Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and Francophone pilot (FCIP)

A federal permanent residence program run by IRCC

Last checked by hand November 7, 2026 against official sources

Quick answer

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), launched January 30, 2025, is a federal PR pathway for people with a job offer from a designated employer in one of 14 participating rural communities and a recommendation from that community. You need at least 1,560 hours of related work in the past 3 years, CLB 6 (TEER 0–1), CLB 5 (TEER 2–3) or CLB 4 (TEER 4–5), a high school diploma or higher, and proof of funds. The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) works the same way in 6 communities, with French at NCLC 5.

Key requirements

Requirement	Official rule
Job offer	From a designated employer in a participating community, in a priority sector or occupation; the employer sends your community recommendation application to the community. source
Work experience	At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of related work in the past 3 years. Some recent graduates of a public institution in the community are exempt. source
Language (RCIP)	TEER 0 or 1: CLB 6 · TEER 2 or 3: CLB 5 · TEER 4 or 5: CLB 4 source
Language (FCIP)	NCLC 5 in all 4 abilities, French tests only source
Education	Canadian high school diploma or higher, or a foreign equivalent with an ECA under 5 years old source
Proof of funds	$10,507 for one person up to $27,806 for seven, plus $2,831 per extra person (updated July 29, 2025). Not needed if you already work in Canada. source

Program updates

November 5, 2026
IRCC's 2027–2029 levels plan adds a Rural Community Immigration Program with targets of 5,500 (2027), 6,000 (2028) and 6,500 (2029); remaining RCIP applications will be processed to completion. No launch date for the permanent program was published. source
January 30, 2025
IRCC launched the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot, giving 18 communities a permanent residence pathway. source

Participating communities

Pictou County — RCIP
Nova Scotia official page
North Bay and Area — RCIP
Ontario official page
Sudbury — RCIP
Ontario official page
Timmins — RCIP
Ontario official page
Sault Ste. Marie — RCIP
Ontario official page
Thunder Bay — RCIP
Ontario official page
Steinbach — RCIP
Manitoba official page
Altona/Rhineland — RCIP
Manitoba official page
Brandon — RCIP
Manitoba official page
Moose Jaw — RCIP
Saskatchewan official page
Claresholm — RCIP
Alberta official page
West Kootenay — RCIP
British Columbia official page
North Okanagan Shuswap — RCIP
British Columbia official page
Peace Liard — RCIP
British Columbia official page
Acadian Peninsula — FCIP
New Brunswick official page
Sudbury — FCIP
Ontario official page
Timmins — FCIP
Ontario official page
Superior East Region — FCIP
Ontario official page
St. Pierre Jolys — FCIP
Manitoba official page
Kelowna — FCIP
British Columbia official page

Official sources: www.canada.ca/…/rural-franco-pilots.html · www.canada.ca/…/eligibility.html · www.canada.ca/…/canada-launches-rural-and-francophone-community-immigration-pilots.html · www.canada.ca/…/supplementary-immigration-levels-2027-2029.html

Frequently asked questions

Which communities are in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot?+

Pictou County (NS); North Bay and Area, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay (ON); Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland and Brandon (MB); Moose Jaw (SK); Claresholm (AB); and West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap and Peace Liard (BC).

What language level does the RCIP require?+

CLB 6 for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3, and CLB 4 for TEER 4 or 5. The Francophone pilot requires NCLC 5 in French.

Is the RCIP becoming permanent?+

IRCC's 2027–2029 levels plan includes a Rural Community Immigration Program with targets from 5,500 in 2027 to 6,500 in 2029. IRCC hasn't published a launch date.