Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

Last updated: 6 May 2025

RCIP CV Page min

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a permanent residence pathway for skilled workers seeking to work and settle in rural and remote communities.

Fourteen communities were selected based on their ability to support and benefit from skilled immigrants. These communities will authorize specific employers to hire for positions that cannot be filled locally.

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Table of Contents


    Overview

    The RCIP is a permanent residence (PR) pathway designed to offer skilled foreign workers the opportunity to settle in Canada permanently, while filling key labour shortages in Canada’s rural and developing communities.

    In addition to meeting other eligibility criteria, foreign nationals can only apply for PR through this pathway if they have:

    • A job offer from an employer in one of the 14 participating communities; and
    • An endorsement from an economic development organization in the community, that has partnered with Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) under the RCIP.

    Who is eligible to apply under the RCIP?

    To be eligible to apply under the RCIP, candidates must:

    • Hold a valid job offer from a designated employer within a participating community.
    • Have at least one year (1,560 hours) of relevant work experience within the last three years.
      • Candidates who studied are graduated within the community that is nominating them may be exempt from the work requirement, provided that their education meets all other conditions*
    • Demonstrate language proficiency by completing an approved language test.

    • Possess a Canadian educational credential or an equivalent foreign credential.

    • Show that they have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family as you settle in the community.

    Work experience requirements

    Work experience must:

    Job TEER LevelWork Experience Requirement
    TEER 0 or 1Work experience must be in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
    TEER 2Work experience must be in TEER 1, 2, 3, or 4
    TEER 3 or 4Work experience must be in TEER 2, 3, or 4
    TEER 5Work experience must be in the same 5-digit NOC code
    Exception – HealthcareIf your experience is in NOC 31301 (TEER 1), you may qualify with a job offer in:
    • NOC 33102 (TEER 3): Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates
    • NOC 44101 (TEER 4): Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations

    Education requirements

    Requirements for education credentials under the RCIP differ based on where a foreign national completes their education:

    LocationDetails
    For education in CanadaAn eligible Canadian educational credential under the RCIP is one of the following:
    • Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma; or
    • Recognized Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree from a designated learning institution (DLI)
    For education outside of CanadaRequires an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a designated organization or professional body that:
    • Is less than 5 years old at the time of application; and
    • Confirms that your foreign credential is equivalent to:
      • Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma; or
      • Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree


    Required settlement funds

    The funds required under the RCIP is based on the number of people in a candidate's family. 

    Number of family membersFunds you need (in Canadian dollars)
    1$7,963
    2$9,692
    3$12,069
    4$15,056
    5$17,145
    6$19,015
    7$20,884
    If more than 7 people, for each additional family member, add$1,869

    * Work Experience Exemption for Graduates Who Studied in the Community

    You are not required to meet the work experience requirement if you are an international student who graduated from a public post-secondary institution in the community with:

    • An eligible credential from a program that lasted two years or more, and you:

      • Studied full-time throughout the entire program

      • Received your credential no more than 18 months before applying for permanent residence

      • Lived in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months while studying

    • A master’s degree or higher that was completed in two years or less, and you:

      • Studied full-time for the duration of your degree

      • Received your degree no more than 18 months before applying for permanent residence

      • Were present in the community for the entire length of your studies

    This exemption does not apply to international graduates if your credential comes from a program where:

    • More than half of the program involved studying English or French

    • More than half of the program was completed through distance learning

    • You were awarded a scholarship or fellowship that requires you to return to your home country to apply what you learned

    What counts as an eligible credential?
    An eligible credential refers to a degree, diploma, certificate, trade, or apprenticeship credential earned from a publicly funded Canadian post-secondary institution located in the recommending community.


    Participating communities

    14 communities from around Canada were chosen to participate in the RCIP. These are detailed in the table below:

    CommunityProvince
    Pictou CountyNova Scotia
    North BayOntario
    SudburyOntario
    TimminsOntario
    Sault Ste. MarieOntario
    Thunder BayOntario
    SteinbachManitoba
    Altona/RhinelandManitoba
    BrandonManitoba
    Moose JawSaskatchewan
    ClaresholmAlberta
    West KootenayBritish Columbia
    North Okanagan ShuswapBritish Columbia
    Peace LiardBritish Columbia


    Each community is also in charge of announcing the occupations and employers who are eligible to participate in the pilot program.

    Below are the occupations and employers thus far announced for the RCIP communities. This page will continue to be updated as more details are announced.


