To become an eligible employer under the RCIP program, your business must operate in one of the following priority sectors:

• Business, Finance, and Administration

• Health Occupations

• Education, Law, Social, Community, and Government Services

• Sales and Service

• Trades, Transport, and Equipment Operation or other related fields

• Manufacturing and Utilities

Limitations

Certain NOC codes are subject to specific limitations. Please review the list of NOC codes to understand the restrictions that apply.

You will notice that some NOC codes permit only one position per employer, others allow two, and some are tied to the number of full‑time employees. In addition, several NOC codes include further requirements related to education, experience, or supporting documentation. A small number of NOC codes also have a maximum number of recommendations that will be issued in 2026 as per IRCC guidelines.

Exclusions

The following types of businesses are excluded from the 2026 Thunder Bay CMA RCIP program: gas stations, convenience stores, fast‑food establishments, and counter‑service restaurants.

Additionally, you must have a full-time, permanent position in one of the following 25 priority occupations:

Priority Occupations (NOC codes)

• 11202 Professional Occupations in Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations
• 13102 Payroll Administrator
• 13110 Administrative Assistants – Limit of 1 for employers with 1-50 full-time employees, limit of 2 for employers with 51-100 full-time employees.
• 14100 General Office Support Workers – Limit of 1 for employers with 1-50 full-time employees, limit of 2 for employers with 51-100 full-time employees.
• 31301 Registered Nurses
• 32101 Licensed Practical Nurses
• 33102 Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates
• 33100 Dental Assistants and Dental Technicians
• 33103 Pharmacy Technical Assistants and Pharmacy Assistants
• 42201 Social and Community Service Workers
• 42202 Early Childhood Educators and Assistants
• 44101 Home Support Workers, Caregivers and Related Occupations
• 62029 Security Supervisors – Limit of 1 for employers with 1-50 full-time employees, limit of 2 for employers with 51-100 full-time employees. Candidates must have at least two years of full-time security related work experience or two years of post secondary education in law and security, police technology, or a related field.
• 63200 Cooks – Limit of 1 per employer (dine-in / full-service restaurants and hotels only for sector 6 sales & service)
• 63202 Bakers – Limit of 1 per employer
• 64314 Hotel Front Desk – Limit of 2 per hotel
• 64100 Retail Salespersons and Visual Merchandisers – Limit of 1 for employers with 1-50 full-time employees, limit of 2 for employers with 51-100 full-time employees. Maximum number of recommendations will be 24
• 64410 Security Guards – Limit of 1 for employers with 1-50 full-time employees, limit of 2 for employers with 51-100 full-time employees. Candidates must have at least two years of full-time security related work experience or two years of post secondary education in law and security, police technology, or a related field. Maximum number of recommendations will be 24
• 72011 Contractors and Supervisors, Electrical Trades and Telecommunication Occupations
• 72400 Construction Millwrights and Industrial Mechanics
• 72404 Aircraft Mechanics and Inspectors
• 72410 Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics, and Mechanical Repairers
• 73300 Transport Truck Drivers – Short Haul Local Drivers Only – The last 6 months of electronic logbooks as required under CVOR.
• 75110 Construction Trades Helpers and Labourers
• 94120 Sawmill Machine Operators

*While the positions listed above are prioritized, securing employment in one of these roles and having an application submitted does not automatically ensure approval under RCIP.

*NOCs within the priority sectors that are not included on the priority list above may, at the discretion of the program, be considered for case-by-case exemptions. Designated Employers wishing to retain a candidate, who has been employed in your business in the same role, at the same location, for at least 6 months, for a NOC code not listed above, may reach out to immigration@thunderbay.ca to discuss consideration for inclusion. Currently, the Thunder Bay RCIP program will only consider exemptions for roles in Teers 0, 1, and 2.

Ensure you meet the Employer Requirements

To participate in the Thunder Bay Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), an employer must be designated.

Please note that French versions of the forms are available. Please contact us for more information.

To be designated, an employer must meet the following requirements:

• Be an active, genuine business that has been operating continuously under the same management for at least 2 years within the Thunder Bay CMA.
• Do business in at least one priority occupation identified.
• Do at least 75% of business work inside the Thunder Bay CMA.
• Complete the free onboarding training.
• Complete the free intercultural competence training. 
• Agree to support the settlement of each applicant and any accompanying family member, including facilitating access to settlement and social service support.
• Agree to be listed publicly on the Thunder Bay CEDC RCIP website.
• Not be in violation of the employer compliance regime under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR), and be in good standing and comply with the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 or the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
• Have no outstanding penalties or charges with any Thunder Bay CMA municipal office- including but not limited to: property taxes, water and sewer accounts, etc.
• Not have directly or indirectly misrepresented or withheld any fact relating to a relevant matter that could influence the decision of allowing them to participate in the program.

