What IRCC published
On November 9, 2026, IRCC published the pages for the Rural Community Immigration Program. The program opens on January 1, 2027. It is the permanent version of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, and it rests on the Regulations published in the Canada Gazette on November 4, 2026 (SOR/2026-217). A class written into the Regulations has no end date, unlike a pilot.
The process stays the same: you get a job offer from an employer the community has designated, the community recommends you, and then you apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
The 14 participating communities
| Province | Communities |
|---|---|
| Nova Scotia | Pictou County |
| Ontario | North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay |
| Manitoba | Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, Brandon |
| Saskatchewan | Moose Jaw |
| Alberta | Claresholm |
| British Columbia | West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap, Peace Liard |
Each community publishes its own designated employers and jobs when it is ready. The program does not cover Quebec.
Who can apply
- Community recommendation: a valid recommendation certificate from a participating community.
- Job offer: from a designated employer in that community: full-time, non-seasonal and with no end date.
- Work experience: at least one year (1,560 hours) of paid, related work in the past three years. Self-employment does not count.
- Language: an approved test less than two years old, at the level set for the job offer (table below).
- Education: a Canadian credential, or a foreign credential equal to at least a Canadian secondary school diploma, with an assessment.
- Settlement funds: $10,507 for one person, $13,080 for two, $16,080 for three and $19,524 for four. You do not need to show funds if you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit.
Language and work experience by TEER of the job offer
| TEER of the job offer | Minimum language level | Work experience must be in |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0 or 1 | CLB 6 | TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 |
| TEER 2 | CLB 5 | TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4 |
| TEER 3 | CLB 5 | TEER 2, 3 or 4 |
| TEER 4 | CLB 4 | TEER 2, 3 or 4 |
| TEER 5 | CLB 4 | the same five-digit NOC code |
Approved tests: CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English; TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. International graduates of a public post-secondary school in the community may be exempt from the work experience requirement, under conditions on the program length and the time spent in the community.
If you are in the pilot now
If you are waiting for a pilot recommendation, ask the community now whether it can decide your file before December 31. If you are still looking for an employer, plan for the new program from January 1, 2027, and check the community's own list of designated employers and jobs.
Official sources
- IRCC: Rural Community Immigration Program
- IRCC: Rural Community Immigration Program — Who can apply
- IRCC: Get a job offer and a community recommendation
- IRCC: Language test requirements
- IRCC: Work experience requirements
- IRCC: Proof of funds
- Canada Gazette, Part II: SOR/2026-217 (Rural Community Immigration)