Canada Rural Community Immigration Pilot program

Canada’s latest and unique rural community immigration program is inviting applications from skilled workers to work and settle in small Canadian regions facing skills shortages. The program is specifically designed to aid rural areas' struggle for finding the right candidates to grow their economy.

It's a lesser-known yet special Canadian immigration program that started recently on January 31, 2025, replacing the Rural and North Immigration Pilot program. Learn what Canada's RCIP program is and why it's gaining popularity amongst Canada PR Visa aspiring candidates with Glocal opportunities!

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What is Canada’s RCIP Program?

The Canada Rural Community Immigration Pilot program is a unique PR pathway for skilled workers wanting to live, work, and settle in small, yet peaceful Canadian towns and rural communities. The program has gained popularity due to easy eligibility criteria, lower competition, and the flexibility for local employers to directly hire and recommend candidates for PR, making it an easy PR pathway.

Many international graduates, skilled workers, and other professionals are drawn to this program for its early and easy accessibility as compared to other competitive programs like Canada Express Entry. Currently, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot is targeting high-demand jobs in industries like healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and trades. Additionally, the program allows you to bring your family, get strong local settlement support, and enjoy work-life balance in peaceful regions.

Canada Immigration Pilot program eligibility criteria

An ideal candidate for Canada RCIP program would include:

A relevant occupation on the RCIP occupation list
Valid job offer from an employer in a participating community
Minimum 1 year of relevant work experience (last 3 years)
Meet educational requirements (usually post-secondary diploma/certificate)
Language proficiency (CLB 4 to 6 depending on the job level)
Sufficient settlement funds (if not already in Canada)
Intention to live and work in the community
Community recommendation required

Want to know if you are eligible for this program? Get in touch with our experts at Glocal opportunities today to know!

How to apply for the Canada RCIP program?

Canada wants skilled workers to fill in skill shortages in its small towns and rural community through the RCIP! Are you interested in applying? Here’s a step-by-step guide to apply for the RCIP:

Pick a community Canada has shortlisted 14 small communities to directly hire and recommend candidates for PR and fill in skill shortages in its towns and rural communities. Make sure to pick the one where your skills are needed.
Check your occupation on RCIP’s occupation list If you want to find out if your skills are in-demand for the RCIP, simply go through the RCIP occupation list.
Get a job offer You must then get a full-time job from a company that’s approved by the community. Also, these jobs should not be seasonal.
Community recommendation After you receive a job offer the community will check your profile and give you a recommendation.
Apply for a Canadian permanent residency After receiving the recommendation, you can apply for PR online. For this you'll need official documents such as passport, job offer letter, etc.
Apply for a work permit Most candidates are unaware of the fact that you can apply for a work permit to start working in Canada while waiting for a PR approval.

Are you confused about the process to apply for RCIP? Talk to our PR experts as they can make the process easier!

Benefits of Canada’s Rural Community Immigration Pilot program

Direct Pathway to Permanent Residence
No Big City Competition
Lower Cost of Living
Extra Support from Communities involved in RCIP
Work While Your PR Is Processed
Excellent PR Pathway for International Students
Family Can Come With You
Safe, Clean, and Community-Focused Living

Canada Rural Community Immigration Pilot fee structure

Applicant Type	Processing Fee	Right of Permanent Residence Fee	Total Fee
Main Applicant	CAD $950	CAD $575	CAD $1,525
Spouse or Common-law Partner	CAD $950	CAD $575	CAD $1,525
Each Dependent Child	CAD $260	Not required	CAD $260
Biometrics (per person)	CAD $85	N/A	CAD $85
Biometrics (family rate)	N/A	N/A	CAD $170

Please note that above mentioned fees are subject to change in future. For latest updates on RCIP fees, get in touch with our experts.

RCIP In-demand occupations

Here are some of the top 6 In-Demand Occupations under RCIP as per the latest Canada RCIP program occupation list:

Occupation	NOC Code	Commonly Prioritized In
Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses	31301	Sault Ste. Marie, Brandon, Thunder Bay, Timmins
Licensed Practical Nurses	32101	Sault Ste. Marie, Brandon, Thunder Bay, Timmins
Personal Support Workers / Nurse Aides / Orderlies / Patient Service Associates	33102	Sault Ste. Marie, Brandon, Thunder Bay, Timmins
Early Childhood Educators and Assistants	42202	Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Thunder Bay, Timmins
Industrial Electricians	72201	Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, North Bay
Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics	72400	Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, North Bay

Want to know if your occupation is on the list? Reach out to our experts today for a better tomorrow!

Make the RCIP process easier with Glocal opportunities!

Free Profile Assessment
Finding your occupation
Job Search Assistance & Employer Connection
Perfect Your Application
Community Recommendation Support
Work Permit & PR Filing
Post-Landing Services

PR experts at Glocal opportunities can help you make the process for RCIP easier! We’ve evaluated thousands of profiles and yours is just as easy for us. Moreover, we believe in going the extra miles for our clients and helping you even after you land! Reach glocal to go global!