RCIP Program: Your may be potential pathway to Permanent Residency in 2025

If you are an international student in Canada or on your Post Graduation Work Permit and seeking for permanent residency in 2025 and next couple of years you should think about this program. This is a federal program and can take you to your destination of permanent residency. It is called Rural Community and Immigration Pilot and designed to attract skilled worker to its rural communities which are struggling with population decline.

What is RCIP and why it is designed

RCIP is an umbrella program for multiple small communities in rural Canada to handle its declining population problem. Small cities and communities needs population growth to function properly and to grow economically. We can say that this program is designed to attract talent from bigger cities to smaller communities.

• A fast track pathway from temporary status to permanent status for eligible candidates inside Canada. You can also apply from outside of Canada
• Community support services so that you don’t feel alone and alienated in these small communities
• Non aligned to Express Entry means you don’t have to worry about CRS scores
• Less competition for jobs in smaller communities
• Less day to day living expenses means you can save more

• Sudbury, Ontario
• Thunder Bay, Ontario
• Brandon, Manitoba
• Moose Jaw, Sasketchewan
• Vernon, British Columbia
• West Kootenay, British Columbia
• North Bay, Ontario
• Pictou County, Nova Scotia
• Sault Ste Marie, Ontario
• Steinbach, Manitoba
• Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
• Claresholm, alberta
• North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia
• Peace Liard, British Columbia

Important to remember that each community has its own requirements for eligibility.

1. Get an eligible job offer from a designated employer of these communities : The job must be full time and permanent
2. Meet the Community Criteria of eligibility: Each participating community in this program has its own eligibility criteria. These may include:
   • Minimum Language profeciency requirements
   • Educational background requirements
   • Work experience requirements ( usually one year but exceptions do apply)
   • Intent to settle permanently in these participating communities
3. Apply for community endoresement: You have to submit your endorsement application to the community.
4. Receive Community endorsement letter
5. Gather your all required documents such as English language test, Police certificates, Foreign credential evaluation and more.
6. Submit your federal PR application to IRCC
7. Maintain the eligibility criteria throughout the process

Eligibility conditions of RCIP Program.

• A full time, permanent and genuine job offer from participating community’s employer
• Minimum of one year eligible work experience in the time period of last 6 years.
• Minimum scores needed
  • TEER 0 and 1- CLB 6
  • TEER 2 and 3- CLB 5
  • TEER 4 and 5 -CLB 4
• Educational Credential Evaluation of foreign education (may not be required if you have Canadian Education)
• Sufficient funds to support yourself and your family (exemption apply)

• Gain skilled work experience in Canada while on PGWP/SOWP or other temporary work permit
• Target the community where you want to settle permanently
• Network with the local employers of the community through cold email/calls, job fairs and experience portal
• Get foreign education credentials evaluated for Canadian employers

International students who are inside Canada can get 3 years of open work permit known as Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) which makes the eligible to gain Canadian work experience and they can work for any employer and in any province of Canada. They can utilize this time period to work in designated RCIP communities which will make them eligible for endorsement and then for PR. International graduates who already have at least one year of eligible work experience should consider this program as they may be able to utilize their prior one year experience for the program.