Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)  

The Pictou County Partnership, the leading economic development organization for the Pictou County region, is pleased to be one of 18 selected communities to take part in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). Developed for economic development organizations to support rural workforce growth, Pictou County RCIP assists local employers in filling critical roles specific to our region’s labour needs.  

As a permanent resident pathway, RCIP also prioritizes the success of newcomers who choose to build their futures in our rural region of Nova Scotia. The Partnership looks forward to supporting successful applicants with a ‘community hug’ through connections to our settlement service delivery partners and our community integration initiatives as they settle, thrive, and contribute to the vibrant growth of our community. 

RCIP enables Pictou County employers to attract and retain international talent, helping local businesses thrive and build diverse, skilled teams. 

Pictou County RCIP is now open for employer designation. The first recommendation intake period will be from July 14th to July 25th for eligible employers. 

To get started, connect with our team at rcip@pictoucountypartnership.com  

 

Pictou County RCIP Designated Area 

To apply for the Pictou County RCIP designation, employers must be located within the Pictou County RCIP designated area which includes our municipal partners: Pictou Landing First Nation, the Municipality of Pictou County, and the towns of New Glasgow, Pictou, Stellarton, Trenton, and Westville. 

Pictou County Statistics Canada Map

 

Pictou County RCIP Priority Sectors 2025 

• Business, finance, and administration 

• Health occupations 

• Sales & Services 

• Trades, transport and equipment operators 

• Manufacturing 

 

Pictou County RCIP Priority Occupations 2025 

• Accounting technicians and bookkeepers – 12200 

• Data scientists – 21211 

• Cybersecurity specialists – 21220 

• Business systems specialists – 21221 

• Database analysts and data administrators – 21223 

• Software developers and programmers – 21232 

• Pharmacists – 31120 

• Pharmacy technicians – 32124 

• Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants – 33103 

• Restaurant and food service managers – 60030* 

• Retail sales supervisors – 62010* 

• Cooks – 63200* 

• Sheet metal workers – 72102 

• Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians – 72205 

• Plumbers – 72300 

• Carpenters – 72310 

• Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers – 72410 

• Plasterers, drywall installers, and finishers and lathers – 73102 

• Roofers and shinglers – 73110 

• Residential and commercial installers and servicers – 73200 

• Printing press operators – 73401 

• Supervisors, forest products processing – 92014 

• Woodworking machine operators – 94124 

• Other wood processing machine operators – 94129 

• Rubber processing machine operators and related workers – 94112 

*The following NOCs will be capped at no more than 10% of the total annual RCIP allocation: 60030, 62010, and 63200. Additionally, the number of NOC 60030 positions per restaurant location is subject to a limit based on hours of operations and employers may be required to provide additional supporting documentation to confirm the operational need for these positions. 

 

Use of an Immigration Consultant 

Engaging an immigration representative is optional and will not impact an applicant’s eligibility for a recommendation under the RCIP. The Pictou County Partnership does not endorse or collaborate with any immigration consultants. 

If you choose to use an immigration consultant, ensure they are authorized by the Government of Canada. Only representatives who are members in good standing with the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) or a Canadian law society may charge a fee. You can verify their credentials on the IRCC website. 

Using a representative is a personal choice and will not affect the outcome or processing time of your application. 

 

Nova Scotia Labour Standards 

In Nova Scotia, employers must adhere to specific regulations when recruiting foreign workers. Individuals or agencies assisting in recruiting foreign workers must hold a valid Foreign Worker Recruiter Licence from Labour Standards, unless an exemption applies.  

Employers who conduct their own recruitment do not require a recruiter licence. For more information, visit the Licensed Foreign Worker Recruiters page.  

For comprehensive information on foreign worker recruitment regulations, please refer to the Foreign Workers page.   

 

 

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

If you’re an employer in Pictou County, RCIP offers a unique opportunity to hire qualified candidates for roles that are difficult to fill locally. To get started, you’ll need to complete the free training and submit a designation application to the Pictou County Partnership. 

Once approved, you’ll be able to make job offers, and submit candidate recommendation applications within eligible sectors and occupations for permanent residence. 

 

Step 1. Become a RCIP Designated Employer 

Before applying, confirm that your business meets the requirements and complete the training to learn how to make the most of RCIP to support your workforce development planning. 

