Pilot Programs 

Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) 

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a new federal program launched in early 2025 as a successor to the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) to address labour shortages in smaller Canadian communities. It offers a pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who intend to live and work long-term in one of the selected rural communities across Canada.

Participating Communities in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

RCIP covers 14 designated communities across Nova Scotia, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia, including areas like North Bay, Moose Jaw, West Kootenay, and the North Okanagan–Shuswap region.

The following communities are participating in the RCIP:

• Pictou County, Nova Scotia

• North Bay, 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

Eligibility Requirements

Eligible applicants must:

1. Have a full-time job offer from a designated employer in a participating community.

2. Meet work experience criteria: generally at least 1 year (1,560 hours) in the past 3 years, aligned with the job’s NOC TEER level. Some international graduates in local institutions may be exempt.

3. Demonstrate language proficiency, with required benchmarks varying by job (CLB 6 for TEER 0 and 1; CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 and CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5 jobs)

4. Possess sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and any dependents

5. Have secondary school or post-secondary credentials recognized by IRCC, or validated via an ECA if obtained abroad.

6. Be willing to live in the specific community where they have the job offer.

🔁 How the Process Works

1. Employer designation

 Local economic development bodies approve employers to hire via RCIP.

2. Job offer & candidate application

Candidate must meet eligibility and apply with supporting documents.

3. Community recommendation

Employer submits a recommendation on behalf of candidate. If accepted, candidate receives a certificate.

4. Permanent residence application

With recommendation certificate, candidate applies to IRCC for PR. Optionally apply for a work permit while PR is processed.

💵 Fees & Status

• Processing fee for a PR application is $1,525 CAD.

• The previous RNIP closed for new applicants on August 31, 2024, but existing applications continue processing. RCIP is currently open with active community intakes

⚠️ Community-Specific Notes

Each community may publish priority occupations and open intake windows at different times. For example, North Okanagan‑Shuswap held multiple intake rounds in mid‑2025 and paused mid‑July due to high volume. Periodic pauses allow for capacity management.

✅ Why RCIP Matters

• Provides essential job opportunities in areas facing labour shortages.

• Creates a path to PR that supports community-led economic development.

• Aimed at boosting retention of newcomers in smaller regions while balancing regional growth.