(Worker) Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) - Rural Community Immigration Program

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is an IRCC pilot program for applicants seeking to work and settle permanently in rural/outlying communities in Canada, through a job offer from a designated employer and a community recommendation.

Who is eligible to apply for PR under RCIP?

To apply for permanent residency (PR) under the RCIP program, you need to meet the following key criteria:

1) Valid job offer: There is a valid job offer from a designated employer within the participating community.

2) Work experience: At least one year of relevant experience (total 1,560 hours) within the last three years.

3) Foreign Language (English/French): You must take one of the accepted tests (e.g., IELTS General / CELPIP General / PTE Core / TEF Canada / TCF Canada).

Minimum salary based on the job offer's TEER:

• TEER 0–1: CLB 6
• TEER 2–3: CLUB 5
• TEER 4–5: CLUB 4

4) Education: Possess a Canadian degree or equivalent foreign qualification (Equivalence Assessment Certificate - ECA - is usually required if studied outside Canada).

5) Proof of financial means for immigration: Demonstrate sufficient funds to support yourself and your family once you arrive in Canada.

The most important step: Job offer + Community recommendation

Step 1: Find a job within the RCIP community.

You need to find a job from a designated employer within a participating community. The current list of communities (14 communities) includes:

• Pictou County, NS
• North Bay, ON
• Sudbury, ON
• Timmins, ON
• Sault Ste. Marie, ON
• Thunder Bay, ON
• Steinbach, MB
• Altona/Rhineland, MB
• Brandon, MB
• Moose Jaw, SK
• Claresholm, AB
• West Kootenay, BC
• North Okanagan Shuswap, BC
• Peace Liard, BC

Step 2: Community reviews and recommendations

After you receive a valid job offer, a community recommendation profile will be submitted for community review (the community will verify that the job belongs to a priority group/industry, that the job offer is genuine, and that you meet the program's requirements).

How to apply for PR (after being recommended by the community)

• RCIP applies for PR online following IRCC's instructions, preparing all forms and documents according to the checklist (e.g., personal documents, education/ECA, language skills, work experience, job offer, recommendation...).

Option: Apply for a Work Permit to work in Canada before obtaining Permanent Residency.

RCIP has an Optional: Work permit option (depending on the case) so you can work in the community while waiting for PR.

Who is RCIP suitable for?

• Having a profession/practical experience and wanting to pursue a job offer + settle in a smaller community (which is usually more likely to "match job needs").
• Commitment to stable housing and employment within the community is possible (settlement and community fit are very important factors).

What can KeyApply do to help?

• Quick profile assessment based on RCIP criteria (TEER - Club - ECA - experience - finances).
• A strategic guide to finding the right job in the right community/with the right employer (designated).
• Review your documents using the checklist and standardize your experience/language/educational evidence for online submission.

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