Pictou County Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
Pictou County, Nova Scotia, has officially released its list of priority sectors and occupations under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)—a federal immigration pathway designed to help rural Canadian communities address labour shortages by attracting and retaining skilled foreign workers.
About Pictou County’s RCIP
Located just two hours from Halifax, the designated RCIP area for Pictou County includes:
Pictou Landing First Nation
Municipality of Pictou County
Town of New Glasgow
Town of Pictou
Town of Stellarton
Town of Trenton
Town of Westville
Through the RCIP, foreign nationals with job offers from designated employers in these communities may become eligible for Canadian permanent residence (PR).
Pictou County’s Priority Sectors for 2025
Each RCIP community may select five sectors to focus on. For 2025, Pictou County has chosen:
Business, Finance, and Administration
Health
Sales and Service
Trades, Transport, and Equipment Operators
Manufacturing
👉 Only companies operating within these identified sectors are eligible to become designated RCIP employers. Once designated, they can recruit foreign workers and provide them with a pathway to PR.
Pictou County’s Priority Occupations
Below is the official list of priority occupations and their corresponding NOC codes for the Pictou County RCIP:
| Occupation | NOC Code |
|---|---|
| Accounting technicians and bookkeepers | 12200 |
| Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers | 72410 |
| Business systems specialists | 21221 |
| Carpenters | 72310 |
| Cooks | 63200 |
| Cybersecurity specialists | 21220 |
| Data scientists | 21211 |
| Database analysts and data administrators | 21223 |
| Other wood processing machine operators | 94129 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 |
| Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants | 33103 |
| Pharmacy technicians | 32124 |
| Plasterers, drywall installers, finishers, and lathers | 73102 |
| Plumbers | 72300 |
| Printing press operators | 73401 |
| Residential and commercial installers and servicers | 73200 |
| Restaurant and food service managers | 60030 |
| Retail sales supervisors | 62010 |
| Roofers and shinglers | 73110 |
| Rubber processing machine operators and related workers | 94112 |
| Sheet metal workers | 72102 |
| Software developers and programmers | 21232 |
| Supervisors, forest products processing | 92014 |
| Telecommunications equipment installation and cable television service technicians | 72205 |
| Woodworking machine operators | 94124 |
Occupation Caps
The following three occupations will be limited to no more than 10% of Pictou County’s total annual RCIP allocation:
Cooks (63200)
Restaurant and food service managers (60030)
Retail sales supervisors (62010)
📌 For 2025, Pictou County has been allocated 60 RCIP recommendation slots in total.
Application Process and Employer Role
The RCIP is employer-driven. To be eligible, foreign nationals must:
Obtain a valid job offer from a designated employer in Pictou County.
Ensure the position falls within the priority occupation list.
Once an employer identifies a candidate, they must complete a Recommendation Application and submit it to the Pictou County Partnership.
Applications are accepted from the 1st to the 15th of each month, except in December (deadline is the 10th).
A foreign worker must secure a recommendation before applying to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence and, if required, a work permit.
Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Workers
In addition to securing a qualifying job offer, candidates must meet the following requirements:
Work Experience: At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of related work experience within the past three years, unless eligible under the international graduate exemption.
Language Proficiency: Meet the official language requirements set by RCIP.
Education: Hold a Canadian educational credential or its recognized foreign equivalent.
Settlement Funds: Demonstrate sufficient financial resources to support themselves and their family during settlement.
Why RCIP Matters for Pictou County
The RCIP is a federal permanent residence pathway that strengthens rural Canadian communities outside Quebec by connecting them with international talent. For Pictou County, this initiative not only addresses critical labour shortages but also promotes long-term community growth and economic development.