IRCC makes the Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent program

What changed

On November 9, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that the Government of Canada has made the Rural Community Immigration Pilot a permanent program.

IRCC describes it as an employer- and community-led program. It relies on local partnerships between employers and community partners to support newcomers and their families.

Who it affects

According to the release, the program intends to continue with the 14 communities currently taking part in the pilot. An expansion to additional communities is planned in the future. The eligibility criteria for new communities in any future expansion will be communicated through a future announcement.

In this year's immigration levels plan, 5,500 admission spaces are targeted for the permanent Rural Community Immigration Program.

Background figures from the release

• IRCC ran the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot from 2019 to 2024. It has run the Rural Community Immigration Pilot since 2025.
• More than 2,800 employers participated in the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot. Over 12,500 candidates and their families were admitted to rural and smaller communities.
• From January 2025 to August 2026, participating communities vetted and designated more than 1,950 employers. These employers issued over 4,700 job offers and community recommendations.

The release also notes that employers have other permanent pathways, such as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and federal economic programs managed by Express Entry.

Effective date

The news release is dated November 9, 2026, and states that the program has been made permanent. It gives no further implementation dates.

Official text

Read the IRCC news release of November 9, 2026.