Moving Abroad

Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots in Canada Explained

2 min read

In this guide
  1. What are the RCIP and FCIP?
  2. Which communities take part?
  3. How do you apply?
  4. What do employers do?
  5. How is this different from other regional routes?
  6. Common mistakes
  7. FAQ
    1. Is Express Entry required?
    2. Where do I find the boundary maps?
  8. Key takeaways
  9. Related guides
  10. Sources

Quick answer: The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) offer permanent residence to skilled candidates who want to work and live in one of the selected Canadian communities. Employers in those communities can be designated to hire in priority sectors.

What are the RCIP and FCIP?

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the two pilots offer permanent residence to skilled workers who want to settle in selected communities. The rural pilot is for workers who want to settle in rural and more remote communities; IRCC says 14 communities were chosen because they showed they can support and benefit from skilled newcomers. Together, the pilots cover 18 communities.

Which communities take part?

Pilot Communities listed by IRCC
Rural (RCIP) Pictou County (NS); North Bay and area, Sudbury, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay (ON); Steinbach, Altona/Rhineland, Brandon (MB); Moose Jaw (SK); Claresholm (AB); West Kootenay, North Okanagan Shuswap, Peace Liard (BC)
Francophone (FCIP) Acadian Peninsula (NB); Sudbury, Timmins, Superior East Region (ON); St. Pierre Jolys (MB); Kelowna (BC)

How do you apply?

IRCC outlines a path: check you’re eligible, get a job offer, apply for permanent residence under a pilot, and get a work permit while you wait. Each pilot has its own page and eligibility criteria on the IRCC website, so read the one that fits you before approaching an employer.

What do employers do?

Employers in a participating community can contact their community to get designated and then hire in priority sectors for jobs they can’t fill with local workers.

How is this different from other regional routes?

Common mistakes

  • Applying for a job outside the community boundary; IRCC publishes boundary maps.
  • Taking a job offer from an employer who is not designated.
  • Mixing up the rural and Francophone pilots, which have different community lists.

FAQ

Is Express Entry required?

The pilots have their own application route. See the pilot pages and our Express Entry explainer for the alternative.

Where do I find the boundary maps?

On the IRCC pilot page, which links an interactive community boundary map.

Key takeaways

  • 18 communities across both pilots.
  • You need a job offer from a designated employer in that community.
  • Check the boundary map before you accept a role.

Last updated: October 2026. General information, not immigration advice. Check current rules on the IRCC website.

Sources

  • Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilots

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