Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

Candidates

Steps for Candidates to Participate in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)

 

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot provides eligible candidates who want to work and live in rural regions a permanent resident pathway.

RCIP is an employer driven application process, candidates can support their employers by compiling their required documents.

Step 1: Confirm eligibility

Review the RCIP eligibility requirements and determine if this program may be for you.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Who can apply

Step 2: Get a job offer

Candidates must have an eligible job offer from a Pictou County RCIP designated employer. The RCIP is an employer-driven program, and it is the designated employer who can prepare and submit recommendation applications based on their labour needs to the Pictou County Partnership for processing where eligibility will be verified.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Get a job offer

Prepare to share your documents with your employer which may include:

  • results of a language test
  • an educational credential assessment report
  • proof of work experience, unless they’re exempt
  • proof that they have enough money to support themselves and their family

Please note: Pictou County Partnership does not directly match candidates with employers.

We encourage job seekers to explore local job opportunities on job sites such as the Job Bank and to carefully follow the application instructions provided by employers. Applications or direct requests for job offers submitted to employers that do not follow job advertisement instructions may not be considered.

In Nova Scotia, it is against the law to charge any worker, including foreign nationals, a fee for helping a worker find employment. To learn more about Foreign Worker Recruitment in Nova Scotia visit: Nova Scotia Labour Standards – Recruiter Licence Fact Sheet

The Recommendation Selection Process

Recommendation applications that meet the minimum requirements, once processed, will be notified and added to an application pool.

The Pictou County Partnership will pull the highest scoring candidates from the pool at the end of each month where a recommendation intake is scheduled, or until the annual allocations have been met. Approximately 10 recommendations will be made each intake period in 2025, or until the annual allocations have been met.

Pictou County RCIP Scoring Grid May 2025

Step 3: Apply for permanent residence

If you receive a recommendation from the Pictou County community, you can then apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Apply for permanent residence

Step 4: After you apply

Learn more about the permanent resident application process and be prepared to check your application status.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – After you apply

Step 5: Settling in Canada

When your permanent residence application is approved, you can begin settling into your new community. Pictou County looks forward to welcoming you with a ‘community hug’ where connections to local settlement service delivery partners and community integration initiatives are available and ready for you.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Settling in Canada

Optional Step 6: Work Permit

If a work permit is required and a recommendation has been issued and you have submitted your permanent resident application, you may be eligible for a 2 year work permit so you can work while the permanent resident application is processed.

The work permit application process will depend on where you are applying from – inside or outside of Canada.

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Work Permit