• Last updated:   17 September 2025

RCIP in Vernon, BC

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Rural and Community Immigration Pilot

The Rural and Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) offers eligible employers a valuable opportunity to address crucial labor shortages within their communities. Through this program, employers can extend full-time permanent job offers to skilled foreign workers who possess the expertise needed to fill these gaps effectively. By participating in the RCIP, employers not only meet their immediate staffing needs but also contribute to the growth and development of their communities, creating a more robust and sustainable workforce.

 

RCIP: Fostering Long-Term Residency and Workforce Stability

The RCIP is tailored for individuals who intend to establish long-term residence in the community and for employers seeking to retain workers over an extended period.

 

Region’s update

The Rural and Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) program is executed in various regions across Canada. As of my last update, these regions included:

Thunder Bay, Ontario	Brandon, Manitoba
Sault Ste Marie, Ontario	Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
Sudbury, Ontario	Claresholm, Alberta
Timmins, Ontario	North-Okanagan(Vernon), British Columbia
North Bay, Ontario	West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), British Columbia

 

Community Futures North Okanagan was awarded the agreement to offer the Pilot in February 2025 for a 3-year term, by the Government of Canada, Minister of Immigration. This region is one of the only 11 English speaking Pilot programs in Canada.

Geographic Scope: Communities and Boundaries

The RCIP program applies to employers and applicants operating or residing within the following areas:

1. Regional District of North Okanagan (entire jurisdiction).
2. Columbia Shuswap Regional District (Electoral Areas C, D, E, F, G).
3. City of Salmon Arm.

 

Eligible Communities include but are not limited to:

Armstrong	Ashton Creek	Anglemont
Blind Bay	Bench	Celista
Cherryville	Coldstream/Lavington	Deep Creek
Enderby	Falkland	Grindrod
Lumby	Salmon Arm	Scotch Creek
Sicamous	Silver Creek	Sorrento
Spallumcheen	Vernon

 

Priority Sectors: Driving Local Economic Growth

The North Okanagan-Shuswap RCIP focuses on five priority sectors to align immigration with community needs:

• Health
• Education, Law, and Social Services
• Sales and Service
• Trades and Transport
• Manufacturing and Utilities

 

NOC Code – Title		Cap per Employer	Wage
12200	Accounting technicians and bookkeepers	N/A	$22
13110	Administrative assistants	N/A	$22
14100	General office support workers	N/A	$22
14200	Accounting and related clerks	N/A	$22
33102	Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates	N/A	$22
33103	Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants	N/A	$22
42201	Social and community service workers	N/A	$22
42202	Early childhood educators and assistants	N/A	$22
60030	Restaurant and food service managers	2	$25
60031	Accommodation service managers	2	$25
62021	Executive housekeepers	2	$25
63210	Hairstylists and barbers	N/A	$22
72100	Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors	N/A	$22
72106	Welders and related machine operators	N/A	$22
72300	Plumbers	N/A	$22
72310	Carpenters	N/A	$22
72402	Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics	N/A	$22
72410	Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers	N/A	$22
72421	Appliance servicers and repairers	N/A	$22
73400	Heavy equipment operators	N/A	$22
75110	Construction trades helpers and labourers	10	$22
90010	Manufacturing managers	N/A	$22
94211	Assemblers and inspectors of other wood products	10	$22
94212	Plastic products assemblers, finishers and inspectors	10	$22
95103	Labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing	10	$22

 

Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility Requirements – Employers

1. Meet all of the federal eligibility requirements as stipulated by IRCC which includes but is not limited to the following:
   • active operation under the same management for two years within the Community
   • the employer carries on business in at least one priority occupation and at least 75 per cent of work is to be performed within the Community
   • completion of both mandatory IRCC training modules
   • can offer jobs that are non-seasonal, full time (30 hours a week or more), with an indeterminate end date.
2. Operate within one of the 5 priority sectors established by the Community.
3. Have the need to hire, or maintain a current worker, in a priority NOC code established by the Community.
4. Comply with the Community wage requirement and any other Community requirement.
5. Comply with Community requests and must submit requested documents.
6. Comply with Federal and Community settlement requirements.

Eligibility Requirements – Applicants

1. Meet all of the Federal requirements as stipulated by IRCC. This includes but is not limited to the following:
   • have, at minimum, completed a Canadian Secondary School diploma or the equivalent valid foreign credential
   • have accumulated at least one year of full-time work experience, or the equivalent in part-time work in the 3 years prior to applying for recommendation OR be eligible for the International Student Exemption as mentioned by the IRCC under work experience exemption
   • have a genuine job offer in the Community from an employer that carries on business in the Community. The job offer must be full-time, seasonal, for an indeterminate period (no end date), that meets the Community requirements
   • have valid language test results from the last two years
   • intend to reside in the Community.
2. Be offered a wage compliant with Community and NOC specific criteria.
3. Comply with requests from the Community and submit required documents.
4. Score at least 50 points in the Community point system.