Sudbury Announces Priority Sectors and Jobs for New PR Pathways under RCIP and FCIP

Greater Sudbury, Ontario, has announced its priority sectors and occupations for two new permanent residence (PR) pathways: the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP).

These pilot programs allow designated employers in Sudbury to support foreign workers in eligible occupations as part of their application for Canadian PR.

What Are RCIP and FCIP?

Sudbury is one of the few communities participating in both the RCIP and FCIP programs. These pilots are designed to help rural and francophone communities fill labour shortages by allowing them to hire foreign workers and support their PR applications.

In 2025, Sudbury received:

• 525 nomination slots under RCIP
• 45 nomination slots under FCIP
  
  

The programs apply to the City of Greater Sudbury, including nearby communities like Killarney, St.-Charles, and Noelville.

To participate, employers must be designated by a local economic development organization, and the job offer must fall within one of the approved sectors and occupations.

RCIP: Priority Sectors in Sudbury

Sudbury has identified five priority sectors for the RCIP:

1. Natural and applied sciences
2. Health
3. Education, social, community and government services
4. Trades and transport
5. Natural resources and agriculture
   
   

Only employers in these sectors can become designated and apply to hire foreign workers under the RCIP.

RCIP: Priority Occupations

To be eligible, the job must also fall within a designated occupation. Sudbury has listed the following occupations:

To qualify, foreign nationals must also meet general criteria for work experience, language skills, education, and settlement funds.

FCIP: Priority Sectors in Sudbury

For the FCIP, Sudbury has identified these five priority sectors:

1. Business, finance, and administration
2. Health
3. Education, social, community and government services
4. Arts, culture, recreation, and sport
5. Trades and transport
   
   

FCIP: Priority Occupations

Eligible job offers for FCIP must also fall within one of these priority occupations:

FCIP applicants must also:

• Have a job offer from a designated employer
• Demonstrate intermediate French proficiency
• Meet criteria for experience, education, language, and settlement funds
  
  

Application Process and Timelines

For both RCIP and FCIP, employers must apply on behalf of the foreign worker. Only employers who submitted their Employer Designation Application by June 12, 2025, are eligible for the first intake period between June 23 and June 27, 2025.

Once a foreign worker receives a community recommendation, they can:

• Apply for permanent residence with IRCC
• Also apply for a temporary work permit while the PR application is in process
  
  

Final Notes

Sudbury is among the first communities to release its sector and occupation lists for 2025. Only Timmins, also in Ontario, has published similar details for the FCIP.

These pilots are a valuable opportunity for employers and skilled workers looking to settle in smaller Canadian communities. If you're a foreign national or an employer in Sudbury, now is the time to explore your eligibility and prepare your applications.