    Eligible occupations and employers 

    Brandon has announced the following sectors and occupations are eligible under the RCIP. In addition, the community has instituted a language requirement for each occupation.

    SectorOccupationNOC CodeMinimum Language Proficiency – Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Required
    Education, Law & Social, Community & Government ServicesEarly childhood educators and assistants422025
    HealthDentists311106
    General practitioners and family physicians311026
    Licensed practical nurses321015
    Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates331025
    Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses313016
    Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine311006
    Specialists in surgery311016
    Manufacturing & UtilitiesIndustrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers941414
    Natural & Applied ScienceCivil engineering technologists and technicians223005
    Civil engineers213006
    Industrial and manufacturing engineers213216
    Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians223015
    Mechanical engineers213016
    User support technicians222215
    Trade & TransportAutomotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers724105
    Carpenters723105
    Concrete finishers731005
    Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics724005
    Construction trades helpers and labourers751104
    Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics724025
    Heavy-duty equipment mechanics724015
    Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)731125
    Plumbers723005
    Welders and related machine operators721065

    Claresholm has announced the following sectors and occupations are eligible under the RCIP:

    SectorOccupation TitleNOC Code
    AgricultureSpecialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators84120
    Health CareCooks63200
    Licensed Practical Nurses32101
    Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102
    Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses31301
    Law & EducationAdministrative Officers13100
    Early childhood educators and assistants42202
    Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants43100
    Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors72600
    Manufacturing & UtilitiesAdministrative Assistants13110
    Aerospace Engineers21390
    Aircraft Assemblers and Aircraft Assembly Inspectors93200
    Aircraft instrument, electrical and avionics mechanics, technicians and inspectors22313
    Aircraft Mechanics and aircraft inspectors72404
    Carpenters72310
    Concrete Finishers73100
    Construction Trades Helpers and labourers75110
    Crane Operators72500
    Engineering Managers20010
    Ironworkers72105
    Labourers in food and beverage processing95106
    Process control and machine operators, food and beverage processing94140
    Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale65202
    Sales & ServicesChefs62200
    Food Service Supervisors62020

    North Bay has announced the following sectors and occupations are eligible under the RCIP:

    IndustryOccupation NameNOC Code
    Business, finances and administrationAccounting technicians and bookkeepers12200
    Administrative assistants13110
    Banking, insurance and other financial clerks14201
    Corporate sales managers60010
    Financial auditors and accountants11100
    Human resources professionals11200
    Shippers and Receivers14400
    Education, law and social, community, and government servicesEarly childhood educators and assistants42202
    Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants43100
    Social and community service workers42201
    HealthDental assistants and dental laboratory assistants33100
    Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations44101
    Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102
    Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants33103
    Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses31301
    Sales and serviceHotel front desk clerks64314
    Security guards and related security service occupations64410
    Trades and transportAircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors72404
    Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers72410
    Carpenters (includes apprentices)72310
    Construction trades helpers and labourers75110
    Electricians (except industrial and power system)72200
    Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics72402
    Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors72100
    Welders and related machine operators72106

    North Okanagan-Shuswap has announced the following industries and occupations eligible under the RCIP:

    IndustryOccupationNOC Code
    Business, Finance and Administration OccupationsAccounting and related clerks14200
    Accounting technicians and bookkeepers12200
    Administrative assistants13110
    General office support workers14100
    Executive housekeepers62021
    Accommodation service managers60031
    Restaurant and food service managers60030
    Education, Law and Social, and Community and Government ServicesEarly childhood educators and assistants42202
    Social and community service workers42201
    HealthNurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102
    Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants33103
    Manufacturing and UtilitiesAssemblers and inspectors of other wood products94211
    Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing95103
    Manufacturing managers90010
    Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors94212
    Trades and TransportAppliance servicers and repairers72421
    Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers72410
    Carpenters72310
    Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics72400
    Construction trades helpers and labourers75110
    Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics72402
    Heavy equipment operators73400
    Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors72100
    Plumbers72300
    Welders and related machine operators72106

    Sault Ste Marie has listed the following as priority sectors under the RCIP:

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

    The community has not yet announced eligible occupations or employers under this pilot program.


