Sault Ste. Marie – Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a new immigration pathway introduced by the Canadian government to support smaller communities in attracting and retaining skilled workers. Sault Ste. Marie, a city in Northern Ontario, has been allocated 300 spots for the RCIP pathway to permanent residence in 2025 . The RCIP is an employer-focused immigration pathway, requiring foreign nationals to secure a job offer from a designated employer within the community.
Designated Employers in Sault Ste. Marie
The following employers have been designated under the RCIP program:
Algoma Tubes Inc (Tenaris Canada)
Child Care Algoma
China Steel Inc.
Chuck’s Roadhouse Bar and Grill
Extendicare Mapleview
F. J. Davey Home
Giovanni’s Restaurant
JD Aero Technical Inc.
Meadow Park Montessori School
Montanas
Northern Power Train
OTR Engineered Solution
Para Med
Sault Area Hospital
Sault Ste. Marie YMCA
Viacore
Employers seeking designation must operate within the community’s priority sectors and apply through the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation .
Priority Sectors
Sault Ste. Marie has identified the following priority sectors for the RCIP:
Education, law and social, community and government services
Health
Manufacturing and utilities
Sales and service
Trades and transport
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the RCIP in Sault Ste. Marie, applicants must:
Job Offer: Secure a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a designated employer.
Work Experience: Have at least one year of continuous full-time work experience (or equivalent part-time) in the past three years in an occupation listed under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) .
Education: Possess a minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) less than five years old.
Language Proficiency: Demonstrate language proficiency through approved tests, meeting the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels based on the job’s TEER category:
TEER 0 or 1: CLB 6
TEER 2 or 3: CLB 5
TEER 4 or 5: CLB 4
Settlement Funds: Provide proof of sufficient funds to support themselves and their family for one year.
Intent to Reside: Show genuine intent to reside in Sault Ste. Marie.
Application Process
Job Offer: Obtain a job offer from a designated employer.
Community Recommendation: The employer applies for a community recommendation through the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation.
Permanent Residence Application: Upon receiving the community recommendation, apply to the federal government for permanent residence.