Navigating RCIP
Canada's Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a strategic initiative aimed at addressing labor shortages in 14 smaller/rural communities by intending to attracting 10,920 skilled foreign workers in 2025 under 12 English (Anglophone) and 6 French (Francophone) pathways. This employer-driven program offers a pathway to permanent residency (PR) for individuals who secure employment in designated rural communities and wants to work and live permanently in one of the participating communities. Each community tailors its requirements to meet local economic needs, ensuring that newcomers contribute effectively to the community's growth and development.
The aim is to receive a “Recommendation Certificate” from the Community that allows the applicant to apply for PR. Such certificate is valid for 6 months, within which one should apply for the PR.
Optional Work permit: Applicants can apply for 2 year of LMIA-exempt Closed Work Permit during the process i.e. once the application for recommendation is submitted to the community and the designated employer supports employment while their permanent residence application is being processed.
General Eligibility Criteria
Before diving into community-specific details, applicants must meet the following common requirements:
| Employment Offer: | A full-time, permanent job offer from a designated employer within a participating community |
| Community Recommendation | A recommendation from the community’s economic development organization. |
| Work Experience | At least one year (1,560 hours) of continuous work experience within the past three years, aligning with the job offered. Work Experience EXEMPTION: You are not required to have work experience, if you were a full-time international student graduated in last 18 months. Master’s or doctorate students should have lived in the community for the entire period of study. Other post-secondary students should have lived in that community for a minimum of 16 months within last 24 months. |
| Language Proficiency | Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scores corresponding to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER level of the job. Anglophone pathway: A minimum of CLB 4 (TEER 4 & 5), CLB 5 (TEER 2 & 3) and CLB 6 (TEER 0 to 1) in each language skills. Francophone pathway: A minimum of CLB 5 or more is required in each language skill. |
| Education | A minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent. Foreign credentials require an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA). |
| Settlement Funds | You need to make sure your money is available when you apply and when PR is issued. The amount of money depends on family size (Accompanied or unaccompanied does not matter) e.g. more than $7,963 if you are single, $9,692 with spouse, $12,069 with spouse and one child and so on… Settlement Funds EXEMPTION: The requirement does not apply to an applicant who is already employed in Canada. |
| Intent to Reside | You need to commit to live and establish yourself, and your family, in the community that is recommending. |
*Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is an evolving program for the communities. We anticipate many more updates from various communities in the coming time.
What kind of work experience is qualified to be aligned with the job offered?
The past work experience must be at a skill level related to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category of your job offer as follows:
- My job offer is TEER 0 or 1 : Your work experience must be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3
- My job offer is TEER 2 or 3 : Your work experience must be in TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4
- My job offer is TEER 3 or 4 : Your work experience must be in TEER 2, 3 or 4.
- My job offer is TEER 5:Your work experience must be in the same 5 digit NOC code
If your work experience is in NOC 31301 (Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses – TEER 1), you can have a job offer in one of the following occupation categories:NOC 33102 (TEER 3): Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates or NOC 44101 (TEER 4): Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations
Does the program considers the part-time work experience gained when I was an International Student in Canada?
YES ! Provided you meet the definition of “continuous” work experience
Are there specific quota for the program, community or occupation ?
YES ! Where the total intended recommendations allowed by the federal government in 2025 is 10,920, the communities have limited their recommendations to certain NOC. There are communities like Steinbach (MB), Claresholm (AB), North Okanagan Shuswap (BC) where occupations in Fast Food/Restaurant Industry have been either capped or restricted.
Is there a minimum wage limitations in the Job Offer?
YES ! Where majority follows the ESDC guidelines for minimum wages, regions like North Okanagan Shuswap region (BC) have clearly mentioned the hourly wage rate for each priority occupations.
Are there any point system or criteria for the selection, like in Express Entry System ?
YES ! Some communities have their own qualifying and selection criteria based on the points system. Criteria like Employment Sector, Occupation, Work Experience, Language, Education and ties to the community are assessed. Such communities identified so far are Claresholm (AB), North Okanagan Shuswap (BC), Thunder Bay (ON) and Timmins (ON).
