West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
A Pathway to Permanent Residency in British Columbia’s Rural Communities
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is an employer-driven immigration program that allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence (PR) by addressing labour shortages in designated rural communities across Canada.
In West Kootenay, British Columbia, the program is open to candidates who secure full-time, permanent job offers from designated employers in priority occupations.
About the West Kootenay RCIP Region
Location: Southeastern British Columbia
Boundaries: Extends north of the US border from Rock Creek (west) to Yahk (east), northwest to Hughes Peak, and northeast to Duncan Lake.
Included Communities: Nelson, Castlegar, Trail, Kaslo, Nakusp, and others.
Eligibility for Foreign Nationals
To qualify under the West Kootenay RCIP, applicants must:
Have a qualifying job offer:
Full-time and permanent
From a designated employer in the region
In one of the priority occupations
Meet additional program criteria:
Language proficiency (minimum CLB requirement for the occupation)
Canadian secondary school credential or foreign equivalent
At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of relevant work experience in the last 3 years
Graduates from eligible local post-secondary institutions, such as Selkirk College, may be exempt from this requirement.
Proof of sufficient settlement funds (unless already working in Canada)
Priority Sectors
Only employers operating in the following sectors may apply for RCIP designation:
Health
Education, law, social, community, and government services
Sales and service
Trades, transport, and equipment operators
Manufacturing and utilities
If a business operates in multiple sectors, at least one activity must be in a priority sector, and the job offer must be in that sector.
Priority Occupations & Language Requirements
| Occupation | NOC Code | CLB Level | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting technicians & bookkeepers | 12200 | 5 | Must be in a priority sector |
| Bakers | 63202 | 5 | Fast food businesses not eligible |
| Career development practitioners & counsellors (except education) | 41321 | 6 | — |
| Carpenters | 72310 | 5 | — |
| Cooks | 63200 | 5 | Fast food businesses not eligible |
| Early childhood educators & assistants | 42202 | 5 | No employer cap |
| Food & beverage servers | 65200 | 4 | Fast food businesses not eligible |
| Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers & related | 65201 | 4 | Titles: Barista, Food Counter Attendant. Fast food not eligible |
| Front desk agents | 64314 | 4 | — |
| General office support workers | 14100 | 4 | Must be in a priority sector |
| Health care aides | 33102 | 5 | No employer cap |
| Heavy-duty equipment mechanics | 72401 | 5 | — |
| Light duty cleaners | 65310 | 4 | Titles: Housekeeping Room Attendant, Light Duty Cleaner |
| Material handlers | 75101 | 5 | Titles: Forklift Operator, Forklift Truck Operator, Labourer-Material Handling, Material Handler-Manufacturing & Warehousing |
| Other labourers in processing, manufacturing & utilities | 95109 | 4 | Title: General Labourer – Manufacturing |
| Other trades helpers & labourers | 75119 | 4 | — |
| Painters & decorators (except interior decorators) | 73112 | 5 | — |
| Social & community service workers | 42201 | 5 | — |
| Transport truck drivers | 73300 | 5 | 75%+ of duties must occur in West Kootenay RCIP region |
Employer Recommendation Limits
1–65 full-time employees → Up to 3 recommendations/year
66+ full-time employees → Up to 6 recommendations/year
Designated Employers in West Kootenay RCIP
Health
Ancron Medical Services, Nelson
CareCorp (Mountain Lake Village), Nelson
Castleview Care Centre, Castlegar
Misha Zibin Society, Grand Forks
Trail Association for Community Living
Education, Law, Social, Community & Government Services
