Canada is a dream country for many individuals since it offers an amazing atmosphere for immigrants, a high standard of living, safety, and security. Every year, a large number of applicants opt for permanent residency in Canada through different programs such as Express Entry, the provincial nominee program, family sponsorship, etc. It is evident that the Canadian population is ageing, and they are looking for talented immigrants. This is the reason every year the Canadian government chalks out immigration plans to balance the local workforce and make the economy grow. As far as the recent data is concerned, in 2024, the Canadian government welcomed around 483,500 new permanent residents, which is almost hitting its stated goal of 485,000 for that year.
According to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC, they have also rolled out an immigration plan for 2025-2027, and as per the plan, Canada has set the target of 395,000 in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027. With the figures, we can easily observe that the Canadian government is gradually decreasing the permanent residency numbers. Then it would be a tough race to get permanent residency in Canada in 2025 onwards, so to be on the podium, the candidates would have to make some extra efforts in their profile or attain some skills that make their profile extraordinary, but there is a shortcut as well. In this blog, we will try to understand how, for some cities, getting permanent residency would be a little lenient task.
The Canadian government always startles the global audience with different kinds of pilot programs, and now they have come up with two pilot programs, that is, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot program. Under these pilot programs, the authorities have selected some communities.
Here Are Top Cities Offering Easy Immigration
A large number of people who are migrating to Canada wish to be in Toronto, Vancouver, Surrey, or the Brampton area, so the government has come up with a traffic diversification mode to provide enough access to villages, plus to remove the workforce issue the remote areas were facing. In the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot program, 14 and 6 cities have been selected as per their interests, respectively. Under these programs, candidates may also apply from abroad. If the candidate is a skilled worker, then at least one year or 1560 hours of work experience is mandatory. With an offer letter from a selected firm in the local community, they can apply for permanent residency under these pilots. If a candidate has just graduated from a public postsecondary institution in the community, work experience is not necessary. Under these pilots, a candidate seeking permanent residency may be eligible for a work permit while their application is being processed. He or she should, however, have a letter of recommendation from the participating community as well as an offer letter from the designated job. The initial application fee for both programs is $1,525.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
14 cities or communities have been selected under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot program, and skilled migrants can help and benefit these communities. Certain employers may be permitted by these communities to hire people for positions that they are unable to fill with locals. The 14 cities that will take part in RCIP are
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Sudbury, Ontario
- Timmins, Ontario
- Thunder Bay, Onatario
- North Bay, Ontario
- Pictou County, Nova Scotia
- Steinbach, Manitoba
- Altona, Manitoba
- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- Claresholm, Alberta
- West Kootenay, British Columbia
- Brandon, Manitoba
- Peace Liard, British Columbia
- North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia
The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
Six cities that have shown interest in supporting and benefiting from skilled migrants have been selected under the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. The main aim of the francophone community is to encourage French-speaking skilled workers to francophone minority communities outside Quebec. Under the francophone immigration pilot program, these six municipalities have the authority to authorise specific firms to hire people for positions that they are unable to fill with locals. The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot’s six cities include
- Acadian Peninsula, New Brunswick
- Sudbury, Ontario
- Timmins, Ontario
- Superior East Region, Ontario
- St. Pierre Jolys, Manitoba
- Kelowna, British Columbia
Eligibility criteria for RCIP and francophone pilot programs
There are certain eligibility criteria candidates should meet to apply for these programs
- Offer letter from the employer
The designated employer must offer you a job in the given community, plus the employer will have to prove that he/she is unable to find that skill in the local community. For the employer hiring process, check the link here - Education
A Canadian educational certificate or an equivalent foreign educational certificate assessment (ECA) from an approved organisation is required. - Language proficiency
The candidate must demonstrate language ability in English or French (for RCIP) or primary French for FCIP by appearing for an authorised language test such as IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF. - Recommendation from the community
The candidate application would be sent to the community for evaluation by the designated employer. The community would evaluate the eligibility of the program and the validity of the employment offer. - Work experience
At least one year or 1540 hours of work experience is required. Recently, during a two-year public post-secondary passout, graduates from the given communities are exempted from work experience - Sufficient Funds
The candidate should have enough funds to take care of himself, plus his spouse (if applicable).
Through these pilot programs, Canada is demonstrating its dedication to fostering the development and variety of its Francophone and rural communities by making it easier for skilled candidates to immigrate and contribute to local cultures and economies.
