How the Rural Community Immigration Pilot Performed in 2025: Full Year Review

In 2025, the first year of operation, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) welcomed skilled workers seeking permanent resident (PR) status to live, work, and settle in rural and remote communities.

However, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot is helping more than 1,000 newcomers settle in 14 fast-developing rural communities. Designed to address labour shortages beyond major cities, the pilot connects approved employers with skilled migrants for hard-to-fill roles and ensures communities are equipped to support long-term settlement.

As Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) continues its focus on strengthening smaller communities, the RCIP is set to play an even bigger role in spreading the benefits of immigration in the years ahead.

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Overview of RCIP Growth and Program Developments in 2025

In the data below, we will provide you with tracking of the major developments for the RCIP in its first year of operation:

January 30, 2025: In its first year of operation, the RCIP recorded several important milestones that shaped the program's operations. The IRCC announced the RCIP alongside the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. At the time, IRCC confirmed the 14 participating communities and outlined the central role of community and economic development organizations, including employer designation and candidate recommendations.

June 5, 2025: IRCC published the primary webpage for the RCIP program, along with new information on an optional employer-specific two-year work permit.

August 13, 2025: Additional information was provided when IRCC updated its “Who can apply” webpage with a full eligibility checklist. This included requirements regarding job offers, work experience, language test results, educational qualifications, and settlement funds.

November 20, 2025: The long-term importance of the program was underscored when the Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration identified the RCIP as part of Canada's regional immigration strategy and noted that it replaced the Rural and Northern Immigration Program (RNIP). During the year, the communities involved in the program also announced independently that they were part of the pilot and that lists of designated employers had been established.

Number of Candidates Immigrate Through RCIP in 2025

Although complete figures are not available for all participating communities, the following table highlights reported RCIP outcomes from select regions in 2025.

How to Apply for Canada PR Through the RCIP?

To apply for permanent residence through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Obtain a valid job offer from a designated employer in a participating rural community
• Have at least one year (1,560 hours) of related work experience within the past three years
• Prove language proficiency by taking an approved language test
  • Minimum language scores depend on the NOC TEER category of the job offer
• Hold a Canadian educational credential or an equivalent foreign qualification
• Show proof of settlement funds to support yourself and your family:
• $10,507 for a single applicant
• Up to $27,806 for a family of seven
• +$2,831 for each additional family member

Additional benefit: Applicants and their spouses may be eligible for a two-year Canada work permit while the PR application is being processed, allowing them to start working in their chosen community without waiting for permanent resident status.

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Which RCIP Communities Joined in 2025?

In 2025, the RCIP expanded its reach by welcoming several new communities across multiple provinces, strengthening opportunities for skilled workers to settle outside major urban centres.

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

Together, these communities reflect RCIP’s growing focus on addressing regional labour shortages and supporting long-term settlement and economic growth in rural and smaller regions across Canada.

RCIP Targeted Sectors In the Last Year

Across all 14 participating communities, certain sectors emerged as the most consistently targeted due to ongoing workforce shortages.

• Business, Finance & Administration
• Health / Health Care / Health occupations
• Education, Law & Social, Community & Government Services
• Sales & Service
• Trades & Transport
• Manufacturing & Utilities
• Natural Resources & Agriculture
• Natural & Applied Sciences

The most widespread sectors across all 14 communities were those offering the greatest opportunities for skilled workers to apply for Canada PR, including:

• Health
• Education/Law/Social/Community/Government
• Sales & Service
• Trades & Transport
• Manufacturing/Utilities

This targeted sector approach highlights RCIP’s role in supporting essential services and sustaining economic growth in rural and smaller communities nationwide.

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