Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP): The 14 Communities and How to Apply

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot helps smaller communities attract and keep workers. Each participating community has an economic development organization that designates local employers, sets priority sectors or occupations, and recommends candidates to IRCC. IRCC then makes the permanent residence decision.

The RCIP launched in 2025 alongside the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. Pending RCIP applications are among those IRCC is fast-tracking under the 2026 In-Canada Workers Initiative.

Each community has set geographic boundaries. The job must be located inside them. IRCC's pilot page has an interactive boundary map and links to each community's website, where you will find its priority sectors and application process.

Job offer: full-time, non-seasonal, from an employer the community has designated, in a sector or occupation the community has prioritized. The wage must meet the pilot's minimum for that occupation.

Community recommendation: the community's economic development organization must recommend you.

Work experience: at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid work in the last 3 years, related to the job offer. Graduates of an eligible post-secondary program in the community may be exempt.

Language, by the TEER level of your job offer:

Education: a Canadian high school diploma or higher, or a foreign equivalent with an Educational Credential Assessment. See ECA credential assessment.

Settlement funds: required unless you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit. See proof of funds.

Intent to live in the community: you must plan to live there.

Confirm the details on IRCC's page and the community's site before applying; individual communities may add their own requirements.

Each community gets a limited number of recommendations per year and decides how to use them. Some communities open and close intake windows, rank candidates, or focus on a few occupations. A job offer does not guarantee a recommendation.

Because of this, the pilot can feel "open" in one community and full in another. Check the community's site regularly for intake updates.

The RCIP can suit you if:

• You already work in or near one of the 14 communities on a work permit, and your employer is designated or willing to become designated.
• Your job is in a TEER 4 or 5 occupation that Express Entry does not cover, since the RCIP accepts these with CLB 4.
• You want to live in a smaller city or rural area long term. Communities favor candidates who are likely to stay.

It is harder if you are abroad with no connection to a community. Employers usually hire people they can interview and trust, and communities rank candidates with local ties higher. Be very careful with anyone offering "guaranteed" RCIP jobs for a fee.

Family members

Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can be included in your application. Your spouse may be able to get an open work permit while you wait; see spousal open work permits.

Employers must apply to the community to become designated before they can hire through the RCIP. See RCIP designation for employers.

As a worker, never pay for a job offer or a community recommendation. See scam protection.

As of September 2026 (fees rose on April 30, 2026), IRCC charges these fees for economic immigration programs, which include this one, in Canadian dollars:

Biometrics cost $85 per person, or $170 for a family applying together. Check the IRCC fee list before paying, because fees change. Communities do not charge candidates for recommendations. Add the costs of language tests, an ECA, medical exams, and police certificates.

Check the IRCC processing times tool or our processing times page for current times. You may be able to get a work permit to start your job while your PR application is processed, if the community supports it.

• Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, for French speakers in six francophone minority communities.
• Atlantic Immigration Program, for job offers in the Atlantic provinces.
• Provincial Nominee Programs, many of which have regional or rural streams.
• Express Entry, if you have skilled experience and strong language scores.