01 — Overview
The current community pilots
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) offer permanent residence to eligible workers who want to live and work in participating communities.
Employers are designated locally. A candidate generally needs a qualifying job offer from a designated employer and a recommendation from the participating community before applying to IRCC.
02
Current and former routes
Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
For eligible skilled workers with a designated-employer job offer in a participating rural or remote community.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)
For eligible French-speaking candidates who will work and settle in a participating Francophone-minority community.
Former RNIP
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot ended on August 31, 2024 and is closed to new applications.
03
Typical federal requirements
- A valid job offer from a designated employer in a participating community
- Related work experience, unless a specific international-graduate exemption applies
- Approved language test results at the level required for the job
- Canadian education or the foreign equivalent
- Settlement funds unless an exemption applies
- A recommendation certificate from the participating community
04
How the process works
- 01
Choose a participating community
Review the community’s priority occupations, employers, intake windows and local rules.
- 02
Secure a qualifying offer
The offer must come from an employer designated by that community and meet federal requirements.
- 03
Obtain community recommendation
Apply through the community process with evidence that you meet federal and local criteria.
- 04
Apply to IRCC
After recommendation, submit the permanent-residence application and, where eligible, a related work-permit application.
05
Important points
- A job offer from a non-designated employer does not satisfy the pilot requirement.
- Each community controls employer designation, priority sectors and recommendation intake.
- The former RNIP community list and criteria should not be used for a new application.
- Community recommendation does not replace IRCC’s final eligibility and admissibility decision.
Official sources
Verify the current rules at the source.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. Program status, criteria and intake can change. Confirm the current official instructions before applying.