Thunder Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
A Direct Pathway to Permanent Residency for Skilled Workers
The Thunder Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is an employer-driven immigration program that enables eligible foreign nationals to receive permanent residence (PR) on arrival if they secure a qualifying job offer from a designated employer in the community.
Through the RCIP, Thunder Bay aims to address labour shortages by recruiting skilled workers across targeted sectors and occupations.
About the Thunder Bay RCIP
Location: Northwestern Ontario, Canada
Administered by: Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
Purpose: To attract and retain foreign talent in priority sectors where local labour is in short supply
Priority Sectors & Targeted Occupations
The Thunder Bay CEDC has identified five priority sectors for foreign recruitment under the RCIP:
Business and Finance Administration
Healthcare
Education, Law, Social, Community, and Government Services
Sales and Service
Trades, Transport, Equipment Operators, and Related Occupations
Eligible Occupations
| Sector | Job Title | NOC Code |
|---|---|---|
| Business, Finance & Administration | Administrative assistants | 13110 |
| Financial advisors | 11102 | |
| General office support workers | 14100 | |
| Healthcare | Kinesiologists & other professional occupations in therapy & assessment | 31204 |
| Licensed practical nurses | 32101 | |
| Nurse aides, orderlies & patient service associates | 33102 | |
| Pharmacy technical assistants & pharmacy assistants | 33103 | |
| Registered nurses & registered psychiatric nurses | 31301 | |
| Education, Law, Social, Community & Government Services | Early childhood educators & assistants | 42202 |
| Home support workers, caregivers & related occupations | 44101 | |
| Social & community service workers | 42201 | |
| Social workers | 41300 | |
| Therapists in counselling & related specialized therapies | 41301 | |
| Sales & Service | Cooks | 63200 |
| Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers & related support occupations | 65201 | |
| Food service supervisors | 62020 | |
| Light duty cleaners | 65310 | |
| Retail & wholesale trade managers | 60020 | |
| Retail sales supervisors | 62010 | |
| Retail salespersons & visual merchandisers | 64100 | |
| Store shelf stockers, clerks & order fillers | 65102 | |
| Trades, Transport & Equipment Operators | Automotive service technicians, truck & bus mechanics, mechanical repairers | 72410 |
| Construction millwrights & industrial mechanics | 72400 | |
| Construction trades helpers & labourers | 75110 | |
| Heavy equipment operators | 73400 |
Designated Employers in Thunder Bay RCIP
Only designated employers approved by the CEDC can issue RCIP-eligible job offers. These employers can hire foreign nationals already in the community or recruit from outside Canada.
Current Designated Employers:
| Employer | Address |
|---|---|
| 14786068 Canada Inc. Circle K | 3 Balsam Street |
| 1000661225 Ontario Inc. Circle K | A-1500 James Street South |
| Clara Industrial Services Limited | 1130 Commerce Street |
| Golden Wok | 106 May St S |
| Great Canadian Oil Change | 1160 Memorial Ave |
| Guac Mexi Grill | 570 Harbour Expressway, Unit 2 |
| Inspired Cabinetry & Granite Inc | 146 Gore St West |
| JKS Enterprises – Diamond Taxi | 113 Leith Street |
| Kasper Bus Lines | 947 Memorial Ave |
| Lakehead Roofing & Metal Cladding Ltd. | 1190 Russell Street |
| Land of Spices | 707 Memorial Avenue, Unit 1 |
| Lowerys, Limited | 540 Central Avenue |
| Mahmowenchike Family Development Centre | 150 Redwood Avenue West |
| Maltese Grocery Ltd | 301 Pearl Street |
| Northern Turf Equipment | 710B Balmoral St |
| Outlaws Burgers & Fries | 801 Central Ave |
| Scott Family Dental | 276 Park Ave |
| Shelter House | 420 George St |
| Shoppers Drug Mart | 681 N. Court St & 1312 Arthur St W |
| SLR Contracting Corp. | 105 May St N Unit 7 |
| Spadoni Leasing Limited | 450 Sifton Ave |
| Thundermaple Asian Food Co | 777 Memorial Ave |
| Village Market | 336 Wardrope Ave |
| Wasabi Restaurant | 538 Arthur St West |
Candidate Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for the RCIP in Thunder Bay, foreign nationals must:
Hold a qualifying job offer from a designated employer in a listed priority occupation.
Have at least one year (1,560 hours) of relevant work experience in the last three years* (exceptions apply for local graduates and healthcare workers).
Meet language requirements based on the occupation’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) level.
Possess a Canadian educational credential or a foreign equivalent.
Provide proof of sufficient settlement funds (unless already employed in Canada).
Work Experience Rules by TEER Level
| Job Offer TEER Level | Eligible Work Experience TEER Levels |
|---|---|
| 0 or 1 | 0, 1, 2, or 3 |
| 2 | 1, 2, 3, or 4 |
| 3 or 4 | 2, 3, or 4 |
| 5 | Same 5-digit NOC code |
Work experience must match the NOC’s listed duties and responsibilities.
Application Process
Job Offer – Secure a full-time, permanent job from a designated Thunder Bay employer in a priority occupation.
Employer Submission – The employer applies to the CEDC for a community recommendation on behalf of the candidate.
Community Recommendation – The CEDC reviews and approves qualified candidates.
Federal PR Application – Candidate applies to IRCC for permanent residence with the community recommendation in hand.