NOTE: The following businesses/organizations are not eligible to participate in RCIP

• • A consulate
  • A staffing or employment agency
  • A business owned by an authorized immigration representative
  • A business that an applicant (or their spouse or common-law partner) owns or controls
  • An employer referred to in paragraphs 200(3)(g.1) and (h) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations
  • a business owned by a representative who is a person referred to in subsection 91(2) of the IRPA. This includes lawyers.

Apply for designation

There is no cost to becoming a designated employer. You can apply for designation in advance of hiring a foreign national or when you find someone you wish to hire or retain. Designation applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Contact us at immigration@thunderbay.ca with your name, title, business name and contact information to discuss and confirm:

• Your business/organization’s eligibility for the Thunder Bay CMA RCIP;
• Your labour needs;
• Receive the links to the mandatory online training; and
• Receive the RCIP Employer Designation Application form.

Once we have confirmed your eligibility, we will provide you with the forms and links to complete your application.

Once an employer meets federal criteria and provides proof of training completion, the CEDC will issue a Confirmation of Designation and list the employer as a RCIP Designated Employer (DE) on our website.

NOTE: Employers are only required to be designated once to participate in the Pilot. However, an employer’s designation status may be revoked for any of the following reasons:

• Pilot priority sectors and/or occupations change and the employer no longer falls within priorities;
• The designated employer voluntarily requests withdrawal from the Pilot;
• The CEDC becomes aware the employer no longer meets the employer designation criteria; or
• Any of the reasons set out in section (4) of the Ministerial Instructions with respect to the RCIP.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Retain or hire a candidate

Once you’re designated by the CEDC, you can offer jobs to eligible candidates.

NOTE: The CEDC does not match candidates with jobs. You may find a candidate on your own or a candidate may approach you.

Click here to ensure your job offer meets the requirements of the Pilot.

Click here to ensure your candidate meets the candidate requirements.

If the job and candidate meet the requirements of the Pilot, provide the candidate with a completed Offer of Employment Form.

Encourage your candidate to get their documents ready for you to include along with the completed Recommendation Application Form.

NOTE: If a candidate is not currently working with you or has been employed with your business for less than six months, the employer will have to demonstrate that they have made efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident prior to providing the offer of employment to the candidate.

Apply for recommendation

RCIP applications will be assessed on an on-going basis. When you are ready, submit the Recommendation Application Form (1 per candidate) and upload all required documentation using our portal as provided in the confirmation email. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.  

The Recommendation Application Form confirms:

• That you haven’t been able to fill the job with a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident;
• That the job offer meets the pilot requirements;
• That the candidate meets the requirements for the pilot;
• That you commit to connecting your candidate with immigrant settlement services

How applications are processed

The Thunder Bay CEDC RCIP ranks applications in a pool using a points-based system. Complete applications meeting the eligibility requirements / minimum score of 50 points required will be placed into the Candidate Pool.

For more information, view the Thunder Bay CMA Community Scoring Grid. 

Draws will be completed by the CEDC each month. All applications processed by the last day of the month, will be placed in the pool. The highest-scoring applications in the pool will be further assessed by the CEDC. Candidates and/or employers may be requested to participate in a formal interview to further assess their application. Candidates deemed to satisfy the requirements of the Ministerial Instructions and who score the highest will be issued a Recommendation Certificate.

*Tie-breaking rule: If more than one application has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time the applications were submitted (i.e. whichever was submitted first would be considered for the Recommendation Certificate).

Applications not selected for further review remain in the pool for up to six months and may be selected later if their ranking is within the highest scores of that window. Applications will not be considered if they are incomplete or do not meet federal eligibility requirements. It is up to employers to ensure that their candidate(s) meet the program requirements and that all applications and documentation are up to date and complete.

Support your candidate

If your Recommendation Application is approved, your candidate will receive a Recommendation Certificate that allows them to apply to the IRCC for permanent residence.

Continue to support your candidate by implementing the commitments to settlement supports that you outlined on the Recommendation Application Form to help the candidate integrate into your business/organization and to feel welcome in the community.

NOTE: Receiving a Recommendation Certificate from the CEDC does not guarantee that your candidate will receive permanent residence. It is up to the IRCC Processing Officer’s discretion when they are reviewing the application.

Optional: Work permit

If your candidate requires a temporary work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed at the IRCC, click here to learn about the steps involved.