The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a unique immigration pathway designed to help smaller and rural communities across Canada attract skilled foreign workers to fill key labour shortages. Through this pilot, eligible candidates can apply for permanent residence (PR) in Canada by securing a job offer in one of 14 participating communities.

This pilot not only supports local economic development but also offers foreign nationals a chance to settle in Canada permanently, especially in areas outside major urban centres.

 Who Can Apply Under the RCIP?

To be eligible for the RCIP, applicants must meet several requirements, including:

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

 Eligibility Criteria

In addition to a job offer and community endorsement, applicants must:

• Have at least one year (1,560 hours) of relevant work experience within the last 3 years
  (unless exempt as a qualifying graduate)
• Show language proficiency through an approved language test
• Hold a Canadian educational credential or a recognized foreign equivalent (verified by Educational Credential Assessment)
• Prove they have enough settlement funds to support themselves and their families in Canada

 

Work Experience Requirements

Work experience must:

• Align with the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category of the job offer.
• Include the activities listed in the description of the NOC for the offered job.
• Encompass most of the main duties listed for that occupation.

TEER Level Matching

Job TEER Level	Required Work Experience TEER Level
TEER 0 or 1	TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
TEER 2	TEER 1, 2, 3, or 4
TEER 3 or 4	TEER 2, 3, or 4
TEER 5	Must be in the same 5-digit NOC code

 

Healthcare Exception: If your work experience is in:

•         NOC 31301 (Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses – TEER 1)
•        NOC 33102: Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates (TEER 3)
•        NOC 44101: Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations (TEER 4)

 

Education Requirements:

Location of Education	An eligible Canadian educational credential under the RCIP is one of the following:
In Canada	An 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)
Outside Canada	Requires 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

 

Settlement Funds Requirement

Applicants must show proof of funds based on their family size:

Family Members	Required Funds (CAD)
1	$7,963
2	$9,692
3	$12,069
4	$15,056
5	$17,145
6	$19,015
7	$20,884
Each additional	+$1,869

 

Work Experience Exemption for Graduates

You may be exempt from the work experience requirement if you are an international graduate who studied in the recommending RCIP community.

You may qualify if you:

• Completed a 2+ year program and:
• Studied full-time
• Graduated within the last 18 months
• Lived in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months
• OR earned a master’s degree or higher and:
• Studied full-time for the entire program
• Graduated within the last 18 months
• Lived in the community the entire time

Exemptions DO NOT apply if:

• More than half your program involved English or French language training
• Most of your program was done through distance learning
• You received a scholarship or fellowship requiring you to return to your home country

What Is an Eligible Credential?

An eligible credential is a degree, diploma, certificate, trade, or apprenticeship qualification earned from a publicly funded Canadian post-secondary institution located in the recommending community.

Participating Communities in RCIP

Here are the 14 communities currently participating in the RCIP:

Community	Province
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

 

Each community maintains its own list of eligible occupations and employers, which may change over time.

Optional: Work Permit

If you have applied for permanent residence under the RCIP, you may also be eligible for a 2-year work permit. This work permit allows you to work while your permanent residence application is being processed.

Key Points:

• The work permit is employer-specific, meaning you can only work for the employer who offered you the job.
• Your spouse or common-law partner can apply for an open work permit at the same time, allowing them to work in the same community.

 

Final Thoughts

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) offers skilled workers and graduates a valuable opportunity to settle permanently in vibrant, welcoming rural communities across Canada. With the right combination of job offer, qualifications, and community support, this pilot could be your pathway to a new life in Canada.

For more details about this pathway, and for information on the occupations and employers currently announced by RCIP communities, contact Zane Immigration Inc.

Contact details:

+1 289-541-4261

 info@zaneimmigration.ca

 https://zaneimmigration.ca/