Blueberry Creek Community School, Castlegar
Brent Kennedy Learning Centre, South Slocan
Community Connections Support Services, Trail/Nelson
Four Winds Daycare
Golden Bears Children’s Centre, Rossland
Growing Steps Academy, Trail
Kootenay Employment Services – Creston office
Kootenay Family Place, Castlegar
Kootenay Society for Community Living, Castlegar
Silly Monkeys Childcare, Castlegar
Songbird Early Learning Centre, Nelson
Sunningdale Childcare Centre, Trail
The Schoolhouse ECLC, Nelson
Accommodation, Food Services, Retail & Other Services
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- The Adventure Hotel, Nelson
- Ainsworth Hot
- Springs Resort, Ainsworth
- Amanda’s
- Restaurant, Nelson
- Ashley Furniture, Trail
- Ashman’s Burgers,Nelson
- Baker Street Inn Best Western, Nelson
- Bayleaf Indian Fusion, Creston
- Blue Barn Pet and Hobby Farm, Castlegar
- Boaz Enterprises Ltd., Trail
- Boston Pizza, Castlegar
- Broken Hill, Nelson
- Busaba Thai, Nelson
- Canadian Tire, Trail
- Cantina Del Centro, Nelson
- Castlegar Shell, Castlegar
- Chahko Mika Mall, Nelson
- Chopsticks, Castlegar
- Columbia River Hotel Best Western, Trail
- Creston Hotel/ Jimmy’s Pub, Creston
- Cuisine of India, Castlegar
- Cut Rite Meats and Deli, Nakusp
- Edgewood General Store, Edgewood
- El Taco, Nelson
- Ferraro Foods, Trail/ Rossland
- Finley’s Bar & Grill, Nelson
- Golden Chopsticks II, Grand Forks
- Grand Forks Inn, Grand Forks
- The Handy Store, Trail
- Haryanvi Retail Ltd., Trail/Castlegar/Nelson
- HG Insurance Agencies, Castlegar
- Hume Hotel, Nelson
- JMJ Building Maintenance, Castlegar
- The Josie Hotel, Rossland
- Kaslo Hotel, Kaslo
- KC Restaurant, Nelson
- Kokanee Glacier Resort, Nelson
- Kootenay Bakery Cafe Coop, Nelson
- Kootenay Co-op Grocery Store, Nelson
- Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Food & Beverage, Nelson
- Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Ethnic Foods, Creston
- Kootenay Tamil Kitchen Masala Shop, Nelson
- Kurama Sushi Japanese Restaurant, Nelson
- L&C Bakery, Nelson
- Mainstreet Diner, Nelson
- Maple Leaf Store, Slocan
- MapleMirch Foods Ltd, Castlegar
- Milano Pizza, Fruitvale
- The Nineteenth (RFV Holdings), Castlegar
- Oso Negro Coffee, Nelson
- Outer Clove Restaurant, Nelson
- Port 701, Nelson
- Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson
- Red Fin Sushi, Castlegar
- Rel-Ish Bistro, Nelson
- Serendipity Nail Studio, Nelson
- Shatti Esthetics Studio, Trail/Rossland
- Simran’s No Frills, Grand Forks
- Sunner Barber Shop Ltd, Trail/ Castlegar
- Sushiwood, Nelson
- Supersave Gas, Grand Forks
- SureStay Best Western, Castlegar
- Tahnam Thai
- Taste of India, Trail
- Thor’s Pizza, Nelson
- The Uphill Market, Nelson
- Valet Restorations, Castlegar
- Villa Motel, Nelson
- Western Traveler Motel, Grand Forks
- Working Ventures Insurance Solutions, Trail
- Yum Son, Nelson
Trades, Transport & Equipment Operators
- A3 Plumbing, Nelson
- Ace Couriers, Castlegar/ Grand Forks
- Babe’s Automotive, Slocan
- BC ECO Industrial Services, Nelson
- Castle Fuels, Grand Forks
- Martech Electrical Systems, Castlegar
- Marwest Industries Ltd., Castlegar
- Mercer Forestry Services
- Mountain City Painting, Trail
- OK Tire/ Practicar, Trail
- Paradise Painters, Nelson
- Rokform Solutions, Castlegar
- RSD Holdings, Castlegar
- The Sutherland Group, Salmo
- Valor Painting, Nelson
Manufacturing & Utilities
- Kalesnikoff Lumber, Thrums
- Kalesnikoff Mass Timber, Castlegar
- KC Recycling, Trail
- Nelson Naturals, Nelson
- Popov Leather, Nelson
- Spearhead, Nelson
- Treasure Life Flour Mills, Creston
Application Process
Employer Selection – A designated employer identifies a candidate.
Community Recommendation Application – Employer submits application to the RCIP committee.
Community Review & Approval – Candidate is recommended for PR.
Federal PR Application – Candidate applies to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).