Hire through the Rural Community Immigration pilot

Online Onboarding will provide you with an overview of Canada’s immigration system and an understanding of the pilot. 

English: Employer Onboarding Training – Overview 

Français: Formation sur l’intégration des employeurs – Sommaire 

Intercultural competency training supports employers with building welcoming workplaces that supports newcomer integration and retention. 

English: ARAISA | Building Welcoming Workplaces 

Français: ARAISA | Créer un environnement de travail accueillant 

 

Apply to the Pictou County Partnership 

Eligible employers are invited to apply for designation at any time the pilot is active. The designation process confirms that your business is eligible to hire skilled workers through the pilot and helps you prepare for taking part. 

Designated employers will receive a Confirmation of Designation from the Pictou County Partnership. 

To get started and to access the Pictou County RCIP Designation application, reach out to our team. 

Email: rcip@pictoucountypartnership.com

Copy the subject line: [Insert Business name] Designation Application  

Rural Community Immigration Pilot Employer Designation Guidelines

Note: Employers must apply to Labour Standards for an Employer Registration Certificate to recruit foreign workers for employment in Nova Scotia. There is no fee to apply. 

Apply for an Employer Registration Certificate (ERC) 

 

Revocation of Employer Designation under the RCIP 

Employer designation under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) can be revoked if certain conditions are not met. The Pictou County Partnership has the authority to de-designate an employer if they fail to meet the program’s criteria or are found to be in violation of any legal or program requirements. Refer to the Rural Community Immigration Pilot Employer Designation Guidelines for details. 

Pictou County RCIP designated employers list coming soon.  

 

Step 2. Find an Eligible Candidate 

Once your business is designated under the RCIP, you can make job offers to eligible international candidates to fill roles you were not able to hire locally. 

The Pictou County Partnership does not provide recruitment services, but contact our RCIP team who can support you with learning more about international talent pools and how to make connections rcip@pictoucountypartnership.com . 

Hire through the Rural Community Immigration pilots 

Job offer requirements: 

• within the boundaries of Pictou County designate area 

• full time (at least 30 paid hours per week) 

• non-seasonal (year-round) 

• indeterminate (no end date) 

• Volunteer work and unpaid internships don’t count. 

• at a similar skill level as your candidate’s qualifying work experience 

Candidate Requirements: 

Candidates who are existing employees with a valid work permit and new international candidates can be considered for RCIP recommendations. To learn more about candidate requirements and the documents they will need to submit to you as part of the recommendation application, visit: 

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Who can apply 

Recruitment Activities: 

Employers will need to demonstrate that they tried to hire from within Canada before looking to hire skilled workers from outside of Canada. See the Recommendation Application Guidelines for more details. 

Rural Community Immigration Pilot Recommendation Application Guidelines

 

Step 3. Submit the Recommendation Application for the Candidate 

Once you have identified a candidate to fill an existing vacancy, you must complete a Recommendation Application for each Principal Applicant and submit it to the Pictou County Partnership. A recommendation is required before the candidate can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residency and a work permit. 

The recommendation application will confirm the business, job offer, and the candidate meet the eligibility requirements for Pictou County RCIP.  

To learn more visit Submit a recommendation to your community.

To get started and to access the Pictou County RCIP Recommendation application, reach out to our team. 

Email: rcip@pictoucountypartnership.com

Copy the subject line: [Insert Business name] Recommendation Application  

Offer of Employment to a foreign national – Rural Community Immigration Pilot (IMM 0247) 

Rural Community Immigration Pilot Recommendation Application Guidelines

 

Intake periods 2025 

The Pictou County Partnership will be inviting Pictou County RCIP designated employers to submit their completed recommendation applications during the following intake periods: 

July 14 – 25 

August 1 – 15 

September 1 – 15 

October 1 – 15 

November 1 – 15 

December 1 -10 

 

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 Recommendation Scoring Grids 2025 

 

Optional Step 4. Work Permit 

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

Employers can support a recommended candidate by submitting an offer of employment in the IRCC Employer Portal and paying a $230 compliance fee. After submitting, you will receive a 7-digit number which is the employment number you must share with the candidate for their work permit application. 

Visit Employer Portal user guide to learn more. 

Note: The candidate’s work permit application process for RCIP will depend on where the candidate is applying from – inside or outside of Canada. 

Rural Community Immigration Pilot – Work Permit 

 

 

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 Recommendation Scoring Grids 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