    Thunder Bay has announced the following sectors and occupations are eligible under the RCIP:

    SectorJob TitleNOC Code
    Business, Finance and Administration OccupationsAdministrative assistants13110
    Financial advisors11102
    General office support workers14100
    Health OccupationsKinesiologists and other professional occupations in therapy and assessment31204
    Licensed practical nurses32101
    Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102
    Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants33103
    Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses31301
    Occupations in Education, Law, Social, Community and Government ServicesEarly childhood educators and assistants42202
    Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations44101
    Social and community service workers42201
    Social workers41300
    Therapists in counselling and related specialized therapies41301
    Sales and ServiceCooks63200
    Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations65201
    Food service supervisors62020
    Light duty cleaners65310
    Retail and wholesale trade managers60020
    Retail sales supervisors62010
    Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers64100
    Store shelf stockers, clerks and order fillers65102
    Trades, Transport, Equipment Operators and other related occupationsAutomotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers72410
    Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics72400
    Construction trades helpers and labourers75110
    Heavy equipment operators73400


    In addition, the following employers have been designated under the RCIP to hire for these occupations in Thunder Bay:

    • 1000661225 Ontario Inc. Circle K
    • 14786068 Canada Inc. Circle K
    • Clara Industrial Services Limited
    • Golden Wok
    • Great Canadian Oil Change
    • Guac Mexi Grill
    • Inspired Cabinetry & Granite Inc
    • JKS Enterprises – Diamond Taxi
    • Kasper Bus Lines
    • Land of Spices
    • Lakehead Roofing & Metal Cladding Ltd.
    • Lowerys, Limited
    • Mahmowenchike Family Development Centre
    • Maltese Grocery Ltd
    • Northern Turf Equipment
    • Outlaws Burgers & Fries
    • Scott Family Dental
    • Shelter House
    • Shoppers Drug Mart
    • SLR Contracting Corp.
    • Spadoni Leasing Limited
    • Thundermaple Asian Food Co
    • Village Market
    • Wasabi Restaurant

    Timmins has announced the following sectors and occupations are eligible under the RCIP:

    IndustryOccupationNOC Code
    Business, Finance and AdministrationAccounting technicians and bookkeepers12200
    Administrative officers13100
    Financial advisor11102
    Education, Law and Social, Community and Government ServicesEarly childhood educators and assistants42202
    Elementary school and kindergarten teachers41221
    Social and community service workers42201
    HealthcareAnimal health technologists and veterinary technicians32104
    Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations44101
    Licensed practical nurses32101
    Medical laboratory technologists32120
    Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates33102
    Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses31301
    Natural Resources and AgricultureGeological and mineral technologists and technicians22101
    Metallurgical and materials engineers21322
    Underground production and development miners83100
    Trades and TransportAutomotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers74203
    Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers72410
    Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics72400
    Construction trades helpers and labourers75110
    Heavy equipment operators73400
    Heavy-duty equipment mechanics72401
    Industrial electricians72201
    Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing95103
    Transport truck drivers73300
    Welders and related machine operators72106


    In addition the community has designated the following employers to hire for these occupations:

    • 360 Boring Services Inc.
    • Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.
    • Anti-Hunger Coalition Timmins.
    • Boudreau Automotive Mechanic.
    • Dark Enterprise.
    • EV Nickel Inc.
    • Pepco.
    • St Mary’s Gardens GP Inc.
    • Timmins and District Hospital.
    • Toromont Cat.
    • YMCA of Northeastern Ontario.


    How to Apply – Rural Community Immigration Pilot

    1. Secure a Job Offer
      Get a job offer from a designated employer in one of the participating communities. Visit the community’s website to view eligible employers.

    2. Obtain a Community Recommendation
      Your employer will submit your recommendation application to the community. The community will verify that:

      • The job offer is genuine and in a priority sector or occupation

      • You meet all pilot eligibility criteria

    3. Apply for Permanent Residence
      If recommended by the community, you may apply for permanent residence through the online Permanent Residence (PR) Portal.

    4. Prepare Your Application
      Use the document checklist to gather all required forms and documents. Ensure that:

      • All forms are fully completed and signed

      • All questions are answered truthfully

    5. Pay Your Fees
      Pay your application fee online (from $1,525) and include the payment receipt in your application.

    6. Submit Your Application
      Upload your signed forms and supporting documents. Incomplete applications will be rejected and must be corrected and re-submitted.

    If your application is approved, IRCC will contact you with next steps. 

    Contact Cohen Immigration Law for assistance

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    Complete our FREE assessment to find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration!