Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
Permanent residence for skilled workers who want to live and work in a participating rural Canadian community.
Informational page only — not an application form or eligibility determination
What This Program Is
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) offers permanent residence to skilled workers who want to work and settle in one of Canada's designated rural communities. You need a job offer from an employer that the community itself has designated — not a generic national stream.
Each participating community selects employers, posts available jobs on its own website, and issues a community recommendation before you can apply to IRCC for permanent residence. You do not apply through EBBI's website for RCIP itself; the community's employer and recommendation process comes first.
General Eligibility (Informational Checklist)
IRCC's minimum requirements — your community may add local criteria. This list is for orientation only; it is not a form and does not record your answers.
- A valid job offer from a designated employer in a participating community
- At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of related work experience in the past 3 years
- An approved language test result at the level IRCC requires for this pilot
- A Canadian educational credential, or a foreign credential assessed as equivalent (ECA)
- Proof of settlement funds sufficient for yourself and accompanying family members
Official IRCC pages: Eligibility Job offer & communities
Designated Communities
14 designated communities listed below (IRCC may update this list).
Each link goes to that community's official RCIP site — where designated employers and local instructions are posted. EBBI does not control these external sites.
- Loading community directory…
How the Process Works
High-level sequence only — exact steps and forms are on each community's website and on canada.ca.
- Find a participating community that fits your goals and check its official site for designated employers and job postings.
- Secure a valid job offer from a designated employer in that community (the employer applies through the community, not through EBBI).
- Community review: with a valid offer, the employer submits a community recommendation application; the community verifies the job and that you meet pilot requirements.
- Community recommendation: if approved, the community issues a recommendation so you can apply for permanent residence to IRCC.
- Permanent residence application to IRCC — separate from the community's initial employer process. EBBI can discuss representation for this stage once you have a recommendation and a concrete case.
Wondering whether RCIP fits your situation? Talk to our team — we can help you compare pathways and understand what a specific community requires.