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Northeast BC - Peace Liard Region
If you are a temporary resident or overseas candidate looking to become a permanent resident, scroll down to learn more about the Northeast BC Rural Community Immigration Pilot.
Employer Led
Please note: The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is employer led.
This means that:
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Candidates (foreign nationals) DO NOT apply directly to RCIP.
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Candidates must secure an RCIP eligible job offer from an RCIP Designated Employer.
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The employer submits candidate applications to RCIP ONLY after the employer has received “Designated Employer” status from us.
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As per Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, we will provide an ongoing list of Designated Employers on our website.
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For more information on candidate eligibility criteria, visit Rural Community Immigration Pilots: Who can apply – Canada.ca
Process for Candidates
- 01Make sure you meet the IRCC Federal Eligibility Requirements. Click the link below to ensure you meet the applicant requirements: • Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) – Candidate Requirements (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html)
- 02Applicants must secure full-time permanent employment in the Peace Liard region of Northeast BC with a designated employer i(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/hire/designation.html)n one of the priority sectors and occupations listed below. Click here (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/hire/candidate.html)to ensure the job offer meets the requirements of the Pilots. Please note that the wage offered must meet or exceed the Job Bank’s minimum wage (https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis/search-wages)for your job offer’s National Occupational Classification (NOC), based on the Northeast BC region. If you are successful in securing a job offer with a designated employer and they agree to support your application, they will provide you with an Offer of Employment Form. (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm0247.html)
- 03Once you have a valid job offer from a designated employer, the employer will submit an application for community recommendation to RCIP once the application period opens. The 2026 intake will open on April 1st 2026 at 12:00PM. Please ensure that you provide your employer with all the necessary documents required for a complete application. Your employer will need to submit the following documents along with the Recommendation Application Form:(https://c6258bfb-f537-43ce-a4c5-9d1dfd4a7880.usrfiles.com/ugd/c6258b_94a7cc2b1b3b4c85822ce7d8329b62b7.pdf) Language test results (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/language-test.html) Proof of Education (alongside ECA i(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/education-assessment.html)f necessary) Intent to Reside form (https://c6258bfb-f537-43ce-a4c5-9d1dfd4a7880.usrfiles.com/ugd/c6258b_072ea298f5ed4eef81e16e9ac27e9f83.docx)filled by candidate IMM 0247 (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm0247.html)(Offer of Employment to a Foreign National for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot) IMM 0248 Schedule 1 (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/imm0248.html)– Rural Community Immigration Pilot Proof of previous relevant work experience (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html)- This can include pay stubs, letter of employment, copy of T4 tax information slips, etc. Proof of exemption from work experience (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html)(if applicable) If the candidate is already in Canada, copy of their legal status in the country Any other necessary supporting documents
- 04We are authorized to issue up to 60 candidate recommendations for the Northeast BC – Peace Liard region in the 2026 intake year. We may receive additional recommendations in the Fall should other communities fail to use up all of their recommendations. We will use a scoring grid and pool model to triage, assess and rank applications. Please see the attached scoring grid. (https://c6258bfb-f537-43ce-a4c5-9d1dfd4a7880.usrfiles.com/ugd/c6258b_6cab76f8a33c492293b0b90cf96aec0b.pdf) We may be able to accept up to 20% discretionary NOC codes that fall outside of the eligible 25 NOC codes. As required by IRCC, discretionary NOCs are eligible for sector points only and do not receive occupation category points. To ensure regional and sector equity, each Designated Employer may submit only ONE (1) Candidate Recommendation Application at first. This cap may be lifted later in the year should allocations remain available. Allocations will be issued to the highest ranking candidates in line with sector distribution targets throughout the year. Where a sector does not have enough eligible or competitive candidates at that time, recommendations may be issued to higher-ranking candidates from other sectors. The following NOC codes are capped at 5% of allocations and a combined total of 20% as required by IRCC: -Food Service Manager (NOC 60031) -Food Service Supervisor (NOC 62020) -Cashier (NOC 65100) -Retail Sales Supervisor (NOC 62010) Please note: Applications will not be considered if they are incomplete, contain multiple errors/omissions or if the candidate does not meet federal eligibility requirements. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure that their candidate(s) meet all program criteria and that all required documentation is complete, accurate and up to date.
- 05If your employer’s Recommendation Application is approved, you will receive a Community Recommendation Certificate that allows you to apply to IRCC for Permanent Residence. The recommendation certificate is valid for a period of six (6) months. Click the link below for instructions on how to apply for permanent residence, including a document checklist and instructions for filling out forms: • Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) – Apply for permanent residence (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/permanent-residence.html) NOTE: Receiving a Community Recommendation Certificate does not guarantee that a candidate will receive permanent residence. It is up to the IRCC Processing Officer’s discretion when they are reviewing the application.
- 06Once you’ve applied for and/or received your permanent residence from IRCC, you will be asked to share details and timelines about your relocation to the region, if applicable. Your employer will support you by connecting you to settlement services, helping you integrate into the workplace, and welcoming you to the community. To find newcomer services near you, please visit this page.(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/settle.html) (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/settle.html)
- 07If you require a temporary work permit while your permanent residence application is being processed by IRCC, click here (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/work-permit.html)to learn about the steps involved.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Northeast BC RCIP team does not match candidates with jobs.
We will share the list of businesses/organizations that are Designated Employers on our website when available.
