraft assemblers and aircraft assembly inspectors – 93200
• Aircraft instruments and avionics mechanics and inspectors – 22313
• Engineering managers – 20010
• Meat cutter – 65202

Law & Education

• Administrative officers – 13100
• Education assistant – 43100
• Flight instructor – 72600
• Early childhood educator – 42202

Agriculture

• Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators – 84120

Sales & Services (6 allocations total; max 2 in fast food)

Full-Service Restaurant Subsector Only:

• Chef – 62200
• Cook – 63200

Fast Food Subsector Only:

• Food service supervisor – 62020

West Kootenay, British Columbia

Community Lead:

To be determined.

Pilot Goals:

The RCIP in West Kootenay aims to attract and retain skilled international workers who want to settle and work in the region long term. The program provides a pathway to permanent residence for foreign workers with job offers in key sectors once the community recommendation process is launched.

Program Status:

As of May 2025, the West Kootenay RCIP is in its final planning phase. The list of eligible priority sectors and occupations is being finalized. Once confirmed, the program will begin accepting applications from employers seeking designation under the pilot.

Next Steps:

• Designated employers will be allowed to submit applications for community recommendation on behalf of candidates.
• These community recommendations are required before candidates can apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
• Further updates, including the launch date and sector details, will be posted once available.

Current Advisory:

• The West Kootenay RCIP team is not responding to individual inquiries at this time.
• Interested employers and applicants are encouraged to review federal RCIP eligibility criteria on IRCC’s official website to prepare in advance.

North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia

Community Lead:

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in North Okanagan Shuswap is administered by Community Futures North Okanagan and Community Futures Shuswap, in collaboration with local and federal partners.

Pilot Goals:

The program aims to support economic development and increase long-term retention of skilled newcomers by prioritising job offers in sectors that align with regional growth. It creates a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and settle in the region.

Program Scope:

Only candidates working in both a priority sector and a priority occupation (NOC) are eligible for recommendation. Employers must also operate within a designated priority sector to qualify. Priority sectors and NOC codes are reviewed and may be updated annually.

Designated Area:

The pilot covers the North Okanagan Shuswap region of British Columbia, with oversight from the two Community Futures offices. Employers must operate within this region and be designated by the program before they can submit candidates for recommendation.

Priority Sectors (2025)

• Health
• Education, law and social, community and government services
• Sales and service
• Trades and transport
• Manufacturing and utilities

Only businesses operating in these sectors are eligible for participation.

Priority Occupations (2025)

• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers – 12200
• Administrative assistants – 13110
• General office support workers – 14100
• Accounting and related clerks – 14200
• Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates – 33102
• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants – 33103
• Social and community service workers – 42201
• Early childhood educators and assistants – 42202
• Restaurant and food service managers – 60030 (Cap: 2 per employer)
• Accommodation service managers – 60031 (Cap: 2 per employer)
• Executive housekeepers – 62021 (Cap: 2 per employer)
• Hairstylists and barbers – 63210
• Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors – 72100
• Welders and related machine operators – 72106
• Plumbers – 72300
• Carpenters – 72310
• Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics – 72402
• Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers – 72410
• Appliance servicers and repairers – 72421
• Heavy equipment operators – 73400
• Construction trades helpers and labourers – 75110 (Cap: 10 per employer)
• Manufacturing managers – 90010
• Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products – 94211 (Cap: 10 per employer)
• Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors – 94212 (Cap: 10 per employer)
• Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing – 95103 (Cap: 10 per employer)

Peace Liard, British Columbia

Community Lead:

The Peace Liard region in Northeast British Columbia joined the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in early 2025 through a partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The program is aimed at supporting workforce development and strengthening local economies across a wide geographic area.

Pilot Goals:

The Peace Liard RCIP provides a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in the region. The program is designed to help local employers fill persistent labour shortages with qualified international talent, while encouraging long-term settlement and economic participation.

Designated Area:

The Peace Liard RCIP catchment area includes – but is not limited to – the following communities:

• Fort St. John
• Dawson Creek
• Chetwynd
• Tumbler Ridge
• Taylor
• Pouce Coupe
• Hudson’s Hope
• Fort Nelson
• Rural areas within the Peace River Regional District (PRRD) and the Northern Rockies Regional Municipality (NRRM)

These communities vary in size and industry but share a common goal of welcoming newcomers and supporting their long-term integration.

Program Status:

As of June 2025, the Peace Liard RCIP is in its early stages. Finalised lists of priority sectors and priority occupations (NOC codes) will be announced shortly. Once these are confirmed, the region will begin accepting applications from employers seeking designation under the pilot.

What’s Coming Next:

• Each year, five priority sectors and 25 NOC codes will be selected based on labour market needs and input from regional Steering Committee members.
• Only employers operating within these approved sectors and occupations will be eligible to participate in the RCIP.

The Peace Liard RCIP offers a unique opportunity for newcomers to establish a permanent home in Northeast BC while contributing to the local economy. Full program details, including priority jobs and sectors, are expected to be released soon.

