Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
RCIP is a permanent residence pathway for people willing to work and settle in one of 14 designated rural communities. It launched on 30 January 2025 and replaced the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, which stopped taking applications on 31 August 2024. Three of the fourteen communities are in British Columbia.
The 14 communities
Each community runs its own intake, allocation and employer list, so the community you choose shapes the whole application.
- ● British Columbia — West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap, Peace Liard
- ● Alberta — Claresholm
- ● Saskatchewan — Moose Jaw
- ● Manitoba — Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, Brandon
- ● Ontario — North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay
- ● Nova Scotia — Pictou County
What you need to qualify
- ● A full-time, non-seasonal, permanent job offer from an employer designated by that community.
- ● A community recommendation from the local economic development organisation.
- ● One year of related work experience — 1,560 hours in the past three years. Waived for qualifying graduates of a local public post-secondary institution.
- ● Language: CLB 6 for TEER 0 and 1 occupations, CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3, CLB 4 for TEER 4 and 5, in all four abilities, on a test less than two years old.
- ● A Canadian secondary or post-secondary credential, or a foreign one with an educational credential assessment.
- ● Settlement funds starting at $10,507 for one person — waived if you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit.
- ● Genuine intent to live in that community.
The order things have to happen in
This is where most RCIP plans fall apart. You cannot apply to IRCC first and find a community later. The employer has to be designated by the community before the job offer counts, the community then issues your recommendation against its own allocation, and only then does the permanent residence application go to IRCC. Communities publish intake windows and close them when their recommendation quota is filled, sometimes within days.
West Kootenay, for example, ran 2026 with a fixed allocation and two short intake windows. Missing a window can mean waiting months. If a community is on your list we will check its calendar before you commit to anything.
Is RCIP right for you?
It suits people who genuinely want a smaller community and who can realistically land a designated-employer offer there — often in healthcare, trades, transport, food processing or hospitality. It is a poor fit if you intend to move to Vancouver or Toronto after landing. Intent to reside is assessed, and communities track outcomes. If your real plan is a city, Express Entry or a provincial nomination is the honest route, and we will say so.
It is also worth knowing that RCIP is a pilot, not a permanent programme. RNIP was a pilot too, and it ended.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Further reading: RCIP and FCIP: the community pilots that replaced RNIP
Looking for related services? See our full Permanent Residency overview or all services.
Why Choose Us?
Personalized Assessment
- Understanding your Canadian immigration needs and goals.
- Assessing eligibility across multiple programs.
- Recommending the best pathway for your situation.
- Answering all questions and addressing concerns.
Tailored Approach
- Custom Canadian immigration plan suited to you.
- Clear proposal outlining services and payment structure: 50% before processing, 50% before submission.
- Comprehensive checklist after initial payment.
Application Fulfillment
- Dedicated case manager assigned to your file.
- Strong application prepared within 7–10 business days.
- Review and final approval before submission.
Trusted Partnership
- Kept informed at every stage from submission to decision.
- Ongoing support and guidance until you reach your goals.
- Available for status updates at any time.
Ready to take the next step?
Book an appointment with our licensed RCIC team. We'll review your case, identify your best pathway, and outline the next steps.
Consultations are free for most enquiries. Permanent residence consultations (Express Entry, PNP and related PR pathways) are $25.
Frequently asked questions
Is RCIP the same thing as RNIP?
No, and the order matters. RNIP — the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot — ran from 2019 and stopped accepting applications on 31 August 2024. RCIP — the Rural Community Immigration Pilot — launched on 30 January 2025 and replaced it. RCIP is the current programme; RNIP is closed.
Can I apply to RCIP without a job offer?
No. A job offer from a community-designated employer is the foundation of the application, and the community recommendation depends on it. There is no expression-of-interest route into RCIP that skips the employer.
Do I have to stay in the community after I get permanent residence?
Legally, permanent residents have mobility rights and cannot be confined to a place. But intent is assessed when you apply and when you land, communities monitor retention, and a recommendation obtained while planning to leave raises misrepresentation concerns. Apply where you actually want to live.
What if my occupation is TEER 4 or 5?
RCIP still works at TEER 4 and 5, with a lower language requirement of CLB 4. That is one of the real advantages of this pilot at a time when several provincial programs are closing their doors to lower-TEER occupations altogether.
How long does RCIP take?
The IRCC stage is only part of it. Getting a designated-employer offer and a community recommendation is usually the longest phase, and it depends on that community's intake calendar and remaining allocation. Build your timeline around the community, not around IRCC's posted processing time.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
More Permanent Residency services
Other pathways we handle in this area — or talk to a licensed RCIC about which fits your case.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.