For job search support, please visit an employment agency.
The list of Designated Employers will be posted to the Northeast BC RCIP website as soon as its available.
Your work experience must
• be at a skill level related to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) category (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/eligibility/find-national-occupation-code.html)of your job offer
• include the actions listed in the description of your NOC
• include most of the main duties
Work Experience TEER
• My job offer is TEER 0 or 1
• Your work experience must be in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3.
• My job offer is TEER 2
• Your work experience must be in TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4.
• My job offer is TEER 3 or 4
• Your work experience must be in TEER 2, 3 or 4.
• My job offer is TEER 5
• Your work experience must be in the same 5-digit NOC code
In certain circumstances, you don't need qualifying work experience if you're an international student who has graduated from Northern Lights College with an eligible credential.
For more information, review the work experience exemption.(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html)
To meet the education requirement, you must have either a Canadian educational credential or a foreign credential supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
A Canadian educational credential includes:
• A Canadian secondary school (high school) diploma, or
• A Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree from an institution that is recognized by the appropriate provincial authority. You can verify this using the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC): https://www.cicic.ca/868/search_the_directory_of_educational_institutions_in_canada.canada(https://www.cicic.ca/868/search_the_directory_of_educational_institutions_in_canada.canada)
If your education was completed outside of Canada, you must provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Please note:
• Your credential must be fully completed—an ECA showing partial completion does not meet the minimum requirement.
For more information, please visit IRCC’s official page:
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/education-assessment.html(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/education-assessment.html)
You can take any of these approved language tests: (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/language-test.html)
• CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
• You need to take the CELPIP-General
• IELTS: International English Language Testing System
• You need to take the IELTS General Training
• PTE: Pearson Test of English
• You need to take the PTE Core
These results must be less than 2 years old when you apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for your PR – NOT just at the time when your employer applies to the RCIP for a Recommendation Certificate to support your application to IRCC.
The minimum score you need depends on the NOC TEER category of your job offer. (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/language-test.html)
NOTE: the score must be across all categories, not based on an average score.
• TEER 0 or 1: CLB 6
• TEER 2 or 3: CLB 5
• TEER 4 or 5: CLB 4
The application forms and process you need to follow depend on where you’re applying from.
For more information on applying for the RCIP work permit or spousal RCIP work permit, please visit: Rural Community Immigration Pilot: Optional: Work permit – Canada.ca(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/work-permit.html)
You must use the IRCC webform found here.(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/web-form.html?adobe_mc_sdid=SDID%3D3DF3E9A0F3DE39FD-51EBFFA8C9263E6E%7CMCORGID%3DA90F2A0D55423F537F000101%40AdobeOrg%7CTS%3D1727104683)
No. You must contact IRCC regarding your Permanent Residence application.
Hire a Registered Immigration Consultant of Canada(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigration-citizenship-representative/choose/authorized.html)
The Northeast BC Rural Community Immigration Pilot is not affiliated with any Immigration Representative, nor do we give preferential treatment to applications from an Immigration Representative.
If employers and candidates choose to have their paperwork completed by an Immigration Representative, we suggest they read Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s guidelines for using an immigration and citizenship representative.(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigration-citizenship-representative.html)
Employers and candidates may use a representative to act on their behalf or to assist them with finding a qualifying job offer, completing their RCIP application for recommendation, and/or completing their Permanent Resident application.
There are different types of representatives: paid and unpaid and authorized and unauthorized. The Northeast BC RCIP will not communicate with, or allow for, unauthorized representatives to assist with an RCIP application. If an applicant uses an unauthorized representative, in Canada or abroad, we may return your application or refuse it.
Immigration Representatives are authorized if they are:
• Lawyers and paralegals who are members in good standing of a Canadian provincial or territorial law society
• Notaries who are members in good standing of the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and
• Citizenship or immigration consultants who are members in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
Please note: using an Immigration Representative does not change how the application will be reviewed or whether it will be approved or rejected. All applications are handled the same.
Immigration Representatives cannot and should not guarantee Community Recommendation, Permanent Residence, or a more expedient processing of an application.
Incomplete Documents:
Applications WILL NOT be considered if the following documents are incomplete and do not meet minimum qualifications:
• A valid job offer from a designated employer
• Valid English language test results that meet the requirements of the job offer. Learn more.(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/language-test.html)
• Canadian educational credential or the foreign equivalent. Learn more.(https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html)
• Proof of related work experience (one year/ 1,560 hours) in the last three years, unless they are exempt (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility.html)
• Proof that the candidate has enough money (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/rural-franco-pilots/rural-immigration/eligibility/proof-funds.html)to support themselves and their family
Fraud and Misrepresentation:
Fraud and misrepresentation are taken very seriously by the Northeast BC Rural Community Immigration Pilot and by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Any business and/or individuals found to be misrepresenting themselves or committing fraud will be banned from applying for recommendation for the duration of the pilot, along with any associated parties.
Misrepresentation and fraud can take many forms including but not limited to:
• Submission of fraudulent documents
• Accepting or offering money for a job offer
• Intentionally misleading the Northeast BC Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Decision-making:
It is important to note the following:
• All decisions made by the Northeast BC Rural Community Immigration Pilot are final and are not subject to appeal.
• Receiving a recommendation from the Northeast BC Rural Community Immigration Pilot does not guarantee permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has sole authority to approve or refuse all applications for permanent residency.
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