IRCC launches new Rural Immigration pathway to Canada PR

Surya Rathee
[Published 31 Jan, 2025 | 04:46 AM]
About Author - 5 min read
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Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced the launch of the much-awaited Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). This new Canada PR pathway will help newcomers settle in smaller regions, bringing fresh talent and diversity to areas usually overlooked in immigration.

This pathway is for foreign nationals who:

• Can help fill labour market shortages in rural communities in Canada (outside of Quebec) and
• Want to live and work long-term in these communities.

The RCIP is being introduced as a potential replacement for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which stopped accepting applications in August 2024. Originally launched in 2022, RNIP aimed to attract newcomers to Canada’s more remote regions. In a recent announcement, Immigration Minister Marc Miller revealed plans to transition RNIP into a permanent program.

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Participating communities in the RCIP

IRCC announced that 14 communities have been selected to participate in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

Each of these communities will be represented by a local economic development organization, which will work with IRCC to identify labour gaps, nominate trustworthy employers and recommend candidates to IRCC for permanent residence (PR). The communities will provide further details and timelines on when both employers and prospective candidates can expect to be able to apply for Canada PR.

Who is eligible for RCIP?

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot is an employer-focused community-specific pathway. All candidates need a job offer from a designated employer that meets certain conditions.

To be eligible to apply, candidates must:

• Have at least 1 year of continuous full-time work experience in an occupation listed on the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This experience must be gained within 3 years of applying for PR.

• Have a valid full-time job offer or employment contract from a designated employer in Canada. The job should be based in the nominated community - with at least 75% of the work performed there.

• Achieve a language proficiency score of CLB 6 or above for TEER 0 and 1 jobs, 5 or above for TEER 2 and 3 jobs, or 4 or above for TEER 4 and 5 jobs.

• Have a secondary school diploma or a higher-level credential. If the degree is obtained from outside Canada, candidates must submit their credentials along with an equivalency assessment.

• Demonstrate enough funds to support themselves and their family members for 1 year in Canada. The amount must be at least half of the low-income threshold for rural areas outside major cities.

• Show the intent to reside and work in the designated community.

• Get a valid certificate of recommendation from an economic development organization at the time of application. These certificates are valid for six months from the date of issue.

NOTE: Applicants residing within Canada must have a valid temporary resident status at the time of application - and must continue to hold valid status until they receive Canada PR.

Immigration pilot programs in Canada, such as the RCIP, serve as temporary pathways to Canada PR. These pilots typically run for up to five years before expiring, after which no new applications are accepted. They are designed to address specific labour shortages in certain regions, industries, or in-demand jobs in Canada - contributing to economic growth in targeted areas.

By implementing pilot programs, the federal government can test new immigration pathways and assess their effectiveness. If proven successful, these pilots may evolve into permanent immigration programs, shaping Canada’s long-term immigration strategy.

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Source: canada.ca