What the two pilots are
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) are federal permanent residence pilots run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) with participating communities. Both launched on 30 January 2025. They replace the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), which ended on 31 August 2024.
- RCIP helps smaller communities fill jobs that local employers can't fill.
- FCIP helps French-speaking communities outside Québec grow, so it requires French.
In both pilots, the community recommends the candidate, and IRCC decides on permanent residence.
Participating communities
At launch, IRCC named 14 RCIP communities and 6 FCIP communities (18 in total, because Sudbury and Timmins take part in both).
| Pilot | Communities announced at launch |
|---|---|
| RCIP | Pictou County (NS); North Bay, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay (ON); Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland and Brandon (MB); Moose Jaw (SK); Claresholm (AB); West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap and Peace Liard (BC) |
| FCIP | Acadian Peninsula (NB); Sudbury, Timmins and Superior East Region (ON); St. Pierre Jolys (MB); Kelowna (BC) |
Each community publishes its own priority sectors, its list of designated employers and its rules for recommendations, and each has a limited number of recommendations per year. Check IRCC's pilot page and the community's own website for the current list and whether it is still accepting candidates.
How it works
- A designated employer in the community offers you a job. Only employers designated by the community can make a qualifying offer.
- You apply to the community for a recommendation. The community checks the job offer, your fit with its priorities and its own criteria.
- The community recommends you if you meet its requirements and it still has room.
- You apply to IRCC for permanent residence with the recommendation. IRCC checks eligibility and admissibility and makes the final decision.
Key requirements (as of 2026-10-11)
- Job offer: full-time, non-seasonal and indeterminate (no end date), from a designated employer, located in the community.
- Work experience: at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid work in the last 3 years, in an occupation related to the job offer. Some graduates of a post-secondary program in the community can be exempt.
- Language (RCIP): depends on the job offer's TEER category: CLB/NCLC 6 for TEER 0 and 1, 5 for TEER 2 and 3, 4 for TEER 4 and 5.
- Language (FCIP): French at NCLC 5 in all 4 abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing), whatever the job.
- Education: a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent, with an educational credential assessment (ECA) for a foreign credential.
- Funds: enough money to settle in the community, unless you already work legally in Canada.
- Intent to live in the community.
Read the full criteria on IRCC's RCIP eligibility page and FCIP page. Processing times are in IRCC's tool.
How these pilots differ from the PNP and the AIP
| RCIP / FCIP | Provincial Nominee Program | Atlantic Immigration Program | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who selects | A participating community | The province or territory | The Atlantic province endorses the job offer |
| Where | Named communities only | Anywhere in the province | NB, NS, PEI, NL |
| Job offer | Required, from a community-designated employer | Depends on the stream | Required, from a province-designated employer |
| French | FCIP: NCLC 5 required | Some francophone streams | Not required |
For French speakers
FCIP is often the most relevant pilot for French speakers from abroad, including candidates from the Maghreb, because NCLC 5 is the same for every job level. French speakers who want to study first can look at the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot. French ability can also help in Express Entry's French-language category. Québec has its own programs; see Québec immigration.
Recent changes
- 30 January 2025: IRCC launches the RCIP and FCIP and names the participating communities.
- 31 August 2024: the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) ends.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, can check your eligibility for each pilot, review a job offer from a designated employer, explain the community recommendation step and prepare your permanent residence application to IRCC. The community and IRCC make every decision, so no one can promise a recommendation or an approval. Book a consultation.