by Cristina Zohil-Morton
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by Cristina Zohil-Morton
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Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming a Designated Employer Under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a community-led Canadian immigration program designed to help rural areas attract skilled international workers. If you’re an employer facing persistent labour shortages, becoming a designated employer RCIP can open the door to a broader and more diverse talent pool.
This article walks you through the steps to become designated under the RCIP and connects you with trusted legal resources to support your application.
What Is the RCIP and Who Should Consider It?
The RCIP empowers select rural communities to recommend foreign skilled workers for permanent residence. Employers who gain designation through their community can hire and retain international talent in key sectors like healthcare, trades, and manufacturing.
Benefits of Becoming a Designated RCIP Employer
- Fill long-standing labour gaps with qualified candidates
- Facilitate permanent residence for workers, encouraging retention
- Receive application guidance from community coordinators
Eligibility Criteria for Employers
To qualify as a designated employer RCIP, you must:
- Operate a business within an RCIP-participating community
- Offer full-time, non-seasonal employment with competitive wages
- Demonstrate real recruitment needs not met by the local workforce
Step-by-Step: How to Become a Designated Employer Under RCIP
- Check That You Meet RCIP Eligibility Requirements: To qualify, your business must:
- Have been operating continuously in the participating community for at least two years
- Be in good standing with employment standards and occupational health and safety regulations
- Operate primarily (at least 75% of business activity) within the designated community
- Not be in violation of the federal employer compliance regime
- Operate in one or more priority occupations identified by the community’s local economic plan
- Complete both the free onboarding training and the intercultural competency training
- Agree to actively support the settlement of newcomers and their families
Ineligible businesses include consulates, staffing or employment agencies, and any employer offering non-genuine jobs or engaged in adult entertainment services. Also excluded are businesses owned or controlled by the applicant or their spouse, or owned by licensed immigration representatives.
- Choose a Participating Community: the RCIP requires that you select a rural community as part of your application. Each participating community publishes its own employer designation application on their official website. There is no fee to apply.
- Contact Your Community Representative: Reach out to the local RCIP coordinator or designation officer. They will provide the most up-to-date application forms, training resources, and details on priority sectors and occupations based on regional labour needs.
- Submit Your Employer Designation Application: Your application package may include proof of incorporation, a detailed job offer, local recruitment efforts, and a commitment to newcomer support. Communities may conduct an internal review to ensure your business and job offer align with their economic development goals.
- Receive Your Confirmation of Designation: If your application is approved, the community will issue a Confirmation of Designation. This document allows you to begin hiring eligible foreign candidates under RCIP and provide them with qualifying job offers for permanent residence applications.
Need Help Navigating RCIP Employer Designation?
Understanding the RCIP designation process can be overwhelming. That’s where we come in. At Zohil-Morton Law, we offer tailored legal guidance to employers who want to take advantage of the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). With deep experience in Canadian immigration programs and a practical understanding of RCIP requirements, we help ensure your application is complete, compliant, and community-ready.
Still have questions? Book a consultation today with Cristina Zohil-Morton and get support from the team at Zohil-Morton Law.
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FAQs About Becoming a Designated RCIP Employer
How long does it take to become a designated RCIP employer?
Timelines vary by community, but the process generally takes 2–6 weeks depending on your documentation and coordinator review.
Can I apply to be a designated RCIP employer without being in a participating community?
No. You must be operating in a participating rural community approved for RCIP.
What happens if my job offer doesn’t meet local wage standards?
Your job offer must meet or exceed prevailing wages defined by your community and IRCC. Offers below that threshold are unlikely to be accepted.
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