To know the Priority Occupations in North Bay, ON – click here
| 11100 | Financial auditors and accountants |
| 11200 | Human resources professional |
| 12200 | Accounting technicians and bookkeepers |
| 13110 | Administrative assistants |
| 14201 | Banking, insurance and financial clerks |
| 14400 | Shippers & Receivers |
| 31301 | Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 33100 | Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
| 33102 | Nurse aides, orderlies and patient services associates |
| 33103 | Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants |
| 42201 | Social and community service workers |
| 42202 | Early childhood educators and assistants |
| 43100 | Elementary and secondary school teacher assistants |
| 44101 | Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 60010 | Corporate sales manager |
| 64314 | Hotel front desk clerks |
| 64410 | Security guards and related security service occupations |
| 72100 | Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors |
| 72106 | Welders and related machine operators |
| 72200 | Electricians |
| 72310 | Carpenters (includes apprentices) |
| 72402 | Heating, refrigeration, and air conditioning mechanics |
| 72404 | Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors |
| 72410 | Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers |
| 75110 | Construction trade helpers and labourers |
To know the Priority Occupations in Timmins, ON (Anglophone Pathway) – click here
| 11102 Financial advisor |
| 12200 Accounting technicians and bookkeepers |
| 13100 Administrative officers* |
| 22101 Geological and mineral technologists and technicians* |
| 21322 Metallurgical and materials engineers* |
| 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 32101 Licensed practical nurses |
| 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
| 32120 Medical laboratory technologists |
| 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 42201 Social and community service workers |
| 42202 Early childhood educators and assistants |
| 44101 Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 72106 Welders and related machine operators |
| 72201 Industrial electricians |
| 72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72410 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers |
| 73300 Transport truck drivers |
| 73400 Heavy equipment operators |
| 74203 Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers |
| 75110 Construction trades helpers and labourers |
| 83100 Underground production and development miners |
| 95103 Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
To know the Priority Occupations in Timmins, ON (Francophone Pathway) – click here
| 11102 Financial advisor |
| 12200 Accounting technicians and bookkeepers |
| 13110 Administrative assistants* |
| 31301 Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses |
| 32101 Licensed practical nurses |
| 32104 Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians |
| 32120 Medical laboratory technologists |
| 33102 Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates |
| 41221 Elementary school and kindergarten teachers |
| 42201 Social and community service workers |
| 42202 Early childhood educators and assistants |
| 44101 Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations |
| 64400 Customer services representatives – financial institutions* |
| 72106 Welders and related machine operators |
| 72201 Industrial electricians |
| 72400 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics |
| 72401 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics |
| 72410 Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers |
| 73300 Transport truck drivers |
| 73400 Heavy equipment operators |
| 74203 Automotive and heavy truck and equipment parts installers and servicers |
| 75110 Construction trades helpers and labourers |
| 83100 Underground production and development miners |
| 84120 Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators* |
| 95103 Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing |
To know the Priority Occupations in Steinbach (MB) – click here
| 11202 Professional Occupations in Advertising, Marketing, and Public Relations |
| 12200 Accounting Technicians and Bookkeepers |
| 21112 Agriculture Representative, Consultants, and Specialists |
| 21221 Business Systems Specialists |
| 21223 Database Analysts and Data Administrators |
| 21321 Industrial Manufacturing Engineers |
| 22212 Drafting Technologists and Technicians |
| 22303 Construction Estimators |
| 31102 General Practitioners and Family Physicians |
| 31301 Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses |
| 32101 Licensed Practical Nurses |
| 32104 Animal Health Technologists and Veterinary Technicians |
| 32124 Pharmacy Technicians |
| 32201 Massage Therapists |
| 33102 Nurses Aides, Orderlies, and Patient Service Associates |
| 41101 Lawyers and Quebec Notaries |
| 42202 Early Childhood Educators and Assistants |
| 60020 Retail and Wholesale Trade Managers |
| 62020 Food Service Supervisors (Excluding Fast food restaurants) |
| 63100 Insurance Agents and Brokers |
| 70010 Construction Managers |
| 72106 Welders and Related Machine Operators |
| 72401 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics |
| 72410 Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers |
| 72422 Electrical Mechanics |
A maximum of 1 recommendation per NOC code will be approved each month, for a maximum of 2 recommendations per calendar year per NOC code. Except for NOC 31102, 31301, 32101, and 33102.
To know the Priority Occupations in Claresholm (AB) – click here
3 – Health Care
Nurse aides – 33102
Registered Nurse – 31301
Licensed Practical Nurse – 32101
Cook – 63200
9 – 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
4 – Law & Education
Administrative Officers – 13100
Education assistant – 43100
Flight Instructor – 72600
Early Childhood Educator – 42202
8 – Agriculture
Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators – 84120
6 – Sales & Services – Industry capped at 6 total allocations for the year. No more than 2 of these allocations will be issued to the Fast Food Subsector for the year.
Chef – 62200
Food Service Supervisor – 62020
*30 allocations for 2025
To know the Priority Occupations in North Okanagan Shuswap region (BC) – click here
NAICS Subsector Cap by Sub-sector Cap Per Employer 722512 Fast food (Limit-service eating places)40 recommendations per year 2 recommendations per year 4471Gasoline Stations 20 Recommendations per year 2 recommendations per year