Welcome

Thank you for your interest in the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) in the West Kootenay region.

West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Updates

May 2025: We are working to finalize the list of priority sectors and occupations that will guide which job offers are eligible for recommendation. Once this step is complete, we will begin accepting applications from employers who wish to become designated under the pilot.
 
After employers are designated, they will be able to submit applications for community recommendation on behalf of their candidates. These recommendations are a required step before candidates can apply to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
 
We recognize there is strong interest in this pilot and are committed to launching once all necessary processes are in place.
 
In the meantime, we encourage those interested to review the federal eligibility criteria for employers and applicants on IRCC’s website to ensure you meet the basic requirements. 

Please check back for updates. We look forward to launching soon.

UPDATE: March 2025: This website is under construction. Updates for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot will be posted on this page as they become available. In the meantime, visit Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada’s website for details on eligibility and processes. Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilots

UPDATE: February 1, 2025 We are pleased to announce that the West Kootenays has been selected as a pilot region for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). At this stage, the pilot is in the development phase. We will provide updates as they become available.
Please note that the West Kootenay RCIP team will not be responding to inquiries regarding information or updates at this time. Thank you for your understanding.

The West Kootenay Region was recognized as an area that would benefit from the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and entered into a partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in early 2025. The West Kootenay region uses this pilot to strengthen local economies and support workforce development.

For more information on the benefits of immigration, please go to Immigration Matters.

If you are interested in participating in this program, please click on one of the two buttons below:

Information for Applicants
Information for Employers

Our Region

The West Kootenay is a welcoming region of over 90,000 people. Visitors come to the Kootenays in every season to experience the majestic mountains, abundant wildlife, and many beautiful lakes and rivers.

Business is alive and well in the Kootenays. Primary economic drivers are resource extraction and forestry, with agriculture, tourism, and vigorous entrepreneurial activity across many other sectors also making a considerable contribution to local economies.

Settle in the Kootenays

Discover our Region

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The Pilot

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot offers permanent residence (PR) to skilled workers who want to work and settle in rural and more remote communities.

Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada chose 14 communities who showed they can support and benefit from skilled migrants. They will designate employers in priority sectors to hire for jobs that they can’t fill with local workers.

The West Kootenay region has partnered with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to develop a program that works best for our community by prioritizing skilled immigrants who intend to make the West Kootenay region their home. For more information, please visit: Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot Success Stories

Many lives changed forever thanks to the West Kootenay Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.  

This pilot helped over 1200 newcomers apply for their Canadian permanent residency. Additionally, over 250 West Kootenay employers used the pilot to support existing employees or hire skilled foreign workers to support their workforce needs… Read more

More Success Stories