Who Can Apply: Eligibility Criteria

To apply for permanent residence through the RCIP, a candidate must:

• Have a valid job offer from a designated employer in a participating community
• Have at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of related work experience in the past 3 years
• Prove their language ability through an approved test
• Have a Canadian educational credential, or a foreign credential assessed as equivalent
• Prove they have enough settlement funds to support themselves and their family

Work Experience by TEER Level

Work experience must be full-time (or the part-time equivalent), paid, and completed within the 3 years before the application is received; volunteer work and unpaid internships do not count. How closely that experience must match the job offer depends on the Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level of the offer:

• TEER 0 or 1 job offer: work experience may be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
• TEER 2 job offer: work experience may be in TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4
• TEER 3 or 4 job offer: work experience may be in TEER 2, 3 or 4
• TEER 5 job offer: work experience must be in the same 5-digit National Occupational Classification (NOC) code

Language Requirements

Candidates must submit results from an approved language test showing they meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadienne (NCLC) for French, required for the NOC of their job offer.

Education Requirements

Candidates need either a Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential from a designated learning institution, or a foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report, less than five years old, showing it is equivalent to a completed Canadian credential.

Settlement Funds

Candidates must show they have enough money to support themselves and their family after arriving. The required amount is based on family size and is set at 50% of the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO) thresholds for rural areas, well below the settlement-funds threshold used in Express Entry.

How the Community Recommendation Process Works

The RCIP is a two-step process: a community recommendation, followed by a federal permanent residence application.

• The candidate secures a genuine job offer from an employer the community has designated.
• The employer submits a community recommendation application on the candidate’s behalf directly to the community’s economic development organization.
• The community checks that the job is in one of its priority sectors or occupations, that the offer is genuine, and that the candidate meets the pilot’s eligibility requirements.
• If the community recommends the candidate, the candidate can then submit their permanent residence application to IRCC, along with the community’s recommendation letter and required documents.

A community recommendation is not, on its own, a guarantee of permanent residence; IRCC still assesses the full application against admissibility and program requirements.

Employer Designation Requirements

Only employers that a participating community has formally designated may make job offers under the RCIP. To become designated, an employer must:

• Have operated continuously in the participating community for at least 2 years (newer or relocated businesses may still qualify if the community determines they will make a substantial contribution to the local economy)
• Be in good standing with employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation
• Do business in at least one priority occupation the community has identified
• Conduct at least 75% of their business activity within the community’s boundaries
• Not be in violation of the federal employer compliance regime
• Complete free onboarding training and intercultural competency training
• Agree to support the settlement and integration of the newcomer and their family

Consulates, staffing and employment agencies, businesses owned or controlled by the candidate or their spouse or common-law partner, employers offering adult-entertainment services, employers with non-genuine job offers or unpaid administrative penalties, and businesses owned by licensed immigration representatives cannot be designated. Designation is free, and each community runs its own application process for prospective employers. Once approved, a designated employer receives a Confirmation of Designation from its community.

Is the RCIP Open in 2026? Application Caps

As of this writing, both the RCIP and the FCIP are listed as “Open” on the IRCC website. Unlike Express Entry rounds or Provincial Nominee Program streams, IRCC has not published a fixed national annual application cap for the RCIP. Instead, each of the 14 communities manages its own pace of employer designations and candidate recommendations based on local labour market needs and administrative capacity, so timelines and volumes can vary significantly from one community to another.

Because intake volumes and any community-specific limits can change, prospective candidates and employers should confirm current status directly with the relevant community’s economic development organization.

How the RCIP Differs From the Closed RNIP

The RCIP is the successor to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which ran from 2019 and stopped accepting new applications on August 31, 2024 (IRCC continues processing applications it received before that date). As of December 31, 2024, more than 8,580 newcomers had obtained permanent residence through the RNIP.

The core eligibility framework carries over from the RNIP to the RCIP: a community-recommended job offer, minimum work experience, a language test, an educational credential, and proof of settlement funds. The main differences are the set of participating communities (a new group of 14 was selected for the RCIP, distinct from the 11 RNIP communities) and IRCC’s stated intention to eventually convert this rural pilot concept into a permanent program rather than a time-limited pilot.

How the RCIP Differs From the FCIP

IRCC launched the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) on the same day as the RCIP, using a nearly identical eligibility framework: a community-recommended job offer, minimum work experience matched to TEER level, an educational credential, and proof of settlement funds.

The key differences are the participating communities and the language requirement. The FCIP operates in 6 Francophone-minority communities outside Quebec (Acadian Peninsula, NB; Sudbury, ON; Timmins, ON; Superior East Region, ON; St. Pierre Jolys, MB; and Kelowna, BC), some of which – Sudbury and Timmins – also participate in the RCIP. FCIP candidates must meet a French-language requirement, reflecting the program’s goal of increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers in Francophone minority communities and helping restore their demographic weight. RCIP candidates, by contrast, may qualify with English or French test results, depending on what the job offer requires.

Employers that a community designates for one pilot may, in some cases, also be able to hire through the other pilot if that community participates in both, but each pilot has its own recommendation process.

Related Immigration Options

The RCIP is one of several regional and pilot-based routes to permanent residence. Candidates who don’t have a rural job offer, or who don’t meet RCIP criteria, may want to compare it against other federal and provincial options, including the Express Entry system, other Canada immigration pilot programs, and provincial nominee streams such as Manitoba’s PNP and British Columbia’s PNP, both of which overlap geographically with several RCIP communities. Workers already in Canada on a study or work permit can also review the International Experience Canada and Global Talent Stream pathways for other routes into the labour market.

Frequently Asked Questions