Rural Community Immigration Pilot

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
Stay	Permanent residence
Cost	Not stated in the source
Eligibility timing	1 year experience within 3 years
Work rights	Permanent work rights granted
Optional work permit	Employer-specific; valid for 2 years
Spouse work rights	Open work permit in community
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Valid regular passport required
Citizenship	Not stated in the source
Family sponsorship	Include spouse and dependent children
Visa record	Electronic Confirmation of PR (e-COPR)

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Purpose

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) provides an economic pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who have a qualifying job offer from a designated employer in an eligible participating rural community, received a community recommendation, and intend to live and work in that community.

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Participating Rural Communities

• Pictou County, Nova Scotia (Website)
• North Bay, Ontario (Website)
• Sudbury, Ontario (Website)
• Timmins, Ontario (Website)
• Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario (Website)
• Thunder Bay, Ontario (Website)
• Steinbach, Manitoba (Website)
• Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba (Website)
• Brandon, Manitoba (Website)
• Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan (Website)
• Claresholm, Alberta (Website)
• West Kootenay, British Columbia (Website)
• North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia (Website)
• Peace Liard, British Columbia (Website)

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Eligibility Criteria

1. Job Offer and Community Recommendation

• Must hold a valid, genuine job offer from a designated employer in a participating community.
• The designated economic development organization must review the job offer and issue a formal community recommendation.

2. Work Experience

Must have accumulated at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid, non-self-employed work experience within the last 3 years. Volunteer work and unpaid internships do not qualify. The experience must align with the corresponding Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level of the job offer:

Job Offer TEER	Qualifying Work Experience TEER
0 or 1	0, 1, 2, or 3
2	1, 2, 3, or 4
3 or 4	2, 3, or 4
5	Same 5-digit NOC code

• Healthcare Worker Exception: Applicants with experience under NOC 31301 (Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses – TEER 1) may accept job offers under NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies, patient service associates – TEER 3) or NOC 44101 (Home support workers, caregivers – TEER 4).
• International Graduate Exemption: The work experience requirement is waived for international students who graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in the community with:
  • A credential from a full-time program of 2+ years, obtained within 18 months before applying, having lived in the community for at least 16 of the last 24 months during studies; OR
  • A master’s degree or higher (2 years or less) completed full-time, obtained within 18 months before applying, having resided in the community for the entire study duration.
  • Exclusion: Programs do not qualify if English/French study comprised >50%, distance learning comprised >50%, or a scholarship required returning to the home country.

3. Language Proficiency

Test results must be less than 2 years old on the application date. Minimum score depends on the job offer's TEER category:

• TEER 0 or 1: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) / NCLC 6
• TEER 2 or 3: CLB / NCLC 5
• TEER 4 or 5: CLB / NCLC 4

Accepted Tests:

• English: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core
• French: TEF Canada, TCF Canada

4. Educational Credentials

Must hold either:

• A Canadian high school diploma or post-secondary credential from a designated learning institution; OR
• An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report less than 5 years old showing equivalence to a Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential.
• Regulated Professions:
  • Architects (NOC 21200): Assessment from CACB (unless issued before Oct 31, 2024 by another designated body).
  • Physicians (NOC 31100, 31101, 31102): Assessment from the Medical Council of Canada.
  • Pharmacists (NOC 31120): Assessment from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.

5. Settlement Funds

Applicants not currently working in Canada on a valid work permit must prove sufficient transferable funds:

Family Size	Required Funds (CAD)
1	$10,507
2	$13,080
3	$16,080
4	$19,524
5	$22,143
6	$24,975
7	$27,806
Each additional member	+$2,831

(Note: Family size includes applicant, spouse/partner, and all dependent children, regardless of citizenship or whether accompanying.)

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Optional 2-Year Work Permit

Eligible RCIP applicants may apply for a temporary work permit to work in Canada while the permanent residence application is processed.

• Principal Applicant: Valid for 2 years; LMIA-exempt; employer-specific (restricted to the employer offering the job).
• Spouse / Common-law Partner: Eligible to apply for an open work permit, valid only for employment within the same recommending community.
• Requirements: Must have received an Offer of Employment number from the employer, community recommendation, and proof of submission of the PR application (e.g., Acknowledgement of Receipt [AOR]).

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Required Documents and Forms

Digital Forms (Submitted in PR Portal)

• IMM 0008: Generic Application Form for Canada
• IMM 5669: Schedule A – Background/Declaration
• IMM 5406: Additional Family Information
• IMM 5562: Supplementary Information – Your travels

PDF Forms to Upload

• IMM 0246: Document Checklist – Rural Community Immigration Pilot
• IMM 0247: Offer of Employment to a Foreign National
• IMM 0248: Schedule 1 – Rural Community Immigration Pilot
• IMM 0249: Recommendation from the Designated Economic Development Organization
• IMM 5409: Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (if applicable; requires 1 year continuous cohabitation evidence)
• IMM 5604: Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada (if applicable)
• IMM 5476: Use of a Representative (if using paid/unpaid representative)
• IMM 5475: Authority to Release Personal Information (if applicable)

Supporting Evidence

• Valid regular passport scans (diplomatic/official passports not accepted).
• Proof of legal status in current country of residence (if outside home country).
• Civil status and identity documents (birth, marriage, divorce, or death certificates).
• Work experience proof (reference letters with job duties/hours/salary, T4/Notice of Assessment, pay stubs, contracts).
• Language test results (<2 years old) and ECA report (<5 years old).
• Proof of settlement funds (bank statements, drafts, cheques, money orders).
• Police certificates for every country lived in for 6+ months since age 18.
• Identity photos (less than 6 months old) for all family members.
• Fee payment receipts.

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Application Steps

1. Obtain Job Offer & Recommendation: Secure a job offer from a designated community employer; employer submits the file to the community for the official recommendation.
2. Submit PR Application Online: Create an account on the PR Portal, fill out digital forms, upload required PDFs and supporting documentation, and pay mandatory fees (Processing fee, Right of Permanent Residence Fee, and Biometrics fee).
3. Provide Biometrics & Medical Exams: Complete biometrics within 30 days of receiving the Instruction Letter. Complete an immigration medical exam when prompted.
4. Optional Work Permit: Apply online using the GCKey account with the AOR, offer of employment number, and community recommendation.
5. Finalize Permanent Residence: Upon approval, receive electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence (e-COPR), submit a photo via the portal for the PR card, and apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

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Important Rules and Warnings

• Translations: Any document not in English or French must include a certified translation (with translator's stamp/membership number) and a scan of the original document. Translators cannot be family members or immigration representatives.
• Representative Rules: Unpaid or paid representatives cannot electronically sign the application. The applicant must personally type their name on declarations.
• PR Card Delivery: Update your Canadian residential mailing address using the online address notification tool within 180 days of status confirmation, or the PR card will be cancelled, requiring a new application and fee.
• Quality Assurance Reviews: Applications may be randomly selected for special review and interviews to verify information.